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Montreal Conference Takes Key Steps in Fighting Global Warming
and Climate Change
NNYN Founder
Ted Kheel has always pointed to the Rio Summit in 1993 and the
Kyoto Protocol in as the two key events in helping shape and
resolve environmental conflicts especially in the fight against
climate change . The Kyoto Protocol was agreed in 1997, based
on principles set out in a framework convention signed in 1992.
In December the United Nations Climate Change Conference concluded
In Montreal with the adoption of more than forty decisions to
strengthen global Global efforts to fight climate change. Reflecting
on the success of the Montreal Conference, the Conference President
Canadian Environment Minister Stephane Dion said, "Key decisions
have been made in certain areas. The Kyoto Protocol has been
switched on…"
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement setting targets
for Industrialized countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
The targeted gases include: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4),
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and Sulphur
hexafluoride (SF6) These gases are considered at least partly
responsible for global warming - the rise in global temperature
which may have catastrophic consequences for life on Earth.
On the last day of the Montreal conference on climate change,
the Kyoto Protocol signatories agreed to extend the treaty on
emissions reductions beyond its 2012 deadline. And even the
US, which has refused to sign the protocol, agreed to non-binding
talks on long-term measures.
The US had initially refused to accept any deal that could lead
to cuts but after former president Bill Clinton criticized the
US approach as "flat wrong" the US officials appeared to shift
a little. Formal talks will now begin over the precise targets
which will be set when the first phase of the Kyoto agreement
expires in 2012.
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement setting targets
for industrialized countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
These gases are considered at least partly responsible for global
warming - the rise in global temperature which may have catastrophic
consequences for life on Earth. The protocol was agreed in 1997,
based on principles set out in a framework convention signed
in 1992.
What are the targets?
Each country that signed the protocol agreed to its own specific
target. But all industrialized countries committed to cut their
combined emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by 2008 - 2012. EU
countries are expected to cut their present emissions by 8%
and Japan by 5%. Some countries with low emissions were permitted
to increase them.
When did the Kyoto Protocol come into force?
The Kyoto Protocol became a legally binding treaty on 16 February
2005. It could only come into force after it had been ratified
by at least 55 countries and by the countries accounting for
at least 55% of emissions.
Have the targets been achieved?
Industrialized countries have cut their overall emissions by
about 3% from 1990 to 2000. But this was largely because a sharp
decrease in emissions from the collapsing economies of former
Soviet countries masked an 8% rise among rich countries. The
treaty suffered a massive blow in 2001 when the US, responsible
for about quarter of the world's emissions, pulled out. The
UN says industrialized countries are now well off target for
the end of the decade and predicts emissions 10% above 1990
levels by 2010.
Why did the US pull out?
US President George W Bush pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol
in 2001, saying implementing it would gravely damage the US
economy. The Bush administration dubbed the treaty "fatally
flawed", partly because it does not require developing countries
to commit to emissions reductions. President Bush says he backs
emissions reductions through voluntary action and new energy
technologies.
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