Texan Hotrodders
04-10-2005, 16:53
The soft but strong noise of a loud sigh filled the air as Edward Jones leaned back in his favorite chair, mildly irritated at what he saw before him. The latest update on UN legislation was troubling, to say the least. Just a few days after the repeal of that most hideously...wrong...resolution called "Promotion of Solar Panels", the United Nations was facing a somewhat more moderate proposal of the same type. Given the current state of the Federation's compliance with UN resolutions (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9656519&postcount=32), this resolution would not do any direct harm to his nation, but Edward knew that this would still cause economic trouble in some parts of the world, and that could affect the economy of the Federation.
Fossil Fuel Reduction Act
A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.
Category: Environmental
Industry Affected: All Businesses
Proposed by: Ateelatay
Description: NOTING: that using fossil fuel as an energy source cannot continue indefinitely, because of damage to the environment and finite supply.
NOTING: that long-term energy sustainability requires drastic reduction of the use of fossil fuels as energy sources and the eventual reliance on clean, renewable energy sources.
NOTING: that the current level of energy generation may itself be unsustainable in the long term and that programs that promote conservation and increased energy efficiency, as well as reassessing what are energy needs and what are unnecessary luxuries, will be key parts.
NOTING: that environmental damage caused by burning fossil fuels is not localized to the country burning them but rather of global concern.
REALIZING: that the drastic reduction of the use of fossil fuels is a monumental task requiring the help, cooperation, and commitment of all UN nations.
DEFINITIONS
Fossil fuels: Hydrocarbon deposits, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas, derived from living matter of a previous geologic time and used for fuel.
Clean, renewable energy sources: energy derived from sources that do not completely use up natural resources or do significant harm the environment in the long-term.
The UN hereby enacts the following:
ARTICLE I: Terms of the resolution
Section A: Each nation must calculate the average amount of fossil fuel consumed per year over the last 3 years, this is their "ceiling consumption rate." Each nation is required to reduce consumption by a minimum of 2% of the ceiling rate every year, until rates are at or under 10% of ceiling consumption rate. This means that, after one year, rates should be at 98% of the ceiling consumption rate; after two years, at 96% of the ceiling consumption rate; and so on.
Section B: Each nation must increase funding for research, development, and implementation of clean, renewable energy sources and increased energy efficiency and conservation programs by a minimum of 1% per year, until Section A has been satisfied.
Section C: Nations may use energy sources that are ultimately not sustainable, such as nuclear fission, to supplement power until they are able to use clean renewable energy sources only.
Section D: Nations' governments are strongly encouraged to give incentives to the private and nonprofit sectors to help it comply with the requirements set out in Sections A through C.
Section E: Nations that meet the requirements at least 5 years before the minimum required term of 45 years, implied in Section A, shall receive a 5% increase in any UN aid they are receiving, until said 45 year term.
ARTICLE II: Special Cases
Section A: If a nation is trying to comply with the resolution, but having trouble, it may apply for a time extension, but must demonstrate significant need. Legitimate significant needs are extensive damage to infrastructure or economy because of:
Natural disasters
War
Severe economic depression
If significant need is established, an appropriate time extension relative to need will be granted.
Section B: If a nation refuses to comply with the resolution, the UN grants the right to UN member nations to impose trade sanctions on the offending nation, except for sanctions previously banned by the UN, until the nation comes into compliance.
Votes For: 1,190
Votes Against: 447
Voting Ends: Sat Oct 8
As he re-read the text of the resolution, Edward found that Section A in particular was bothering him. A decrease of even that low magnitude while the population was increasing at an astonishing rate would be incredibly problematic to implement. Even maintaining the ceiling rate would be hard with the kind of population growth the Federation was experiencing. Fortunately, there were no indications that a decreasing oil supply would ever be a problem here in the region of Texas. Perhaps the biggest problem would be the possibility of trade sanctions against the Federation were it to become known that they were only technically in compliance.
