The Effectiveness of the Kyoto Protocol in reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
What is climate change and what is the Kyoto Protocol?
Climate change is believed to be the consequence of the steady and substantial release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) caused by humans since the industrial revolution. These GHGs are scientifically agreed upon to have led to an increase in average global temperatures (IPCC, 2014). The increasing global temperatures associated with GHG emissions is predicted to have a number of global environmental consequences; such as rising sea levels, changes in precipitation patterns, and expansion of deserts in the subtropics (Lu et al., 2007). The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in Kyoto, Japan on December 11, 1997, was the international …show more content…
Since developed countries are largely responsible for the current anthropogenic concentrations of GHGs in the atmosphere, this protocol was specifically targeted at those countries; Annex 1 parties (Böhringer, 2003; UNFCCC, 1998). GHGs in the atmosphere diffuse across the globe, therefore emissions from one country invariably influence global GHG concentrations. Thus, international cooperation is important since each country contributes emissions to an issue which has consequences on the global scale (Lu et al., 2007).
The goal of the Kyoto Protocol was to reduce global GHG emissions to an extent that was predicted to prevent dangerous influences on climate. Specific and quantifiable GHG emission targets were given to the Annex 1 parties, 38 developed countries, across a time scale; an average reduction of 4.2% from 1990 levels in the period of 2008 to 2012 (Schiermeier (2012). Different countries had different specific targets, and amendment periods in the Kyoto Protocol allowed them to reassess their targets at certain time periods.
Early challenges facing the success of the Kyoto …show more content…
It is important to note that there are positives and negatives in this respect. The most notable positive is that the countries who kept with their contractual agreements satisfied their GHG reduction requirements. These countries reduced collective emissions by roughly 16% (Schiermeier, 2012). The Kyoto Protocol has also helped create a widespread knowledge of GHG emissions and their impact on the climate. Ambitions to utilize clean energy has encouraged research and investment in these new technologies, and an awareness of the importance of maintaining carbon sinks has promoted a drive to preserve natural
What is climate change and what is the Kyoto Protocol?
Climate change is believed to be the consequence of the steady and substantial release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) caused by humans since the industrial revolution. These GHGs are scientifically agreed upon to have led to an increase in average global temperatures (IPCC, 2014). The increasing global temperatures associated with GHG emissions is predicted to have a number of global environmental consequences; such as rising sea levels, changes in precipitation patterns, and expansion of deserts in the subtropics (Lu et al., 2007). The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in Kyoto, Japan on December 11, 1997, was the international …show more content…
Since developed countries are largely responsible for the current anthropogenic concentrations of GHGs in the atmosphere, this protocol was specifically targeted at those countries; Annex 1 parties (Böhringer, 2003; UNFCCC, 1998). GHGs in the atmosphere diffuse across the globe, therefore emissions from one country invariably influence global GHG concentrations. Thus, international cooperation is important since each country contributes emissions to an issue which has consequences on the global scale (Lu et al., 2007).
The goal of the Kyoto Protocol was to reduce global GHG emissions to an extent that was predicted to prevent dangerous influences on climate. Specific and quantifiable GHG emission targets were given to the Annex 1 parties, 38 developed countries, across a time scale; an average reduction of 4.2% from 1990 levels in the period of 2008 to 2012 (Schiermeier (2012). Different countries had different specific targets, and amendment periods in the Kyoto Protocol allowed them to reassess their targets at certain time periods.
Early challenges facing the success of the Kyoto …show more content…
It is important to note that there are positives and negatives in this respect. The most notable positive is that the countries who kept with their contractual agreements satisfied their GHG reduction requirements. These countries reduced collective emissions by roughly 16% (Schiermeier, 2012). The Kyoto Protocol has also helped create a widespread knowledge of GHG emissions and their impact on the climate. Ambitions to utilize clean energy has encouraged research and investment in these new technologies, and an awareness of the importance of maintaining carbon sinks has promoted a drive to preserve natural