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From December 1-11, 1997 the Third Conference of the Parties ("COP-3") to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was held in Kyoto, Japan and included over 10,000 participants from governments, intergovernmental organizations, NGOs and the press. In the Kyoto Protocol, adopted by 171 countries at the conference, structures were put into place to reduce six major greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). (See table of greenhouse gases.) Major provisions of the Kyoto Protocol are below.
(Note: "Annex I parties" are those countries included in Annex I to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, adopted in New York on 9 May 1992. "Annex B parties" refers to those countries included in Annex B in the Kyoto Protocol. See table.)
Major Provisions
of the Kyoto Protocol |
1. Greenhouse gas emissions reduced to 5% below 1990 levels:
Article 3 of the Protocol reflects the parties' commitments to reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases by 5% below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. The 5% target is not a global target but applies as an overall target to a list of countries in Annex B of the Protocol. Some countries, including the US, Canada, European Union countries and Japan, will have to ruduce emissions up to 8 percent. Some on this list including Australia and Iceland will be allowed to increase emissions by varying amounts up to 10%. There are no limits for "developing" countries including China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, etc., whose per capita consuption of fossil fuels is still relatively low. |
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2. Emissions trading:
Article 16 bis states that:
"The Parties included in Annex B may participate in emissions trading for the purposes of fulfilling their commitments under Article 3 of this Protocol. Any such trading shall be supplemental to domestic actions for the purpose of meeting quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments under that Article."
Article 16 bis was a late addition to the Kyoto Protocol, and a subject of contentious debate. It allows emissions trading in principle, but specific rules are to be worked out at the Fourth Conference of the Parties ("COP-4"), to be held November 2-13, 1998 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. |
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3. "Clean Development Mechanism"
Article 12 defines a clean development mechanism, the purpose of which is to assist developing countries to achieve "sustainable development." Annex I countries could count reductions in greenhouse gases achieved in this way against their own targets. |
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4. Joint Implementation
Article 6 states that:
"for the purpose of meeting its commitments under Article 3, any Party included in Annex I may transfer to, or acquire from, any other such Party emission reduction units resulting from projects aimed at reducing anthropogenic emissions by sources or enhancing anthropogenic removals by sinks of greenhouse gases in any sector of the economy"
While similar to the "clean development mechanism," joint implementation refers to the trading of emissions reduction units among Annex I parties (generally, industrialized countries), while the clean development mechanism allows Annex I parties to benefit (i.e. gain emission reduction units) from emissions reduction projects performed by corporations in non-Annex I countries. |
Annex I and Annex B Parties
(all are both Annex I and Annex B unless otherwise noted) |
| Country |
Kyoto protocol emissions limit as percentage of base year (1990) |
| Australia |
108 |
| Austria |
92 |
| Belarus (Annex I only) |
- |
| Belgium |
92 |
| Bulgaria |
92 |
| Canada |
94 |
| Croatia (Annex B only) |
95 |
| Czech Republic |
92 |
| Denmark |
92 |
| Estonia |
92 |
| European Community |
92 |
| Finland |
92 |
| France |
92 |
| Germany |
92 |
| Greece |
92 |
| Hungary |
94 |
| Iceland |
110 |
| Ireland |
92 |
| Italy |
92 |
| Japan |
94 |
| Latvia |
92 |
| Liechtenstein |
92 |
| Lithuania |
92 |
| Luxembourg |
92 |
| Monaco (In Annex B only) |
92 |
| Netherlands |
92 |
| New Zealand |
100 |
| Norway |
101 |
| Poland |
94 |
| Portugal |
92 |
| Romania |
92 |
| Russian Federation |
100 |
| Slovakia |
92 |
| Slovenia (Annex B only) |
92 |
| Spain |
92 |
| Sweden |
92 |
| Switzerland |
92 |
| Turkey (Annex I only) |
- |
| Ukraine |
100 |
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
92 |
| United States of America |
93 |
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Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
