Kyoto and Beyond: The Evolution of Multilateral Agreements on Climate Change

1. Kyoto and Beyond:
Evolution of Multilateral Agreements on
Climate Change
Updated September 8, 2009
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2. The Kyoto Protocol Past, Present, and Future
1. The Kyoto Protocol: What is it?
2. Pre-Kyoto Entry into Force 1970s-1980s
3. Pre-Kyoto Entry into Force 1990s-2005
4. Kyoto 2005-2008
5. 2009 and Beyond
6. 2009 and Beyond

3. 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).

4. Essential 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.

5. Ratification 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.

6. Total CO2 Emissions in 2001
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The Top Ten Carbon Emitters of 2001

7. The Stages of the Kyoto Protocol
1970s-1980s 1990s-2005 2005-2008 2008-2050
More attention The UNFCCC is The Protocol Meetings
being paid to the drafted. There is enters into force, concerning the
environment. an increase in but problems future of the
Several environmental occur as Protocol and
multilateral initiatives and countries reveal alternatives will
environmental the Kyoto they cannot meet take place. Also,
agreements are Protocol is requirements. rising temperature
implemented, formulated. The Discussions begin threats that
beginning with Protocol enters on a post-2012 scientists have
the Ramsar into force in framework despite already predicted
Convention. 2005. some opposition. may occur.

8. Pre-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.

9. Pre-Kyoto 1970s-1980s
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10. Pre-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.

11. Pre-Kyoto 1990s-2005
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12. Kyoto Protocol 2005-2008
• 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.

13. Kyoto Protocol 2005-2008
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14. 2009 - 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.

15. 2009 - Present

16. The 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.

17. The Future of Climate Change
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18. Supporting Documents
S
1970s-1980s 1990s-2005 2005-2008 2008-2050
Ramsar Convention Agenda 21 Twelfth COP Climate Change Goals
First Earth Summit Rio Declaration Bali Meetings on Climate Change Kyoto Past and Future
LRTAP Convention Forest Principles
Vienna Convention Convention on Biological Diversity Report on Climate Change
GAO
Montreal Protocol UNFCCC Draft
Basel Convention IPCC 2nd Report Accra Meetings on Climate Change
Brundtland Report First COP
Second COP
Third COPFourth COP
Fifth COP
Sixth COPSeventh COP
Marrakech Accords
Eleventh COP

19. References
"Accra talks bode well for future climate change negotiations." UN News Centre. 27 Aug. 2008. UN News Service. 30 Sept. 2008
http://http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?newsid=27846&cr=climate+change&cr1
"Action on Climate Change Post 2012." 3 June 2008
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.html
Clover, 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.html
News 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.htm
UNFCCC. 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

