Kyoto Protocol
Outline of The Kyoto Protocol
• December 11, 1997 in Kyoto,
Opened for signature Japan.
• February 16, 2005.
Entered into force
• 55 parties and at least 55% CO2
Conditions for entry
into force 1990 emissions by UNFCCC
Annex I parties.
• 169 countries and other
Parties governmental entities (as of
December 2006).
Source: ([Link]
2
What is Kyoto Protocol?
The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement made under the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC).
Countries that ratify this protocol commit to reduce their
emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases,
or engage in emissions trading if they maintain or increase
emissions of these gases.
The Kyoto Protocol now covers more than 160 countries
globally and over 55% of global greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions.
1
Kyoto protocol
Date of establishment: The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in
Kyoto, Japan on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on
16 February 2005.
Number of Country member :There are currently 192 parties
(Canada withdrew effective December 2012) to the Protocol.
4
Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol
Source: Wikipedia.,2005 5
History of Kyoto Protocol
• The UN Conference on the Environment and
Development is held in Rio de Janeiro. It results
1992 in the Framework Convention on Climate Change
(FCCC or UNFCCC) among other agreements.
• Parties to the UNFCCC meet in Berlin (the 1st
1995 Conference of Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC) to
outline specific targets on emissions.
• In December the parties conclude the Kyoto
1997 Protocol in Kyoto, Japan, in which they agree to
the broad outlines of emissions targets.
6
Continue…
• Russia and Canada ratify the Kyoto Protocol to
2002 the UNFCCC bringing the treaty into effect on 16
February 2005.
• Canada became the first signatory to announce its
2011 withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol.
• On 31 December 2012, the first commitment
2012
period under the Protocol expired.
7
Objectives of Kyoto Protocol
The main goal of the Kyoto Protocol is :
To control emissions of the main anthropogenic (i.e., human-
emitted) greenhouse gases (GHGs) in ways that reflect underlying
national differences in GHG emissions, wealth, and capacity to
make the reductions. The treaty follows the main principles
agreed in the original 1992 UN Framework Convention.
The ultimate objectives of Kyoto Protocol:
‘Stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere
at a level that would stop dangerous anthropogenic interference
with the climate system.’
7
Principles of Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto establishes the following principles:
Kyoto is underwritten by governments and is governed by global
legislation enacted under the UN’s aegis
Governments are separated into two general categories:
developed countries, referred to as Annex 1 countries (who have
accepted GHG emission reduction obligations and must submit an
annual greenhouse gas inventory); and developing countries,
referred to as Non-Annex 1 countries (who have no GHG emission
reduction obligations but may participate in the Clean
Development Mechanism).
2
Continue…
Any Annex 1 country that fails to meet its Kyoto target will be
penalized by having to submit 1.3 emission allowances in a
second commitment period for every ton of GHG emissions
they exceed their cap in the first commitment period (i.e.
2008-2012).
By 2008-2012, Annex 1 countries have to reduce their GHG
emissions by an average of 5% below their 1990 levels (for
many countries, such as the EU member states, this
corresponds to some 15% below their expected GHG
emissions in 2008). While the average emissions reduction is
5%, national targets range from 8% reductions for the
European Union to a 10% emissions increase for Iceland.
Reduction targets expire in 2013.
4
Continue…
Kyoto includes "flexible mechanisms" which allow Annex 1
economies to meet their GHG targets by purchasing GHG
emission reductions from elsewhere. These can be bought
either from financial exchanges (such as the new EU
Emissions Trading Scheme) or from projects which reduce
emissions in non-Annex 1 economies under the Clean
Development Mechanism (CDM), or in other Annex-1
countries under the JI.
Minimizing Impacts on Developing Countries by establishing
an adaptation fund for climate change.
Accounting, Reporting and Review in order to ensure the
integrity of the Protocol.
1
1
Continue…
Compliance. Establishing a Compliance Committee to enforce
compliance with the commitments under the Protocol.
What this means in practice is that Non-Annex 1 economies
have no GHG emission restrictions, but when a GHG emission
reduction project (a “GHG Project”) is implemented in these
countries, that GHG Project will receive Carbon Credit which
can be sold to Annex 1 buyers.
5
Agreement of Kyoto Protocol
The agreement is a protocol to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted at
the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, which did not set
any legally binding limitations on emissions or enforcement
mechanisms. Only Parties to the UNFCCC can become Parties
to the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted at the
third session of the Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC
(COP 3) in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan.
13
Continue…
National emission targets specified in the Kyoto Protocol
exclude international aviation and shipping. Kyoto Parties
can use -land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF)
in meeting their targets.
LULUCF activities are also called "sink" activities.
Changes in sinks and land use can have an effect on the
climate, and indeed the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change's Special Report on Land Use, Land-Use
Change and Forestry estimates that since 1750 a third of
global warming has been caused by land use change.
14
Continue…
Particular criteria apply to the definition of forestry under the
Kyoto Protocol.
Forest management, cropland management, grazing land
management, and re-vegetation are all eligible LULUCF
activities under the Protocol. Annex I Parties use of forest
management in meeting their targets is capped.
15
Financial commitments
The Protocol also reaffirms the principle that developed
countries have to pay billions of dollars, and supply
technology to other countries for climate-related studies and
projects. This was originally agreed in the UNFCCC.
16
