The Kyoto Protocol became effective on February 16, 2005, requiring the [[European Union]] to reduce its average emissions between the years 2008 and 2012 by 8% relative to 1990 levels.
The Kyoto Protocol became effective on February 16, 2005, requiring the [[European Union]] to reduce its average emissions between the years 2008 and 2012 by 8% relative to 1990 levels.
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==Enron scandal==
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In July 1997, Enron CEO Ken Lay met with President [[Bill Clinton]] and Vice President [[Al Gore]] in the [[Oval Office]]. Clinton, Lay, and Gore discussed approval of the [[Kyoto protocol]]s on carbon emissions.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/transcripts/gopresponse_memo.htm</ref>
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An internal Enron memo says the treaty will, "do more to promote Enron's business than will almost any other regulatory initiative outside of restructuring the energy and natural gas industries in Europe and the United States." Lay told Enron employees Bill Clinton solicited Lay's views "in advance of a climate treaty to be negotiated at an international conference" And Lay said Clinton agreed to support Lay's proposal of a carbon emissions trading exchange from which Enron planned to profit hugely while American consumers paid steep price increases for electricity and natural gas.<ref>Robert Schlesinger, "Enron Ties May Also Tar Democrats; Company Lobbied Clinton, Donated To Top Legislators," The Boston Globe, January 24, 2002</ref>
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The Republican Senate rejected the Kyoto treaty by a 95-to-0 vote on August 15, 1997.<ref>http://talking_points.tripod.com/</ref>