Greenpeace Czech Republic marks Kyoto coming into force with a large banner reading "Kyoto for the Earth" in the front of famous National Museum in the centre of Prague. The museum is a place marking historic and symbolic events in recent Czech history.
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
The Kyoto Protocol is the world's only international agreement
with binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As such,
it is the primary tool governments of the world have to address
climate change. Specifically, the Protocol requires a nominal five
per cent reduction in emissions by developed countries world-wide
relative to 1990 levels by 2008-2012. To meet this target, each
country is obligated to reach its individual target - Canada by six
per cent, the European Union (EU[15]) eight per cent, Japan six per
cent, etc. These individual targets are based on past greenhouse
gas emissions.
In addition to legally binding national emissions targets, the
Kyoto Protocol includes various trading mechanisms. Now that the
Protocol is law, formal preparations will begin to create a
'global' carbon market for emissions trading by 2008, and the
so-called 'flexible mechanisms' - the Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) - will become operational.
The Kyoto Protocol was originally agreed on in 1997, although
many crucial details were left to later talks. In order to enter
into force (become law) the Protocol required ratification by at
least 55 countries accounting for at least 55 per cent of the
carbon dioxide emissions from Annex B (industrialised) nations. So
far, 129 countries have ratified or acceded to the Protocol. It
passed the number of countries test in 2002, and finally passed the
second hurdle with ratification by the Russian Federation in late
2004.
Notably absent from the Protocol is the US, which shows no signs
of ratifying the treaty, at least not as long as the Bush
administration is in power, even though the US is the world's
biggest greenhouse gas polluter. Australia, Liechtenstein, Croatia
and Monaco also have yet to complete the ratification process.
The Clean Development Mechanism (Article 12)
The Clean Development Mechanism is designed to generate
emissions reduction credits for Annex I countries that finance
projects in non-Annex I countries that are signatories to the
treaty. For example, Canada might finance an energy efficiency
project in China, or Japan could finance a renewable energy project
in Morocco. These projects must have the approval of the CDM
executive board, and in addition to generating measurable emissions
reductions against a business-as-usual baseline, they should
contribute to sustainable development in the developing country
which are partners.
Joint Implementation (Article 3)
Joint Implementation allows industrialised countries with
emissions reduction targets to cooperate in meeting them. For
example, German-financed energy efficiency projects in Russia, or
Norwegian-financed renewable energy projects in Hungary, which
generate emissions reductions, under specific circumstances can be
credited to the country that finances them. In theory, this is a
more economically efficient means of generating the same overall
emissions reductions for industrialised countries.
See also 'Sinks' and other possible pitfalls.
Will the Kyoto Protocol "save the climate"?
The Kyoto Protocol is an important first step, as it was
intended to be. It has always been recognized that the Kyoto
Protocol will not be enough on its own. To avoid dangerous climate
change, the world needs at least 30 per cent cuts by industrialized
countries by 2020, increasing to 70-80 per cent cuts by
mid-century. Anything less than this will consign our children and
theirs to a very unpleasant and very unstable world.
The decisions that governments, industry and civil society make
over the next decade or two will be decisive. You have a say in
those decision, and your help is needed. See our Take Action page
for what you can do.
More information:
Kyoto pitfalls
International negotiations - Greenpeace position statements and
first hand reports from international meetings.
Text of the Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto Protocol becomes law - Greenpeace marks the event and
calls for action around the world.