The Kyoto Protocol
For a lot of people, Kyoto has the strongest associations with the Kyoto Protocol. Kyoto is the symbol of enviromental optimism and international governmental cooperation to save the ozone layer and all of us living on the planet. The Kyoto Protocol has brought the ancient city of Kyoto to the forefront of politics and international recognition.
What is a Protocol?
First of all, it's important to understand what the Kyoto Protocol is and what it isn't. It's an agreement to amend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change treaty that seeks to limit greenhouse gas emissions from participating countries. The UNFCCC treaty was adopted in Rio in 1992, and its goal was to limit greenhouse gas emissions, but with no deadlines or target dates for participating countries. The Kyoto Protocol, as an amendment to this treaty, seeks to establish targeted levels of reduced greenhouse gasses, with deadlines imposed.
Member countries signed the Kyoto Protocol in Kyoto, Japan, five years after the Rio UNFCC treaty was adopted. The Kyoto Protocol was up for signing on December 11, 1997. The United States signed the protocol, but here's where it's important to understand what signing the protocol means. It really means "all talk and no action", since it means support of the protocol and its articles, but it does not bind signing countries to follow its dictates. Signing is only the first step, and the second step is ratification. Ratification requires approval of Congress, and the Kyoto Protocol did not pass muster in front of US legislature.
Only after ratification is a member country bound to follow the rules outlined in the Kyoto Protocol. Countries who have ratified the protocol include :
- China
- India
- Brazil
- Japan
- Italy
- France
- Germany
- Russia
- Mexico
- Canada
The United States and Australia have failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, even though they both signed it in 1997. There are grassroots campaigns in the USA to support ratification, but President Bush and Congress have strong objections.
Why Won't the United States Ratify?
The United States has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol, but it hasn't withdrawn from it, either. The main objection of the US to ratification is regarding the nature of participation of developing countries. The US will not ratify the Protocol unless developing countries are also required to keep greenhouse gas levels at targeted minimums. The US feels that the Kyoto Protocol is unfair in that countries like itself will be harmed economically because they will have to make the most changes in order to adhere to targeted levels of CO2 levels set forth in the Kyoto Protocol.
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The Kyoto Protocol was the result of discussions in December 1997 for eleven days in Kyoto. Limiting greenhouse gases was the objective of the treaty, with the ultimate goal of preserving habitats and species on earth.
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