Carbon - EQ3 - 6.9 - Kyoto Protocol & Paris Agreement

Question 1

When was the Kyoto Protocol adopted

Answer 1

In Kyoto on December 11th 1997

Question 2

Who signed the Kyoto Protocol

Answer 2

• mandated that 37 industrialised nations plus the EU cut their GHG emissions
• developing nations were asked to comply voluntarily,
• & more than 100 developing countries were exempted from the agreement all together

Question 3

The … backed out the Kyoto Protocol in ….. on the basis that it unfairly burndend developed nations

Answer 3

• US
• 2001

Question 4

What was pledged in the Kyoto Protocol

Answer 4

• developed countries made a promise to reduce their annual hydrocarbon emissions by an average of 5.2% by the year 2012
• this represents about 29% of the worlds total greenhouse gas emissions

Question 5

What did the EU, US & Canada each pledge to cut of their emissions

Answer 5

• EU - 8%
• US - 7%
• Canada - 6%

Question 6

What was pledged to aid developing countries reduction in GHG

Answer 6

• effectively $100 billion was pledged to aid developing countries in selecting non-greenhouse gas emitting industrialized processes & technologies

Question 7

How did the Kyoto Protocol understand the differing positions of developed & developing nations in reducing GHG emissions

Answer 7

• The protocol separated countries into two groups:
• Annex I - developed nations - only placed emission limitations on these
• Non-Annex I - developing countries - participated by investing in projects designed to lower emissions in their countries

Question 8

How did the details of the Kyoto Proctocol curb GHG emissions

Answer 8

• for these projects, developing countries earned carbon credits,
• which they could trade or sell to developed countries, allowing the developed nations a higher level of maximum carbon emissions for that period
• this function helped the developed countries to continue emitting GHG vigorously

Question 9

Was the Kyoto Protocol successful concerning the USA

Answer 9

• The USA who ratified the agreement orginally, dropped out the protocol in 2001 - harsh on industrialised nations & the USA’s economy

Question 10

How did the Kyoto Protocol end

Answer 10

• It ended in 2012, with global emissions still rising by 2025, the year the Kyoto Protocol became International Law

Question 11

Did countries abide by the Kyoto Protocol

Answer 11

• many countries like the EU planned to meet or exceed their targets by 2011
• China & USA produced enough greenhouse gases to mitigate any of the progress by nations who met their targets who met their targets

Question 12

Statistically, how successful was the Kyoto protocol

Answer 12

• there was an increase of about 40% in emissions globally 1990-2009

Question 13

what potential for the Kyoto Protocol was there once it had ended

Answer 13

• The Doha Amendment extended the Kyoto Protocol - adding new emissions targets for participating countries
• This was short lived & the 2015 Paris Agreement effectively replaced this

Question 14

What is the impact of the Kyoto Protocol today

Answer 14

• depite myriad plans & some actions, solutions to GHG emissions have not been implemented

Question 15

When was the Paris Agreement signed

Answer 15

• December 2015
• & it was entered into force in November 2016

Question 16

What was the aim of the Paris Agreement

Answer 16

• goal was to achieve a balance after 2050 between atmospheric inputs of greenhouse gases by emissions sources & removal into sinks
• aimed to hold the increase of global temperatures to well below degrees above preindustrial levels & pursue efforts to limit to 1.5 degrees celcius

Question 17

How many countries signed the Paris Agreement by January 2021

Answer 17

• 195 countries & ratified by 190

Question 18

What was the objective of the December 11th 2015 UN climate conference

Answer 18

• to establish a binding & universal agreement designed to limit GHG emissions to level that would prevent global temperatures rising above 2 degrees

Question 19

What was the USAs stance on climate change prior to the Paris Agreement

Answer 19

• Clean Power Plan was to set limits on existing & palnned power plant emissions
• 2014 —> announced aim to reduce emissions 26-28% below 2005 levels for by 2025

Question 20

What was the Chinas stance on climate change prior to the Paris Agreement

Answer 20

• peaking carbon dioxide emissions around 2030
• lowering emissions per unit of GDP by 60-65% from the 2005 level

Question 21

what negotiations & agreements were established froom the 2015 Paris Agreement
-developed countries

Answer 21

• the issue of transferring funds from developed countries to LDCs, because developed ocuntries did not want to be the only one paying the cost
• specified no new funding targets but noted that developed countries should provide financial resources to LDCs
• regular reporting of progress in achieving INDCs

Question 22

what negotiations & agreements were established froom the 2015 Paris Agreement
-LDCs

Answer 22

• LDCs also have to improve their economies & reduced poverty - devloping countries to enhance their mitigation efforts

Question 23

Was the Paris Agreement successful

Answer 23

• progress has been mixed:
• China has met its commitment in 2017
• EU offcicials announced all member states had fallen behind on reaching targets
• US progress is more unclear –> US climate policy were keeping the country from meeting its goals could be individual US cities & states keeping them on track
• however, US emissions have increased 3.4% since 2018