Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty adopted on December 11, 1997, in Kyoto, Japan, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It commits industrialized countries and economies in transition to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, recognizing their greater historical responsibility for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere.

Key aspects of the Kyoto Protocol include:

• Binding Emission Reduction Targets: The Protocol sets legally binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European Community to reduce GHG emissions by an average of 5% below 1990 levels during the first commitment period from 2008 to 2012.
• Common but Differentiated Responsibilities: It places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities," acknowledging their significant contribution to global emissions.
• Market-Based Mechanisms: The Protocol introduced mechanisms such as Emissions Trading, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Joint Implementation to assist countries in meeting their emission reduction commitments.

The Kyoto Protocol entered into force on February 16, 2005, after a complex ratification process, and has been ratified by 192 Parties. It was succeeded by the Paris Agreement in 2015, which expanded participation to both developed and developing countries in the global effort to address climate change.

Source(s):

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). (n.d.). What is the Kyoto Protocol?
• Britannica. (n.d.). Kyoto Protocol | History, Provisions, & Facts.
• Investopedia. (n.d.). What Is The Kyoto Protocol? Definition, History, and Objectives.

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