PPT Slide
11 Dec 1997 COP3 adopts the Kyoto Protocol to the UN framework convention on climate change in Kyoto, Japan
16 Mar 1998 Kyoto Protocol opened for signature at UN headquarters in New York. Receives 84 signatures in a year
14 Nov 1998 COP4 adopts the ‘Buenos Aires plan of action’ to strengthen the Convention and prepare for Protocol enforcement
13-24 Nov 2000 COP6 meets in The Hague, the Netherlands, to take key decisions on the convention and the protocol. Talks break down..
23 July 2001 COP6a Global warming accord reached at Bonn by more than 180 countries. US notable by its absence
29 Oct 2001 COP7 in Marrakesh, Morocco - moves to ensure the key 55% emissions target is reached
August 2002 ‘Rio +10’ ‘Earth Summit 2002’, ten years on from the 1992 ‘Earth summit’ Little progress on energy use -EU go it alone.
2004 Kyoto protocol in force? - money being made, increasing pressure on Bush to change his mind.
October 2002 COP8 In New Delhi
2008-2012 First commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol
October 2003 Climate change conference in Russia - will they ratify?
Notes:
International agreement on the Kyoto protocol was finally reached in 2001, but only after a series of compromises were made. It was nevertheless a big achievement given that the US, the biggest GHG polluter, had withdrawn. The final hurdle before it comes into effect is that of reaching compliance by countries representing at least 55% of the worlds GHG emissions. Russia’s ratification is the key to reaching this target.