20. The Secretariat
• United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change is the secretariat for
the Kyoto Protocol.
• Drafted in 1992 to slow global warming.
• A framework ratified by 189 countries,
all of which agreed to reduce their
greenhouse gas emissions amounts.
• UNFCCC hosts a conference of parties
(COP) every year to discuss climate
change and the Kyoto Protocol.
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21. Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is not considered a developed
country and therefore is not included in the
requirements of the Kyoto Protocol. However,
the nation would like to be added into the list of
developed countries that are assigned
emissions reduction amounts and be bound by
the commitments of the Protocol. Since
Kazakhstan did not declare this when the
protocol was adopted, the ratification process is
still taking place because their assigned
emissions target is currently being figured out.
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22. Top Ten Carbon Emitters of 2001
CO2 : Total emissions (source: IEA): 2001
Canada Italy United Kingdom
China Japan United States
Germany North Korea
India Russia
6000 6000
4000 4000
2000 2000
0 0
2001
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23. China is the Top Carbon Emitter
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24. The Ramsar Convention
• Date: February 2nd, 1971
• A treaty is signed that defines the
framework for international cooperation in
wise use/conservation of wetlands. The
purpose of the Convention is to improve
the conservation and management of
internationally significant wetlands by
creating an international framework for
funding and monitoring wetlands and
wetlands management.
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25. United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden
• Date: June 5th – 16th, 1972
• An agreement for leaders from around the world to meet
every 10 years to discuss the state of the world's
environment. It is the beginning of the creation of an
international environmental law, as well as the beginning of
political and public awareness of environmental issues. At
this summit, an action plan is produced, called the
Stockholm Declaration, which deals with various
environmental issues including human rights, pollution
prevention, and natural resource management. The
conference also spurred the development of the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which helps
developing countries to implement environmentally
sustainable policies, as well as encourages sustainable
development. UNEP headquarters is in Nairobi.
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26. LRTAP Convention
• Date: November 13th, 1979
• The beginning stages of the Convention on Long-Range
Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of
Sulfur Emissions can be traced back to the 1960s when
scientists found a relationship between sulfur emissions
in Europe and the acidification of Scandinavian Lakes. It
is the first international legally binding instrument to
combat problems of air pollution over a broader region.
Its objective is to protect humans and their environment
against air pollution and to endeavor to limit and, as far
as possible, gradually reduce and prevent air pollution,
including long-range transboundary air pollution. Its date
of entry into force is March 16th, 1983.
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27. United Nations Conference on the
Human Environment in Nairobi, Kenya
• Date: 1982
• This is not considered an official "summit."
The summit occurred at the height of the
Cold War. Due to this tension between
nations, the meeting was unsuccessful at
producing actionable outcomes.
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28. World Commission on Environment and
Development
• Date: 1983
• The WCED, also known as the Brundtland
Commission, is created by the United Nations. The
Commission, named for WCED Chair Gro Harlem
Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway and Director
General of WHO, addresses growing concerns
about depleting natural resources and the effect on
social and economic development. The
establishment of the Commission marks a
significant time when the UN is recognizing that
issues in the environment are a global problem, and
that it is important for nations to establish policies for
sustainable development.
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29. Vienna Convention
• Date: March 22nd, 1985
• The Vienna Convention on the Protection
of the Ozone Layer touches on the
dangers that can be caused from a
depletion of the ozone layer. In 1981 the
Governing Council set up a working group
to prepare a global framework convention
for the protection of the ozone layer. Its
aim is to secure a general treaty to tackle
ozone depletion.
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30. Montreal Protocol
• Date: September 16th, 1987
• The Montreal Protocol on Substances that
Deplete the Ozone adopted freezes levels of
production and consumption of certain identified
ozone depleting substances. Later amendments
to the Montreal Protocol require a complete
phase out of production and consumption by
2010. The creators of the 1987 Montreal
Protocol are the parties to the Vienna
Convention for the Protection of the Ozone
Layer.
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31. The Brundtland Report is Published
• Date: 1987
• The World Commission on Environment and
Development (WCED) publishes the
Brundtland Report, also known as “Our
Common Future.” The report states that critical
global environmental issues are the primary
source of poverty in the South, as well as non-
