unfcc kyoto protocol - common but differenciated responsibilities

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Contents

UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

1. Conferences of the Parties (COP)

2. Criticisms of the UNFCCC

Kyoto Protocol

1. What is Common but differentiated responsibilities?

2. Classification of Parties and their commitments

3. What is commitment period?

4. The Kyoto Protocol emission target gases include

5. Criticism of Kyoto Protocol

6. Carbon credit

7. Carbon Credits Trading

8. Carbon tax

9. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

Bali Summit, 2007

Copenhagen Summit, 2009

Cancún Summit, 2010

Durban Summit, 2011

Doha Summit, 2012

Green Climate Fund

Warsaw Summit, 2013

UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change

International environmental treaty.

Signed ==> May 1992.

Location ==> New York City, USA.

As of March 2014, UNFCCC has 196 parties (almost all countries).

UNFCCC is negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and

Development (UNCED).

UNCED is informally known as the Earth Summit 1992, held in Rio de Janeiro,

Brazil.

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Role: UNFCCC provides a framework for negotiating specific international treaties

(called "protocols") that aim to set binding limits on greenhouse gases.

Objective of UNFCCC: Stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at

a level that would prevent dangerous consequences.

Legal Effect: Treaty is considered legally non-binding: The treaty itself set no binding

limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual countries.

Conferences of the Parties (COP) – UNFCCC

The COP is the supreme decision-making body of UNFCCC.

All States that are Parties to the Convention are represented at the COP.

They review the implementation of any legal instruments that the COP adopts.

They promote the effective implementation of the Convention.

The first COP meeting was held in Berlin, Germany in March, 1995.

The parties to the convention have met annually since 1995.

In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol (3rd COP) was concluded and established legally binding

obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

The 2010 Cancún agreements stated that future global warming should be limited to

below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) relative to the pre-industrial level.

The 21th COP was held in Paris in 2015.





Criticisms of the UNFCCC

Nothing except Kyoto Protocol made any binding limits on GHG emissions.

Never achieved its stated goals of reducing the emission of carbon dioxide.

Negotiations are governed by consensus and small group of countries often block the

negotiations.

It is easy for the developed countries to escape from their responsibility: United States,

one of the biggest polluters never ratified Kyoto Protocol. Canada pulled out of

Kyoto Protocol citing wealth transfers out the country due to binding limits.

Treaty doesn’t cover developing countries who now include the largest CO2 emitters

(India and China).

Japan, Russia etc. didn’t sign second Kyoto term because it would impose restrictions

on it not faced by its main economic competitors, China, India and Indonesia.

Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997.

India ratified Kyoto Protocol in 2002.

The Kyoto Protocol came into force in February 2005.

There are currently 192 Parties.

USA never ratified Kyoto Protocol.

Canada withdrew in 2012.

Goal: Fight global warming by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the

atmosphere to “a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with

the climate system.”

Kyoto protocol aimed to cut emissions of greenhouse gases across the developed world

by about 5 per cent by 2012 compared with 1990 levels.

The Protocol is based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

Kyoto Protocol is the only global treaty with binding limits on GHG emissions.

What is Common but differentiated responsibilities – Kyoto Protocol?

It puts the obligation to reduce current emissions on developed countries on the basis

that they are historically responsible for the current levels of greenhouse gases in the

atmosphere.

CBDR divides countries into two categories. 1) Historically biggest polluting developed

countries like US, UK, France, Japan, Russia etc. (they are polluting the earth since





Industrial Revolution). 2) Recently polluting developing countries like China, India,

Brazil, etc. (polluting since 1950s).

“Common” = Every country (both developing and developed) must take part in the fight

against climate change.

“But differentiated responsibilities” = Historically biggest polluters should do more

compared to the recent polluters = Responsibilities proportional to pollution caused.

So under CBDR, developed countries like US, UK, Russia etc. must contribute more to

reduce GHGs (greenhouse gases). They must accept to certain binding limits on GHG

emissions. They must contribute funds towards reducing GHG emissions in developing

and least developed countries.

