SANTA BARBARA PROTOCOL
           TO BE INCLUDED AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE KYOTO PROTOCOL
           TO THE UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION
           ON CLIMATE CHANGE


The Parties to this Protocol,
Being Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, hereinafter referred to as "the Convention,"
In pursuit of the ultimate objective of progress toward a sustainable world,
Acknowledging that change in the Earth's climate and its adverse effects are a common interest of humankind,
Concerned that human activities have been substantially increasing the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, that these increases enhance the natural greenhouse effect, and that this will result on average in an additional warming of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere and may adversely affect natural ecosystems, water systems and humankind,
Aware of the increasing demand and consumption of non-renewable sources of energy as a limited resource with continued increases in human populations, especially as non-Annex I nations are encouraged to transition into post-industrial states,
Aware of the role and importance of terrestrial and marine ecosystems as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases,
Propose this amendment to the Kyoto protocol as a global effort—under the lead of capable Annex I nations with able support from non-Annex I nations--to stabilize climate change with wide ranging programs that both encourage and require active cooperation and sustained effort at global, regional, national, and local levels.
Have agreed to amend the Kyoto protocol as follows:

Article 1 - Definitions

For the purposes of this amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, the definitions contained in Article 1 of the Convention and in Article 1 of the Kyoto Protocol shall apply. In addition, the following extended definitions and abridged scientific explanations shall serve as reference to this amendment:

Adaptive Response Plan: A comprehensive strategy to minimize the negative impacts of sea level rise on human settlements through prudent application of the three main methods of adaptation - retreat, accommodation, and protection.

Annex I Nations: The nations that signed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol as Annex I nations.

Alternative/Renewable Energy: Any form of energy that is not primarily fossil fuel-based.

Alternative/Renewable Energy Technology: Methods utilizing energy tsources such as geothermal, solar or wind energy, that are not fossil fuel based and create little or no GHG emissions.

Annex I Parties: Participant nations of the protocol more commonly known as developed nations.

Bio-Diesel: The biodegradable, low GHG emissions fuel that is produced from renewable resources and can be used in regular or modified diesel engines.

Carbon Credit: A credit allotted to allow trading among nations signatory to this protocol. One carbon credit is allotted per each ton of carbon dioxide (or carbon dioxide equivalent for other greenhouse gases) emitted.

Carbon Dioxide Equivalent: A metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based upon their global warming potential (GWP). The carbon dioxide equivalent for a gas is derived by multiplying the tons of the gas by the associated GWP.

Carbon Sinks: Flora, aquatic reservoirs and ecosystems which fix carbob. Preservation of thretened carbon sinks adn re-forestation are to be valued as augmentation of natural carbon sinks.

Carbon Trading: A system for emission trading in which Parties to this protocol that exceed their target emissions can remain in compliance by purchasing credits from other Parties who have a surplus.

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): A bilateral effort made by an Annex I country or country with emission reduction commitments outlined under Annex B to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of a non-Annex I country in return for emission reduction units equivalent to the amount of that reduction.

Coal Cleaning: The process by which coal is cleaned to redeuce combustion by-products.

Coastal Zone: A geographic region following and centered around an oceanic coastline; the associated features including bays, estuaries, and barrier islands; and the dependent ecosystems such as mangrove swamps, coral reefs, and seagrass beds.

Credit Allocation Grandfathering: Emissions units are distributed with respect to a given level (1990 in this case). For Annex I Parties each ton emitted in 1990 is assigned one carbon credit.

Electo-dialysis Technologies: The process by which ions are transported through a membrane from one solution to another under the influence of a direct current electrical potential. (Used in Desalinization).

Fossil Fuel: Any fue derived from prehistoric decomposition of organic matterl, such as petroleum and coal.

Global Warming Potential (GWP): The individual contribution of particular gases to the greenhouse effect, relative to carbon dioxide. Such estimates depend on the physical behavior of each kind of molecule and its lifetime in the atmosphere, as well as the gas’s concentration. Both direct and indirect effects due to interaction with other gases and radicals must be taken into account.

Greenhouse Gases (GHG): Carbon dioxide (CO2), Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)

Grid connected locations- Locations where preexisting grid energy
is available. ( ie: major cities, industrial areas)

Hot zones: areas of heavy proected water shortage

Hydrogen Fuel Cells: The technology of a fuel cell that uses hydrogen and gives off no pollution of greenhouse gases, the only waste is water.

Hydrology: The global system of water in the atmosphere and over the Earth's surface including the distribution, ecological cycling and anthropological use of water.

Industrial Greenhouse Gases: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM): A process intended to achieve preservation of natural coastal zone environments and sustainable human interaction with coastal zones by way of integrating the many disciplines addressing coastal issues such as ecology, demography, climatology, agriculture, public policy, and economics. An ICZM is implemented by the governing authority of a coastal zone.

Joint Implementation: Bilateral or multilateral cooperation among Parties with the intent of reducing GHG emissions or mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.

Methanol: A light, volatile alcohol (CH3OH) eligible for motor gasoline blending.

Non-Grid connected locations - Locations where no energy is
available from an existing energy source. (ie. Remote locations, unpopulated areas.)

Petroleum: A broadly defined class of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures. Included are crude oil, lease condensate, unfinished oils, refined products obtained from the processing of crude oil, and natural gas plant liquids.

Sustainable Technological Practices: Technological practices in the industries that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Technology Transfer: The sharing of knowledge and facilities concerning technology among participating nations.

Article 2 - Principles

Furthermore, the following principles shall guide this protocol:

Precautionary Principle: Lack of full and complete scientific evidence should not be used as reason for postponing step-by-step measures that can be implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, when taking action, it is important to use discretion and take into consideration the amount of scientific consensus and economic influence that restrictions and protocols will have on the global society and economy.

Sustainable Development: Sustainable development, the ability to provide for today without compromising the ability of future generations to provide for themselves, shall be supported. However, it should be recognized that each country's development will be different and dependent upon their unique situation. By implementing changes on a global scale leading to a stable and habitable climate, the creation of alternative technologies and funding should promote a goal to increase the overall quality of health, environment, and community around the world.

Sovereignty: The exercise of, or right to exercise, supreme power and independence. Every country has the ultimate right to decide the usage and worth of their capital/resources pursuant to their own environmental, economic, medical, governmental, and developmental policies, and future.

Duty to Cooperate: Parties shall use cooperative efforts among themselves to address climate change. These activities include, but are not limited to, trading emission credits, research and implementation of alternative energy sources and more effective use of natural resources, education, and capacity building such as the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation of technologies.

Common But Differentiated Responsibilities: As leaders in technological innovation , Annex I nations should be encouraged to take the lead in taking global action to stabilize climate change. Nevertheless, non-Annex I nations should be encouraged to take national and/or local actions within their means to curb emissions and pollution.

Biodiversity - Each Party should take responsibility for the conservation of natural resources, including forests, water resources within their territory and prevent further degradation of these resources. Biodiversity loss degrades terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, which reduces the ability of these ecosystems to regenerate as effective carbon sinks.

Alternative Energy: The Parties agree that an international effort to reduce emissions using alternative energy technologies should be established. All nations must strive to implement a strategy that promotes the phasing in of renewable energy to reduce global emissions in both Annex I and non-Annex I countries.

Population Stabilization: The Parties agree that population stabilization plays an important role in the reduction of GHG emissions.

Education: Recognizing that education is fundamental to raising global awareness to the consequent impacts of global climate change and mitigation of those impacts, the Parties shall encourage programs of localized education on the environment, alternative energy sources and technology, agriculture and reproductive needs.

• Water resources - The Parties agree that all nations should take responsibilities prevent further degradation of their water resources.


Article 3 – Amendment

The Parties recognizing that:

1) Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emission has the largest human-induced impact on climate at this time;

2) The negative impact of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emission increase is becoming more evident every year;

3) The global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions required to fully abate their detrimental impacts may have a high cost, will require sacrifice and the fellowship of humankind in a manner never achieved before, and will take time to be effective;

Propose an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol that endorses an active reduction of the main emissions defined in Article 1 of the Kyoto Protocol leading to global warming (positive radiative forcing) by all Parties, while acknowledging the difference between and within the Parties that are still developing and those developed. The terms of commitment in this amendment are relative to each Party's individual needs, abilities and willingness to cooperate.

