Climate
At the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, the awareness of Climate Change lead to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The ultimate objective of the UNFCCC is the "... stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Such a level should be achieved within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner".
The long time-scales involved in the climate system (e.g., the long residence time of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere) and in the time for replacement of infrastructure, and the lag by many decades to centuries between stabilization of concentrations and stabilization of temperature and mean sea level, require very early decision-making.
Actions to Mitigate Climate Change
The awareness: the Climate Convention
The attempt to act: the Kyoto Protocol
Binding targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions were agreed by major industrial nations meeting at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Kyoto on 1-11 December 1997. The Third Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP-3) reached agreement that the overall targets adopted for greenhouse gas emissions by 2008-12 are an 8% cut from 1990 levels for the European Union (EU), 7% for the USA, and 6% for Japan and Canada. Australia is allowed an 8% increase, while Russia has a target of 0% (i.e. 1990 levels).
However, the protocol still has some way to go before it reaches the status of a binding agreement. One year after opening for signature in March 1998, 83 countries plus the European Community have signed the legally binding agreement. Since March 1999 it is open for accession (ratification). The Kyoto Protocol will enter into force 90 days after it has been ratified by at least 55 Parties to the Convention, including developed countries representing at least 55% of the total 1990 carbon dioxide emissions from this group (The US accounts for 36.1% of these emissions, the European Union 24.2%, and Russia 17.4%.) As of mid-May 2000, 22 countries - all from the developing world - have completed the next step of ratification. However, the USA in particular has made it clear that it will not ratify any agreement unless key developing countries (for example China, India) make some meaningful commitments to control future emissions. The USA also requires there to be a suitable framework for emissions trading.
However, the protocol still has some way to go before it reaches the status of a binding agreement. One year after opening for signature in March 1998, 83 countries plus the European Community have signed the legally binding agreement. Since March 1999 it is open for accession (ratification). The Kyoto Protocol will enter into force 90 days after it has been ratified by at least 55 Parties to the Convention, including developed countries representing at least 55% of the total 1990 carbon dioxide emissions from this group (The US accounts for 36.1% of these emissions, the European Union 24.2%, and Russia 17.4%.) As of mid-May 2000, 22 countries - all from the developing world - have completed the next step of ratification. However, the USA in particular has made it clear that it will not ratify any agreement unless key developing countries (for example China, India) make some meaningful commitments to control future emissions. The USA also requires there to be a suitable framework for emissions trading.