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Kyoto Protocol Basics
The Kyoto Protocol is the international communities plan to avoid dangerous climate change. Whilst the Kyoto Protocol is not perfect, it is an important step towards a global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Importantly, it is the only international agreement that offers a framework to avoid dangerous climate change.
The negotiation for the Protocol was completed in December 1997 in Kyoto. The United States and Australia were involved in the negotiations, and key parts of the Kyoto Protocol were included at their insistence.
The Kyoto Protocol recognises that developed countries have caused the majority of greenhouse gas emissions and thus bear the bulk of the responsibility for the climate change we've already experienced. These developed countries are identified in Annex 1 of the Protocol, and they agreed to adopt targets to reduce their climate change pollution. The targets (or commitments) differ from country to country, but overall the goal was to reduce climate change pollution by 5% by 2012.
Commitments under the Protocol to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets vary from nation to nation. Some developed countries are required to reduce emissions, some to keep their emissions constant, and some are allowed to increase emissions by a certain amount. Greenhouse gas targets for 2008-2012 are shown in the Table below.
The European Union (EU) has made its own internal agreement to meet its 8 per cent reduction target by distributing different rates to its member states. These targets range from a 28 per cent reduction by Luxembourg and 21 per cent cuts by Denmark and Germany to a 25 per cent increase by Greece and a 27 per cent increase by Portugal.
Developing countries can still participate in reducing emissions, particularly through the CDM, but they do not have mandatory targets for the first commitment period.
Currently targets for reducing greenhouse gases have been set for the first commitment period (2008-2012). Negotiation for future targets and commitments began in November 2005, and will continue at the next Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in Nairobi in November 2006. (Link to What Happens Post 2012?)
For a full list of countries who have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, click here.
The negotiation for the Protocol was completed in December 1997 in Kyoto. The United States and Australia were involved in the negotiations, and key parts of the Kyoto Protocol were included at their insistence.
The Kyoto Protocol recognises that developed countries have caused the majority of greenhouse gas emissions and thus bear the bulk of the responsibility for the climate change we've already experienced. These developed countries are identified in Annex 1 of the Protocol, and they agreed to adopt targets to reduce their climate change pollution. The targets (or commitments) differ from country to country, but overall the goal was to reduce climate change pollution by 5% by 2012.
Commitments under the Protocol to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets vary from nation to nation. Some developed countries are required to reduce emissions, some to keep their emissions constant, and some are allowed to increase emissions by a certain amount. Greenhouse gas targets for 2008-2012 are shown in the Table below.
| Region | Emissions Targets relative to 1990 levels |
| European Union, Switzerland, and most Central and East European states | 8 per cent reduction |
| Canada | 6 per cent reduction |
| United States (although it has withdrawn its support for the Protocol) | 7 per cent reduction |
| Hungary, Japan, and Poland | 6 per cent reduction |
| New Zealand, Russia, and Ukraine | stabilise emissions |
| Norway | increase emissions by up to 1 per cent |
| Australia (although it has withdrawn its support for the Protocol) | 8 per cent increase |
| Iceland | 10 per cent increase |
The European Union (EU) has made its own internal agreement to meet its 8 per cent reduction target by distributing different rates to its member states. These targets range from a 28 per cent reduction by Luxembourg and 21 per cent cuts by Denmark and Germany to a 25 per cent increase by Greece and a 27 per cent increase by Portugal.
Developing countries can still participate in reducing emissions, particularly through the CDM, but they do not have mandatory targets for the first commitment period.
Currently targets for reducing greenhouse gases have been set for the first commitment period (2008-2012). Negotiation for future targets and commitments began in November 2005, and will continue at the next Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in Nairobi in November 2006. (Link to What Happens Post 2012?)
Who has joined the Kyoto Protocol?
The Kyoto Protocol has been ratified (adopted) by 166 countries, including India and China. The Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005. This means that countries who have ratified the Protocol are legally obligated to meet their targets for greenhouse gas reduction.For a full list of countries who have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, click here.
Accra ECO 3
CAN submission on KP on methodologies
