| | | The Kyoto Protocol

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he Kyoto Protocol is an agreement between many nations of the world under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The aim of this agreement is to reduce the dangerous levels of emission of greenhouse gases and its impact on climate.

1 A Historic Day
2 What Took Place at the Kyoto Conference?
3 The Terms of the Kyoto Protocol
4 Detractors
5 What Is the World Doing?
6 References

A Historic Day

The Kyoto Protocol was signed on December 11, 1997. The treaty came into effect on February 16, 2005 and today, thirty-six developed nations and a hundred and thirty-seven developing countries, such as India, China and Brazil, have agreed to abide by the Kyoto Protocol. The developed countries have agreed to specific lowered emission levels, while the developing nations must monitor and report their emission volumes. The greenhouse gases named under the Kyoto Protocol are carbon dioxide and five other gases.

The Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, and discussions on a successor to the current treaty are already under way.

What Took Place at the Kyoto Conference?

It was not only the representatives of different countries that attended the discussions that led to the establishment of the Kyoto Protocol; there were also specialists in the field as well as representatives from relevant organizations who would be most affected. This included ecologists, climatologists, oil and coal companies, and non-governmental organizations such as Greenpeace. When the participating countries met in December 1997, the intention was to create an agreement which was binding on the parties concerned. Earlier, reduction proposals had been made – for example, the United States of America felt that emissions should stay at 1990 levels, while the European Union suggested that emissions should be 15% below 1990 levels by 2010. The talks leading up to the Kyoto Protocol took ten days.

The Terms of the Kyoto Protocol

According to the Kyoto Protocol, developed nations must reduce greenhouse gas emissions to below 1990 levels. For example, the European Union agreed to an 8% decrease, Japan to 6% and America to 7%. Such reduction targets were not binding on developing nations, despite strenuous argument from the United States.

The concept of emissions trading was also introduced. If a country does not meet its reduction objectives, it may buy emission credits from a less polluting country. And if a developing country initiates a greenhouse gas emission project, they will carbon credits, which may be sold to non-compliant developed nations.

The Kyoto Protocol is governed by global law. It separates nations into Annex I countries – developed economies which have made binding agreements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide an annual greenhouse gas inventory – and Non-Annex I nations that have no specific obligations other than monitoring and reporting levels of greenhouse gases. The Non-Annex I countries, may, however, participate in the Clean Development Mechanism. An Annex I country that fails to meet requirements will have to make extra reductions in the next commitment period, which will be 2008 to 2012, when they will have to reduce greenhouse gases emissions by an average 5% below 1990 levels.

Detractors

Although the United Sates of America and Kazakhstan are signatories to the Kyoto Protocol, they have still not ratified it. America claims adherence to the Kyoto Protocol will have a negative effect on the country’s economy. The concept of equitable emission reduction also does not appeal to the Americans, despite the undeniable fact that the developed economies account for the largest volumes of greenhouse gas emissions, while the developed countries will feel the effects of emissions and climate change the most.

Equitable emissions have, in fact, led to considerable argument between developed and developing countries. The former believe that high populations and projected industrial development in the less developed countries are sufficient reasons for them to be involved in active emission reduction. On the other hand, the developing countries say that they do not have the money or technology to ratify an agreement. They feel it’s unfair for them to pay the price for problems not of their own making.

What Is the World Doing?

Canada's obligation to the Kyoto treaty began in 2008, but many provinces such as Manitoba, Quebec and British Columbia follow emission reduction policies as part of the Western Climate Initiative, despite fears that these will put them at a disadvantage in trade with the United States.

Germany has decreased greenhouse gases emissions by 17.2% in the period from 1990 and 2004. The United Kingdom is a firm supporter of the Kyoto Protocol, and seems to be meeting its requirements, except perhaps those that concern carbon dioxide emissions. France’s carbon dioxide emissions, thanks to its extensive use of nuclear powered electricity – there are no coal mines any more in this country. Norway, unfortunately, has had a 8% increase in carbon dioxide emissions.

India signed the Kyoto Protocol in 2002, hoping to gain technological know-how for greenhouse gas emission reduction, while Japan says it cannot meet the expected reduction levels. Russia ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2004, and foresees no difficulty with meeting its obligations, since its emission levels are already well below the limitations. China has high greenhouse gas emission levels and plans to increase them further.

Sadly, the richest and most powerful nation in the world has not its support to the Kyoto Protocol. The Impact of the Kyoto Protocol Are the terms of the Kyoto Protocol effective in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions? Even if all the countries who have ratified the Protocol implement its principles, emissions will be only 5.2% less than the emission levels in the 1990s. This is nowhere near the desired results, but it must be said that the Kyoto Protocol is the first step in the right direction.

Many governments have implemented changes, and are still formulating legislation that will help a great deal in the years to come.

This step is an essential one, and now should be followed by a serious effort to burn less fuels and seek alternative, renewable energy sources, and to halt deforestation as well as follow an aggressive reforestation policy. Immediate action is absolutely vital if we are not to destroy the world we live on.