On the other hand, developing and least developed countries should do everything

possible to cut down their GHG emissions. But nothing is binding and every initiative

is voluntary.

Classification of Parties and their commitments – Kyoto Protocol

Annex I Developed countries [US, UK, Russia etc.] + Economies in transition

[Ukraine, Turkey, some eastern European countries etc.]

Annex II Developed countries.

Annex II is a subset of Annex I.

Required to provide financial and technical support to the EITs and

developing countries to assist them in reducing their greenhouse gas

emissions.

Annex B Annex I Parties with first- or second-round Kyoto greenhouse gas emissions

targets.

The first-round targets apply over the years 2008–2012 and the second-

round Kyoto targets, which apply from 2013–2020.

Compulsory binding targets to reduce GHG emissions.

Non-Annex I Parties to the UNFCCC not listed in Annex I of the Convention are mostly

low-income developing countries.

No binding targets to reduce GHG emissions.

LDCs Least-developed countries

No binding targets to reduce GHG emissions.

Developing countries may volunteer to become Annex I countries when they are

sufficiently developed.





What is commitment period – Kyoto Protocol?

Under Kyoto Protocol, there are two commitment periods, 1) 2008 – 2012 and 2) 2013

– 2020.

The second commitment period was agreed on in 2012, known as the Doha

Amendment to the protocol.

Each commitment period has its own binding targets set for developed countries to

reduce their GHG emissions.

Nations that miss their Kyoto target in 2012 will incur a penalty of an additional third

added to whatever cut they agree under a new treaty in Copenhagen.

During first commitment period (2008-12), more than 35 countries had binding targets.

Canada withdrew in 2012 after the first commitment period.

Japan, New Zealand and Russia have participated in Kyoto's first-round but have not

taken on new targets in the second commitment period.

As of November 2015, 55 states have accepted the Doha Amendment, while entry into

force requires the acceptances of 144 states.

So second commitment period is an epic failure.





Negotiations were held in Lima in 2014 to agree on a post-Kyoto legal framework that

would obligate all major polluters to pay for CO2 emissions.

China, India, and the United States (three big villains) have all signaled that they will

not ratify any treaty that will commit them legally to reduce CO2 emissions.

The Kyoto Protocol emission target gases include

Carbon dioxide (CO2),

Methane (CH4),

Nitrous oxide (N2O),

Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6),

groups of hydro fluorocarbons (HCFs) and

groups of Per fluorocarbons (PFCs).

Criticism of Kyoto Protocol

Under Kyoto Protocol, Annex 1 countries can meet their targets by cutting emissions or

buying unused allowances (carbon credits, carbon trading) from other countries.

This kind of approach ignores long term social and economic costs. It is like committing

only half of what one needs to commit.

Kyoto Protocol is based on the “common but differentiated responsibility” approach to

global warming. Under CBDR, many countries were allowed to increase pollution.

It excluded most polluting countries like China and India, which have since become the

world's largest and fourth largest polluters.

Carbon credit – Kyoto Protocol

A carbon credit (often called a carbon offset) is a tradable certificate or permit.

One carbon credit is equal to one tonne of carbon dioxide.

Carbon credits are a part of attempts to mitigate the growth in concentrations of GHGs.

Carbon credits or carbon offsets can be acquired through afforestation, renewable

energy, CO2 sequestration, methane capture, buying from an exchange (carbon

credits trading) etc..

Carbon Credits Trading – Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol has created a Carbon Credits Trading mechanism under which

countries that emit more carbon than the quota allotted to them buy carbon credits

from those that emit less.





In Carbon trading, one credit gives the country or a company right to emit one tonne of

CO2.

A country having more emissions of carbon (less carbon credits) is able to purchase the

right to emit more from a country having less emissions (more carbon credits).

More carbon emitting countries, by this way try to keep the limit of carbon emission

specified to them.

A developing nation such as India, turns out to be a seller of such credits, which

eventually provides them with monetary gains.

Carbon credits are traded at various exchanges across the world.

Multi-Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) launched futures trading in carbon credits in

2009.

Carbon tax (related concept but not related to Kyoto Protocol)

It is a tax on all fossil fuels in proportion to carbon dioxide emissions.