Edward sighed again out of frustration, tired of dealing with folks who couldn't imagine that there were nations out there that just didn't have the same problems as they did, and tired of knowing that the UN would pass almost anything that sounded good regardless of whether it was good or not. At this point, the vote tally indicated a heavy majority in favor of the resolution, and Edward knew that this resolution was probably a done deal and that a repeal would be very difficult, which would make it hard to do anything about the situation.
Fossil Fuel Reduction Act
A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.
Category: Environmental
Industry Affected: All Businesses
Proposed by: Ateelatay
Description: NOTING: that using fossil fuel as an energy source cannot continue indefinitely, because of damage to the environment and finite supply.
NOTING: that long-term energy sustainability requires drastic reduction of the use of fossil fuels as energy sources and the eventual reliance on clean, renewable energy sources.
NOTING: that the current level of energy generation may itself be unsustainable in the long term and that programs that promote conservation and increased energy efficiency, as well as reassessing what are energy needs and what are unnecessary luxuries, will be key parts.
NOTING: that environmental damage caused by burning fossil fuels is not localized to the country burning them but rather of global concern.
REALIZING: that the drastic reduction of the use of fossil fuels is a monumental task requiring the help, cooperation, and commitment of all UN nations.
DEFINITIONS
Fossil fuels: Hydrocarbon deposits, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas, derived from living matter of a previous geologic time and used for fuel.
Clean, renewable energy sources: energy derived from sources that do not completely use up natural resources or do significant harm the environment in the long-term.
The UN hereby enacts the following:
ARTICLE I: Terms of the resolution
Section A: Each nation must calculate the average amount of fossil fuel consumed per year over the last 3 years, this is their "ceiling consumption rate." Each nation is required to reduce consumption by a minimum of 2% of the ceiling rate every year, until rates are at or under 10% of ceiling consumption rate. This means that, after one year, rates should be at 98% of the ceiling consumption rate; after two years, at 96% of the ceiling consumption rate; and so on.
Section B: Each nation must increase funding for research, development, and implementation of clean, renewable energy sources and increased energy efficiency and conservation programs by a minimum of 1% per year, until Section A has been satisfied.
Section C: Nations may use energy sources that are ultimately not sustainable, such as nuclear fission, to supplement power until they are able to use clean renewable energy sources only.
Section D: Nations' governments are strongly encouraged to give incentives to the private and nonprofit sectors to help it comply with the requirements set out in Sections A through C.
Section E: Nations that meet the requirements at least 5 years before the minimum required term of 45 years, implied in Section A, shall receive a 5% increase in any UN aid they are receiving, until said 45 year term.
ARTICLE II: Special Cases
Section A: If a nation is trying to comply with the resolution, but having trouble, it may apply for a time extension, but must demonstrate significant need. Legitimate significant needs are extensive damage to infrastructure or economy because of:
Natural disasters
War
Severe economic depression
If significant need is established, an appropriate time extension relative to need will be granted.
Section B: If a nation refuses to comply with the resolution, the UN grants the right to UN member nations to impose trade sanctions on the offending nation, except for sanctions previously banned by the UN, until the nation comes into compliance.
Votes For: 1,190
Votes Against: 447
Voting Ends: Sat Oct 8
As he re-read the text of the resolution, Edward found that Section A in particular was bothering him. A decrease of even that low magnitude while the population was increasing at an astonishing rate would be incredibly problematic to implement. Even maintaining the ceiling rate would be hard with the kind of population growth the Federation was experiencing. Fortunately, there were no indications that a decreasing oil supply would ever be a problem here in the region of Texas. Perhaps the biggest problem would be the possibility of trade sanctions against the Federation were it to become known that they were only technically in compliance.
Edward sighed again out of frustration, tired of dealing with folks who couldn't imagine that there were nations out there that just didn't have the same problems as they did, and tired of knowing that the UN would pass almost anything that sounded good regardless of whether it was good or not. At this point, the vote tally indicated a heavy majority in favor of the resolution, and Edward knew that this resolution was probably a done deal and that a repeal would be very difficult, which would make it hard to do anything about the situation.