The announcement of Canada’s withdrawal from Kyoto protocol was made as the December 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference progressed, by the countries environment minister Mr. Peter Kent, who argued that Kyoto protocol fails to cover US and China, the two biggest green house gases emitters, and that Canada cannot meet its Kyoto protocol targets. Kent said that Canada would be required to pay billions to meet its Kyoto protocol target in 2012. He was referring to the cost of buying carbon emission permits from other countries to compensate for Canada's huge excess over its target. Under the Kyoto protocol, Canada was committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 6% by 2012, against its 1990 levels. But its emissions have risen by over 30%, making failure unavoidable. Canada's inaction was blamed by some on its desire to defend the money-spinning but extremely polluting exploitation of tar sands, the second biggest oil reserve in the world. Canada rejected a second commitment period unless the top polluters and contributors to climate change, who are outside Kyoto protocol made binding commitments too.
The Kyoto protocol was the first agreement between world nations to mandate reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions for reduction of climate change. The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 in Kyoto Japan specified that developed countries should reduce their combined greenhouse emissions by 5.2 percent from 1990 levels, during the first commitment period which runs from 2008-2012, principally through achievement of their national targets. The treaty was finalized in Kyoto Japan in 1997, after years of negotiations and it went into force in 2005.
Kyoto Protocol which was ratified by 37 industrialized countries was set to expire in 2012. Under Kyoto protocol, industrialized nations pledged to cut their annual greenhouse gases emissions by varying amounts, averaging 5.2%, by 2012 in comparison to 1990. Most nations ratified the treaty, with the notable exception of the United States. Developing countries, including China and India, weren't mandated to reduce emissions, as their contribution to build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere was relatively small. Countries and regions, including the European Union, were on track by 2011 to meet or exceed their Kyoto targets, but other large nations were sadly falling short of their goals. United States and China, the two biggest greenhouse gases emitters are responsible for more than enough extra greenhouse gas to erase all the reductions made by other countries during the Kyoto period. Globally, emissions rose by nearly 40% from 1990 to 2009. There is urgent need to revolutionize energy systems, and get countries to agree on a climate deal or else, global warming will breach the 2 degrees Celsius barrier. Kyoto Protocol is sadly failing to control global greenhouse gas emissions and consequent Climate change and global warming.
A Kenyan youth speaks about climate change
The latest United Nations Climate Change Conference was held in Durban South Africa from 28th November-9th December 2011. This was the second largest climate change conference and the negotiations progressed in a balanced fashion. One of the major outcomes was a decision by Parties to adopt a worldwide legal agreement on climate change by 2015.The delegates agreed to a Green Climate Fund, which will help vulnerable countries deal with effects of climate change. The Green Climate Fund will basically channel about $100 billion by 2020 to susceptible countries in order to help them deal with the effects of climate change. This achievement in Durban may play a central role in saving tomorrow today as countries work together towards this common purpose, but the problem with the outcome is that the sources of funds for the Green Climate Fund were not identified, which may make implementation of the climate actions a farfetched idea. which runs from 2008-2012, principally through achievement of their national targets. The treaty was finalized in Kyoto Japan in 1997, after years of negotiations and it went into force in 2005.
Kyoto Protocol which was ratified by 37 industrialized countries was set to expire in 2012. Under Kyoto protocol, industrialized nations pledged to cut their annual greenhouse gases emissions by varying amounts, averaging 5.2%, by 2012 in comparison to 1990. Most nations ratified the treaty, with the notable exception of the United States. Developing countries, including China and India, weren't mandated to reduce emissions, as their contribution to build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere was relatively small. Countries and regions, including the European Union, were on track by 2011 to meet or exceed their Kyoto targets, but other large nations were sadly falling short of their goals. United States and China, the two biggest greenhouse gases emitters are responsible for more than enough extra greenhouse gas to erase all the reductions made by other countries during the Kyoto period. Globally, emissions rose by nearly 40% from 1990 to 2009. There is urgent need to revolutionize energy systems, and get countries to agree on a climate deal or else, global warming will breach the 2 degrees Celsius barrier. Kyoto Protocol is sadly failing to control global greenhouse gas emissions and consequent Climate change and global warming.
