Lecture Outline - March 23
Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol
I. Emissions of CO² - 1992 metric tons per capita
Alliance of Small Island States
II. Chronology of the Global Climate Change Regime
1991 Negotiations begin in the INC
1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC)
1995 COP2 (Berlin) - Adopts Berlin Mandate
1997 COP3 (Kyoto, Japan) initial adoption of the Kyoto Protocol
1998 COP4 (Buenos Aires)
1999 COP5 (Bonn)
2000 COP6 (The Hague), resumed in July 2001 in Bonn
2001 COP7 (Marrakesh) - Finalizes Kyoto Protocol
2002 COP8 (New Delhi)
2003 COP9 (Milan) - Russia gives mixed signals on whether it will ratify the Kyoto Protocol
2004 COP10 (Buenos Aires) - Little progress made on next steps beyond the Kyoto Protocol
2005 Kyoto Protocol enters into force following Russian ratification in December 2004
(Ratification requirement - 55 countries must ratify the treaty including countries that are responsible
for 55% of CO2 emissions of the developed countries in 1990)
2005 COP11/MOP1 (Montreal) - first Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Montreal Protocol
III. Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) - 1992
Goal is to "prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system"
Applies to greenhouse gases generally
Developed countries accept primary responsibility for the climate change problem and agree to take
first steps to address it
Developed countries aim to return GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2000
Special consideration to most severely affected countries AND those affected by new rules
189 ratifications by April 2004
IV. The Kyoto Protocol (1997)
Developed countries agreed to a mandatory reduction of their GHG emissions averaging 5.2%
Reduction is to be from 1990 levels and acheived by 2008 - 2012 (average for those five years)
Applies to a "basket" of six greenhouse gases
-carbon dioxide
-nitrous oxide
-methane
-hydrofluorocarbons (HFC)---substitute for CFCs
-perfluorocarbons
-sulfur hexafluoride
Differentiated emission targets for industrial countries
May be offset by enhancement of carbon sinks
May be offset by "flexibility mechanisms"
emission trading (purchasing credits from countries that have more than exceeded their limits)
joint implementation (investing in emission saving projects in other developed countries)
clean development mechanism (investing in emission saving projects in developing countries)
May be achieved collectively by groups of countries--the "bubble" concept
Differentiated commitments negotiated within a group of countries
This is being elected by the European Union to achieve an 8% reduction
Belgium -7.5
Denmark -21
Gemany -21
Greece +25
Spain +15
France 0
Ireland +13
Italy -6.5
Luxembourg -28
Netherlands -6
Austria -13
Portugal +27
Finland 0
Sweden +4
United Kingdom -12.5
List of Ratifying Countries (156 countries as of Sept 2005)