sustainable consumption in the North. The
Report’s goal is to unite efforts for global
sustainable development and environmental
practices.
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32. IPCC is Created
• Date: 1988
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) is created by the World
Meteorological Organization and UNEP.
Scientists from around the world meet to
research climate change since the threats
are becoming so serious, and they feel
increasing pressure to combat the
depletion of the ozone layer.
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33. Toronto Conference on Climate Change
• Date: June 27th-30th, 1988
• The conference is considered to be the first
major climate change conference, attended by
more than 340 participants from 46 countries.
They all recommend developing a global
framework convention that will protect the
atmosphere. Participants agree that there should
be a 20% cut in global carbon dioxide emissions
by 2005, and an eventual 50% cut.
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34. Basel Convention is Adopted
• Date: March 22nd, 1989
• The Basel Convention is adopted to combat the
dumping of hazardous wastes in developing
countries by developed countries. The Basel
Convention establishes a global notification and
consent system for the transboundary shipments
of hazardous wastes. The main objectives of
the Convention is to reduce transboundary
movement of hazardous wastes, minimize
creation of hazardous waste, and prohibit their
shipment to countries lacking the capacity to
dispose of hazardous wastes in an
environmentally sound manner.
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35. The Climate Action Network is Established
• Date: March 1989
• The Climate Action Network (CAN) is considered to be
the umbrella NGO in international, national, and local
negotiations pertaining to climate change and the
environment. The CAN is made up of 300
environmental NGOs and has the overall goal of
decreasing human-induced climate change. The
CAN’s future meetings include representatives from
the various NGOs meeting to strategize matters
concerning the latest environmental developments.
The CAN will later also make significant contributions
to the development and adoption of the Kyoto
Protocol.
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36. IPCC Releases First Report
• Date: 1990
• The report says that the planet is warming due to human
activities. It states that human activities are increasing
the concentrations of greenhouse gases (CO2, methane,
CFCs, and nitrous oxide), and will inevitably enhance the
natural greenhouse effect causing a warming of the
Earth's surface. The report also states that CO2 is one of
the main contributors to the enhanced greenhouse
effect. The IPCC predicts an increase of 0.3 degrees
Celsius in the global mean temperature per decade
during the 21st century, which is greater than any
increase seen over the past 10,000 years.
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37. United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
• Date: June 3rd-14th, 1992
• The summit is considered the largest gathering of world
leaders. They create the Rio Convention which calls all
parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the 1990
amounts. At the Rio Earth Summit a non-legally binding
authoritative statement of principles for the management,
conservation and sustainable development of all types of
Forests is produced. One of the major achievements at
the summit is an agreement on the Climate Change
Convention, which eventually will lead to the Kyoto
Protocol. Participants also agree that there should be no
activities done on other countries' land that would cause
harm to the environment or go against the culture.
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38. UNFCCC Drafting
• Date: 1992
• The drafting of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is
done in preparation for the Rio Summit of 1992.
The UNFCCC is a non-binding agreement
ratified by 189 states to address climate change.
All countries involved agree to report their
emissions amounts for greenhouse gases. It is
decided that a binding framework will be
necessary in order to make a difference and so
negotiations will begin to take place.
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39. COP in Berlin, Germany
• Date: March 28th – April 7th, 1995
• The Conference of Parties meet for the first time in
Berlin, Germany. The participants discuss concerns
about the countries' abilities to meet the commitments
constructed under the convention framework. The
concerns are expressed in a document called the "Berlin
Mandate." The Mandate creates a 2 year time period to
negotiate a choice of actions for countries to pick from
which include future options of how to address climate
change in a way that will be the best from both economic
and environmental viewpoints. It also exempts non-
Annex 1 countries from any more binding obligations.
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40. IPCC Releases 2nd Report
• Date: 1995
• The report further confirms that human
activities are causing drastic climate
change. It states that the greenhouse gas
concentrations are constantly increasing.
It is the only report to include a chapter on
the economic impacts of climate change.
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41. Second COP in Geneva, Switzerland
• Date: July 8th-19th, 1996
• At the conference, countries that are part
of the Rio Convention admit that climate
change is threatening. There is also an
acceptance of the findings on climate
change made by the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change in its second
report. Participants reject the idea of