Through this amendment the Parties commit to a strategy whereby each participating Party focuses on limiting emissions that lead to a positive radiative forcing and therefore, shall:

a) Acknowledging the importance of coordinating the monitoring of various mitigation and adaptation activities proposed under this amendment, establish an International Mitigation and Adaptation (Emission?) Council to oversee the implementation of the hereafter articles (Article 4).

b) Implement a carbon credit trading strategy that promotes the limitation of global emissions and the protection of existing carbon sinks (Article 5),

c) Mandate the reduction of greenhouse gas-related pollution in accordance with national circumstances (Article 6),

d) Develop and implement a motor transportation emission limitation strategy that will lead to the stabilization and eventual reduction of GHG emissions from motor vehicles globally (Article 7),

e) Develop a strategy that promotes a gradual transition from fossil fuels to alternative energy that reflects the abilities of the Parties (Article 8),

f) Promote the development of a technology transfer program involving cooperative partnerships between nations through which carbon credits can be earned by exchanging technology that verifiably reduces emissions in a Non-Annex I country (Article 9),

g) Acknowledging the negative impact of sea level rise resulting from global warming, promote the adaptation to sea level rise via relocation, accommodation or protection (Article 10),

h) Acknowledging the vulnerability of world water supply resulting from global warming, recommend the creation of a hydrology adaptation task force (Article 11)

Article 4 - The International Mitigation and Adaptation Council (IMAC)

Recognizing the need to coordinate the monitoring of various mitigation and adaptation activities proposed under this amendment, the parties to this protocol agree to establish an International Mitigation and Adaptation Council (IMAC) who will have the ultimate goal of overseeing the implementation of the articles of this amendment.

The IMAC will be comprised of 6 sectors: the Carbon Trading Sector , the Industrial Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Taxation Sector, the Alternative Energy Sector , the Technology Transfer Sector, the Sea Level sector and the Hydrology Adaptation Sector. Each of these sectors will be represented by sub-committees who will have differing representation and duties. Those are:

a. The Carbon Trading Sector:

The Carbon Trading Sector sub-committee shall be composed of one representative per nation and be funded by taxation on carbon credits. The sub-committee shall keep an inventory on total global emissions and total number of credits, shall approve proposed projects related to carbon trading and their specifications, shall set standards for emissions trading and shall establish new standards in 2012.

b. The Industrial Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Taxation Sector:

The Industrial Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Taxation Sector sub-committee shall be composed of scientific, economic and environmental representatives from each signatory party and shall be responsible for creating greenhouse gas emission quota in industries, for educating industries on new technological sustainable practices and for collecting taxes from industries which exceed greenhouse gas limits.

c. The Alternative Energy Sector:

The Alternative Energy Sector sub-committee shall be composed of and shall be responsible for investigating countries economic options for alternative energy resources and verify energy production reports.

d. The Technology Transfer Sector:

The Technology Transfer Sector sub-committee shall be composed of.an Economic Advisor who maintains funding an trading accounting for all technology transfer, an Environmental Scientist who works in collaborabion with technologist specialist to help define how certain technology will effect the atmosphere and a Technological Specialist who develops and advances new and existing technologies. The sub-committee shall be responsible for educating industries on new sustainable technological practices while aiding their implementation.

e. The Hydrology Adaptation Sector:

The Hydrology Adaptation Sector sub-committee shall be composed of three project leaders, liaisons between IMAC and the hydrolocy Adaptative Task and shall be responsible for adapting water supply infrastructure threatened by the climate change, for interacting and cooperating with emergency aid operations to immediately stabilize water supply, sanitation, and security, to alleviate combatable water/storm related damage.

f. The Coastal Adaptation Sector

The Coastal Adaptation Sector sub-committee shall be composed of a team of scientists, financial advisors, and diplomatic liaisons and shall be responsible for developing international guidelines for new coastal development, for monitoring and advising on sea level concerns, programs, and policies and for administering the International Coastal Adaptation Fund.

II. The International Mitigation and Adaptation Council will be headed by a High Council composed of one representative per nation signatory to this amendment and is responsible for allocating funds to national organizations already existing in each country and reporting back to representatives of their own nation.


