Kyoto and Beyond: Evolution of Multilateral Agreements on

Climate Change

Kyoto and Beyond: Evolution of Multilateral Agreements on

Climate ChangeUpdated September 8, 2009

ISCIENCES, LLC

1. The Kyoto Protocol: What is it? 1. The Kyoto Protocol: What is it?

2. Pre-Kyoto Entry into Force 1970s-1980s 2. Pre-Kyoto Entry into Force 1970s-1980s

4. Kyoto 2005-20084. Kyoto 2005-2008

The Kyoto Protocol Past, Present, and FutureThe Kyoto Protocol Past, Present, and Future

5. 2009 and Beyond5. 2009 and Beyond

3. Pre-Kyoto Entry into Force 1990s-20053. Pre-Kyoto Entry into Force 1990s-2005

6. 2009 and Beyond6. 2009 and Beyond

What is the Kyoto Protocol?What is the Kyoto Protocol?What is the Kyoto Protocol?What is the Kyoto Protocol?

• A multilateral environmental agreement with the goal of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

• Developed countries are assigned limits on emissions relative to 1990 levels. Targets vary by nation. First commitment period is 2008-2012. (Target status).

• The Protocol has “Flexibility Mechanisms” for meeting targets: emissions trading and Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM).

Essential Points of UnderstandingEssential Points of Understanding• The United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an

international treaty drafted to deal with climate change. The Kyoto Protocol is a legally binding addition to the UNFCCC.

• Signatories to the Protocol (84 countries) agree to the ideas and goals. Countries who have ratified (nearly all except the US) are bound by its requirements.

• Signatories are categorized into three groups based on their responsibilities:

- Annex I: Industrialized countries that have agreed to reduce emissions. - Annex II: Developed countries who have to pay for the costs of the emissions reducing technologies of Developing countries. - Non-annex: Developing countries who are not restricted by the Protocol. • Although the Protocol is binding, there are no penalties if Annex I

countries do not comply. • China and India, non-annex countries not bound by the Protocol, are

some of the world’s top emitters.

Ratification Status as of December 2007Ratification Status as of December 2007

http://www.green.vn/trading.htm 6/13/2008

Ratification means that the countries agree to abide by the obligations stated in the Protocol. Ratification is open to all signatories regardless of whether they are Annex I,

Annex II, or Developing countries.

Total CO2 Emissions in 2001Total CO2 Emissions in 2001

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The Top Ten Carbon Emitters of 2001

The Stages of the Kyoto ProtocolThe Stages of the Kyoto Protocol

More attention being paid to the environment. Several multilateral environmental agreements are implemented, beginning with the Ramsar Convention.

The Protocolenters into force,but problems occur as countries revealthey cannot meetrequirements. Discussions beginon a post-2012framework despitesome opposition.

Meetings concerning thefuture of theProtocol and alternatives will take place. Also,rising temperature threats that scientists have already predictedmay occur.

1970s-1980s 1990s-2005 2005-2008 2008-2050

The UNFCCC is drafted. There is an increase in environmental initiatives and the Kyoto Protocol is formulated. The Protocol enters into force in 2005.

Pre-Kyoto entry into force: 1970s-1980sPre-Kyoto entry into force: 1970s-1980sPre-Kyoto entry into force: 1970s-1980sPre-Kyoto entry into force: 1970s-1980s

• Multilateral environmental agreements begin to proliferate, culminating in agreements like Ramsar Convention (1971) and LRTAP (1979).

• Decadal meetings are established which include an international discussion of the state of the world’s environment. These meetings are informally known as “summit meetings.”

• Important environmental reports are published. One of the major successes is the Brundtland Report (1987) which advocates sustainable development and targets pollution and other environmental problems as a significant contributing factor to poverty.

Pre-Kyoto 1970s-1980sPre-Kyoto 1970s-1980s

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Pre-Kyoto Entry into Force: 1990s-2005Pre-Kyoto Entry into Force: 1990s-2005

• The UNFCCC (1992) is drafted marking a significant period during which a collective international decision is made for countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. There are discussions about a binding framework that should be formulated, which would later become the Kyoto Protocol.

• The Kyoto Protocol (1997) is formulated and opened for signing. It takes years for enough countries to sign the Protocol and enable it to enter into force.

• Decadal meetings continue to take place and the IPCC releases three reports that warn about the negative effects of climate change.

Pre-Kyoto 1990s-2005Pre-Kyoto 1990s-2005

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• Problems with the Protocol revealed as countries realized it would not be possible to meet their reduction targets.

• Despite some opposition, work proceeded on the development of a post-2012 framework.

Kyoto Protocol 2005-2008Kyoto Protocol 2005-2008Kyoto Protocol 2005-2008Kyoto Protocol 2005-2008

Kyoto Protocol 2005-2008Kyoto Protocol 2005-2008

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2009 - Present2009 - Present

• The 15th Conference of Parties occurs in Copenhagen, Denmark. Here, the Copenhagen Accord is formed by leaders from the US, China, India, Brazil and South Africa. It has yet to become legally binding.