having uniform and harmonized policies
because countries favor flexibility.
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42. Third COP in Kyoto, Japan
• Date: December 1st – 10th, 1997
• The binding framework that the states had talked
about is agreed upon; they title it the Kyoto
protocol. The Protocol states that developed
countries will have to reduce their greenhouse
gas emissions to a certain amount. The binding
amounts will have to be met between the years
2008-2012. Most industrialized nations agree to
the legally binding reductions to levels below
1990 amounts; the U.S. does not.
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43. Fourth COP in Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Date: November 2nd-13th, 1998
• Participants of the conference discuss the
implementation of Protocol but decide to delay
finalization. The resolving of the Protocol’s
remaining issues does not happen because it
becomes too difficult to reach agreement. As an
alternative, a 2 year plan of action is created
which will speed up efforts and create
mechanisms for finalizing and implementing the
Kyoto Protocol; the action plan is to be
completed by 2000.
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44. Kyoto Protocol Opened for Signing
• Date: March 16th, 1998
• The Kyoto Protocol is open for signatures
at the United Nations Headquarters in
New York City, and 84 countries sign it
between March 16th, 1998 and March 15th,
1999.
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45. Fifth COP in Bonn, Germany
• Date: October 25th – November 5th, 1999
• At the meeting, 166 countries discuss the details of Kyoto
Protocol that are necessary for its implementation. The
participants are able to agree on the steps needed in order to
make decisions on the issues stated in the plan of action
created at the fourth COP. During the meeting, an effort is
also made to finish a possible negotiations text, but the
developing countries believe this is premature and so it does
not happen. The developing countries want more time for
countries to make proposals on how the flexibility
mechanisms should operate. There is also a large push to
have an early entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol by 2002
(U.S. does not want this). However, Russia was the final
country that needed to ratify in order to reach the 55% of
industrialized nations required by the Kyoto Protocol, so the
2002 goal did not end up happening.
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46. Sixth COP in the Hague, Netherlands
• Date: November 13th-24th, 2000
• This COP is considered a failure due to a
disagreement on carbon sinks. The US wants to
include carbon sinks in the agreement, but very
few other nations agree. European nations do
not believe that the US should be allowed to
meet greenhouse gas reduction targets without
actually cutting emissions. This conflict is the
main reason for the collapse of the meeting.
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47. IPCC Release 3rd Report
• Date: 2001
• The IPCC release their third report which represents the
advances that scientists have made in the understanding
of climate change and its possible effects. There were
three major parts: 1) The Scientific Basis section
confirmed that climate change is happening and that
humans are the ones causing it. This section also states
that the effects may be worse than was previously
thought 2) The Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability
section states that the impacts of climate change on
humans and nature will be negative. It states that there
is “potential for catastrophe” 3) The Mitigation Section
states that there are options that exist for slowing down
climate change, many of which could begin immediately
with “no net cost.”
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48. Bush Declares Won’t Ratify the Kyoto
Protocol
• Date: March 28, 2001
• George Bush announces to the world that
the United states will not be implementing
the Kyoto Protocol. Bush claims that the
agreement leaves out too many countries
under its rules, and so does not agree with
the Protocol. Bush claims that he is going
to find an alternative plan that will include
more of the world in its guidelines.
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49. Seventh COP in Bonn, Germany
• Date: October 29th - November 9th, 2001
• At the meeting, 180 Nations finally agree
on how to enforce the Protocol. Even with
the agreement, however, some concerns
arise that there will be little impact on the
emissions, even with 55% of greenhouse
gas emissions being accounted for. The
US is not present during the meeting.
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50. The Marrakech Accords
• Date: 2001
• Nations come together in Marrakech and create
detailed rules for the implementation of the
Protocol. The objective of the agreement is to
finalize the agreement on operational details for
commitments on reducing emissions of
greenhouse gases under the 1997 Kyoto
Protocol. The accords also are meant to finalize
the agreement on actions to strengthen
implementation of the UNFCCC.
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51. The World Summit on Sustainable
Development
• Date: August 26th – September 4th, 2002
• The World Summit on Sustainable Development
(WSSD) convenes in Johannesburg, South
Africa. At the summit, the United Nations discuss
sustainable development. The main outcome of
the summit is the Johannesburg Declaration,
which further encourages sustainable
development and mentions that multilateralism is
the path forward. The United States is absent
because George Bush boycotted the summit
and so does not attend.
