Fachhochschule Konstanz
Fachbereich Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften
Exposition in the framework of the lecture
Environmental Economics

The Kyoto Protocol

by:
Claudia Körber
Katja Barth
Monika Schwirzenbeck

winter semester 2004 / 2005

Table of contents

Table of contents ... I
Table of pictures ... III
Table of short cuts ... III

1. Climate Change ... 1
1.1. Greenhouse Effect ... 1
1.2. CO2 ... 3

2. The Kyoto Protocol ... 5
2.1. Definition of “The Kyoto Protocol” ... 5
2.2. Definition of “Conference of the Parties” ... 5
2.3. Background and History of the Kyoto Protocol ... 6

3. Framework of the Kyoto Protocol ... 11

4. Content of the Kyoto Protocol ... 12

5. Commitments and Measures fixed in the KP (Article 2) ... 13

6. Articles of the Kyoto Protocol ... 14
6.1. Emission Limitation (Article 3) ... 14
6.2 Mechanisms ... 15
6.2.1 Emission Trading (Article 17): ... 16
6.2.2 Joint Implementation (JI – Article 6): ... 16
6.2.3 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): ... 17

7. Final Provisions of the Kyoto Protocol ... 18

8. Participating Countries ... 19

9. Benefits / expected results of the Kyoto Protocol ... 20

10. Problems and limitations of the Kyoto Protocol ... 21

11. Positions of governments ... 22
11.1 The US and Australia – the Kyoto Protocol’s Opponents ... 22
11.2 Russia – the rescuer of the Protocol ... 24
11.3 Canada – the finally convinced ... 25
11.4 The European Union – the major supporters ... 25
11.5 developing countries – the members in the background ... 26

12. Outlook  ... 27

Table of literature... 14

1. Climate Change

The global climate consists of the atmosphere/earth/ocean/ice/land system. The result of a change in this system is climate change. One sign for climate change is the rise of the temperature. There are natural forces or human activities which can cause climate change. Following I will describe the human activities which are causing the climate change.¹

Aus Darstellungsgründen sind Abbildungen und Tabellen nur in der Kaufversion enthalten.

Source: UNEP (http://www.grida.no/climate/vital/02.htm)
Picture 1-1 Temperature line

1.1. Greenhouse Effect

The Earth has a natural temperature control system. The greenhouse gases belong to this system. Following we can see the main greenhouse gases:

Water vapor:

It is a kind of gaseous water (individual water molecules) in the atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide (CO2):

This gas gets into the atmosphere when solid waste, fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), and wood or wood products are burned.

Nitrous oxide (N2O):

It is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels.

Methane (CH4):

CH4 emitted during production and transport of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil), from the decomposition of organic wastes in municipal solid waste landfills, and the raising of livestock. [...]

2. The Kyoto Protocol

It is not easy to stop global warming. It is necessary to set strict emissions standards if we want to stop the increasing of the greenhouse effect. We have to reduce our fossil fuel use, develope alternative sources of energy to replace fossil fuels, remove carbon dioxide from emissions at the source, eliminate the use of chlorofluorocarbons, slow or stop deforestation, and develope agricultural techniques that release less carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The most recent international effort to address the greenhouse effect is the Kyoto Protocol.

2.1. Definition of “The Kyoto Protocol”

Kyoto Protocol: An international agreement reached in Kyoto at the Third Conference of the Parties to the U. N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 3) in 1997. The Protocol established specific targets and timetables for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to be achieved by the framework’s signatories.

http://www.pacificforest.org/about/glossary.html (pacificforest)

2.2. Definition of “Conference of the Parties”

Before I start to discribe the background and history of the Kyoto Protocol I will give a short definition about “The Conference of the Parties”. The Kyoto Protocol startet with a CoP therefore it is necessary to know what the CoP is.

Conference of the Parties: The CoP is the collection of nations which have ratified the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC), currently over 150 strong, and about 50 Observer States. The primary role of the CoP is to keep the implementation of the Convention under review and to take the decisions necessary for the effective implementation of the Convention. The first CoP (CoP 1) took place in Berlin from March 28th to April 7th, 1995, and was attended by over 1000 observers and 2000 media representatives.
 www.puc.ohio.gov/consumer/gcc/defn.html

[...]

1 Newscientist (www.newscientist.com/.../ climate/climatefaq.jsp)