Article 5 - Carbon Trading

Recognizing that CO2 emissions are directly related to the greenhouse effect and are causing irreversible changes to our environment, the parties tothis protocol agree that action must be taken rapidly to reduce these emissions in order to halt climate change. The parties therefore concur that Carbon Trading be established as a means of reducing global CO2 emissions. This shall be done by setting an emissions cap on all participating parties which seeks to reduce the total amount of global greenhouse gasses emitted. The parties further agree to the following:

 1. All Annex I parties must reduce their emissions by 5.2% from their emission levels of 1990. Parties will be allowed to trade carbong emission credits based on whether they are below or exceed their emission cap . Those parties emiiting at a level above their cap will buy emisison credits while those below their cap will sell.

2. Non-signatory parties will not be eligible for carbon trading of any sort.

3. Each signatory party will elect an official carbon representative to convey that party’s carbon credit status to the IMAC.

4. The International Mitigation and Adaptation Committee Carbon Trading Sector shall be established composed of carbon experts and economists that will regulate the representatives of the signatory parties, allocate credits, keep an inventory of total global emissions and credits, approve proposed projects and specification of those projects and set the standards for emission trading.

a. A credit will be the market value of one ton of carbon

b . Emissions levels will be measured per individual party

c . Credits willbe earned through:

i. Exceeding emission reduction commitment level

ii. Preservation and enhancement of natural sinks

iii. Investment in alternative energy

iv. Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanisms

v. Technology transfer

5. Borrowing of emissions credits is not permitted.

6. A flexible tax will be put in place for all credit transfers in order to fund all sectors of the IMAC.

Article 6: Industrial Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction and Taxation

Recognizing that GHG emission into the atmosphere is exceedingly high and that the issues regarding the reduction of GHG emission and the administration of taxes for all parties are complex, the Parties agree to the following:

I. The creation of a Industrial Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction and Taxation sub-committee under the auspices of the International Mitigation and Adaptation Committee (IMAC), which shall have the ultimate goal of reducing industrial greenhouse gases to improve health and environmental standards. This sub-committee shall be comprised of an economic, scientific, and environmental representative from each country who will be responsible for ascertaining the amount of GHG emission for industries, setting greenhouse gas yearly quotas, educating of industries on sustainable technological practices, and collecting taxes from industries who have exceeded greenhouse emission caps. The taxed money shall be sent to the head committee of IMAC to allocate the funds appropriately (see Principle 5).

III. Each Annex I Party’s GHG industrial outputs shall achieve a level that corresponds to 5.2% below 1990 emissions by 2012. Non Annex I Parties shall lower industrial GHG growth rate.
III. Taxes and fines on country specific industries shall be based on current greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable technological practices. Country Parties taxation shall be calculated by multiplying 10-6 by price per ton of carbon by GDP per person. This formula accounts for the wealth of each party and assures a fair carbon tax.

IV. Taxes paid to IMAC’s shall be assessed and allocated to the proper environmental and health organizations to preserve, adapt and remediate the environment for the present and the future well being of the global community.

Article 7 - Transportation

Recognizing that 80% of GHG emissions are in the form of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) with 14% of CO2 emissions from mobile sources worldwide and exceeding 30% in Annex I parties and that the issues are complex, with Annex I parties lacking the incentive to reduce reliance on conventional fossil fuels due to the price and convenience of petroleum, and Non-Annex I parties having fewer vehicles per capita but higher per vehicle emissions acknowledging that increasing prosperity in non-Annex I parties will enable more vehicle ownership with the potential for tremendous increases in CO2 emissions, the parties to this protocol agree to the following:

Annex I parties shall:

1. Mandate increased fuel efficiency standards for new vehicles and subsidies for alternative fuels with an initial increase of 15% in average vehicle fuel economy for new vehicles starting from the decade following the ratification of the protocol, to be re-evaluated on an biannual basis to show positive change in fuel economy, with sanctions imposed on Parties that do not meet the mandate by denying said parties the ability to participate in the carbon trading and technology transfer programs.

2. Propose taxes on emissions at the national level to be redirected to mass transit infrastructure with decreasing allocations for fossil fuel vehicle infrastructure by reducing the funding for highway spending programs at a rate of 5% per year until transit spending achieves parity.

