by Lucy Gallagher
photo credit-BBC

February 16 marked a momentous day in environmental history as the Kyoto Protocol came into force, seven years after it was agreed. Some 141 countries, accounting for 55% of greenhouse gas emissions, have ratified the treaty, which pledges to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases— Methane (CH4), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)— by 5.2% by 2012. These gases are believed to be partly responsible for global warming—the rise in global temperature which may have dramatic repercussions on life on Earth as we know it.

Each country that signed the protocol agreed to its own specific target. European Union countries are expected to cut their present emissions by 8% and Japan by 5%. However, the world's top polluter—the U.S.—has chosen not to sign the treaty. The U.S. pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol in 2001 as the U.S. government believes that it could have a severe impact on the country’s economy. The Bush Administration dubbed the treaty “fatally flawed,” partly as it does not require developing countries to commit to emissions reductions. China and India fall into this category, although they are two of the world’s biggest producers of greenhouse gases. Both of these countries have, however, ratified the protocol. Another industrialized country that chose not to join the Kyoto Club is Australia. Russia initially opted not to sign the agreement but then decided to back Kyoto in September 2004. Russia’s participation was crucial as, in order to take effect, the Protocol had to be ratified by nations accounting for at least 55% of greenhouse gas emissions. This target was only met when Russia joined.

In spite of this first step towards reducing greenhouse gases, most climate scientists believe that the targets set by the Kyoto Protocol are still too low and that emissions cuts in the order of 60% are needed. There is still a lot of work to be done in the efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) suggests 9 steps to make Kyoto a success:

1. MORE AMBITIOUS POLICIES – Industrialized nations have to strengthen their policies to reduce emissions and meet Kyoto targets.
Industrialized countries have to adopt new policies to reduce coal and oil consumption, increase renewable energies, and rapidly expand and remove barriers to technologies that increase energy efficiency as key climate policy measures. These are measures that will also contribute to energy security, reduced energy import bills and domestic job creation via new technologies and market opportunities.

2. CUT EMISSIONS FROM THE BIGGEST EMITTER – The power sector needs to switch to clean electricity.
Global electricity production accounts for about 37% of all energy-related CO2 emissions. The electricity sector has vast possibilities to reduce its emissions quickly, cost-effectively and efficiently by switching from inefficient and polluting coal and oil to natural gas, co-generation and ultimately to renewable energies.

3. MAKE EU EMISSIONS TRADING A SUCCESS – EU governments have to ensure that emissions trading is a success.
To date, only the European Union has introduced a meaningful emissions trading system. However, the so-called National Allocation Plans (allocating emission reduction permits to specific industry sectors and installations) have very weak caps and restrictions. Incentives for clean energy thus are small and create little pressure for companies to reduce their emissions and make the switch from coal to clean. The EU must strengthen the national plans considerably for the formal phase that starts in 2008, after the current pilot phase already underway. In addition, the EU should negotiate with other partners such as Canada, Japan, Russia and possibly certain U.S. states to ensure maximum compatibility of the various systems.

4. SUPPORT FOR CLEAN AND EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES – International finance and credit institutions must ensure clean technology solutions for developing nations.
To stay below an average 2 degree Celsius global warming, the total global emissions of CO2 have to peak in the next one to two decades, and decline thereafter. This will mean that rapidly industrializing nations like China, India, Brazil and South Africa will need to develop in a less carbon-intensive way—using less fossil fuel to achieve economic growth. This is possible but support is crucial. Many developing countries, such as China, are already taking significant steps in this direction by adopting renewable energy policies and fuel efficiency laws for cars. Such initiatives are needed on a large scale, and Europe must take the lead in making this happen.

5. CLEAN ENERGY MUST BECOME CORE BUSINESS – Countries must adopt all the needed policies and structures to develop renewable energies and energy efficiency.
Renewable energy has the potential to power the world more than 50 times over. Biomass and wind energy are becoming cost-effective as we speak.

The energy efficiency potential is huge and still mostly untapped in industrialized countries: from production to use, more than 90% of energy is still being wasted. In order to meet increased power demand in industrialized countries, building new power stations is about six times more expensive than saving the same amount of energy with more efficient appliances.

Governments need to reduce the current level of global subsidies for fossil fuels of over $260 billion and foster strong standards for energy conservation and renewable energies.

6. DENIAL IS NOT AN OPTION – USA and Australia need to cut emissions, too.
The United States and Australia must adopt binding national caps to reduce their emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions.

7. HELP THE POOREST TO DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS – The international community must gear up support for the poorest countries to deal with the impacts of climate change.
The majority of developing nations, the poor Least Developed Countries (LDC), will not have to accept emissions targets in the near future. Their emissions levels are negligible and the need for impact management and adaptation to the impact from climate change has the utmost priority.

In these countries, all existing planning tools and development strategies should take into account the impacts of climate change and factor in strategies to deal with the inevitable impacts. In fact, all countries must have the tools for adaptive planning at their fingertips. These include land use planning for agriculture and forestry, better health care and coastal planning for settlements, water reserves and buildings, as well as technological planning. Funding for adaptation in LDCs should come from industrialized countries. Of course, the best adaptation strategy is to cut emissions.

8. COMMIT TO THE 2 DEGREES CELSIUS CEILING – All governments, international political bodies and industry groups need to commit themselves to keep the world below the dangerous ceiling of 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) warming of global average temperature compared to pre-industrial times. This is the crucial tipping point for the environment—crossing it would have devastating impacts for people and wildlife.
The European Union has recognized this again in their Environment Council in December 2004 and so have business players such as BP.

Science indicates that the 2°C ceiling translates into a required reduction in global emissions of up to 50% by the middle of this century, and about 80% in industrialized countries in the same period. This is in stark contrast to the current average annual increase of emissions by 1-2%. While changing the trend is not a small task, it appears not only necessary, but also possible and certainly desirable to take immediate action.

9. PLAN FOR THE NEXT DECADES – The "Kyoto Club" needs to think ahead to create critical mass for ambitious targets after 2012.
The Kyoto Club, an unofficial name for the countries who have ratified the Protocol, should form a strong coalition and agree on a way forward after the first period of the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012. The infrastructure—from mandatory caps to emissions trading to compliance to accounting standards—included in the Kyoto Protocol must serve as the base for any future regime. The principle of multilateral negotiations in the context of the Kyoto Protocol needs to be maintained, strengthened and defended against the Bush Administration; Kyoto parties should by no means accommodate an unwilling Bush administration by buying into its ineffective proposals such as voluntary agreements.

For more information on climate change see www.panda.org.