The debate around the climate policy of the earth is absolutely one of most complicated and most important of our time, even if it owns no big public lobby of spectacular events. Some small island states in the South Pacific are worried by the forecast increase of the sea level above their living space. Again others see in the warming of the terrestrial atmosphere only one of the regularly returning climate variations and no reason for concern.
Hence, it is even more astonishing that one has succeeded in spite of these opinion differences in bringing this discourse in Kyoto to a result and in negotiating a protocol, which supports the process. The result of the discussion was in 1997 the Kyoto Protocol, which is to be seen till the present as a milestone in international climate policy. For a long time it was uncertain, whether it one day will come into effect - however, it has: The Kyoto Protocol obliged from the 16th February, 2005 after many years tough negotiations, more than 30 industrial states under international law to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Concerning this event, the following questions arise: what does the Kyoto Protocol signify? What does it contain and how effective can it really be? The present work looks at these questions.
Firstly, the natural and the anthropogenic greenhouse effect and the following predictions should be shown as bases to make clear the necessity of active climate protection policy. Afterwards the Kyoto Protocol is explained in its climate-political connections, contents and instruments and, in the end, benefits and critical points will be shown.
In my opinion, criticism is necessary to allow a comprising assessment of the protocol. Finally, it must be emphasized that with the given time a complete
representation of such a complicated subject area will not be possible. Therefore, I will explain the most important issues and give a general overview rather than go into details in order to treat the subject as the whole.
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
2 CLIMATE CHANGE AND GREENHOUSE EFFECT
2.1 NATURAL GREENHOUSE EFFECT
2.2 ANTHROPOGENIC GREENHOUSE EFFECT
2.3 CONSEQUENCES AND FORECASTS
3 THE KYOTO PROTOCOL
3.1 DEFINITION OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL
3.2 DEFINITION OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES
3.3 THE ROAD TO KYOTO AND BEYOND
3.4 CONTENT OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL
3.5 FLEXIBLE MECHANISMS
3.5.1 Emission Bubbles
3.5.2 Joint Implementation (JI)
3.5.3 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
3.5.4 International Emission Trading (IET)
4 BENEFITS AND EXPECTED RESULTS OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL
4.1 REDUCED RATE OF GLOBAL WARMING
4.2 BETTER CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
4.3 BETTER HEALTH CONDITIONS
4.4 LONG-TERM ECONOMIC BENEFITS
4.5 FLEXIBILITY IN MEETING EMISSION TARGETS
5 CRITICISM AND PROBLEMS
5.1 EMISSION REDUCTIONS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT GLOBAL WARMING
5.2 THE PROBLEM WITH SINKS
5.3 THE ABSENCE OF THE USA
5.4 2012 – AND THEN?
6 ANALYSIS AND OUTLOOK
Objectives and Core Topics
This work examines the Kyoto Protocol as a milestone in international climate policy, analyzing its historical development, legal content, and the efficacy of its market-based instruments. It seeks to answer how effective the protocol is in addressing the anthropogenic greenhouse effect and evaluates criticism regarding its implementation and the absence of key nations like the USA.
- The scientific necessity for active climate protection policy
- Chronology of international climate negotiations and the UNFCCC
- Mechanisms for emission reduction including JI, CDM, and IET
- Benefits of the protocol for environmental, health, and economic sectors
- Critical perspectives on target sufficiency, carbon sinks, and the role of the USA
Excerpt from the Book
3.5 Flexible mechanisms
Flexible mechanisms are market-oriented instruments, which based on the principle that the Protocol will operate most efficiently if Parties are allowed to fulfil their greenhouse gas reduction commitments at the lowest cost. While the cost of limiting emissions varies considerably from region to region, the benefit for the atmosphere is the same, wherever the action is taken. The Protocol establishes three market-oriented mechanisms aimed at giving countries flexibility in meeting their emission targets: Emission Bubble (EB), Joint Implementation (JI), Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and International Emission Trading (IET).
