What was kyoto protocol

As it had not made this declaration when the Protocol was adopted, Kazakhstan does not have an emissions target listed for it in Annex B. The Protocol includes provisions for the review of its commitments, so that these can be strengthened over time. To achieve their targets, Annex I Parties must put in place domestic policies and measures.

The Protocol provides an indicative list of policies and measures that might help mitigate climate change and promote sustainable development. However, only certain activities are eligible. These are afforestation, reforestation and deforestation defined as eligible by the Kyoto Protocol and forest management, cropland management, grazing land management and revegetation added to the list of eligible activities by the Marrakesh Accords.

Greenhouse gases removed from the atmosphere through eligible sink activities generate credits known as removal units RMUs. Any greenhouse gas emissions from eligible activities, in turn, must be offset by greater emission cuts or removals elsewhere. The amount of credit that can be claimed through forest management, for example, is subject to an individual cap for each Party, which is listed in the Marrakesh Accords.

The Protocol also establishes three innovative economic and market mechanisms, which are joint implementation, the clean development mechanism and emissions trading.

These are designed to help Annex I Parties cut the cost of meeting their emissions targets by taking advantage of opportunities to reduce emissions, or increase greenhouse gas removals, that cost less in other countries than at home. Any Annex I Party that has ratified the Protocol may use the mechanisms to help meet its emissions target, provided that it is complying with its methodological and reporting obligations under the Protocol.

Under joint implementation, an Annex I Party may implement a project that reduces emissions e. In practice, joint implementation projects are most likely to take place in EITs, where there tends to be more scope for cutting emissions at low cost.

The CDM also aims to help non-Annex I Parties achieve sustainable development and contribute to the ultimate objective of the Convention. These measures are designed to stimulate green investment and help signatories meet their emission targets in a cost-effective manner. The progress towards the target is calculated in comparison with the level of emissions in a historical year, called the Kyoto base year , which for most EU countries is The collective EU commitment has a Kyoto base year , while other EU countries have different base years, namely Bulgaria , Hungary average of , Poland , Romania and Slovenia In addition, countries may choose to use as the base year for total emissions of hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride F-gases , in accordance with Article 3, paragraph 8 of the Protocol.

Overall, these targets add up to an average 5 per cent emission reduction compared to levels over the five year period — the first commitment period. In Doha, Qatar, on 8 December , the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol was adopted for a second commitment period, starting in and lasting until However, the Doha Amendment has not yet entered into force; a total of instruments of acceptance are required for entry into force of the amendment.

On 21 December , the amendment was circulated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, acting in his capacity as Depositary, to all Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in accordance with Articles 20 and 21 of the Protocol. During the first commitment period, 37 industrialized countries and economies in transition and the European Community committed to reduce GHG emissions to an average of five percent against levels.

During the second commitment period, Parties committed to reduce GHG emissions by at least 18 percent below levels in the eight-year period from to ; however, the composition of Parties in the second commitment period is different from the first. One important element of the Kyoto Protocol was the establishment of flexible market mechanisms, which are based on the trade of emissions permits. Under the Protocol, countries must meet their targets primarily through national measures.

However, the Protocol also offers them an additional means to meet their targets by way of three market-based mechanisms :. International Emissions Trading. Joint implementation JI. These mechanisms ideally encourage GHG abatement to start where it is most cost-effective, for example, in the developing world.

It does not matter where emissions are reduced, as long as they are removed from the atmosphere.