Kyoto Protocol: Objectives, History, Features, Kyoto Protocol UPSC Notes
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: November 14th, 2023
Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty that extended the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The objective of the Kyoto Protocol is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the presence of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. The lessening of the number of emissions by industrialized nations was the essential belief of this agreement.
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted on 11 December 1997, entered into force on 16 February 2005, and currently, there are 192 parties associated with it. It is a very important part of the Environment and Ecology UPSC Syllabus. All aspirants need to be well aware of the Kyoto Protocol, its origin and principles, its mechanisms, and other aspects.
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What is Kyoto Protocol?
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement that brings into operation the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is the first set of international rules designed to implement the UNFCCC, which is a multilateral environmental treaty that came into force on 21 March 1994 at the Earth Summit, New York City in the year 1992, to combat climate change. Its role is to fight global warming by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
Kyoto Protocol UPSC PDF
The Kyoto Protocol is based on the principles and provisions of the Convention and follows its annex-based structure. It only binds developed countries and places a heavier burden on them under the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities because it recognizes that they are largely responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere.
The Kyoto Protocol implemented the objective of the UNFCCC to fight global warming by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations. As of today, there are 192 parties involved in it.
History of Kyoto Protocol
In 1997, the third meeting of the UNFCCC nation (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) took place in Japan, where the Kyoto Protocol was created. It was adopted on 11 December 1997. It entered into force on 16 February 2005 following ratification by Russia. Kyoto is the name of the Japanese city where the protocol was negotiated, but it is now commonly used in climate change discussions to refer to the protocol itself.
Principles of the Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is based on the principle of ‘Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)’. It puts the obligation to reduce current emissions on developed countries because they are historically responsible for the current levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
According to the CBDR, the Kyoto Protocol divides the responsibilities of different countries into two ways:
Historical Polluters (Developed countries):
The biggest developed countries have been polluting the earth since the Industrial Revolution. These countries include- the US, UK, France, Japan, Russia, etc. Under the CBDR, developed countries like the US, UK, Russia, etc. must contribute more towards the implementation of ways to reduce GHGs. They must do so by:
- Accepting certain binding limits on GHG emissions.
- Contributing funds towards reducing GHG emissions in the developing and the least developed countries.
Recent Polluters (Developing countries):
Recently polluting developing countries are countries that have been polluting since the 1950s. These include countries like China, India, Brazil, etc. Such countries should do everything possible to cut down their GHG emissions. But these countries are not bound, and every initiative these countries take is voluntary.
Responsibilities and Targets of the Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is designed to assist countries in adapting to the adverse effects of climate change. It facilitates the development and implementation of techniques that can help increase resilience to the impacts of climate change. One of the major features of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets obligatory targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The protocol does not set reduction targets for developing countries on the principle that the developed countries that have created the problem should take the first steps to clean it up. However, rapidly developing economies such as those of China and India will have a huge impact on GHG emissions in the future. The lack of developing country commitments is one of the reasons why the United States refused to ratify Kyoto.
The agreement and its widespread acceptance (184 countries have ratified it) provide important international momentum for action on climate change. The targeted gases under the Kyoto protocol are as follows:
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
- Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
Member Countries of Kyoto Protocol
The parties under the Kyoto Protocol are divided in the following manner:
Annexe I:
- Developed countries [US, UK, Russia, etc.]
- Economies in transition (EIT) [Ukraine, Turkey, some eastern European countries, etc.]
Annexe II:
- Developed countries (Annex II is a subset of Annex I).
- Required to provide financial and technical support to the EITs and developing countries to assist them in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
Annexe B:
- Annexe I Parties with first or second-round Kyoto protocol greenhouse gas emissions targets.
- The first-round targets apply over the years 2008–2012, and the second-round Kyoto targets apply from 2013 to 2020.
- Compulsory binding targets reduce GHG emissions.
Non-Annex I:
- Parties to the UNFCCC are not listed in Annex I of the Convention (mostly low-income developing countries).
- No binding targets to reduce GHG emissions.
LDCs
- Least-developed countries
- No binding targets to reduce GHG emissions.
Kyoto Protocol Mechanisms
The Kyoto mechanisms improve the possibility of skipping the use of older, dirtier technology for newer, cleaner infrastructure and systems, with obvious longer-term benefits that are more economical. Countries bound to Kyoto targets have to meet them largely through domestic action, i.e., by reducing their emissions onshore. But they can meet part of their targets through three ‘market-based mechanisms’, called the Kyoto mechanisms.
The Flexible Market Kyoto Protocol mechanisms include:
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
Developed countries emit more and lose carbon credits. They provide financial assistance to developing and least developed countries to create clean energy (solar, wind energy, etc.) and gain some carbon credits, thereby meeting their Kyoto Quota (Kyoto units) emissions without violations.
Emission Trading
Emissions trading allows countries to sell unused emission units to countries that have exceeded their targets. Carbon is tracked and traded like any other commodity in a “carbon market.”
Joint Implementation (JI)
This mechanism allows a country with an emission reduction commitment under the Kyoto Protocol (Annex B Party) to earn emission reduction units (ERUs) from an emission-reduction project in another Annex B Party, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting its Kyoto target. The joint implementation offers Parties a flexible and cost-efficient means of fulfilling a part of their Kyoto commitments, while the host Party benefits from foreign investment and technology transfer.
Doha Amendment to Kyoto Protocol
In Doha, Qatar, on 8 December 2012, the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol was adopted for a second commitment period, starting in 2013 and lasting until 2020. As of 28 October 2020, 147 Parties deposited their instrument of acceptance. Therefore, the threshold of 144 instruments of acceptance for entry into force of the Doha Amendment was achieved. The amendment entered into force on 31 December 2020.
During the first commitment period, 37 industrialized countries and economies were in transition, and the European Community committed to reduce GHG emissions to an average of five percent against 1990 levels. During the second commitment period, Parties committed to reducing GHG emissions by at least 18 percent below 1990 levels in the eight-year period from 2013 to 2020; however, the composition of parties in the second commitment period is different from the first.
Kyoto Protocol UPSC
To conclude, the Kyoto Protocol was an international agreement established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with the aim of addressing global climate change. Kyoto Protocol, though not in effect now, still holds relevance for most competitive exams. It is an important topic in the Environment and Ecology section, under the UPSC Syllabus. The UPSC Prelims and Mains exams occasionally ask questions about the subtopics of Kyoto Protocol UPSC, which are given above.
Kyoto Protocol UPSC Questions
Question 1: Recently, India has ratified the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol that commits countries to contain the emission of greenhouse gases. consider the following statements regarding the Kyoto protocol:
- During the second commitment period, Parties committed to reduce GHG emissions by at least 18 percent below 1990 levels in the eight-year period from 2013 to 2020.
- The Kyoto mechanisms like International Emissions Trading, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Joint Implementation (JI) were introduced in the second commitment period.
Which of the above statement is true? – A) Both 1 and 2, B) Only 1, C) Only 2, D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B) Only 1
Question 2: Discuss the objectives and key provisions of the Kyoto Protocol. What were the main challenges faced by the protocol and how did it contribute to the global efforts in addressing climate change?
Question 3: Compare and contrast the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. Discuss the similarities, differences, and improvements introduced in the Paris Agreement with respect to addressing climate change and ensuring global participation.
