The Kyoto Protocol

What is the Kyoto Protocol? - 3rd December 2007
(Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)

Delegates from about 190 nations meet in Bali, Indonesia, from December 3 to 14 aiming to launch negotiations on a new United Nations pact to succeed the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012.

Here are some frequently asked questions about Kyoto:

WHAT IS THE KYOTO PROTOCOL?

¦ It is a pact agreed by governments at a 1997 UN conference in Kyoto, Japan, to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by developed countries to at least 5 per cent below 1990 levels by 2008-12. A total of 174 nations have ratified the pact.

IS IT THE FIRST AGREEMENT OF ITS KIND?

¦ Governments agreed to tackle climate change at an "Earth Summit" in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 with non-binding targets. Kyoto is the follow-up.

SO IT IS LEGALLY BINDING?

¦ Kyoto has legal force from February 16, 2005. It represents 61.6 per cent of developed nations' total emissions. The United States, the world's biggest source of emissions, came out against the pact in 2001, reckoning it would be too expensive and wrongly omits developing nations from a first round of targets to 2012.

HOW WILL IT BE ENFORCED?

¦ Countries overshooting their targets in 2012 will have to make both the promised cuts and 30 per cent more in a second period from 2013.

DO ALL COUNTRIES HAVE TO CUT EMISSIONS BY 5 PER CENT?

¦ No, only 36 relatively developed countries have agreed to targets for 2008-12 under a principle that richer countries are most to blame. They range from an 8 per cent cut for the European Union from 1990 levels to a 10 per cent rise for Iceland.

WHAT ARE 'GREENHOUSE GASES?'

¦ Greenhouse gases trap heat in the earth's atmosphere. The main culprit from human activities is carbon dioxide, produced largely from burning fossil fuel. The protocol also covers methane, much of which comes from agriculture, and nitrous oxide, mostly from fertiliser use. Three industrial gases are also included.

HOW WILL COUNTRIES COMPLY?

¦ The European Union set up a market in January 2005 under which about 12,000 factories and power stations were given carbon dioxide quotas. If they overshoot they can buy extra allowances in the market or pay a financial penalty; if they undershoot they can sell them.

WHAT OTHER MECHANISMS ARE THERE?

¦ Developed countries can earn credits to offset against their targets by funding clean technologies, such as solar power, in poorer countries. They can also have joint investments in former Soviet bloc nations.

Reuters

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Australia ratifies Kyoto Protocol - 3rd December 2007
(Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)

Australia has ratified the Kyoto Protocol. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd signed the instrument of ratification of the Kyoto Protocol in his first act after being sworn in this morning.

The ratification will come into force in 90 days.

"This is the first official act of the new Australian Government, demonstrating my Government's commitment to tackling climate change," Mr Rudd said in a statement.

Mr Rudd said the ratification was considered and approved by the first executive council meeting of the Government this morning.

"The Governor-General has granted his approval for Australia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol at my request," he said.

Under United Nations guidelines, ratification comes into force 90 days after the instrument of ratification is received by the UN, making Australia a full member of the Kyoto Protocol by the end of March 2008.

"Australia's official declaration today that we will become a member of the Kyoto Protocol is a significant step forward in our country's efforts to fight climate change domestically - and with the international community," Mr Rudd said.

He said the Federal Government would do everything in its power to help Australia meet its Kyoto obligations, including setting a target to reduce emissions by 60 per cent on 2000 levels by 2050.

It also would establish a national emissions trading scheme by 2010 and set a 20 per cent target for renewable energy by 2020.

"I will also lead the Australian delegation at the opening of the high level segment of the United Nations conference on climate change in Bali next week," Mr Rudd said.

The Bali conference, which opened today, will set out a road map for the next round of action against climate change, starting when the current Kyoto targets expire in 2012.

The Kyoto Protocol was crafted in December 1997 and has been ratified by 175 countries.

Australia initially agreed to the protocol but later refused to ratify it, despite being on track to meet its target of limiting growth in emissions.

The new Labor Government today completed the first four of six steps necessary for ratification.

Mr Rudd signed an executive council minute recommending that Governor-General Michael Jeffery approve ratification.

The executive council - Mr Rudd, Major-General Jeffery and Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard - then met to consider the minute and its associated explanatory memorandum.

Major-General Jeffery approved the ratification and Mr Rudd signed the instrument of ratification.

The remaining two steps are lodging the instrument with the UN and waiting 90 days for the ratification to enter into force.

AAP

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