"To have a fighting chance to keep global warming within safe levels, countries like the United States must reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 80 percent below 2000 levels by 2050—and we must begin to make those reductions right away."
– Kevin Knobloch, President, Union of Concerned Scientists

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

The Kyoto Protocol is a legally binding international agreement to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change. The agreement was initially negotiated at a United Nations Conference held in Kyoto, Japan in 1997. Approximately 180 countries signed the Protocol, and in February 2005, it went into effect around the world when Russia ratified the agreement.

The Kyoto Protocol requires that industrialized countries reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases (excluding ozone (03) and water vapor) by 5% by 2012. Rather than placing a specific target on each of the gases, the overall emissions targets for all six would be combined individual gas reductions and would be translated into "CO2 equivalents" used to produce a single figure.

The agreement specifies that all Parties to the Protocol must follow a number of steps including:

• design and implementation of climate change mitigation and adaptation programs
• preparation of a national inventory of emissions removals by carbon sinks
• promotion of climate friendly technology transfer
• fostering partnerships in research and observation of climate science, impacts and response strategies

Developing countries are not legally bound to emissions reduction targets as of yet, because these countries have historically been responsible for only a small portion of the global greenhouse gas emissions.

The United States - the world's largest emitter - withdrew from Kyoto in March 2001, because the Bush Administration argued that there was not enough sound science surrounding the climate change issue. They argued that this uncertainty made it and that the requirements to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2012 would put a strain on the economy. The Administration also argued that the treaty does not require developing nations to curb their emissions.

Climate Change & Greenhouse Gases

For the last 100 years or so, industrialization – the combustion of increasing amounts of oil, coal, gasoline and the deforestation of continents the world over – has become a primary cause of a rising global temperature. According to the United Nations, the average temperature of the earth's surface has risen by 0.6 degrees C since the late 1800s, and it is expected to increase by another 1.4 to 5.8 degrees Celsius by the year 2100.

Combustion of fossil fuels and the cutting of forests have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, especially carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Such gases are important in regulating the earth’s temperature and keeping the planet warm enough to live on, but the continued process of industrialization is changing the fragile balance of atmospheric composition and causing global temperature to rise and altering the climate. Again, according to the United Nations, the 1990s appear to have been the warmest decade of the last millennium, and 1998 the warmest year.

Climate change has immense consequences – species extinction, rising sea levels, decreasing agricultural yield, and shrinking quality drinking water supplies. Already struggling against pollution and loss of habitat, numerous plant and animal species are not expected to survive the next 100 years. And more extreme weather patterns, including drought, floods and storms will exacerbate this dire situation both for non-human and human populations. Rising temperatures leads to melting glaciers and critical ice caps. During the 20th century, sea levels rose by an average by 10 to 20 centimeters, and an additional increase of 9 to 88 centimeters is expected by the year 2100. As this happens, the sea could flood coastline villages causing displacement of a significant portion of the human population. As global temperature rises, agricultural production will likely decrease across most of the world. Increasing spurts of drought, decreasing soil fertility and increased disease are all potential consequences.

Why a Kyoto Protocol?

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to slowing human-induced global climate change. The potential impacts of climate change on our communities are far reaching. Ranging from the loss of habitat, to the rise of diseases, to the devastation of large areas of land, climate change is literally transforming our ways of living. For the survival of Indigenous communities, tribes must be brought to the forefront of energy and climate justice. Actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency provide multiple local benefits by decreasing air pollution, creating jobs, reducing energy expenditures, and will save money for the community. It is our responsibility to protect Mother Earth for future generations, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and shifting away from a fossil-fuel based economy are the first steps toward a future rooted in energy and climate justice.