1. Kyoto Protocol
IDC3O3
Ms. Nguyen

2. Climate Change
Human activities clearly influence global climate change
Canada will experience greater temperature changes than most regions of the world
More heat waves
Increased storms
Floods
Droughts
Major shifts in fisheries
Forestry
Agricultural resource bases
Damage to the northern ecosystems

3. Kyoto Protocol
An agreement negotiated by many countries in December 11, 1997
Ratification on February 16, 2005 with Russia
The terms required that at least 55 parties to ratify the agreement and for the total of those parties emission to be at least 55% of global production of greenhouse gases
Developed under UNFCCC (the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)

4. Continue… Committed to cut emissions of greenhouse gases such as:
Methane (CH4)
Nitrous oxide (N2O)
Hydroflurocarbons (HFCs)
Perflourocarbons (PFCs)
Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)

5. CONTINUE…
Goal:
To have participants collectively reducing emissions of greenhouse gases by 5.2% below the emission level of 1990 by 2012
If participating countries continue with emissions above their target
Must engage in emissions trading (i.e. buying “credits” )
Note: By 2005, Canada’s greenhouse emissions had increased by 25.3% over 1990 levels

6. Loop Hole
Individual countries were assigned higher or lower targets and some countries were permitted increases
India and China are not obligated to reduce greenhouse gas production because they are developing countries
China and India now have one of the highest carbon emissions….but not the highest/capita
Major hole in the Kyoto Protocol

7. SIGNING VS. RATIFICATION
Signature is symbolic; a token gesture of support
Ratification carries legal obligations and contractual arrangement
169 countries have ratified
2 countries (USA and Australia) refused to ratify Kyoto up until Dec – when Australia did ratify, the USA still has not.
US (largest emitter of carbon dioxide)
Australia (highest amount of carbon dioxide emission per person)

8. Role of the US
With only 4-5% of the world population, the US accounts for between percent of the global emissions of greenhouse gases
February 2002: US would use a “voluntary approach”
Purpose of reducing ‘greenhouse gas intensity’ by 18% over 10 years
‘Greenhouse gas intensity’ is the ratio of greenhouse gas emissions to economic output
Emissions would continue to increase as the economy grows but at a slower rate than out arrangement
US opposition to Kyoto: the protocol and its policies were ‘inconsistent with freedom, prosperity and environmental policy progress’

9. CO2 Emission by Region

10. Carbon Offsets Carbon offset Two categories
Financial transaction to compensate for the generation of GHG emissions through activities such as traveling or use of electricity
Measures in metric tons of CO2 equivalent with one carbon offset equaling one ton of CO2 or equivalent greenhouse gas
Two categories
Government/companies purchasing carbon offset
Within the Kyoto Protocol as an option to meet emissions targets
Individuals/companies
Purchase carbon offsets to mitigate the GHG emissions for activities such as travel
Used to plant trees that absorb GHGs

11. Carbon Tax
Tax would be levied on countries based on their generation of GHGs
Creating a market for GHG emissions, with some countries not able to meet their target purchasing emission capacity from other countries
Feb British Columbia introduced the first carbon tax in Canada
Rationale:
“Carbon price” can help fix the imbalance between clean energy and carbon –intensive fossil fuel
Introduce true cost of carbon emissions into equation
Revenue can be used to pay for the massive increase in home efficiency and deployment of green energy technology

12. Kyoto – Success or Failure?
Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are rising
No signs of slowing down
Global temperature continues to rise
Positive feedback loops in nature being revealed that amplify warming
Kyoto should be viewed as a stepping stone for more drastic action

13. Still unsure – Then Why Carry On?
Precautionary principle:
“When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically”
Basically – when faced with reasonable suspicion of harm, the precautionary approach urges a full evaluation of available alternatives for the purpose of preventing or minimizing harm
Success story – Montreal Protocol – International Treaty created in 1987 with objective of restoring and protecting the ozone layer