Pages above:
Vested interests like the fossil fuel industry and heavy energy users interfered and obstructed at every turn. Oil producing nations such as Saudi Arabia kept up a constant whine for compensation for loss of oil revenue and politicians of all persuasions ducked and dived and tried to avoid any decisions they thought would make them unpopular at home.
Add to that the interminable 'diplo-speak' that participants tend to favour and the propensity to spend hours discussing whether to replace the word 'should' with 'may.' You begin to get a picture of how slow-moving and cumbersome these talks can sometimes be and what an achievement the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol is.
Then of course there was the biggest obstacle of all to an agreement - the United States. The Bush administration withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol in early 2001 but it didn't wash its hands of the negotiations. With the active support (some would say under the instruction) of the American fossil fuel industry and its well-funded front groups, the US government worked tirelessly to derail the treaty.
It is a testament to the commitment and tenacity of the many countries that acted in good faith and steered the agreement through these stormy seas, that we now have a legal framework for protecting the climate.
But Kyoto itself, if implemented to the letter, will only have a minimal effect on the changing climate so where do we go from here?
'Dangerous climate change' is already with us and the greenhouse gases we have pumped into the atmosphere since industrialization in the late 19th century mean a rise of 1.2C to 1.3C (2.2F - 4.1F) above pre-industrial levels is now unavoidable.
But scientists are warning that warming could increase by up to 5.8C (10.4F).
Avoiding catastrophic climate change means keeping temperature increase to below 2C. There will still be significant impacts on ecosystems and many millions of people will be threatened with increased risk of hunger, malaria and flooding and billions with increased risk of water shortage. While this is certainly dangerous to the millions of people who will be affected, it is probably the best we can do.
But time is not on our side. We are within a decade or two of closing off our options. Dragging our feet now will force us into a choice between climate catastrophe and economic catastrophe in the next couple of decades.
Kyoto now needs to develop and expand rapidly, extending the international emissions trading system and providing more help for developing countries to leapfrog dirty technology.
There is clearly much to be done and little time to do it. The choice is clear - there is none.
Activities around the world
Kyoto, Japan
Young girl from Kyoto stands in front of hot air balloon marking the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. |
Volunteers spell 'Go Solar' in candlelight in Kyoto |
Members of 'Solar Generation' , a volunteer group of Greenpeace Japan, participate in a NGO organised parade through Kyoto. Members of 'Solar Generation,' participate in a parade through Kyoto to celebrate the Protocol that bears the city's name coming into force. |
Pulupandan, Negros, Philippines
More than 200 schoolchildren take part in a human mosaic on the Rice fields of Pulupundan, forming the message: |
Marsden Point, New Zealand
On the day the Kyoto Protocol comes into force, Greenpeace activists hang a banner reading "Save the Climate - Stop Coal" on the proposed conversion from oil to a coal fired 'Marsden B' power station near Whangarei set to emit 2 million tonnes of climate changing carbon dioxide each year. |
Beijing, China
A Greenpeace activist dressed in a polar bear suit holds up a sign |
Sydney, Australia
Greenpeace activists stand next to ice sculptures placed outside Sydney's parliament to protest at Australia's increasing greenhouse emissions |
Moscow, Russian Federation
Thermal image of Kremlin building leaking heat. |
Tel Aviv, Israel
Protesting Israel's fossil fuel use. |
Brussels, Belgium
On the evening before the Kyoto-protocol becomes law, Greenpeace asks politicians to reform Delcredere, Belgium's leading overseas export credit insurer, in order to stop immediately Belgian credit-insurance supporting energy production using coal, oil or nukes. |
Madrid, Spain
At the midnight hour in Puerta del Sol, Madrid, Greenpeace celebrates the entry into force of the Kyoto protocol with music, banners and windmills. |
Bonn, Germany
Greenpeace youth (JAGs) construct a platform for planet Earth on stones showing the flags of the countries participating in the Kyoto protocol. |
Prague, Czech Republic
Greenpeace Czech Republic marks Kyoto coming into force with a large banner reading |
Rome, Italy
Greenpeace, WWF, Legambiente and other NGOs celebrate the entry into force of the Kyoto protocol in front of the Galleria Colonna. |
Athens, Greece
Greenpeace activists placed miniatures of all 27 coal and oil power stations in front of the Ministry of Environment, protesting against the current energy policy of the Greek government. |
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Greenpeace Brazil celebrates the entry into force of the Kyoto protocol in front of American Consulate. |
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland</strong> Activists protested at the international Auto Show, "100 years of Automobile Progress" demanding sharp reductions in CO2 fuel emissions. |
Helsinki, Finland
Hotheaded snowman stands guard outside information booth in Helsinki, Finland |
India
Youth activists in India celebrated the Kyoto Protocol becoming law with music and an giant inflatable Earth. |
Bangkok, Thailand
Marking the Kyoto Protocol's becoming law in Bangkok, Thailand. |
Mexico City, Mexico
Street theatre in Mexico, where George Bush's flaming Earth contends with the windmills of protestors. |
London, UK
Greenpeace Limited (Greenpeace UK) shuts down trading on the International Petroleum Exchange |
Greenpeace Limited (Greenpeace UK) shuts down trading on the global petroleum market on the day the Kyoto Protocol comes into force. You can join in the action! Send an online fax to Tony Blair today and tell him to take immediate action against climate change and use this year's meeting of G8 world leaders to move the world on a different track. |
Greenpeace Limited (Greenpeace UK) shuts down trading on the global petroleum market on the day the Kyoto Protocol comes into force. You can discuss this action at the Greenpeace Cybercenter. |
Ottawa, Canada
Greenpeace activists took to Parliament Hill in polar bear costumes with banners calling on the Martin government to take immediate action against climate change. |
Take action
Sign up as a cyberactivist to get regular action updates on how you can help stop global warming.
Join Greenpeace and help protect our planet's future.
