Background to World Climate Negotiations

In the late 1980's and early 1990's leading scientists from around the world introduced research findings that clearly showed a correlation between a rise in global greenhouse gas emissions, manmade and otherwise, and a rise in global temperatures.

An important part of these research findings was prepared by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), based in Geneva, Switzerland. The IPCC was established to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. The IPCC is a scientific intergovernmental body set up by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In 2007 the IPCC received the Nobel Peace Prize.

The IPCC findings were brought to the attention of world leaders who participated in the first UN Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Rio de Janeiro (frequently referred to as the "Rio Earth Summit") in 1992.

Following the Rio Earth Summit, world leaders met again in Berlin, Germany in 1995 to make commitments to reduce their respective emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. At this Summit, since referred to as the Berlin Summit, the Contracting Parties reviewed the commitments by the developed countries under the original convention adopted in Rio in 1992, and decided that the commitments aimed at returning their emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000 was inadequate for achieving the Convention's long-term objective.

The Conference produced the "Berlin Mandate" and launched a new round of negotiations aimed at strengthening the commitments of the leaders from developed countries. The Berlin Summit was thought by some as "a great first step to achieving a global agreement on greenhouse gas emissions." It was however deemed too soft by most parties, in addition to various nongovernmental organizations who attended the summit alongside world leaders, that referred to the agreement as a "soft mandate" -- which failed to adopt specific reductions, including vague targets and terms such as "quantified limitation and reduction objectives" with time-frames "such as 2005, 2010 and 2020". The definitions in the agreement were seen to be too weak, with no specific mention of percentage cuts to C02 emissions.

The Kyoto Summit (1997, Kyoto, Japan)

At the third Conference of the world leaders in Kyoto, Japan in 1997, two years following the Berlin Summit, world leaders adopted the Kyoto Protocol. Undoubtedly the most easily recognizable of all the Summits held on the subject of climate change, the Kyoto Summit had the same ultimate objectives as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was the stabilization of atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. The Kyoto Summit added key points that many parties felt were not addressed in depth at the Berlin Summit such as setting what was deemed to be more "realistic" time-frames sufficient and necessary to ensure that food production is not threatened and that economic development can continue sustainably.

Key Provisions of the Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is a 21 page document outlining various new commitments made by global parties. In it, Contracting Parties from developed countries are committed to reducing their combined greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5 per cent from 1990 levels by the period 2008-2012. The targets cover the six main greenhouse gases, namely, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), per fluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), along with some activities in the land-use change and forestry sector that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (carbon "sinks"). Each Contracting Party from developed countries is required to have made demonstrable progress in implementing its emission reduction commitments by 2005.

The Kyoto Protocol also establishes three innovative mechanisms, known as joint implementation, emissions trading and the clean development mechanism, which are designed to help Contracting Parties included in Annex I of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to reduce the costs of meeting their emission targets. The clean development mechanism also aims to promote sustainable development in developing countries. The operational details of these mechanisms are now being fleshed out by the Contracting Parties.

The procedure for the communication and review of information is established in the Kyoto Protocol. Contracting Parties from developed countries are required to incorporate in their national communications the supplementary information necessary to demonstrate compliance with their commitments under the Protocol in accordance with guidelines to be developed. The information submitted shall be reviewed by expert review teams, pursuant to guidelines established by the Conference of the Parties, which is the supreme body that shall regularly review and promote effective implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.

For an in depth look at the text, commitments, targets and history of the Kyoto Protocol, please visit: http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/tp/tp0200.pdf

Kyoto Protocol Milestone - Canadian Ratification

The Kyoto Protocol was the first international treaty on climate change that became international law. To take full effect, the Protocol required ratification by at least 55 members of the United Nations, which together were responsible for at least 55 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions in 1990.

In 2002 Canada became the 99th country to ratify the Kyoto Protocol for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This move on behalf of the government of then Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chretien, set the stage for Russia to ratify the treaty and achieve critical mass. On November 5, 2004, the Kremlin announced that President Vladimir Putin had signed the federal law "on ratification of the Kyoto Protocol to the framework convention of the United Nations on climate change." The protocol became legally binding on all participating countries 90 days after Russia notified the United Nations of its ratification.

Although this was a milestone, the pledges made by most countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels went unfulfilled. With no enforcement mechanism in place, and the unwillingness of the largest economy and producer of green house gases in the world, the United States, to sign on, the protocol went unfulfilled.

The Copenhagen Summit (COP15)

In 2012 the Kyoto Protocol and the mandates included therein aimed at preventing climate change and global warming, expires. In order to ensure that reducing greenhouse gas production is kept a top priority for top leaders around the world, there is an urgent need for a new climate protocol. The Conference of Parties in Copenhagen (COP15) in 2009 was expected to be a milestone in the history of climate change mitigation, but world leaders failed to agree on tangible objectives, sufficient to curb climate change and ensure a sustainable future for our children. Many activists and citizens are disappointed with the agreement, which is not binding and contains different reduction of carbon emission targets for each country. Canada and the United States pledged to reduce their emissions by 17% of their 2005 levels, by 2020. This target fell short of many other industrialized countries' expectations, which pledge a higher percentage and an earlier base year - the most common being 1990.

The Cancun Summit (COP16)

From November 29^th to December 10^th, 2010, Mexico will be hosting the next and highly anticipated international climate change conference in Cancun. It serves as the last opportunity for world leaders to agree to a new protocol aimed at curbing and limiting carbon emissions prior to the expiration of the Kyoto Protocol.

Summit Details

The conference in Cancun is the 16th conference of parties (COP16) in the Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Climate Conference will take place in the Moon Palace Hotel in the city of Cancun. Governmental representatives from over 170 countries are expected to be in attendance during the Summit accompanied by numerous nongovernmental representatives, NGOs, journalists and others. In total 8000 people are expected to descend upon Cancun in the days leading up to and during the Summit.

Get involved!

Talk to your elected representatives:  Email your Member of Parliament and Jim Prentice, Canadian Minister of Environment, to communicate your concerns about climate change and ask that they take your future seriously. While you're at it, email or call Prime Minister Stephen Harper too!

Stephen Harper, Prime Minister:
Harper.S@parl.gc.ca | Phone: 613.992.4211 (Hill office) and 403.253.7990 (Constituency office)

Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment:
Prentice.J@parl.gc.ca | Phone 613.947.9475 (Hill office) and 413.216.7777 (Constituency office)

Members of Parliament: Their contact information can be found here:
http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E