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# Kyoto Protocol

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The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC; adopted in [Rio de Janeiro]? in 1992). The Kyoto Protocol was adopted at the third session of the Confrence of Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC in 1997 in Kyoto?, Japan to establish binding targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Kyoto Protocol will enter into force 90 days after ratification by at least 55 signatories to the UNFCCC. These signatories must also represent at least 55% of the total carbon dioxide emissions for 1990 from that group.

The protocol left several issues open, to be decided later by the COP. COP6 attempted to resolve these issues at its meeting in the Hague in late 2000, but was unable to reach an agreement due to disputes between the European Union on the one hand (which favoured a tougher agreement) and the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia on the other (which wanted the agreement to be less demanding and more flexible).

After George W. Bush was elected president of the United States in 2000, he stated that he would not follow the Kyoto protocol (previously signed by Bill Clinton, but not ratified) if doing so meant significant costs ("the American way of life is not negotiable").

Since the US is responsible for about 36% of all greenhouse gases (but only for 5% of the world's population), this had a major impact on the implementation of the Kyoto protocol.

In 2001, a continuation of the previous meeting (COP6bis) was held in Bonn where the required decisions were adopted. After some concessions, the supporters of the protocol (led by the European Union) managed to get Japan and Russia in as well by allowing more use of CO2 sinks.

See also: Environmental agreements

From the CIA World Factbook:

Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

note - abbreviated as Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

opened for signature - 16 March 1998, but not yet in force

objective - to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enhancing the national programs of developed countries aimed at this goal and by establishing percentage reduction targets for the developed countries

parties - (21) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Bolivia, Cyprus, El Salvador, Fiji, Georgia, Guatemala, Jamaica, Maldives, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Niue, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (69) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam, Zambia

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