Kyoto Protocol

Kyoto Parties with first period (2008-2012) greenhouse gas emissions limitations targets and the percentage change in their carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion between 1990 and 2009

Overview map of states committed to greenhouse gas limitations in the first Kyoto Protocol period (years 2008-2012) (greyscale)

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Carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion of Annex I Kyoto Protocol Parties 1990-2009

Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that extends the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the scientific consensus that (part one) global warming is occurring and (part two) it is extremely likely that human-made CO2 emissions have predominantly caused it. The protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005. As of September 2020, there are 192 parties (191 states and the European Union) to the Kyoto Protocol.

Background

The Kyoto Protocol was negotiated in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997. It was opened for signature on 11 December 1997 and closed on 12 March 1998. The agreement came into force on 16 February 2005 after it was ratified by a sufficient number of countries. The detailed rules for the implementation of the protocol were adopted in Marrakech in 2001, and are referred to as the "Marrakech Accords." The Kyoto Protocol is seen as an important first step towards a truly global emission reduction regime that will stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

Objectives

The main objective of the Kyoto Protocol is to reduce the emissions of six greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) - in order to prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system. The Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period started in 2008 and ended in 2012. A second commitment period was agreed on in 2012, known as the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, extending the obligation to reduce GHG emissions until 2020.

Mechanisms

The Kyoto Protocol introduced three market-based mechanisms to assist countries in meeting their national targets in a cost-effective way: Emissions Trading, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Joint Implementation (JI). These mechanisms allow countries that have emission units to spare - emissions permitted them but not "used" - to sell this excess capacity to countries that are over their targets.

Emissions Trading

Also known as the carbon market, this allows countries that have emission units to spare to sell this excess capacity to countries that are over their targets.

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

The CDM allows a country with an emission-reduction or emission-limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to implement an emission-reduction project in developing countries. Such projects can earn saleable certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting Kyoto targets.

Joint Implementation (JI)

JI allows a country with an emission reduction or limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to earn emission reduction units (ERUs) from an emission-reduction or emission-limitation project in another Annex I country, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting its Kyoto target.

Criticism and Challenges

The Kyoto Protocol has faced criticism for several reasons. Some argue that it does not go far enough to combat climate change or that it unfairly penalizes industrialized nations while exempting developing countries from binding targets. The United States, historically one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases, signed but did not ratify the Protocol. The absence of participation by significant emitters has been a point of contention and criticism.

Future and Legacy

The Kyoto Protocol's commitment periods have ended, but its legacy continues to influence ongoing international climate negotiations and agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, which was adopted in 2015 to bring all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.