Kyoto Protocol: Success or Failure?

INTRODUCTION

Kyoto Protocol was adopted by UNFCCC and signed in Kyoto, Japan on 11 December 1997. It is a legal binding target for developed countries to reduce Greenhouse Gases emission. After a long delay, it finally comes under force in 2005, following Russia’s ratification s[6]. Presently 192 countries work under this treaty. United State America is the only country which never ratifies this treaty. In 2012, an amendment occurred in Doha called the “Doha Amendment”. During this amendment, Canada withdraws itself from this legally binding treaty. It is the only global treaty with binding measures to control Greenhouse gases .

A. Presented year: 11 December 1997

B. Come into Force: 16 February 2005

1. MAIN OBJECTIVES OF KYOTO PROTOCOL

The main objective of this treaty was to cut Greenhouse gas emissions up to 5% by 2012 as compared to the 1990’s level. The reduction in emission was achieved during the 2008 to 2012 period. As developed countries are the major contributors, so this protocol puts a heavier Bordon on industrialized countries.

• To reduce pollution

• To promote renewable energy resources

• To control the emission of greenhouse gases in the air

• Development of new technologies to mitigate GHG emissions.

Countries are divided into parts according to the convention. These are;

• Annex I: It includes developed countries like (US, UK, etc.) and economic in transition countries like Turkey.

• Annex II: It includes those developed countries that would provide technical and financial support to reduce Greenhouse gases to developing or economic in transition countries.

• Annex B: These countries are the signatory nations to the Kyoto protocol that are subjected to some binding targets to reduce GHG emissions. These targets forced to apply in two phases; one from 2008 to 2012 and the other one from 2012 to 2020.

• Non-Annex Countries: It includes those countries which do not have legally binding emission reductions targets. But they may encourage developing countries to reduce emissions

2. Greenhouse Gases:

“Greenhouse gases are those gases which absorb and emit harmful Infrared radiation coming from the sun and cause the greenhouse effect, and ultimately change the climate”.

The most important greenhouse gases are:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2)

• Nitrous oxide (N2O)

• Methane (CH4)

• Per fluorocarbons (PFCs)

• Hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs)

• Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)

PERFORMANCE OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL

It is a long debate, with a large no of opinions to describe the Kyoto protocol, whether it is successful or it is a huge failure. People are divided into groups; some consider it a resounding success while some consider it a pathetic failure.

FAILURE OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL

At the initial presenting year, the Kyoto Protocol was thought one of the great achievements at the international level to deal with climate change. It was one of the complex processes of scientific assessment[6]. In 2001 it was presented in the United State senate where they formally rejected this protocol. 36 developed countries signed this treaty and set a target to reduce CO2 or greenhouse gas emissions up to 5% by 2012 compared to the 1990s level. But instead, they failed to meet their target and the emission rose by the year 2012 relative to the 1990s. It was thought that the Kyoto protocol was a huge failure.

Reason for failure

• Kyoto protocol also fail to deal with such a heavy concentration of greenhouse gas emissions as the major contributor did not participate to meet targets.

• Countries like Canada and the United States withdraw from the treaty as they are unable to cut the reduction emissions.

• Some countries like Iceland had targets to reduce GHG emissions but actually done the reverse of it. Similarly, Russia had a target to reduce emissions up to zero levels but failed to do so. Russia continuously increases the level of GHG emissions. The main center country of this convention Japan significantly missed its target too. Kyoto protocol should not be judged just on the emission number standees, it may have other factors. The failure of this protocol led to the formation of another agreement which was hosted in Paris in 2020 under the name “Paris Climate Agreement”