The mechanisms for Annex I Parties include:

1. Encouraging Annex I multinational corporations and international lending institutions to invest in mass transit sector of non-Annex I nations by identifying as appropriate those non-Annex I nations that welcome Annex I party investment

2. Exploring potential for tax credits to be applied to purchase of alternative fuel vehicles

Non-Annex I parties shall:

1. Comply with a 1% per year incremental reduction of GHG emissions from newly sold vehicles over the ten year period upon ratification of the protocol to meet a target GHG reduction of 10% at the end of the ten year period.

2. Support development of non-motorized transit systems.


Article 8 - Alternative Energy Source

The Parties to this protocol,

In light of the fact that there currently exist viable renewable and non-GHG emitting alternatives for energy generation, recognizing the impact that energy generation through the burning of fossil fuels is having on global climate, ecosystems and humans, and highlighting the importance of developing alternative energy sources in order to ensure that the magnitude of the impact does not have disastrous consequences for the future,

Propose a program whose long term goals are to gradually replace fossil fuel-based energy generation with more renewable energy sources that are abundant and have vast potential for energy production. This replacement will occur through a gradual change in the infrastructure of energy production.

The Parties to this protocol, in accordance with the capabilities of each party, agree to:

I. Mandate the use of renewable energy sources such that:

a. Annex I countries shall increase their use of renewable energy by 20% by 2020
b. Non-Annex I countries shall increase their use in renewable energy by 1% by 2010 adn to be re-evaluated upward thereafter.

II. Monitor compliance with agreed upon guidelines through an Alternative Energy sub-committee under the auspices of IMAC, which shall provide researchers and representatives from each country to:

a. analyze the availability of renewable resources in each country:
b. evaluate which resource or combination of resources will be most beneficial.
c. decide appropriate allocation of funds and most cost effective levels for increases in renewable energy usage.
d. monitor progress and use of renewable energy
e. finance researchers and monitors

III. Cooperate with and participate in enforcement of this program by:

a. establishing a conversion scale to translate kW hours required of renewable energy production and kW hours of energy produced from renewable energy and related into a cost per ton of carbon produced by this difference.
b. agreeing to comply with levels for each country set by the Alternative Energy sub-committee of IMAC
c. accept the obligation, when in a situation of non-compliance to the guidelines laid out by this program, to pay a carbon tax which will effectively fund this program and its staff.

IV. Parties shall be encouraged to perform research on and development of renewable energy resources as seen fit for each country through the IMAP, and technology transfer and CDM shall encourage the installation management of renewable energy technologies in non-Annex I countries.

V. Private Funding for Alternative Energy

1. Rebates on purchases of alternative energy producing equipment at
the residential and industrial levels are strongly recommended to encourage private sector investment in Alternative Energy.


A. These rebates will be designed around each country and or
states economy.

B. Rebates need not be restricted to grid connected locations.

2. Tax incentives are encouraged as a way to increase private
investment in Alternative Energy sources.

A. These tax incentives will be unique to each country or state's economy.

B. Tax incentives are encouraged beyond the grid connected
locations.

3. Internationally, private sectors are encouraged to work together to
utilize renewable resources that are geographically specific. International aid due to technology transfer will increase opportunity for international joint ventures.

Joint ventures may also be done within a country depending on provinces
or states interaction.

Article 9: Technology Transfer

The Parties to this protocol recognizing that:

1) Carbon Trading is an effective means for controlling the future emissions of GHG.
2) An overseeing committee will be developed to monitor and establish current and future controls on GHG emissions.
Propose an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol that endorses the sharing and knowledge of technology.

Through this amendment the Parties commit to a strategy that will not only benefit their nations, but also the entire world, that shall include:

a) The implementation of such technologies that will help in the reduction of GHG emissions, namely

1 . Bio diesel, with a 5-year implementation program

2 . Desalinization technologies powered by renewable energy sources (i.e. solar power), with a 10-year implementation program

3 . Coal cleaning, with a 1- to 2-year implementation program

4 . Hydrogen Fuel Cells, with a 15-year implementation program

5 . And any other new technologies in the future.

All implementation periods include creation and development of infrastructure, facilities, and management.

b. The Parties agree to the creation of a technology transfer sub-committee under the auspices of the International Mitigation and Adaptation Committee (IMAC), which will have the following minimum requirements.

