Intermational Climate Change Attempts

Question 1

What were the aims of the Kyoto protocol?

Answer 1

For countries to cut their emissions by 5% below their 1998 average by 2008-2012

This varies slightly between countries e.g. Iceland are allowed to increase them

Question 2

Name two successes/failures of the Kyoto protocol

Answer 2

The UK did cut their emissions by 3% by 2000

Some countries admissions actually rose by about 8%

EU will not meet its target of 8% as Spain, Portugal and Ireland have made no progress.

Question 3

What is the European emissions trading scheme?

Answer 3

The worlds first large scale carbon trading market, set up in 2005 as a way to use the market to reduce industry pollution

Question 4

How does the European Emissions Trading Scheme work?

Answer 4

Emissions have been capped. Companies must buy permits to produce more pollution. If a company doesn’t use all their permits, they can sell them to companies that need to produce more emissions. Those that do produce more will be fined. In time the cap is reduced and permit prices are increased so that companies are encourage to invest in reducing emissions than just buying permits

Question 5

How effective has the EETS been?

Answer 5

Manufacturers have moved out of Europe reducing the price of permits

Companies passed on the prices to their customers
( UK power generators made £800m profit in the first year)

Credits were so cheap that it was cheaper to switch to coal and buy credits than stick with the high prices of gas

Question 6

What is carbon sequestration?

Answer 6

Natural processes such as plant respiration are used to offset carbon emissions as co2 is absorbed by trees and give out oxygen

Question 7

When was the Kyoto protocol established?

Answer 7

1997