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Kyoto and Beyond:
Evolution of Multilateral Agreements on
Climate Change
Updated September 8, 2009
ISCIENCES, LLC
The Kyoto Protocol Past, Present, and Future
1. The Kyoto Protocol: What is it?
2. Pre-Kyoto Entry into Force 1970s-1980s
3. Pre-Kyoto Entry into Force 1990s-2005
4. Kyoto 2005-2008
5. 2009 and Beyond
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
• A multilateral environmental agreement with
the goal of reducing global greenhouse gas
emissions.
• Developed countries are assigned limits on
emissions relative to 1990 levels. Targets
vary by nation. First commitment period is
2008-2012. (Target status).
• The Protocol has “Flexibility Mechanisms”
for meeting targets: emissions trading and
Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM).
Essential Points of Understanding
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The United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an
international treaty drafted to deal with climate change. The Kyoto
Protocol is a legally binding addition to the UNFCCC.
Signatories to the Protocol (84 countries) agree to the ideas and goals.
Countries who have ratified (nearly all except the US) are bound by its
requirements.
Signatories are categorized into three groups based on their
responsibilities:
- Annex I: Industrialized countries that have agreed to reduce
emissions.
- Annex II: Developed countries who have to pay for the costs of
the emissions reducing technologies of Developing countries.
- Non-annex: Developing countries who are not restricted by the
Protocol.
Although the Protocol is binding, there are no penalties if Annex I
countries do not comply.
China and India, non-annex countries not bound by the Protocol, are
some of the world’s top emitters.
Ratification Status as of December 2007
http://www.green.vn/trading.htm 6/13/2008
Ratification means that the countries agree to abide by the obligations stated in the
Protocol. Ratification is open to all signatories regardless of whether they are Annex I,
Annex II, or Developing countries.
Total CO2 Emissions in 2001
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The Top Ten Carbon Emitters of 2001
The Stages of the Kyoto Protocol
1970s-1980s
More attention
being paid to the
environment.
Several
multilateral
environmental
agreements are
implemented,
beginning with
the Ramsar
Convention.
1990s-2005
The UNFCCC is
drafted. There is
an increase in
environmental
initiatives and
the Kyoto
Protocol is
formulated. The
Protocol enters
into force in
2005.
2005-2008
The Protocol
enters into force,
but problems
occur as
countries reveal
they cannot meet
requirements.
Discussions begin
on a post-2012
framework despite
some opposition.
2008-2050
Meetings
concerning the
future of the
Protocol and
alternatives will
take place. Also,
rising temperature
threats that
scientists have
already predicted
may occur.
Pre-Kyoto entry into force: 1970s-1980s
• Multilateral environmental agreements begin to
proliferate, culminating in agreements like Ramsar
Convention (1971) and LRTAP (1979).
• Decadal meetings are established which include
an international discussion of the state of the
world’s environment. These meetings are
informally known as “summit meetings.”
• Important environmental reports are published.
One of the major successes is the Brundtland
Report (1987) which advocates sustainable
development and targets pollution and other
environmental problems as a significant
contributing factor to poverty.
Pre-Kyoto 1970s-1980s
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Pre-Kyoto Entry into Force: 1990s-2005
• The UNFCCC (1992) is drafted marking a
significant period during which a collective
international decision is made for countries to
reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. There are
discussions about a binding framework that
should be formulated, which would later become
the Kyoto Protocol.
• The Kyoto Protocol (1997) is formulated and
opened for signing. It takes years for enough
countries to sign the Protocol and enable it to
enter into force.
• Decadal meetings continue to take place and the
IPCC releases three reports that warn about the
negative effects of climate change.
Pre-Kyoto 1990s-2005
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Kyoto Protocol 2005-2008
• Problems with the Protocol revealed as
countries realized it would not be
possible to meet their reduction
targets.
• Despite some opposition, work
proceeded on the development of a
post-2012 framework.
Kyoto Protocol 2005-2008
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2009 and Beyond
• One more Conferences of Parties has been set up
for 2009 with established discussion topics centered
on finding an international response to climate
change.
• Developing countries may be required to reduce
emissions for the second commitment period of the
Protocol, 2013-2017.
• Emissions reduction goals have been set by various
organizations and conventions. The goal set by the
Kyoto Protocol is for emissions reductions of 5.2%
below 1990 levels.
• The IPCC has projected a threat of a 60% increase in
greenhouse gas emissions levels by 2030.
• Scientists in the IPCC believe a 60%-80% emission
reduction by 2050 is vital to avoid problems caused
by rising temperatures.
2009 and Beyond
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Supporting Documents
1970s-1980s
Ramsar Convention
First Earth Summit
LRTAP Convention
Vienna Convention
Montreal Protocol
Basel Convention
Brundtland Report
1990s-2005
Agenda 21
Rio Declaration
Forest Principles
Convention on
Biological Diversity
UNFCCC Draft
IPCC 2nd Report
First COP
Second COP
Third COP
Fourth COP
Fifth COP
Sixth COP
Seventh COP
Marrakech Accords
Eleventh COP
2005-2008
Twelfth COP
Bali Meetings on Climate
Change
GAO Report on Climate
Change
Accra Meetings on
Climate Change
2008-2050
Climate Change Goals
Kyoto Past and Future
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