Introduction

• It is an international agreement aimed at managing and reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions.
• It applies to 6 greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride.
• Adopted at the third session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 3) in Kyoto, Japan on 11^th December 1997.
• It opened for signature from 16^th March 1998 to 15^th March 1999 at United Nations Headquarters, New York.
• According to Article 22, the Kyoto Protocol is subject to ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or ‘Convention’).
• Entered into force on 16^th February 2005.
• It operationalizes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• Only members of UNFCCC can become parties to the Kyoto Protocol.
• 192 countries (191 States and 1 regional economic integration organization) are parties of the Kyoto Protocol, out of which 84 countries are signatories of it.
• India ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2002.
• The United States of America never ratified the Kyoto Protocol.
• Canada withdrew its ratification in 2012.
• It commits industrialized countries and economies in transition to limit and reduce GHG emissions in accordance with agreed individual targets.

Common But Differentiated Responsiblity (CBDR)

• It was formalized in the UNFCCC, Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, 1992.
• It is based on the relationship between industrialization and climate change.
• It acknowledges that all states have a shared obligation to address environmental destruction but denies equal responsibility of all States with regard to environmental protection.
• It recognizes that developed countries are largely responsible for the current high levels of GHGs emissions in the atmosphere.
• Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol sets binding emission reduction targets for 37 industrialized countries, economies in transition and the European Union.
• First Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol.
• It started in 2008 and ended in 2012.
• During this period, the industrialized countries had committed to reducing at least by 5% compared to 1990 levels.
• In this context, EU member States pledged to reduce their emissions by 8%.

Doha Amendment to Kyoto Protocol

• On 8^th December 2012, the Kyoto Protocol was amended.
• Amendments
• New commitments for Annex I Parties for the period 2013–20.
• A revised list of GHGs to be reported in the second commitment period.
• Amendments to several articles of the Kyoto Protocol that required to be
• updated for the second commitment period.
• During the second commitment period, Parties committed to reduce the
• GHG emissions by at least 18% below 1990 levels in the 8-year period
• from 2013 to 2020.
• The Doha Amendment has not yet entered into force as a total of 144 instruments of acceptance are required to enforce it.