Proposed in may developed and developing countries.

The proposal faced political resistance (politician – corporate nexus, people feared more

burden).

India has a carbon tax of sorts. Budget of 2010-11 introduced a cess of Rs. 50 per tonne

of both domestically produced and imported coal. Later it was increased to Rs. 100.

This cess is used to raise revenues for the National Clean Energy Fund.

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) – Kyoto Protocol

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), defined in the Kyoto Protocol, allows a

country with an emission-reduction or emission-limitation commitment under the Kyoto

Protocol (Annex B Party) to implement an emission-reduction project in developing

countries.

Such projects can earn saleable certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each

equivalent to one tonne of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting Kyoto targets.

In simple terms: Developed countries emit more and lose carbon credits. They provide

financial assistance to developing and least developed countries to create clean energy

(solar, wind energy etc.) and gain some carbon credits = meet their Kyoto Quota (Kyoto

units) of emissions without violations.

Suppose a developed country has a Kyoto Quota of 100 Carbon Credits ==> It can emit

100 tonnes of CO2.





Due to negligence it emits 110 tonnes of CO2 = 10 carbon credits lost = Kyoto Quota

violation.

Now the country has to make up for its lost carbon credits to avoid penalty.

So it invests some money (equal to 10 carbon credits) in developing and LDCs to build

clean energy infrastructure like solar plants, wind farms etc. and will make up for its 10

lost carbon credits and avoid penalty.





Pic Credits: http://newsroom.unfccc.int/media/211890/infographic-achievements-

of-the-clean-development-mechanism.png





After the Kyoto Protocol, parties to the Convention have agreed to further

commitments. These include the Bali Action Plan (2007), the Copenhagen Accord

(2009), the Cancún agreements (2010), and the Durban Platform for Enhanced

Action (2011) etc.

Bali Summit, 2007

Adopted Bali Action Plan in 2007.

All developed country Parties have agreed to “quantified emission limitation taking into

account differences in their national circumstances.”

So they will fix emission limits according to their convenience and try to achieve them.

Copenhagen Summit, 2009

COP 15, UNFCCC meet in Copenhagen, capital city of Denmark.

Produced the Copenhagen Accord.

This accord is an agreement between developing nations block called BASIC (Brazil,

South Africa, India and China)

According to this accord, all countries should pledge voluntary limits (no binding

obligations) to reduce GHG emissions.

Copenhagen Accord also laid the groundwork for financial commitments from developed

countries to developing countries.

The Accord states that global warming should be limited to below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) to the

pre-industrial level.

Cancún Summit, 2010

COP 16, CMP 6

An agreement adopted by the COP called for a large "Green Climate Fund", and a

"Climate Technology Centre" and network.

It looked forward to a second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol.

Durban Summit, 2011

COP 17, CPM 7.

In 2011, parties adopted the “Durban Platform for Enhanced Action”.

Parties have agreed to “develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed

outcome with legal force.





This new treaty is due to be adopted at the 21st COP, and implemented in 2020.

Doha Summit, 2012

COP 18, CPM 8

Kyoto Extended: It established a second commitment period (2013 – 2020) of the Kyoto

Protocol.

Japan, Russia and Canada refused to join the second commitment period under the

Kyoto Protocol.

It finalized Green Climate Fund.

Green Climate Fund

The Fund will start operating from 2013

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a fund within the framework of the UNFCCC.

The GCF is based in Incheon, South Korea.

It is a mechanism to redistribute money from the developed to the developing world.

GCF will help developing countries financially in adapting mitigation practices to

counter climate change.

It is intended to be the centerpiece of efforts to raise Climate Finance of $100 billion by

2020.

Warsaw Summit, 2013

COP19, CMP9

2013 United Nations Climate Change Conference

The G77 and China bloc led 132 poor countries in a walk out during talks about “loss

and damage” compensation for the consequences of global warming.

Poor countries have demanded that the developed world give them $100 billion annually

by 2020.




unfcc kyoto protocol - common but differenciated responsibilities

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