Article 4 provides the possibility to use Emission Bubbles by Annex I Parties, which allows any two or more Parties to build an alliance. This means that a group of countries agreed to work together with the goal of achieving a common reduction goal, whereby they are allowed to sum up their emission reduction targets and redistributes them internally. Under this arrangement, Portugal and Greece, for example can increase emissions by 27 per cent and 25 per cent respectively; while Germany and Denmark have each agreed to reduce emissions by 21 per cent (see Figure 7). This internal sharing or 'bubble' arrangement allows the European Union, unlike individual countries such as the United States and Australia, considerable flexibility in attaining its Kyoto commitment. The EU has used this provision and sub-divided its target of -8% into differentiated targets for each Member State that take account of their different national circumstances. The European Climate Change Programme is designed to help the EU to meet its shared target.
Summary of Chapters
1 INTRODUCTION: Outlines the significance of climate policy and the emergence of the Kyoto Protocol as a pivotal international response to global warming.
2 CLIMATE CHANGE AND GREENHOUSE EFFECT: Explains the scientific foundations of the natural and anthropogenic greenhouse effect and the projected consequences of global temperature rise.
3 THE KYOTO PROTOCOL: Details the definition, historical evolution, contents, and specific flexibility mechanisms (JI, CDM, IET) of the agreement.
4 BENEFITS AND EXPECTED RESULTS OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL: Discusses the anticipated positive impacts on global temperatures, environment, health, and economic structures.
5 CRITICISM AND PROBLEMS: Addresses major concerns including the insufficiency of reduction targets, issues surrounding carbon sinks, and the negative impact of the USA's withdrawal.
6 ANALYSIS AND OUTLOOK: Provides a balanced assessment of the protocol and discusses future steps for international climate cooperation beyond 2012.
Keywords
Kyoto Protocol, Greenhouse Effect, Climate Policy, UNFCCC, Global Warming, Flexible Mechanisms, Joint Implementation, Clean Development Mechanism, Carbon Dioxide, Sustainable Development, Emission Trading, Environmental Economics, Climate Change Mitigation, Carbon Sinks, International Agreements
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on the development, structure, and effectiveness of the Kyoto Protocol as an international instrument for managing the anthropogenic greenhouse effect.
What are the central themes discussed?
Central themes include the scientific necessity of climate protection, the evolution of climate conferences leading to Kyoto, the use of market-based flexible mechanisms, and the criticisms regarding implementation and global participation.
What is the primary goal of the Kyoto Protocol?
The primary goal is to legally bind industrialized countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the risks associated with global climate change.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author employs a comprehensive review of literature, international treaty documents, and statistical analysis of emissions data to assess the protocol's political and environmental impacts.
What is covered in the main section?
The main section covers the definition of the protocol, the development of climate policy over time, detailed explanations of flexible mechanisms (JI, CDM, IET), and a critical analysis of current successes and failures.
Which keywords characterize this analysis?
Key terms include the Kyoto Protocol, greenhouse effect, emission trading, sustainable development, climate mitigation, and international cooperation.
How do 'Flexible Mechanisms' function within the protocol?
They allow countries to meet their emission reduction targets more cost-effectively by implementing reduction projects abroad or trading emission rights rather than relying solely on domestic policy changes.
Why is the absence of the USA considered significant?
Because the USA was the world's largest emitter at the time and accounted for a significant share of the total industrialized emissions, its refusal to ratify greatly reduced the overall global impact of the treaty.
What is the controversy regarding 'carbon sinks'?
Critics argue that focusing on sinks—like forest projects—can be used as a pretext by industrial nations to avoid necessary, drastic reductions in fossil fuel emissions, and that the measurement of these sinks remains scientifically uncertain.
- Quote paper
- Irina Hergenröder (Author), 2007, The Kyoto Protocol, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/69619
