There is a growing need to adopt a new set of Sustainable Development Goals that aim to “Transform the World”. Change comes with collective effort, mutual understanding and knowledge toward specific goals.
Despite the UN and other international organisations making crucial decisions, the result is far from expected. It made me wonder what it is that we are falling short on? Is it the lack of interest or lack of awareness?
That’s when I had a eureka moment, and it suddenly started to make all sense. Many people don’t know the complicated terms and references that are used when we talk about sustainability. The idea inspired me to create a new series called “The ABCs of Sustainability Development”. I hope that this series of blogs is well received and serves its purpose.
Kyoto Conference
Climate Change is one of the largest threats to human existence. The UN and countries around the world hold meetings and conferences to discuss goals and create a roadmap to deal with the climate crisis. All the conferences are done to show support, encourage, and build a collective response to climate change. The framework in all the institutions is planned in a way to drive action on climate change.
The governments are taking decisions to create a platform that serves indigenous people and local communities. It involves an intergovernmental process, transparency towards climate action, supporting and adapting to commitments towards climate change, Mobilising the finances, and creating more technology that helps to create a better connection between climate change and increasing global needs.
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement that targets to manage and reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases. Almost 192 nations joined in to reduce their emissions by an average of 5.2% from 2012, which accounts for almost 29% world’s total emissions.
Facts about Kyoto Protocol
The nations that have joined the Kyoto Protocol have recorded the most carbon emissions in predetermined periods. The Kyoto Protocol is a part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The conference wants the member countries to make changes in programs, which will later reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases.
The breaking of the glaciers will lead to increases in flood stage, which will cause two new issues: first, the vegetation and wildlife of the Arctic will be lost, and second, the mass of lesser port cities, as well as numerous islands, would be drowned. These negative consequences do not end there; introducing to the number would be dramatic environmental issues, flooding, drought, and, ultimately, ecological collapse of organisms’ life on the globe. On the mass scale, 20-30% of all life forms on the planet will exist.
The convention stipulated that the proportional sources of greenhouse gases be roughly 5.6 percent, although each government was free to set its own carbon neutrality. The Kyoto Protocol imposed emission limitations on the countries listed in Annex I. By the period the accord went into effect, members of the European Community had set the limit at 8%, Canada had set it at 6%, and the United States had set it at 7%. All countries were not required to reduce their pollution. The reason for this was that each country’s conditions were unique, making determining the maximum number challenging.
Means suggested by Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol established a package of steps targeted at lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto Protocol advised using drains as the first approach. Sinks are main phenomena; for example, agroforestry to absorb carbon dioxide is an instance of a drain. It was the Protocol’s first and most basic approach.
Subsidies were the second technique established by the Kyoto Protocol. According to the Kyoto Protocol, national authorities must provide incentives to industry. According to the approach, the government is paying businesses incentives based on the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions they reduce. It was ostensibly a successful measure.
The implementation of tariffs was the third method. For gas emissions, the state may levy a significant tax. For the administration, this would be a win-win situation. The tax has two purposes: first, it generates cash for the government, and second, it forces industry to emit a lower carbon footprint.
Technology development policy was the fourth method. The worldwide Clean Prosperity Mechanism initiative urged developed countries to take advantage of new versions of software that would bring in lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The implementation of tariffs was the third method. For gas emissions, the state may levy a significant tax. For the administration, this would be a win-win situation. The tax has two purposes: first, it generates cash for the government, and second, it forces industry to emit a lower carbon footprint.
Technology development policy was the fourth method. The worldwide Clean Prosperity Mechanism initiative urged developed countries to take advantage of new versions of software that would bring in lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The downside of Kyoto Protocol
Despite the fact that the Kyoto Protocol was a deal involving practically all of the world’s major countries, it garnered its fair share of criticism.
The Kyoto Protocol’s main criticism was that it was insufficient to prevent substantial ecological harm. Furthermore, the Kyoto Protocol’s costs outweigh its benefits. The Kyoto Protocol contains an extremely lenient restriction rate and a delusory assessment of global warming’s effects.
Furthermore, the Kyoto Protocol exempted poor countries from the non-mandatory limiting rate. China was excused because it is a young nation, but the unpleasant reality is that it is the world’s largest contributor to global pollution. As a result, the Kyoto Protocol should have taken into account additional issues.