Three representatives from each country will form a sub-committee under the following titles:

i. Economic Advisor
ii. Environmental Scientist
iii. Technological Specialist

c. Parties who engage in the promotion of the transfer of technology will receive carbon credits under the carbon trading system outlined in Article 5. The trade of these credits will help to promote conservation efforts among participating nations. This will support the further advancement of technology and increase the participation among the member nations in technology transfer.

d. The above mentioned sub-committee will be responnbsible as follows:

  • Maintaining funding, trading and accounting for all technolgy transfer
  • working in collaboration to help define hwo certain technologies will affect the atmsophere
  • developing and advancing new and existing programs

e. The market value of carbon will be taken into account, so that a fair value is established. There must be a belief in the system by all parties involved. Parties must strive to cooperate with the intent of reducing emissions or mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. Each party should take into consideration that new technologies could lead to reduced emissions, subsequently by doing so, natural resources would be conserved. So there must be cooperation between all parties to accomplish the overall goals of the summit.

f. Developed countries will mentor undeveloped countries in how to become more efficient post-industrial nations.


Article 10 - Sea Level Rise

Recognizing that global mean sea level is rising due to global warming and is predicted to rise as much as one meter over the 21st century, and that there are complexities due to the fact that the emissions of Annex I nations are primarily responsible for global warming, while non-Annex I nations are most vulnerable to a sea level rise,

All parties to this protocol agree to the creation of an International Panel on Coastal Adaptation, which shall design a set of international guidelines for new coastal development.

The Parties to this protocol representing coastal countries agree to:

1. Establish Integrated Coastal Zone Management programs for their coastal zones.

2. Improve the detail and scale of research, data analysis, and reporting of their coastal zones and how they will be affected by sea level rise.

3. Limit the acceleration of growth within vulnerable coastal zones and promote development trends toward safe regions.

4. Formulate specific detailed adaptive response plans for each distinct region of its coastal zones.

5. Abide by the international guidelines designed by the IPCA.

All parties to this protocol agree to the creation of an International Coastal Adaptation Fund to be administered by the International Panel on Coastal Adaptation.

1. Fund monies shall be held and managed by the World Bank, who shall be allowed to invest said monies into interest bearing programs.

2. Funds shall be allocated to nations for the express purpose of coastal adaptation and repair and based on necessity as determined by the administrative board, with preference to developing nations and small island states.

3. 1% of all annual contributions will be allocated for the purpose of research and development of coastal adaptation technology and dissemination of this technology to nations in need.

4. Financing of the IPCA and the expenses associated with the fund will be paid directly from annual contributions.

All Annex I parties agree to provide annual contributions to the International Coastal Adaptation Fund.

1. Said contributions for each party will be equal to 0.1% of its annual GNP.

2. Bidding for commercial contracts for adaptive development and reconstruction shall be open to any Annex I nation contirbuting to the fund.

3. Contributions may be postponed for 10 years from the date of enactment of this article.

Article 11 - Water Crisis Prevention: Hydrology Adaptation Task Force

Noting the sufficient scientific evidence of great potential vulnerability of world water supply as a result of changes in climate from global warming,

Maintaining the precautionary principle in regard to the uncertainty in precipitation, storm, and hydrological changes, and responding to the threat in the most responsible manner possible,

Highlighting the disproportionate projected socio-economic costs of water crises to the non-Annex 1 Parties, and the developed nations primary share of the carbon emissions behind them,

Understanding that commitment to reduction of emissions has the added incentive of avoiding potentially catastrophic changes in world water supply,

The Parties to this protocol agree to utilize the International Emissions Committee funding and/or member party contributions to form the Hydrology Adaptation Task Force, which shall:

  • A. Work to enhance water supply infrastructure threatened by climate change through;
    i. Transfer of technologies such as drip irrigation systems
    ii. Furthering of traditional and low-technology efficiency in irrigation
    iii. Enactment of urban projects such as localized rainwater catchments
    iv. Furthered efforts to curb population growth, most specifically in water-scarcity “hot zones”
  • B. Interact and cooperate with emergency aid operations to immediately stabilize water supply, sanitation, and security, and alleviate preventable water/storm related damage.

    C. To be staffed through the “sponsorship,” or payment to volunteers by their home nation, of initially 150 “on the ground” hydrologists and aid workers.