S.J.R. 9 Enrolled

RESOLUTION CONCERNING KYOTO
PROTOCOL ON GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
1998 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Mike Dmitrich
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE URGING THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES NOT TO SIGN THE KYOTO PROTOCOL ON GLOBAL CLIMATE
CHANGE, SUBMIT IT TO CONGRESS FOR CONSIDERATION, NOR INITIATE
STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE GREENHOUSE GASES UNTIL THE PROTOCOL IS
AMENDED TO REQUIRE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO MITIGATE EMISSIONS
WITHIN THE SAME COMPLIANCE PERIOD AS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES; URGING
THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO REJECT ANY PROTOCOL INCONSISTENT WITH
UNITED STATES SENATE RESOLUTION 98; AND URGING GOVERNOR LEAVITT TO
PROHIBIT IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION PLAN IN
UTAH UNTIL IT IS RATIFIED BY THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
WHEREAS the United States is a signatory to the 1992 United Nations Framework
Convention on Global Climate Change (FCCC);
WHEREAS a proposed protocol to expand the scope of the FCCC, known as the Kyoto
Protocol, was negotiated in December 1997, in Kyoto, Japan;
WHEREAS the Kyoto Protocol potentially requires the United States to reduce emissions
of greenhouse gases from 1990 levels by seven percent between 2008 and 2012, with potentially
larger emission reductions thereafter;
WHEREAS the Kyoto Protocol would require other major industrial nations to reduce
emissions from 1990 levels by six to eight percent between 2008 and 2012, with potentially larger
emission reductions thereafter;
WHEREAS President Clinton pledged on October 22, 1997, "that [the] United States not
assume binding obligations (in Kyoto) unless key developing nations meaningfully participate in
this effort";

WHEREAS on July 25, 1997, the United States Senate adopted Senate Resolution 98 by a
voice vote of 95-0, expressing the sense of the Senate that "the United States should not be a
signatory to any protocol to, or other agreement regarding, the Framework Convention on Climate
Change . . . which would require the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, and which
would mandate new commitments to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions for the Developed Country
Parties unless the protocol or other agreement also mandates specific scheduled commitments within
the same compliance period to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions for Developing Country Parties";
WHEREAS developing nations are exempt from greenhouse gas emission limitations
requirements in the FCCC, and refused in the Kyoto negotiations to accept any new commitments
for greenhouse gas emission limitations through the Kyoto Protocol;
WHEREAS manmade emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are caused
primarily by the combustion of oil, coal, and natural gas fuels by industries, automobiles, homes,
and other uses of energy;
WHEREAS the United States relies on carbon-based fossil fuels for more than 90 percent
of its total energy supply;
WHEREAS achieving the emission reductions proposed by the Kyoto Protocol would require
a 38 percent reduction in projected United States carbon emissions between 2008 and 2012;
WHEREAS developing countries exempt from emission limitations under the Kyoto
Protocol are expected to increase their rates of fossil fuel use over the next two decades, and to
surpass the United States and other industrialized countries in total emissions of greenhouse gases;
WHEREAS studies prepared by WEFA, an economic forecasting group, estimate that legally
binding requirements for the reduction of United States greenhouse gases below 1990 levels would
result in the loss of more than 8,400 jobs, create higher energy, housing, medical and food costs, and
reduce Utah tax revenues by over $100 million;
WHEREAS with no commitments in the Kyoto Protocol, developing countries enjoy an
unfair competitive imbalance in relation to industrial nations, potentially leading to the transfer of
jobs and industrial development from the United States to developing countries; and
WHEREAS increased emissions of greenhouse gases by developing countries would offset

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any environmental benefits associated with emission reductions achieved by the United States and
by other industrial nations:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah call upon
the President of the United States not to sign the Kyoto Protocol, submit it to the United States
Senate for ratification, nor attempt to use federal agencies to initiate strategies to mitigate greenhouse
gases unless the protocol is amended or otherwise revised, consistent with United States Senate
Resolution 98, to include specific scheduled commitments from developing countries to mitigate
greenhouse gas emissions within the same compliance period as required for developed countries.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah call upon the United
States Senate to reject any proposed protocol or other amendment to the FCCC that is inconsistent
with this resolution, or that does not comply fully with United States Senate Resolution 98.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah call upon Governor
Leavitt to prohibit Utah state agencies from implementing any strategies to reduce greenhouse gases
unless the United States Senate ratifies any protocol to, or other agreement regarding, the Framework
Convention on Climate Change.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the President of the
United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House
of Representatives, the United Nations, and the members of Utah's congressional delegation.

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