Kyoto protocol

The Kyoto Protocol obliges industrialized nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. It was adopted in 1997 and sets a binding framework for global climate protection.

The Kyoto Protocol is a crucial international agreement that was adopted on December 11, 1997, in Kyoto, Japan, during the third Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Its aim is to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and it was the first legally binding treaty, whereas the preceding UNFCCC only set general goals without establishing specific emission targets. The Kyoto Protocol commits industrialized countries to reduce their emissions of the six key greenhouse gases – including carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) – by an average of 5.2 percent during the period from 2008 to 2012 compared to 1990 levels. Conversely, no binding targets were imposed on developing and emerging countries, although they were encouraged to participate voluntarily.

A key component of the Kyoto Protocol is the so-called flexible mechanisms, which allow industrialized countries to meet their emission obligations more cost-effectively. These include emissions trading, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Joint Implementation (JI). These mechanisms promote innovative approaches to emission reduction and facilitate the exchange of emission rights as well as investments in sustainable projects in developing countries. The protocol came into force on February 16, 2005, marking a milestone in international climate policy and laying the groundwork for subsequent agreements such as the Paris Agreement of 2015.

However, it became clear that the Kyoto Protocol also had significant weaknesses, particularly regarding global participation and effectiveness, as major emitters like the USA, China, and India did not enter into binding commitments. Despite these challenges, it remains an important reference point in international environmental law.