kyoto protocol

atmospheric CO2

Our goal to be avoided, 450 ppm, is now feeling a bit close for comfort, given we are already at 400 ppm and 300 ppm was only passed under the previous British monarch.[read more]

carbon market/shutterstock

To date, the Kyoto Protocol under the UNFCCC is the only route we have had to creating something of a global carbon market. Two new cornerstones of the international discussion, could effectively work together.[read more]

The Federal Government has yet to approve a specific climate policy. Since the U.S. Senate rejected the 1997 Kyoto Protocol no Administration has formally proposed a climate policy to Congress. The Federal Government has, however, developed many non-climate energy regulations that have significantly reduced U.S. carbon emissions over past 30 years. And, since the Supreme Court empowered the EPA to control carbon emissions, the U.S. is being subjected to miscellaneous carbon reduction regulations without well defined climate policy objectives. Why does the U.S. still lack an effective climate policy today?[read more]

In a situation of constrained oil supply, if a country reduces its oil consumption, it doesn’t mean that more oil will be left in the ground. Instead, the oil saved goes back on the world oil market (perhaps at a slightly lower price) and is bought by someone else who can make better use of it. So why do we insist that we can replace coal so easily?[read more]

Carbon Emissions via Shutterstock

The Kyoto Protocol’s ultimate goal was to stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations at a level needed to mitigate future climate change. Despite Protocol signatory Developed Countries generally complying with current carbon reduction targets, World atmospheric carbon concentrations continue to grow at alarming rates. Can Developed Countries actually reduce future total World carbon emissions to mitigate climate change?[read more]

In typical international climate summit fashion, COP18 ended in a last–minute marathon session complete with frustration, accusation, acrimony and a halting step forward in what is called the “Doha Climate Gateway” deal.One of the main features of the deal is breathing the last gasps of life into the Kyoto Protocol, the first commitment...[read more]

Climate Negotiations via Shutterstock

Finally late on Saturday, COP18 came to an end. Two weeks of discussion and negotiation had barely moved the needle, so the challenge to bring the conference to a useful conclusion and at least move the agenda forward somewhat fell on the Qatari President of the COP, H.E. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah – which is what he did, despite the objections of some parties. The outcome could be described at best as administrative. But a final agreement on "loss and damage" may well shape the pathway ahead.[read more]

The UN climate talks currently taking place in Doha will decide the future of the Kyoto Protocol, which is the world’s only legally binding climate treaty.  Although the protocol’s impact on global emissions has been limited, it is still necessary to keep the policy infrastructure associated with it intact.  CAP has been...[read more]

Doha Skyline via Shutterstock

This week sees the start of the 18th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, or COP18 for short, in Doha, Qatar. This should be a busy transitional COP, with much on the agenda to resolve and important steps forward being taken toward a long term international agreement. But procedural issues, agenda disagreements and fundamental sticking points could still dominate, leading to a two week impasse. Let’s hope not.[read more]

CO2 Emissions via Shutterstock

The Kyoto Protocol was developed to mitigate possible future global warming by substantially reducing Developed Countries’ greenhouse gas emissions. Congress did not approve the Protocol or other formal commitments to reduce U.S. CO2 emissions. With the possible recent evidence of increasing global warming or climate change, should the U.S. change course and begin substantially reducing future carbon dioxide emissions?[read more]

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 European greenhouse gas emissions increased by 2.4% in 2010, or 111 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent, due to a cold winter and the economic recovery following the 2009 recession in many countries.About 56% of the EU increase in GHG emissions was accounted for by Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland, with a growth in...[read more]

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What's the deal with all these international climate negotiations? Do they actually accomplish anything? Great post in anticipation of Rio +20.[read more]

Almost 15 years ago, the world gathered in Japan to negotiate the Kyoto Protcol, a landmark international treaty to limit greenhouse gases. As the expiration date of the world’s first carbon cutting treaty draws closer, energyNOW! asks – was Kyoto a success or a failure?[read more]

Literally one day after the global warming negotiations ended in Durban, South Africa the government of Canada formally notified the world that they were withdrawing from the global warming pollution targets they had taken on under the Kyoto Protocol.  Canadian Environment Minister Peter Kent must have signed the formal withdrawal...[read more]

Was the Durban climate conference a success or failure? As always, the answer depends on one’s frame of reference.[read more]