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52. World Climate Change Conference
• Date: September 9th – October 3rd, 2003
• The climate talks are meant to be an opportunity
for scientists to meet to discuss the latest
research on climate change and its impacts.
However, the talks end up being focused directly
on the Kyoto Protocol. There is much doubt
about whether Russia's president, Vladimir
Putin, will ratify the Kyoto Protocol as he
previously stated he would. This ends up
receiving most of the attention of the conference
instead of the scientists’ input.
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53. Russia Ratifies the Kyoto Protocol
• Date: November 18th, 2004
• This ratification is crucial and will fulfill the
requirements necessary for the Protocol to
take effect. The countries become
collectively responsible for 55% of
greenhouse gas emissions. Russia
completes the 55% that is needed for the
Protocol to enter into force.
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54. Eleventh COP in Montreal, Canada
• Date: November 28th – December 9th, 2005
• It is the largest intergovernmental climate
conference since the Kyoto Protocol was
adopted. The issues discussed include
rules and commitments by different
countries, how to help developing
countries reduce gas emissions, how to
measure emissions reductions, and
accountability.
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55. South Africa Is Unready for Emission Cap
• Date: October 18th, 2005
• South Africa’s environment minister, Rejoice
Thizwilondi Mabudafhasi, states that, for
economic reasons, it is too soon to set targets
for the developing world to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. Currently, the developing
countries are exempt from the emissions caps of
the Kyoto Protocol. The environment minister
also believes that the large greenhouse gas
emitters of the developing world (i.e. South
Africa, India, China, and Brazil) will have to find
ways to curb emissions before targets are
created.
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56. Australia Rules Out Post-Kyoto Limits
• Date: October 31st, 2005
• Australia states that negotiating new greenhouse
gas emissions levels for years after 2012 is not
necessary. This dampens the hopes that a
major environment meeting in Canada in
November will be able to set new targets. Ian
Campbell, Australia’s Environment Minister,
stated that most countries will not be able to
meet their Kyoto targets and that creating new
limits will not accomplish anything.
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57. Technology Transfer Seminar
• Date: March 8th-9th, 2006
• At the seminar, 144 participants from 11 Asian
countries discuss technology transfer under the
UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol. It provides an
opportunity for government representatives and
policy makers to go over the best practices for
technology transfer throughout Asia. The
participants want to discuss the key success
factors, as well as the best way to implement
them.
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58. Canada Requests Leniencies
• Date: May, 2006
• Canada makes the statement that it will be
willing to remain in the Kyoto Protocol after
2012, but only if it receives breaks on meeting
the required targets. In a report to the United
Nations, the country states that the second
phase of the Kyoto Protocol should be more
lenient with longer deadlines, voluntary targets,
and exceptions for Canada’s resource based
economy.
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59. 17 Countries Behind on Targets
• Date: June 2nd, 2006
• In Bonn, figures are submitted by the
governments to the United Nations
Climate Secretariat showing that
emissions of carbon dioxide in at least 17
of 40 industrialized countries are missing
targets set under the Kyoto Protocol.
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60. International Conference on CDM
• Date: September 19th-21st, 2006
• At the conference, participants discuss the
Protocol in relation to Saudi Arabia. The
objective is to provide those participating with an
understanding of financial benefits that CDM can
provide. It is important to increase the
awareness of newer mechanisms such as CCS,
or Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage, which
is the separation of carbon dioxide from
industrial sources and its transportation to a
storage location where it is isolated from the
atmosphere.
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61. Twelfth Conference of Parties in Nairobi, Kenya
• Date: November 6th-17th, 2006
• The participants of the second session of the
Conference of the parties serving as the meeting of the
parities to the Kyoto Protocol in Nairobi, Kenya adopt the
first amendment to the Protocol that means including
Belarus in the emissions reduction commitments stated
under Annex B of the Protocol. The major focus of the
meetings is long-term action on climate change, as well
as what will happen after the first commitment period
ends. Although it is not considered to be one of the most
memorable COPs or CMPs, it still marks an important
point for negotiators and post-2012 planning.
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62. Washington Declaration is Made
• Date: February 16th, 2007
• The heads of state from Canada, France,
Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, US,
Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South
Africa agree on an outline to the
successor of the Kyoto Protocol. It is non-
binding and is hoped to be in place by
2009. The agreement is a global cap and
trade system that would apply to
industrialized nations and developing
countries. GO BACK

