The protocol defines a “compliance” mechanism as “monitoring compliance with obligations and penalties for non-compliance.” [91] According to Grubb (2003)[92], the explicit consequences of non-compliance with the Treaty are small compared to national law. [92] Nevertheless, the section on compliance with the treaty in the Marrakesh Accords was highly controversial. [92] Under IMIS, a Party to the Protocol that expects that the development of its economy will not exhaust its Kyoto quota may sell the surplus of its Kyoto quota units (AAUs) to another Party. The proceeds from AAU sales must be “green”, i.e. fed into the development and implementation of projects, either by achieving greenhouse gas emission reductions (hard greening) or by establishing the necessary framework for this process (soft greening). [50]:25 The United States (under former President George W. Bush) and Australia (initially under former Prime Minister John Howard) have not ratified the Kyoto Treaty. [126] According to Stern (2006)[126], their decision was based on the absence of quantitative emission commitments for emerging economies (see also Section 2000). Australia, under former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, has now ratified the Treaty,[127][128] which entered into force in March 2008. [129] The Kyoto Protocol entered into force on February 16, 2005 after being ratified by Russia at the end of October 2004, which means that the condition for its entry into force was met: at least 55 Parties to the UNFCCC, representing at least 55% of the total CO2 emissions of the so-called Annex I Parties (industrialized countries) for 1990.
had ratified it. Kyoto Protocol, in its entirety Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, an international treaty, named after the Japanese city where it was adopted in December 1997, which aimed to reduce emissions of gases that contribute to global warming. The protocol, which has been in force since 2005, called for a 5.2% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 41 countries plus the European Union compared to 1990 levels during the 2008-2012 “commitment period”. It has been widely hailed as the most important environmental treaty ever negotiated, although some critics have questioned its effectiveness. The protocol offered several ways for countries to achieve their objectives. One approach was to use natural processes called “sinks” that remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Planting trees that absorb carbon dioxide from the air would be an example. Another approach was the International Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) programme, which encouraged developed countries to invest in technology and infrastructure in less developed countries, where there were often significant opportunities to reduce emissions. Under the CDM, the investing country could claim an effective reduction in emissions as a credit to meet its obligations under the Protocol. One example would be an investment in a clean-burning natural gas plant to replace a planned coal-fired power plant. A third approach has been emissions trading, which has enabled participating countries to buy and sell emission allowances and thus give economic value to greenhouse gas emissions. European countries have launched an emissions trading market as a mechanism to work towards meeting their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.
Countries that have not met their emission targets should offset the difference between their targeted and actual emissions, plus a penalty of 30% in the next commitment period from 2012 onwards; they would also be prevented from participating in emissions trading until they are found to be in conformity with the Protocol. Emission targets for commitment periods after 2012 should be set in future protocols. The Kyoto Protocol was opened for signature on 16 March 1998 and entered into force on 16 February 2005 and became legally binding on ratifying countries. The conditions of the Protocol provided that it would enter into force only after 55 States had ratified it, provided that such ratifications included Annex I Parties representing at least 55 per cent of the total carbon dioxide emissions from Annex I in 1990. In 2020, the United States is the only signatory that has not ratified the protocol. [104] The United States accounted for 36% of emissions in 1990. For the treaty to enter into force without ratification by the US, a coalition comprising the EU, Russia, Japan and small parties would be needed. During the Bonn climate negotiations (COP-6.5) in 2001, an agreement was reached without the US government.
[105] Since June 2013, 192 people have been parties to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which aims to combat global warming. This total includes 191 states (189 UN Member States plus the Cook Islands and Niue) and a supranational union (the European Union). [1] [2] Canada renounced the Protocol with effect from December 15, 2012 and has not been a member since that date. As of May 2013, 191 countries and one regional economic organisation (EC) had ratified the agreement, accounting for more than 61.6% of Annex I countries` emissions in 1990. [97] One of the 191 states that have ratified the Protocol – Canada – has renounced the Protocol. Negotiations on the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) were concluded on 11 December 1997 and industrialised countries committed themselves to a defined and legally binding reduction in emissions of six `greenhouse gases`. The Minutes were published on 16 September. February 2005, and its emission reduction requirements are binding on the 35 industrialized countries that have ratified it; the United States withdrew from the Protocol in 2001 and has not ratified it.
As structured in the negotiations concluded in 1997, this treaty would commit the United States – if it ratified the Protocol – to the goal of reducing greenhouse gases by 7% below 1990 levels during a “commitment period” between 2008 and 2012. Due to the fact that “sinks” that remove and store carbon from the atmosphere are counted, and due to other provisions discussed in this report, the actual reduction in emissions in the United States that would be required to achieve the target has been estimated to be less than 7%. The United States signed the Protocol on 12 November 1998. However, the Clinton administration did not submit the minutes to the Senate for deliberation and approval, recognizing a condition set out by S.Res. .