Question

What is the Kyoto Protocol? What happened in Copenhagen? In Bali? What is the climate emissions gap?

Short answer

The Kyoto Protocol is a 1997 treaty committing ratified countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Copenhagen Summit in 2009 aimed for a global climate agreement, but perceived as a disappointment due to lack of binding agreements. The Bali Climate Change Conference in 2007 resulted in the Bali Road Map, including the Bali Action Plan outlining key issues to be negotiated. The climate emissions gap is the difference between predicted and permissible greenhouse gas production to limit global temperature rise and prevent severe impacts of climate change.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is a legally binding international treaty signed in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan. The protocol commits countries that ratify it to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases, the primary driver of global warming, in a bid to mitigate the effects of climate change. The protocol set rigid targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European Union to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Copenhagen Summit

The 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference or the Copenhagen Summit was held in Denmark's capital. It was viewed as a critical moment for global climate change policies, with the goal to establish an ambitious global climate agreement. However, the meeting did not result in the binding agreements that were expected, and it is often perceived as a significant disappointment in the fight against climate change.

Bali Climate Change Conference

The Bali Climate Change Conference was held in 2007 in Bali, Indonesia. During this meeting, the participants agreed on the Bali Road Map, which includes the Bali Action Plan. This plan outlines key issues to be negotiated up to 2009, including action on adaptation, mitigation, technology development and transfer, and financial resources and investment.

Explaining the Climate Emissions Gap

The climate emissions gap, also known as the 'emissions gap', is the difference between how much greenhouse gas is predicted to be produced globally if we continue with current trends, and how much is permissible to be produced if we are to meet the target of limiting the global temperature rise to well below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C, to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.

Key concepts

Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is a key milestone in international efforts to combat climate change. Adopted in 1997, it is the first legally binding international agreement that sets targets for industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, which are responsible for trapping heat in the atmosphere and driving global warming.
The protocol required developed countries, deemed responsible for most historical emissions, to collectively reduce their emissions by at least 5% below 1990 levels during the period 2008-2012. This agreement held promise as a step towards greater environmental sustainability, but it also faced challenges. Some countries struggled to meet their targets, and notable emitters like the United States did not ratify the agreement.
Despite its limitations, the Kyoto Protocol set a precedent for future climate agreements, highlighting the importance of international collaboration and commitment in addressing climate change.

Copenhagen Summit

The Copenhagen Summit, officially known as the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference, aimed to achieve a ground-breaking new agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. This high-profile event garnered attention from leaders worldwide, underscoring its perceived importance in shaping climate policy.
Unfortunately, the summit fell short of its goals. While it resulted in the Copenhagen Accord, which recognized the scientific necessity to limit global temperature increases to below 2°C, the accord was not legally binding and lacked specific commitments for emissions reductions. This failure to meet expectations highlighted the difficulties in securing international consensus and commitment for comprehensive climate action.
Although seen by many as a disappointing outcome, the Copenhagen Summit still contributed to raising awareness globally and set the stage for future discussions on achieving broader climate targets.

Bali Climate Change Conference

The Bali Climate Change Conference in 2007 paved the way for crucial climate negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The conference resulted in the Bali Road Map, which laid out a vision for ongoing international dialogue.
Central to this roadmap was the Bali Action Plan, a groundbreaking document that detailed the essential components for future climate agreements. It called for enhanced action on several fronts, including:

• Adaptation to climate change impacts
• Mitigation efforts to reduce emissions
• Development and transfer of technology
• Financial resources and investment to support these efforts

The Bali conference helped build a foundation for continuing negotiations and discussions, culminating in subsequent agreements that aimed to achieve binding and comprehensive action against climate change.

Climate Emissions Gap

The climate emissions gap, often referred to simply as the 'emissions gap', represents a significant challenge in the global efforts to limit climate change. It is a measure of the difference between the current projected pathways of greenhouse gas emissions and the emissions levels needed to meet internationally agreed targets.
This gap is critical because it indicates how off-track the world is in terms of achieving the goals set out in agreements like the Paris Accord, which famously aims to keep global temperature increases to well below 2°C, and ideally to 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels.
The emissions gap report, published annually by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), evaluates national climate pledges and actual progress towards emissions reduction. Closing this gap is essential if we hope to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. It requires:-

• Ambitious policies and actions from countries worldwide
• Advancements in renewable energy technologies
• Increased international cooperation and financial support for low-carbon development

Understanding and addressing the emissions gap is crucial to keeping the planet within a safe climate threshold.