63. UNFCCC Asian Regional Workshop
• Date: April 11th-15th, 2007
• The purpose of the UNFCCC Asian Regional
Workshop on Adaptation is to highlight Asian
Concerns about climate change adaptation and
vulnerability reduction. It is taking place
because a request was made at the tenth
Conference of Parties for the UNFCCC to
organize workshops and meetings for small
island developing nations to enable information
exchange and assistance in identifying
adaptation needs and concerns.
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64. Canada States Protocol Not Possible
• Date: 2007
• Canada claims that the Kyoto Protocol is not possible for
the country. It creates an alternative plan that does not
put a hard ceiling on greenhouse gases the way that the
Kyoto Protocol does; instead, it makes intensity targets
for emissions. The head of the international body
overseeing the Kyoto Protocol says that this new plan
does not guarantee that emissions will go down. There is
worry that, since Canada is refusing to comply with the
Kyoto Protocol, other countries might begin to do the
same. Also, Canada is seen to be the role model for the
U.S., so if Canada gives up, then the U.S. will have more
reason not to ratify and comply with the Protocol.
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65. Vienna Climate Change Talks
• Date: August 28th, 2007
• The purpose of the meetings in Vienna is to
discuss what will happen after the Kyoto
Protocol ends. One of the main topics of
discussion in the meetings is a United Nations
report which shows how energy efficiency could
bring significant cuts in emissions at low cost.
The Vienna talks are meant to set the stage for
the major international meeting that would be
held in December of 2007.
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66. Australia Ratifies Kyoto Protocol
• Date: December 3rd, 2007
• Australia ratifies Kyoto Protocol in Bali.
This is a very significant ratification
because it results in the US being the only
Annex I country who did not ratify the
Protocol.
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67. Bali Climate Change Talks
• Date: December 2nd – 15th, 2007
• The fifteen day Bali meeting on climate change focuses on
the question of how to save the climate from the
continuous harmful emissions. The conference is
considered a success because there is an overall
agreement on three important goals: 1. to launch
negotiations on the global agreement of climate change
issues, 2. to create an agenda for these negotiations, and
3. to agree to conclude the negotiations by 2009. The Bali
Road Map is created here, which includes the Bali Action
Plan. They both discuss the three goals and create a
course for a new negotiating process that will become a
post 2012 international agreement on climate change, also
considered to be the second commitment period. At the
Bali meetings, a provision is added that requires emission
reports to be submitted and validated for each country.
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68. IPCC Release 4th Report
• Date: November 17th, 2007
• The IPCC’s 4th report states that halting global warming
completely is no longer possible. It says that increased
heat waves and floods cannot be avoided, and will
happen at lower temperatures than predicted. The report
also predicts that greenhouse gas emissions will rise by
90% by 2030. The most vulnerable regions to climate
change are noted to be Africa, Asian mega deltas, and
the Arctic. Also, in the countries seen in being at the
highest risk, the people who will be impacted the most
are stated to be the elderly, the young, and the
marginalized.
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69. Top Emitters Meet in Paris
• Date: April 2008
• The world’s top greenhouse gas emitters meet in
Paris to work out ways to slow global warming.
The participants were E.U, U.N, U.K, U.S,
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France,
Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South
Korea, Mexico, Russia and South Africa. There
are hopes for an agreement by the end of 2008
on curbs by the countries that emit 80% of the
world’s greenhouse gases. Nations express
skepticism about Bush’s late agreement for a
need for more climate action.
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70. Bangkok Climate Change Talks
• Date: March 31st – April 4th, 2008
• These talks mark the beginning of a new
negotiating phase. A new work program is
created to make a future international
climate pact that will successfully halt the
increase in global emissions within the
next 10-15 years and halt the increase in
emissions by mid-century.
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71. China is Declared Top Carbon Emitter
• Date: April 15th, 2008
• A general consensus emerges that China has
become the top carbon emitter, as well as one of
the world’s biggest polluters. This presents a
problem because it is not included in the binding
framework of the Kyoto Protocol since it is not
an Annex I developed country. Researchers
warn that any unchecked future growth will dwarf
emission cuts made by rich nations under the
Kyoto Protocol.
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72. Bush Announces Emission Reduction Goal
• Date: April 16th, 2008
• Bush announces he is setting a national goal for
the US to curb growth of greenhouse gas
emissions by 2025. He also repeats his
objections to the Kyoto Protocol, saying that
technology would be the solution to the climate
issues. He says that the US is willing to build a
plan focused around technology into a binding
international agreement if other nations are
willing.
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73. GAO Report on Climate Change
• Date: May 2008
• The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)
releases a report that includes expert opinions on
actions that might be considered to address climate
change based on potential benefits, costs, and
uncertainties of the actions, as well as strengths and
limitations. It is agreed that Congress should use a
market-based mechanism to create a price on
greenhouse gas emissions, which the majority currently
think should be between $1 and $20 per ton. The
experts believe that a tax could be created to set a fixed
price on every ton of emissions. There would also be a
market established for trading permits to emit specific
amounts of greenhouse gases. It is considered to be a
hybrid approach between taxes and the cap-and-trade
method.
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74. Bonn Climate Change Talks
• Date: June 2nd-13th, 2008
• These talks are currently taking place. Various
governments are meeting to continue preparing
for the Bali Mandate that was created at the 13th
Conference of Parties. It is what will help the
governments to agree on a new climate deal by
2009. During this time period, the governments
will also have to progress toward an ambitious
outcome at the Poznan COP. They will need to
figure out the options for a negotiations
framework that will be agreed upon in Poznan
and negotiated in 2009.
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75. Climate Change Talks in Accra, Ghana
• Date: August 21st – 27th, 2008
