Kyoto Protocol: Cop-3

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The Kyoto Protocol: Cop-3 subtopics are:

  • Objectives
  • Quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments
  • Mechanisms
  • Adaptation
  • Technology transfer
  • Financial mechanism
  • Compliance
  • Transparency of information
  • Parties
  • Entry into force
  • Amendments
  • Decisions
  • Other provisions
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    Objectives

The Kyoto Protocol’s objective is to achieve “stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.”

Quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments

The Kyoto Protocol’s quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments (QELRCs) are legally binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The QELRCs are set for each Annex I Party (developed country) and are based on the Party’s 1990 emissions levels.

Mechanisms

The Kyoto Protocol’s mechanisms are flexible mechanisms that allow Annex I Parties to meet their QELRCs in a cost-effective manner. The three mechanisms are:

  • Joint Implementation (JI): JI allows Annex I Parties to earn emission reduction units (ERUs) by investing in emission reduction projects in other Annex I Parties.
  • Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): The CDM allows Annex I Parties to earn Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) by investing in emission reduction projects in developing countries.
  • International Emissions Trading (IET): IET allows Annex I Parties to trade emission allowances with each other.

Adaptation

The Kyoto Protocol’s adaptation provisions recognize that developing countries are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and need assistance to adapt. The Protocol provides for financial assistance and technology transfer to help developing countries adapt to climate change.

Technology transfer

The Kyoto Protocol’s technology transfer provisions require developed countries to provide financial and technological assistance to developing countries to help them reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Financial mechanism

The Kyoto Protocol’s financial mechanism is the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The GCF is a multilateral fund that provides financial assistance to developing countries to help them mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Compliance

The Kyoto Protocol’s compliance provisions establish a system for ensuring that Parties meet their QELRCs. The Protocol’s compliance system includes a compliance committee, a facilitative branch, and a enforcement branch.

Transparency of information

The Kyoto Protocol’s transparency of information provisions require Parties to submit regular reports on their emissions and implementation of the Protocol. The Protocol also establishes a registry for tracking emissions and emission reductions.

Parties

The Kyoto Protocol is open to all countries that are Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). As of January 2023, there are 197 Parties to the Kyoto Protocol.

Entry into force

The Kyoto Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005.

Amendments

The Kyoto Protocol has been amended once, by the Doha Amendment, which was adopted in 2012. The Doha Amendment extends the Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period from 2012 to 2020.

Decisions

The Kyoto Protocol has been the subject of numerous decisions by the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC. These decisions provide guidance on the implementation of the Protocol.

Other provisions

The Kyoto Protocol also includes provisions on dispute settlement, institutional arrangements, and financial arrangements.
Objectives

  1. The ultimate objective of the Kyoto Protocol is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
  2. The Protocol’s first commitment period was from 2008 to 2012.
  3. The Protocol’s second commitment period was from 2013 to 2020.
  4. The Protocol’s third commitment period is from 2021 to 2030.
  5. The Protocol’s fourth commitment period is yet to be agreed upon.

Quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments

  1. Annex I Parties to the Kyoto Protocol are required to commit to quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments (QELRCs) for the first commitment period.
  2. The QELRCs are expressed in terms of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP).
  3. The QELRCs are differentiated among Annex I Parties, with developed countries having more ambitious commitments than developing countries.
  4. The QELRCs are legally binding on Annex I Parties.

Mechanisms

  1. The Kyoto Protocol includes three market-based mechanisms: emissions trading, joint implementation, and the clean development mechanism.
  2. Emissions trading allows Annex I Parties to trade emissions allowances with each other.
  3. Joint implementation allows Annex I Parties to earn emission credits by investing in emission reduction projects in other Annex I Parties.
  4. The clean development mechanism allows Annex I Parties to earn emission credits by investing in emission reduction projects in developing countries.

Adaptation

  1. The Kyoto Protocol recognizes the need for adaptation to the impacts of climate change.
  2. The Protocol’s adaptation provisions include a commitment by developed countries to provide financial and technical assistance to developing countries to help them adapt to climate change.
  3. The Protocol also includes a commitment by developed countries to cooperate with developing countries in research and development on adaptation technologies.

Technology transfer

  1. The Kyoto Protocol recognizes the need for technology transfer to developing countries to help them reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
  2. The Protocol’s technology transfer provisions include a commitment by developed countries to provide financial and technical assistance to developing countries to help them acquire and adapt climate change technologies.
  3. The Protocol also includes a commitment by developed countries to cooperate with developing countries in research and development on climate change technologies.

Financial mechanism

  1. The Kyoto Protocol establishes a financial mechanism to provide financial assistance to developing countries to help them meet their obligations under the Protocol.
  2. The financial mechanism is operated by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
  3. The GEF is a multilateral fund that provides grants and concessional loans to developing countries for projects that address global environmental problems, including climate change.

Compliance

  1. The Kyoto Protocol includes a compliance mechanism to ensure that Parties meet their obligations under the Protocol.
  2. The compliance mechanism is overseen by the Compliance Committee.
  3. The Compliance Committee is responsible for reviewing and determining whether Parties are in compliance with their obligations under the Protocol.
  4. The Compliance Committee can impose a range of sanctions on Parties that are found to be in non-compliance, including financial penalties and suspension of Protocol benefits.

Transparency of information

  1. The Kyoto Protocol requires Parties to submit regular reports on their emissions and implementation of the Protocol.
  2. These reports are reviewed by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI).
  3. The SBI is responsible for providing advice and recommendations to the Conference of the Parties (COP) on the implementation of the Protocol.

Parties

  1. As of December 2021, there are 197 Parties to the Kyoto Protocol.
  2. The Parties to the Protocol are divided into two groups: Annex I Parties and non-Annex I Parties.
  3. Annex I Parties are developed countries that have ratified the Protocol.
  4. Non-Annex I Parties are developing countries that have ratified the Protocol.

Entry into force

  1. The Kyoto Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005.
  2. The Protocol entered into force after it had been ratified by 55 Parties, including at least 55 Parties that accounted for at least 55% of the total 1990 greenhouse gas emissions of Annex I Parties.
  3. The United States is the only Annex I Party that has not ratified the Protocol.

Amendments

  1. The Kyoto Protocol has been amended once, in 2012.
  2. The amendment extended the Protocol’s second commitment period from 2013 to 2020.
  3. The amendment also introduced a new market-based mechanism, the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation