Inertia in the North American electricity industry: is it realistic to think that the Kyoto Protocol objectives can be met?

It is generally accepted that attainment of the objectives set in the Kyoto Protocol will impose fundamental changes on the structure of North Americaʹs economy. This text highlights the extent of the Kyoto challenge as it pertains to one critical sector of the economy, the electricity industry. The results of the analysis, based on historical trends, suggest that it will be virtually impossible to reach the Kyoto objectives within the North American electricity industry. These results confirm and reiterate the degree of difficulty in meeting the Kyoto objectives and hence help explain the lack of political support for ratification of the Protocol.