• The United Nation’s summit on Climate Change and the World Climate Conference take place. Both meetings discuss necessary steps for controlling climate change.

2009 - Present2009 - Present

The Future of Climate ChangeThe Future of Climate ChangeThe Future of Climate ChangeThe Future of Climate Change• One more Conferences of Parties has been set up for

2009 with established discussion topics centered on finding an international response to climate change.

• Developing countries may be required to reduce emissions for the second commitment period of the Protocol, 2013-2017.

• Emissions reduction goals have been set by various organizations and conventions. The goal set by the Kyoto Protocol is for emissions reductions of 5.2% below 1990 levels.

• The IPCC has projected a threat of a 60% increase in greenhouse gas emissions levels by 2030.

• Scientists in the IPCC believe a 60%-80% emission reduction by 2050 is vital to avoid problems caused by rising temperatures.

The Future of Climate ChangeThe Future of Climate Change

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Supporting DocumentsSupporting Documents

1970s-1980s1970s-1980s 2005-20082005-2008 2008-20502008-2050

1990s-20051990s-2005

Agenda 21Rio Declaration

Forest PrinciplesConvention on Biological Diversity

UNFCCC DraftIPCC 2nd Report

First COPSecond COP

Third COPFourth COPFifth COP

Sixth COPSeventh COPMarrakech Accords

Eleventh COP

Ramsar ConventionFirst Earth SummitLRTAP ConventionVienna ConventionMontreal ProtocolBasel Convention

Brundtland Report

Twelfth COPBali Meetings on Climate Change

GAO Report on Climate Change

Accra Meetings on Climate Change

Climate Change GoalsKyoto Past and Future

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http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/pdf/background_paper.pdf."A New Era Starts." 2005. UNEP.

http://www.vitalgraphics.net/climate2.cfm?pageID=12."Background Information." 2006. United Nations Climate Change Conference.

http://www.mos.gov.pl/cop14/eng/info.shtml."Bali Preparing the After-Kyoto." 3 Dec. 2007. PIME.

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=10951.Basel Convention. Secretariat of the Basel Convention. 3 June 2008

http://www.basel.int/convention/basics.html.“Climate Change Science” http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/futureac.htmlClover, Charles. "IPCC 4th Report: Climate Change Happening Faster." Telegraph.co.uk. 18 Sept. 2007.Telegraph Media Group Limited.23 Sept. 2008

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/09/18/eaipcc118.xml."COP15 Copenhagen 2009." United Nations Climate Change Conference. 3 June 2008

http://www.cop15.dk/en.Dufresne, Robert. "Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act." Publications List. 27 Nov.

2007. Library of Parliament. http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/prb0740-e.htm#enactmen"Earth Summit History." Greenpeace. 9 June 2008

http://archive.greenpeace.org/earthsummit/background_history.html."Earth Summit Info." 9 June 2008 http://www.earthsummit.info/.Goetze, Darren. "COP-5 in Bonn." Nov. 1999. Sound Science Initiative.

http://www.ucsusa.org/ssi/archive/fifth-conference-of-the-parties-cop5.html.IISD. 2006. http://www.iisd.ca/ymb/ctiijs/."IPCC Third Assessment Report." Solving Global Warming. 2007. The David Suzuki Foundation. 19 Sept. 2008

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/climate_change/science/ipcc/tar/Kyoto Protocol. Team Kyoto 06. 3 June 2008

http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/02003/3timeline.html.McCarthy, Michael. "Bush declares he won't sign Kyoto's landmark treaty on global warming." The Independent. 29 Mar. 2001.The Independent.21 Oct. 2008

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/bush-declares-he-wont-sign-kyotos-landmark-treaty-on-global-warming-689360.htmlNews on the Kyoto Protocol. 30 May 2008. INDECO. http://indeco.com/kyoto."Ozone Layer Depletion." 23 Nov. 2007. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

http://www.epa.gov/ozone/intpol/index.html.Shah, Anup. Climate Change and Global Warming. 29 Dec. 2005.

http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/GlobalWarming/Montreal.asp."Sound Science Initiative." 11 Aug. 2005.

http://www.ucsusa.org/ssi/archive/fifth-conference-of-the-parties-cop5.html."The Kyoto Protocol." 2008. The Woods Hole Research Center.

http://www.whrc.org/resources/online_publications/warming_earth/kyoto.htm"The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands." The Ramsar Convention Secretariat. 3 June

2008 http://www.ramsar.org/"Top Emitters Meet in Paris this Week." Daily News. 16 Apr. 2008. Energy Saving Trust. 23 Sept. 2008

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/resources/daily_news/climate_change/top_emitters_to_meet_in_paris_this_week/(energysavingtrust)/22190.UNECE. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. 3 June 2008

http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/lrtap_h1.htmUNFCCC. 2008. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

http://unfccc.int/2860.php"United Nations Climate Change Conference." World Resources Institute. 3 June 2008

http://www.wri.org/event/2008/12/cop-14