Kyoto Protocol Research

KYOTO PROTOCOL

The Kyoto Protocol treaty was negotiated in December 1997 at the city of Kyoto, Japan and came into force February 16th, 2005. 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

Commitments under the Protocol vary from nation to nation. National targets range from 8% reductions for the European Union and some others to 7% for the US, 6% for Japan, 0% for Russia, and permitted increases of 8% for Australia and 10% for Iceland. The goal is to lower overall emissions from six greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, HFCs, and PFCs - calculated as an average over the five-year period of 2008-12. These reductions amount to an average of 5.2% against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012. The detailed rules for the implementation of the Protocol were adopted in Marrakesh, Morocco (2001), and are referred to as the ‘Marrakesh Accords’. Its first commitment period started in 2008 and ended in 2012.

The protocol was amended on December 21st, 2012 by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. During the first commitment period, 37 industrialized countries and the European Community committed to reduce GHG emissions to an average of 5% against 1990 levels. During the second commitment period, Parties committed to reduce GHG emissions by at least 18 % below 1990 levels in the eight-year period from 2013 to 2020.