What Is the Difference Between the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement?

By Michael Ferguson

The Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement are two significant international treaties that aim to combat climate change. Both of them have been signed by several countries worldwide, with the objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In this article, we will discuss the key differences between these two protocols.

Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997 and came into effect in 2005. It is an international treaty that sets legally binding Targets for countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The protocol mainly focuses on developed countries and divides them into two groups: Annex I and Annex B.

  1. Annex I: This group consists of developed countries that are required to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5% below their 1990 levels by the end of 2012.
  2. Annex B: This group includes developed countries that are required to make specific contributions towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Pros

  • Legally Binding: The Kyoto Protocol is a legally binding agreement, which means that the participating countries are obligated to meet their emission reduction Targets.
  • Clear Targets: The protocol sets clear Targets for each country, which helps in monitoring and tracking progress.

Cons

  • Limited Scope: The Kyoto Protocol only applies to developed countries, leaving out developing nations like China and India, which are now among the top emitters of greenhouse gases.
  • No Longer Effective: The protocol’s emission reduction Targets were only until the end of 2012 and were not extended after that period.

Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement is a more recent international treaty that was adopted in 2015 and came into effect in 2016. This agreement aims to limit global warming below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Key Features

  • Nationally Determined Contributions: Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement does not set specific Targets for countries. Instead, it allows each country to create their own Targets, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
  • Global Participation: The Paris Agreement applies to all countries, including both developed and developing nations.
  • Inclusive: The Paris Agreement includes all countries and encourages them to work together towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Flexible: The agreement allows each country to create their own Targets based on their capabilities and circumstances.
  • No Legal Enforcement: Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement is not legally binding. Countries can choose not to follow through on their NDCs without facing any legal consequences.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the main difference between the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement lies in their approach towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While the Kyoto Protocol sets specific emission reduction Targets for developed countries, the Paris Agreement allows each country to create its own Targets based on its capabilities. Both agreements have their pros and cons but represent significant steps towards combating climate change.