• The main purpose of the talks is to negotiate a new
international climate change deal, as well as to work on
the emissions reduction rules set under the Kyoto
Protocol. This meeting is meant to be a springboard for
official negotiations to be started in Poznan, Poland in
December and finalized in Copenhagen in 2009. Ideas
and proposals for a future deal are compiled and will
continue to be compiled until the Poznan meeting. The
topic of deforestation is also discussed in relation to the
effect it has on speeding up climate change. About
1,600 participants attend with delegates from 160
different countries. This is the last major international
conference before the meeting takes place in Poznan.
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76. Fourteenth Conference of Parties in Poznan, Poland
• Date: December 1st-12th, 2008
• The Conference of Parties results in
governments committing to negotiate an
international response to climate change in
2009. The meeting does not make progress on
creating a new binding agreement by the end of
2009. It is emphasized that Barack Obama will
be taking direct involvement in negotiating a new
agreement in 2009. The meeting also focuses
on the Kyoto Protocol’s Adaptation Fund, which
now grants direct access to developing
countries.
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77. Fifteenth Conference of Parties in Copenhagen, Denmark
• Date: December 7th – 18th, 2009
• COP 15 takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Denmark is to host the UN’s very important climate
summit in 2009 when a “new Kyoto agreement” is to fall
in place. At least 10,000 participants from the entire
world are expected to attend the summit, which will be
the most significant since the Kyoto meeting in 1997.
The EU’s state and government leaders previously set
the stage for making a new global climate agreement
about the limitation of the emissions of greenhouse gas
at the latest in 2009. The summit is imperative if the
agreement is to be legal and effective when the Kyoto
protocol will expire at the end of 2012.
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78. Bali Road Map
• Date: 2009
• Bali Roadmap should be ready for signing. A new pact to
reduce greenhouse gases once Kyoto Protocol expires
in 2012. It was created at the Bali Conference sponsored
by the UN. The roadmap includes an agreement on the
Adaptation Fund that will deliver funds for developing
countries to deal with the impacts of climate change. The
roadmap also includes an agreement to review how
industrialized countries will meet emissions reduction
targets in the second commitment period of the Kyoto
Protocol. It also represents a program that is meant to
strengthen the UN climate change regime beyond the
initial Protocol concepts - this would mean a clear
involvement of the developing countries.
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79. Kyoto Protocol Goal to be Reached
• Date: 2010
• Goal by 2010: 5.2% reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions below the
1990 Annex 1 countries. This is
considered the overall goal of the Kyoto
Protocol.
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80. Kyoto Protocol 2nd Commitment Period
• Date: 2013-2017
• In 2005 negotiations began for a second
commitment period to possibly take place.
There are goals to bring the United States,
China, and India into the negotiations
since they are large emitters of
greenhouse gases.
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81. Prospective Temperature Growth
• Date: 2020
• The IPCC projects a possible temperature
growth of one degree Celsius. This would
mean: 30-40% of all known species are
threatened by extinction; coral reefs are
bleached; heat waves, floods, and
draughts will be causing a higher mortality
rate amongst humans.
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82. Emission Reduction Goal to be Reached
• Date: 2020
• Goal to reach emissions reductions
discussed in Bali meeting in 2007. The
goal range was between 25% and 40%
reductions.
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83. Emission Reduction Goal to be Reached
• Date: 2020
• In 2001, the EU Sustainable Development
Strategy stressed that the EU should aim
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after
2012 by 1% per year up to 2020. It also
specified that CO2 emissions alone should
be reduced by 10% by 2020. This would
in turn reduce emissions of pollutants that
have adverse effects on public health.
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84. Energy Investment Goal to be Reached
• Date: 2030
• According to the International Energy
Agency (IEA), huge energy investment
decisions need to be in place by 2030 that
will determine the mix of energy
technologies and magnitude of
greenhouse gas emissions well into the
2nd half of the century. In Europe alone,
this new mix of energy technologies could
save up to 40% of energy.
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85. Prospective Emission Growth
• Date: 2030
• According to the IPCC, even though total emissions from
industrialized nations that ratified the Kyoto Protocol will
fall by a few percent, global emissions are actually
expected to rise by 60% in 2030. This large increase
would be caused mainly by the growth from the United
States and China. The Protocol has not done much to
reduce the growth of global emissions, and since the
United States and China account for most of the world's
emissions, but are not included in the Kyoto Protocol for
different reasons (the United States did not ratify it and
China is not obligated to meet the requirements since it
is a non-annex country), they will cause the emissions to
continue to increase.
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86. Emission Reduction Goal to be Reached
• Date: 2050
• Representatives from the UK project that in 2050
the world's developed countries would need to
have cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60 to
80%. If this doesn't happen, then experts
believe that there will be a temperature rise
above 2-2.5 degrees Celsius. This would mean
a higher occurrence of heat waves, droughts,
and heavy rainfall. It would also adversely affect
agriculture, forests, water resources, industry,
and human health. Developing countries and
poorer areas of the populations would be the
most seriously harmed.
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87. Prospective Temperature Growth
• Date: 2050
• The IPCC projects a possible temperature
growth of two degrees Celsius. This would
mean: Biological systems experience
massive change causing adverse effects
on biodiversity and the supply of food and
water worldwide. Also, millions of people
would be living in severely flood-
threatened regions.
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88. Annex I Countries
Australia
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bulgaria
Canada
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
European Community
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russian Federation
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
GO BACK United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland
United States of America

