Kyoto Protocol: A lesson on Motherhood

Posted on 02. Dec, 2010 by Leela Raina in India

They are the Chinese cute babies, the ones that make noise on the plane, the ones that poo everywhere in the room, the ones that travel around the world in their prams with their mothers and then there are those who are left stranded by there mothers, this is a story of one of those unfortunate babies who is now going to have to find a new home with more caring mothers. Nonetheless, your mother will always be your own mother.

The birth

On the auspicious day of 11 December 1997 the Kyoto protocol was adopted by COP 3 in Kyoto, Japan. It was opened on 16 March 1998 for signature by parties to UNFCCC. Its birth was celebrated by one and all since for the first time we saw the differentiation between countries based on their respective capabilities and the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility come up.

Baby Steps

The EU and its Member States ratified the Protocol in May 2002. Iceland and Russia followed through till 2004.As of November 2009, 187 countries and one regional economic organization (the EC) have ratified the agreement, representing over 63.9% of the 1990 emissions from Annex I countries. The most notable non-party to the Protocol is the United States, a party to UNFCCC responsible for 36.1% of the 1990 emission levels of Annex I countries. Countries like China, India and Brazil are also still in the non-annex group. This makes them without commitments to the Kyoto protocol and with no obligation to limit their CO2 emissions thereby also limiting their industry. As of now these countries haven’t changed their minds about not making commitments by letting them be defined as Annex-I Countries. The Protocol can be signed and ratified only by parties to UNFCCC, (Article 24) and a country can withdraw by giving 12 months notice. (Article 27)

Growing up

The objective of the Kyoto climate change conference was to establish a legally binding international agreement, whereby all the participating nations commit themselves to tackling the issue of global warming and greenhouse gas emissions. The target agreed upon was an average reduction of 5.2% from 1990 levels by the year 2012. According to the treaty, in 2012, Annex I countries must have fulfilled their obligations of reduction of greenhouse gases emissions established for the first commitment period (2008–2012) . The first commitment period of the Protocol expires at the end of 2012 after which it enters a “true” period of

The Protocol defines three “flexibility mechanisms“ The flexibility mechanisms are International Emissions Trading (IET), the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Joint Implementation (JI). IET allows Annex I countries to “trade” their emissions (Assigned Amount Units, AAUs, or “allowances” for short). Trade could potentially allow the Annex I countries to meet their emission reduction commitments at a reduced cost. This is because trade allows emissions to be abated first in countries where the costs of abatement are lowest, thus increasing the efficiency of the Kyoto agreement.The production of emission reductions generated by the CDM and JI can be used by Annex B countries in meeting their emission reduction commitments. The emission reductions produced by the CDM and JI are both measured against a hypothetical baseline of emissions that would have occurred in the absence of a particular emission reduction project. The emission reductions produced by the CDM are called Certified Emission Reductions (CERs); reductions produced by JI are called Emission Reduction Units (ERUs). The reductions are called “credits” because they are emission reductions credited against a hypothetical baseline of emissions.

Adolescent struggles

If the enforcement branch determines that an annex I country is not in compliance with its emissions limitation, then that country is required to make up the difference plus an additional 30%. In addition, that country will be suspended from making transfers under an emissions trading program.

But Japan has chosen to speak out! To say that it will not commit to a second commitment period. To ditch its baby.

You don’t do that. Even if you don’t like your kid or realize he’s the dumbest kid in his class, you still love him as much. You definitely don’t leave it stranded.

Japan’s supposed reasoning is quite simple. Firstly, Japan, like the US, is facing difficulties at home passing climate change legislation. But it’s the differences, not the similarities, between the US and Japan that are really driving this move against Kyoto.

Japan has made it clear that they believe the focus should be on securing a new global treaty that includes all nations, not and extension of Kyoto under which the US and China are excluded. Kyoto only covers 27 per cent of all global emissions. If Kyoto was to be continued, the only other major emitters to have new targets imposed, aside from Japan, would be the EU and Australia.

Japan’s move then, shows its government does not wish to repeat the domestic out roar it experienced in 2001, when despite the US refusing to ratify, Japan went ahead and ratified the treaty, angering the business community, the wider constituency and even members within the government. At the following election, the opposition party in Japan made significant gains on the government, which found itself with a significantly reduced majority.

So who will take responsibility and guide it now?

With or without Japan, there are at least forty countries, including Australia, the EU and Norway, that are committed to a second period of Kyoto if need be.

India was fully committed to the Kyoto Protocol but there was no agreement globally on its second commitment post-2012, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said Wednesday. ‘India is fully committed to the Kyoto Protocol. The talks for further emission reduction commitments of Annex-I parties (developed countries) in the second commitment period (post-2012) are undergoing since 2005,’ Ramesh informed parliament. He said India, along with South Africa and 35 other like minded countries, had earlier submitted a proposal calling for Annex-I parties to agree to at least 40 percent emission reduction commitment by 2020 as compared to their 1990 levels.

‘India has been one of the major beneficiaries of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), a flexible mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol and would like that this mechanism to continue and be further strengthened,’ Ramesh said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

He said there had been no agreement till date and the negotiations on the targets of Annex-I parties for the second commitment period and other relevant issues were going on at the climate change summit at Cancun.

Marraige plans

Alliance is sought for the Kyoto protocol and we have a few contenders. There is the LCA track and there are a few other proposals. You could keep following this blog to find out more!

Coming up sooonnnnn

Tags: Cancún, cbdr, environment, featured, India, Jai Ram Ramesh, Japan, Kyoto, love, marraige, minister, mother, UNFCCC