Copenhagen Summit – Kyoto

Protocol- by Sushmita Dutta

The biggest threat that the world is facing today is global

warming. Since the past century the temperature of
earth has risen by almost 1 degree. The 21st century
might see the earth’s temperature rise by almost 3
degrees, which will result in major climatic changes like
melting of ice sheets or the rise in sea level. There is no
exaggeration in the fact that global warming could
seriously endanger life.
Global warming is mostly caused by the emission of
greenhouse gases, which include carbon dioxide,
methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride, in large
quantities. It depletes the ozone layer which protects the
earth from the ultra-violet rays of the sun. It also
increases the heat in earth’s atmosphere. Rapid rise of
industrialization and increase in automobiles are
responsible for the alarming emission of greenhouse. The
gas emitted from the burning of petrol all over the world
is damaging the earth’s atmosphere.

People around the world are now realizing the dangers

that await them if they do not wake up to this imminent
threat. So, governments and world bodies are gearing up
to finding ways to fight this menace.

One such very important meet was held in the year of

1997, in the city of Kyoto in Japan. The United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
brought most of the countries under the Kyoto Protocol
as a solid first step top combat the problem. The major
feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding
targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European
community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions. This protocol came into force on February
16th, 2005.

According to the Protocol, all the countries under the

agreement will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by
5.2% as compared to the year 1990. These gases include
carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur
hexafluoride, HFCs, and PFCs. Targets of reduction range
from 8% for the European Union nations to 7% for USA,
6% for Japan and permitted increase for Australia by 8%
and 10% for Iceland.

Till November 2009, 187 nations have signed the

protocol. But a major stumbling block to the Kyoto
Protocol is the United States of America, which is
responsible for 36% of the greenhouse gas emissions of
the 1990 emission levels. Emission limits do not include
emissions by international aviation and shipping, but are
in addition to the industrial gases, chlorofluorocarbons, or
CFCs, which are dealt with under the 1987 Montreal
Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
There are five principle concepts of the Kyoto
Protocol (as stated in the Protocol):
i) To reduce the emissions of the greenhouse gases by all
countries who have committed to the agreement.
ii) To prepare policies and find out means to reduce
greenhouse gases, and also to implement them.
iii) To increase absorption of these hazardous gases
( through geosequestration and biosequestration) and
use all possible means available such as joint
implementation, clean development mechanism and
emission trading; also by rewarding nations doing better
in these areas.
iv) To minimize the impact on the developing nations by
establishing an adaptation fund for climate change.
v) Accounting, reporting and reviewing to ensure the
integrity of the Protocol so that people may not misuse
the terms

A market-based mechanism has been devised in the

Kyoto Protocol as means of achieving the targets for all
the participating countries. The mechanism includes
Emissions trading – known as “the carbon market”, Clean
development mechanism (CDM) and Joint
implementation (JI). These mechanisms help stimulate
green investment and help parties meet their emission
targets in a cost-effective way.

According to scientists, in over 800,000 years, the

density of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere has
been the highest now. Seeing this some nations have
already put forward their commitment to cut down on the
emissions. The latest entrant being China, who has
declared that it would cut down on gas emissions by 40%
till 2020.

But what is important is putting forth a more concrete

agreement, while retaining all the good features of the
Kyoto meet. Will the Copenhagen meet ponder over the
issue more seriously and devise stricter regimes for a
safer earth?

But there is an issue of responsibility that needs to be

sorted out first. Developing countries are finding the
emission cut - a block in the way to prosperity. They
believe that the poorer countries should be allowed to
develop without restriction, just as the richer countries
had done in the past without any checks. They also feel
that developed countries need to make the biggest cuts.

We have to also keep in mind the fact that the question

of development of a country does not arise if there is no
planet earth. So even if all the countries go a little slow
on the trajectory of development, everyone must be
committed towards this higher purpose.
-ZEE NEWS COM - SPECIAL