The Kyoto Protocol
Encouraging Governments to improve Energy Efficiency
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions caused primarily by burning oil, gas and coal. The Protocol encourages countries around the world to move to more environmentally responsible ways of producing and using energy, in order to meet their targets for emission reductions.
Scientific evidence has shown that climate change is caused by higher levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol, industrialized countries agreed to cut their greenhouse gases by certain percentages - relative to 1990 levels. The cuts have to be accomplished by the end of the target period of 2008-2012. And it will not stop here. New agreements are envisaged for the future and cuts in greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 30-60% must be expected before 2030.
The industrialised countries have agreed to reduce their collective emissions of six key greenhouse gasses by at least 5%. This collective target is to be achieved through cuts of 8% by most Central and East European states and the European Union; 12% by the UK, 7% by the US; 6% by Canada, Hungary, Japan and Poland. Russia, New Zealand and Ukraine are to stabilise their emissions, while Norway may increase emissions by up to 1%, Australia by up to 8%, and Iceland by 10%. However, each country's emissions target is not legally binding until the country has ratified the Kyoto Protocol. Although the USA has announced that it will not ratify, the protocol will still be able to reach the required level of ratification and come into force when Russia ratifies.
Source of information: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (www.unfccc.int).
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Read the Kyoto Protocol text in English, Spanish or French:
English
Spanish
French
Read more about the Kyoto Protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on the UNFCCC web site.
See the status on ratification of the Kyoto Protocol here.
Kyoto buildings is a project with the goal to strengthen and de-fragment the European research efforts towards providing answers to the specific short-term needs of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive in a cost-effective and co-ordinated manner.
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