KYOTO PROTOCOL AND

BEYOND
KOMAL AGARWAL; 17060321048
History of Climate Change

 Began in the early 19th century; discovery of greenhouse effect; scientific

argument.
 1960’s warming effect of CO2; Some favored the “aerosols” cooling effect;
By 1970’s came to a consensus.
 Research expanded since and the summary of these are in IPCC.
 World Climate Conference(1979), United Nations Conference on the
Human Environment (1970).
 Most successful conference, Earth Summit; led to establishment of
UNFCCC 1994.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B11kASPfYxY
 KYOTO PROTOCOL

 Summits were acknowledging; Kyoto Protocol biggest step towards doing something.
 International agreement setting target for industrialized countries to cut their greenhouse gas
emissions
 The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol aimed at fighting global warming.
 The UNFCCC is an international environmental treaty with the goal of achieving the "stabilization of
greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous
anthropogenic interference with the climate system”
 Principle set of UNFCCC after Kyoto Protocol, “ Parties should act to protect the climate system on
the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and
respective capabilities.
 Aimed to reduce overall developed country emissions by around 5% below 1990 levels over ‘first
commitment period’ 2008-2012.
 After arguments and negotiations the developing countries were exempted from the Kyoto
Protocol
 It was opened for signature on March 16, 1998, and closed a year later.
 Ratifying countries had to represent at least 55 percent of the world’s total carbon dioxide emissions for
1990. i
 The first condition was met on May 23, 2002, when Iceland became the 55th country to ratify the Kyoto
Protocol
 Under the Protocol, 37 countries, the "Annex I countries" (Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany,
United Kingdom, United States of America etc.) commit themselves to a reduction of four greenhouse
gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride) and two groups of gases
(hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons) produced by them, and all member countries give general
commitments.
 Since the goal of the Kyoto Protocol is to reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, it sets specific
emissions reduction targets for each industrialized nation, but excludes developing countries.
 To meet their targets, most ratifying nations would have to combine several strategies: 1. place restrictions
on their biggest polluters. 2. manage transportation to slow or reduce emissions from automobiles. 3.
make better use of renewable energy sources—such as solar power, wind power, and biodiesel—in place
of fossil fuels.
Mechanisms under Kyoto

 Flexible mechanisms, also sometimes knows as Flexibility Mechanisms or Kyoto Mechanisms,

refers to Emissions Trading, the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation.
 These are mechanisms defined under the Kyoto Protocol intended to lower the overall
costs of achieving its emissions targets.
 These mechanisms enable parties to achieve emission reductions or to remove carbon
from the atmosphere cost-effectively in other countries.
 While the cost of limiting emissions varies considerably from region to region, the benefit for
the atmosphere is in principle the same, wherever the action is taken
Doha Amendment

 The 18th Conference of the Parties in Doha (Qatar) in 2012 agreed an amendment to
the Kyoto Protocol. The 'Doha Amendment' establishes a second commitment period
(2013–20),
 adds nitrogen trifluoride to the list of greenhouse gases covered, and facilitates the
unilateral strengthening of commitments by individual parties.
 The Lima call for climate action, adopted by the 20th Conference of the Parties in
December 2014, encourages all 192 parties to the Kyoto Protocol to ratify the
amendment.
 As of 14 May 2015, 31 countries had ratified the amendment, which will enter into force
once 144 parties have ratified it.
 Acceptance and Implementation

 Most of the world’s industrialized nations support the Kyoto Protocol.

 One notable exception is the United States, which releases more greenhouse gases than any
other nation and accounts for more than 25 percent of those generated by humans worldwide.
 Generally part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),
these talks concern the period after the first "commitment period" of the Kyoto Protocol, which
expired at the end of 2012. Negotiations have been mandated by the adoption of the Bali
Road Map and Decision 1/CP.13 ("The Bali Action Plan").
 Bali Action Plan

 succeeded in establishing a framework for negotiations to create an agreement that would

replace the Kyoto protocol as of 2012. The final agreement reached by the international
community in Bali, labelled by COP president Witoelar in its closing statement as a “breakthrough”,
namely a precise and concrete commitment to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions
of 25-40% by 2020
 , but still can be considered significant as it signs the return of the US in the negotiating process for
the first time after the withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol track of March 2001.
 The Bali Action Plan did not introduce binding commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
but included the request for developed countries to contribute to the mitigation of global warming
in the context of sustainable development.
 In addition, the Bali Action Plan envisaged enhanced actions on adaptation, technology
development and on the provision financial resources, as well as measures against deforestation.