89. Annex II Countries
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
European Economic Community
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Luxembourg
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
GO BACK United States of America

90. Status of Kyoto Targets
Allowed emission Change achieved
Orange = Not meeting targets change target for 2012 in 2006
(percentage of 1990 base (percentage of
Gray = Achieving targets Country year) 1990 base year)
Australia 108.0 128.81
Note: The Protocol sets goals for Austria 87.0 115.05
Belgium 92.5 94.77
individual countries in order to Bulgaria 92.0 53.80
achieve a combined international Canada 94.0 121.67
emissions reduction of at least Croatia 95.0 94.79
Czech Republic 92.0 76.30
5% below 1990 levels. Goals Denmark 79.0 102.23
include reductions (ex. Germany Estonia 92.0 45.38
Finland 100.0 113.17
must reduce to 79% of 1990 France 100.0 96.49
levels) as well as allowed Germany 79.0 81.84
increases (ex. Spain may Greece 125.0 127.26
Hungary 94.0 67.87
increase emissions levels to Iceland 110.0 124.22
115% of 1990 levels). Ireland 113.0 125.64
Italy 93.5 109.87
Japan 94.0 105.35
Latvia 92.0 43.93
Liechtenstein 92.0 118.96
Lithuania 92.0 47.04
Luxembourg 72.0 101.03
Monaco 92.0 86.93
Netherlands 94.0 98.03
New Zealand 100.0 125.70
Norway 101.0 107.67
Poland 94.0 71.07
Portugal 127.0 139.98
Romania 92.0 55.58
Russian Federation 100.0 65.84
Slovakia 92.0 66.37
Slovenia 92.0 101.24
Spain 115.0 150.63
Sweden 104.0 91.26
Switzerland 92.0 100.77 GO BACK
Ukraine 100.0 48.07
United Kingdom 87.5 84.95
Source: National greenhouse gas inventory data for 1990 to 2006, U.N Framework Convention on
Climate Change