Policies Against Global Warming Kyoto Protocol

Policies Against Policies Against Global WarmingGlobal Warming

Kyoto Protocol

Effects of Global WarmingEffects of Global Warming

Effects on weatherDroughtTropical cyclone

Glacier retreat

Rising sea levels

MIT’s Greenhouse Gamble WheelsMIT’s Greenhouse Gamble WheelsPolicy vs No-policy ScenariosPolicy vs No-policy Scenarios

Policies Against Global WarmingPolicies Against Global WarmingInternational response needed

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1994)

objective of the treaty is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system

industrialized countries, with the intention of stabilizing their emissions of greenhouse gases at 1990 levels by the year 2000

no mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual countries and contains no enforcement mechanisms

Kyoto ProtocolKyoto Protocol an international agreement linked to the

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFFC).

sets binding targets for 37 industrialized (Annex I) countries for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to an average of 5.2% against 1990 levels over the period 2008-2012.

Recognizes that developed countries are Recognizes that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high principally responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions as a result of levels of GHG emissions as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity.more than 150 years of industrial activity.

Thus, the Protocol places a heavier Thus, the Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the burden on developed nations under the principle of “principle of “common but differentiated common but differentiated responsibilitiesresponsibilities.” .”

Adopted in Kyoto, Japan, Adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 entered into force on 16 February 2005.February 2005.

Article 25: Article 25: Protocol enters into force on the 90th day Protocol enters into force on the 90th day after the date on which not less than 55 Parties to the after the date on which not less than 55 Parties to the Convention, incorporating Parties included in Annex I Convention, incorporating Parties included in Annex I which accounted in total for at least 55% of the total which accounted in total for at least 55% of the total carbon dioxide emissions for 1990 of the Annex I carbon dioxide emissions for 1990 of the Annex I countries, have deposited their instruments of countries, have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

55th signatory: Iceland (May 2002)

With the signing of Russia on Nov 2004, 55% condition satisfied.

187 states signed and ratified.

Turkey: 28 May 2009

USA did not ratify (responsible for 36.1% of the 1990 emission levels)

Participation in the Kyoto Protocol Participation in the Kyoto Protocol

Commitments in the Kyoto Protocol

Each Annex I Party has a binding commitment to limit or reduce GHG emissions

Innovative mechanisms have been established for Parties to facilitate compliance with this commitment.

Annex I Parties must provide additional financial resources to advance the implementation of commitments by developing countries

Both Annex I and non-Annex I Parties must cooperate in the areas of:

(a) The development, application and diffusion of climate friendly technologies;

(b) Research on and systematic observation of the climate system;

(c) Education, training, and public awareness of climate change; and

(d) The improvement of methodologies and data for GHG inventories.

Green countries = Committed to reductionGreen countries = Committed to reductionYellow countries = Committed to 0% reductionYellow countries = Committed to 0% reduction

Red countries = Not committed to any reductionRed countries = Not committed to any reduction

Land use, land-use change and Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF)forestry (LULUCF)

Annex I Parties are required to take Annex I Parties are required to take measures to protect and enhance measures to protect and enhance emission removals in the LULUCF sector.emission removals in the LULUCF sector.

UN definition of LULUCF: “UN definition of LULUCF: “A greenhouse A greenhouse gas inventory sector that covers emissions gas inventory sector that covers emissions and removals of greenhouse gases and removals of greenhouse gases resulting from direct human-induced land resulting from direct human-induced land use, land-use change and forestry use, land-use change and forestry activitiesactivities.”.”

Kyoto MechanismsKyoto Mechanisms

Emissions trading (the carbon market)

Clean development mechanism (CDM)

Joint implementation (JI)

Emissions Emissions TTradingrading

an Annex I Party may transfer emission allowances to or acquire units from another Annex I Party.

Emissions trading does not affect the total assigned amount of Annex I Parties collectively; rather, it re-distributes the assigned amount among them.

Joint ImplementationJoint Implementation

One Annex I Party can invest in a project that reduces emissions or enhances sequestration in another Annex I Party, and receive credit for the emission reductions or removals achieved through that project.

Clean Development MechanismClean Development Mechanism

CDM credits may be generated from emission reduction projects or from afforestation and reforestation projects in non-Annex I Parties.

