I. Overview
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol that was made by UNFCCC or what we call United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change so that global warming will be lessened and to fight global warming. The UNFCCC is an environmental treaty produced at UNCED or Earth Summit that aims to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations and to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. Countries that sign this protocol commit to lessen or reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone and also stop engaging on emissions trading.
Kyoto protocol concerns about the impacts on the environment due to the human’s overuse of coal, gas and oil. Some of these examples of the impact on the world’s environment are: Acid rains that damages plants, animals, and buildings; poor quality of air caused by smog; and greenhouse effect due to fossil fuels that are burnt.
II. History
In 1972, the government gathered to address issues on global environmental needs in the UN Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm. The conference is about international cooperation due to the problems of the earth’s environment. In 1992, the next UN Conference on Environment and Development took Place and it was held in Rio de Janeiro. At that time the participating countries focused on a broader issue about the relationship between environmental trends and development at the national and international levels.
The Rio Convention, also known as the “Earth Summit” produced the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 (a plan that was made composed of UN organizations, Governments, and Major Groups in areas where there are big environment problems) and also led to a new two agreement on conventions which became open for signature: the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) and Biological Diversity.
The FCCC lead the preparation of the Kyoto Protocol. The FCCC was signed by 154 countries on 1992 and it aims to: stabilize the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere; make other countries to reduce levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere; participate countries to attend meeting at Conferences of the Parties on a regular basis to implement the Convention’s objectives.
After two meetings of COP (Conferences of the Parties), the third meeting was held on Kyoto, Japan in 1997 and countries that are members of the FCCC prepared the Kyoto Protocol. In 2001, George W. Bush was elected president of the USA and he announced that he will not support the Kyoto Protocol and this made the ratification of the Kyoto protocol impossible because the US have 36% share portion in the Kyoto protocol.
On February 16, 2005, the Kyoto protocol came into effect. The goal of getting countries responsible for a total of 55% of the global emissions was achieved by the signature of Russia and this made the Kyoto Protocol document ratified.
III. Objective
The main objective of the Kyoto Protocol is "stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”. Kyoto protocol aims to reduce human-induced greenhouse gases in an effect to address climate change underlying the national differences in GHG emissions, wealth, and to make reductions. The Kyoto Protocol follows the objective of the UNFCCC that is guided by principles of sustainable development, precaution, intergenerational equity, and common differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
There are five principles of the Kyoto Protocol:
- Reducing the emissions of the greenhouse gases by all countries that committed to the agreement.
- Increasing the absorption of hazardous gases, through geosequestration and bioquestration and use available means such as clean development mechanism, emissions trading and joint implementation.
- Preparing policies to reduce greenhouse gases, and implementing them.
- Minimizing the impact on the developing nations by establishing an adaption fund for climate change.
- Accounting, reporting and reviewing to ensure the integrity of the Protocol so no misuse will happen.
the air we breath and the atmosphere.
Since the protocol's aim is to fight or at least lessen the emission of these gases, a lot of countries will really support and sign this protocol. Not only that, I think Kyoto Protocol also aims to inform people about the effects of these harmful gases at contribute to social awareness by studying and analyzing to come up with solutions regarding this matter like increasing the absorption of harmful gases to minimize their effect to the society and to the environment.
To be honest, for me, I think that this protocol should be enforced if ever possible. If we really want a sustainable development, all countries should be involved and sign this protocol and let Kyoto Protocol be implemented orderly and strictly in their respective countries.
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