Global 1: Kyoto Protocol 1997

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

This set binding national targets for developed countries to reduce their GHG emissions between 2008-2012 to 5.2% below 1990 levels. Its aim was to achieve stabilisation of GHG. It came into force in February 2005 and was ratified by 183 countries by 2006.

Question 2

How will this be achieved

Answer 2

Over 100 governments signed a ‘Climate Change Protocol’ and most governments agreed that by 2010 they should have reduced their atmospheric pollution levels to these prior to 1990.

Question 3

evaluation ++

Answer 3

Within the EU there has been an overall fall of 0.8% with significant falls from the UK, Germany and Sweden but this is still below the original 5.2% target.

Within the EU there has been an overall fall of 0.8% with significant falls from the UK, Germany and Sweden but this is still below the original 5.2% target.

Question 4

evaluation —

Answer 4

except for USA which releases more GHG than any other country and accounts for more than 25% of those generated by humans worldwide. The USA signed the protocol but did not ratify it. Australia only ratified it in 2008 (2 years later) and Canada withdrew in 2011.

The reason why it took so long (1997 – 2006) to come into effect was because ratifying countries had to represent 55% of the world’s total carbon dioxide emissions for 1990 and persuading them to sign up was time consuming. Emission reduction targets were country specific, for example, 7% for USA, 10% for Iceland, 0% for Russia and some countries thought this was unfair. Countries/nations were allowed to trade their carbon credits (so those who had used up all of their target, could buy carbon credits off other countries who had some to spare).

This meant big nations such as the EU could still emit as much GHG as they wanted and so, there was not much change. Countries could also offset their emissions by planting forests to act as carbon sinks. Basically – polluters found a way to continue to pollute. Globally, between 1992 and 2007, emissions in GHG actually increased by 38% with China’s increasing by 150% and USA by 20%.