Carbon trading may be in the form of:

Emissions trading markets A removal unit (RMU) on the basis of land use,

land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) activities such as reforestation

An emission reduction unit (ERU) generated by a joint implementation project

A certified emission reduction (CER) generated from a clean development mechanism project activity

BBuyers uyers and Sellers and Sellers of of CCreditsredits

buyers are individual companies that expect emissions to exceed their quota in their assigned allocation units (AAUs) (or “allowances”).

they purchase credits directly from another party with excess allowances, from a broker, from a JI/CDM developer, or on a spot market.

EU Emission Trading Scheme

the largest multi-national, emissions trading scheme in the world

a major pillar of EU climate policy currently covers more than 10,000

installations in the energy and industrial sectors which are collectively responsible for close to half of the EU's emissions of CO2 and 40% of its total greenhouse gas emissions


EU accepts Kyoto flexible mechanism certificates as compliance tools within the EU ETS

The EU ETS was inspired by the Kyoto Protocol but it is also independent of it

It was enacted before the Kyoto Protocol became legally binding in international and EU law

EU Member States agree on national emission caps which have to be approved by the EU commission, allocate allowances to their industrial operators, track and validate the actual emissions in accordance against the relevant assigned amount, and require the allowances to be retired after the end of each year.


Periods

Phase I (Trial Period) (2005 – 2007)

Phase II (2008 – 2012)

Phase III (2013 – 2020)


At the start of each Phase, each government agrees an allocation plan with the European Commission

Plan indicates the quantity of emissions that will be permitted for industries during the Phase.

Once the plans are agreed, governments allocate allowances to companies in heavily polluting industries.


EU Emission Allowances (EUAs): the right to release one tonne of CO2 into the atmosphere.

The total number of EUAs allocated corresponds to the overall cap on emissions for the companies covered by the scheme.

EUAs can be traded across the whole scheme. A company in one country may buy credits from a company in another country.


Phase IAbout 12,000 installations, representing

approximately 40% of EU CO2 emissions Phase II

Average cut of nearly 7% below the 2005 emission levels

Aviation emissions are expected to be included from 2012.


Enforcement in Kyoto

If the enforcement branch determines that an Annex I country is not in compliance with its emissions limitation, then that country is required to make up the difference plus an additional 30%.

In addition, that country will be suspended from making transfers under an emissions trading program

Copenhagen Conference 7 – 18 December 2009

• the main points of a deal to follow the Kyoto protocol;

• new targets for industrialised nations to reduce carbon emissions;

• new targets for poorer nations to limit greenhouse gases;

• funding for developing countries to reduce emissions and adapt to a changing climate

Kyoto Protocol's targets for reducing emissions apply only to a small set of countries

Kyoto expires in 2012

Need for an agreement that is bigger, bolder, wider-ranging and more sophisticated than the Kyoto agreement.

Need for a New Treaty

USA: changing stance?

EU

G77 (Developing nations incl. China and India)

Main Players

Copenhagen Accord endorses the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol strong political will to urgently combat climate change

in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities

the increase in global temperature should be below 2oC

deep cuts in global emissions are required enhanced action and international cooperation on

adaptation is urgently required to reduce vulnerability and build resilience in developing countries, especially in least developed countries (LDCs), small island developing states (SIDS) and Africa.

Annex I Parties would commit to economy-wide emissions targets for 2020

non-Annex I Parties would implement mitigation actions to slow growth in their carbon emissions

developed countries would raise funds of $30 billion from 2010-2012

establishes a Copenhagen Green Climate Fund, as an operating entity of the financial mechanism, "to support projects, programme, policies and other activities in developing countries related to mitigation

establishes a Technology Mechanism "to accelerate technology development and transfer

Copenhagen Accord

Committments to Reduce Emissions by 2020

Australia: 5 to 25%Brazil: 36.1 to 38.9%

Canada: 17%China: 40 to 45%India: 20 to 25%Indonesia: 26%

Israel: 20%Japan: 25%Mexico: 30%

Russia: 15 to 25%South Africa: 34%South Korea: 30%United States: 17%

NY Times: "major step forward" given that international negotiations had stumbled in recent years, but "fairly modest" as it did not require the changes that scientists say are needed to avoid dangerous climate change

Guardian: not providing leadership, not specifying how the proposed climate fund will be financed, and not stating that countries had to "peak" their emissions within 10 years and then rapidly reduce them for there to be any chance to avert warming.

Cancun Conference 29 Nov – 10 Dec 2010

Documents

Policies Against Global Warming Kyoto Protocol