Kyoto Protocol

Definition

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that commits its parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the premise that global warming exists and human-made CO2 emissions have caused it. Adopted in 1997 and entering into force in 2005, this protocol represented a significant step in the historical evolution of international environmental agreements, highlighting the collective effort needed to address climate change and laying the groundwork for future agreements such as the Paris Agreement.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Kyoto Protocol set legally binding targets for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5.2% below 1990 levels during the commitment period from 2008 to 2012.
2. Developing countries were not required to reduce emissions under the Kyoto Protocol, highlighting the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities' in addressing climate change.
3. The protocol established a system of emissions trading, allowing countries that exceeded their targets to sell excess allowances to those that fell short, promoting cost-effective emissions reductions.
4. A major criticism of the Kyoto Protocol is that it did not include major developing countries like China and India, which are significant contributors to global emissions.
5. The protocol laid the groundwork for subsequent international climate agreements, including the Paris Agreement in 2015, which aims for more comprehensive participation from all countries.

Review Questions

• How did the Kyoto Protocol influence international efforts to combat climate change?
  • The Kyoto Protocol significantly influenced international efforts by establishing legally binding commitments for developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It introduced mechanisms like emissions trading and encouraged nations to collaborate on climate action. By doing so, it paved the way for further agreements that aimed for broader participation and more ambitious targets in addressing climate change globally.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the Kyoto Protocol in achieving its environmental goals.
  • The effectiveness of the Kyoto Protocol has been debated. While it successfully created a framework for emission reduction commitments among developed nations, overall emissions continued to rise globally due to the exclusion of major developing countries from binding targets. Moreover, some participating countries did not meet their goals, leading to questions about compliance and enforcement mechanisms. The lessons learned from its limitations informed subsequent agreements like the Paris Agreement, which sought to include a wider range of participants.
• Synthesize how the challenges faced by the Kyoto Protocol shaped the development of future environmental governance frameworks.
  • The challenges faced by the Kyoto Protocol, such as non-participation from key emitters and issues with compliance, prompted a reevaluation of how future environmental governance frameworks should be structured. This led to a shift towards more inclusive agreements like the Paris Agreement, which emphasizes voluntary commitments from all countries regardless of development status. The experiences from Kyoto highlighted the importance of flexibility, transparency, and accountability in fostering effective global cooperation on climate issues.

Related terms

Greenhouse Gases: Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), which contribute to global warming and climate change.

Emission Trading: A market-based approach to controlling pollution by providing economic incentives for reducing emissions of pollutants, allowing countries to buy and sell allowances for greenhouse gas emissions.

UNFCCC:

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, established in 1992, which serves as the foundation for international negotiations on climate change, including the Kyoto Protocol.