Transcript The Kyoto Protocol

International cooperation
Part IV
The UNFCCC
and the Kyoto Protocol
Session 7
The UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC)
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Main outcome of IPCC and the Rio Earth Summit (1992), and
first international agreement on climate
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Choice between 2 possible options:
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A global treaty on the atmosphere
A treaty focused on climate change
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General objective: the stabilisation of a GHG concentration at
a level that would avoid dangerous interference with the
climate
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Two key priciples:
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Common but differentiated responsibility
Respective capacities.
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Not binding, no mandatory limits for GHG emissions. Sole
obligation: GHG inventory to be submitted each year.
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Three important mechanisms:
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Mandatory protocols
Countries divided in Annex I countries, Annex II countries (a subset of
Annex I) and developing countries
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This division has not changed since.
COP to be held every year
The Kyoto Protocol
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Mandatory update of
UNFCCC
Opened for signature in 1997,
entered into force 8 years
later
Conditions: 55 parties, and
55% of CO2 emissions
176 countries have ratified.
Only 37 have to reduce their
emissions
General design of the Protocol
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Fixed term: expires in 2012
General objectives: cut GHG emissions by an average 5% from
1990 (base year)
Underpinning principle: common but differentiated
responsibility
Distinction between Annex I countries and non Annex I
countries
Flexible mechanisms
Heavy emphasis on mitigation, little emphasis on adaptation
Kyoto and Europe
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All EU-members’ ratifications deposited simultaneoulsy on 31 May 2002
EU counted as an individual entity
EU produces about 22% of gas emissions
Agreed to a cut of 8% from 1990 levels
One of the major supporters of the treaty
EU elected to be treated as a ‘bubble’, and created an EU Emissions
Trading Scheme
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France: 0%. No need to cut emissions
Germany: -21%. Has reduced its emissions by 17.2% between 1990 and 2004.
UK: -12.5%. Appears to be on course to meet its target.
Different commitments
Flexible mechanisms
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Innovative aspect of the Kyoto Protocol
Mechanisms relying on the market, rather than on states
Highly criticised as paramount of ‘environmental liberalism’
Three mechanisms:
 Carbon market (‘cap and trade’)
 Clean Development Mechanism
 Joint Implementation
The carbon market:
The EU Emission Trading Scheme
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General principle: maximisation of economic efficiency – at the
expense of ethics?
Industries are given quotas of emission allowances
Application of the ‘polluter pays’ principle
Scheme started in 2005, all 27 countries take part
Problems:
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Price of carbon highly versatile
Covers about half of the EU’s CO2 emissions
Too many quotas on the market
Third phase 2013-2020, with auctioning and a central authority
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Crippled with corruption problems
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
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Aims to combine development and climate, equity and
efficiency
Economic efficiency: costs of abatment are cheaper in
developing countries
Functioning:
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Alternative to domestic reductions
Allow Annex I countries to invest in projects that reduce
emissions in developing countries
New carbon credits: Certified Emission Reductions (CERs)
Geographical distribution of CDMs
Criticism
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Reality of avoided emissions
 Principle of additionality
 Incentive to misrepresent reality
 Overpricing and overestimation
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Unlimited credits
 A country could completely externalise its efforts
 Transfer of emissions?
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Development objectives ?
 Almost no CDM projects in Africa
Joint implementation
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Similar mechanism as CDM, but in Annex I countries (i.e.
In Eastern Europe and Russia)
Provides Emission Reduction Units (ERUs), where 1 ERU
= 1 ton of CO2
No new credits
Long and fastidious process
Some final words
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Kyoto is an agreement between industrialised countries, where
developing countries are mostly oberservers:
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No limits on emissions
Do not benefit from flexible mechanisms
Treaty focused on mitigation, not adaptation
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Role of civil society in international cooperation?
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Role of local entities?