Today In History: Kyoto Protocol

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The litany of global warming hazards is now familiar. Changing temperatures and rainfall may harm agriculture and stress natural ecosystems. Rising sea levels and severe storms may erode and inundate coastal zones. Especially worrisome is mounting evidence that nasty surprises, such as the abrupt shift in climate, become more likely as carbon dioxide and other "greenhouse gases" accumulate in the atmosphere. 

--David G. Victor, Preface, The Collapse of the Kyoto Protocol and the Struggle to Slow Global Warming.

On December 11th, 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was adopted; it committed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an attempt to address global warming and mitigate climate change. An international treaty and addendum to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCF), it targeted reductions for 37 industrialized countries and economies in transition. Currently there are 192 parties to the protocol which became effective on February 16, 2005 -- allowing enough time for planning and implementation, including the international trade of emissions; development of clean mechanisms; and joint programs. 

Although they signed on, state governments saw the complexity of meeting expectations set forth in the protocol. Concerned about the effects on the U.S. economy and lack of participation by populous, developing countries, the United States dropped out in 2001. The Treaty of Paris superseded Kyoto in November 2016, and countries are still grappling to best address man-made CO2 emissions, while also dealing with increasing environmental and health crises, such as floods, wildfires, pollution, loss of species, food and water insecurity, poverty, and displacement.

The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning.

• Key Provisions of the Kyoto Protocol. (1997, Dec 12). Wall Street Journal (1923-) 
• Prescott, J. (2000, Nov 15). Global Climate Change: At Issue: Next Steps for the Kyoto Protocol: It's Time for a Deal. The Washington Post (1974-) 
• Crowley, E. (2000, Nov 16). Energy-Saving Plans Could Bring U.S. into Compliance with the Kyoto Protocol. Wall Street Journal (1923-) 
• McDonald, F. (2001, Jul 23). Bonn Compromises Keep Kyoto Protocol Alive: The Deal on Offer in Bonn to Implement the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change Is Weaker Than the Proposals Rejected by the European Union Last November. The Irish Times (1921-) 
• Steven, L. M., & Revkin, A. C. (2003, Dec 03). Russia to Reject Pact on Climate, Putin Aide Says: Kyoto Accord in Trouble Without Moscow, Treaty to Curb Harmful Gases Cannot Take Effect. New York Times (1923-)  
• Spotts, P.N.  (2004, Oct 07). Emissions Pact Goes Forward: But Tougher Work of Cutting Greenhouse Gases Under Kyoto Protocol Remains. The Christian Science Monitor (1908-) 
• Silver Lining: Kyoto Protocol in Place After Seven-Year Wait. (2005, Feb 17). The Times of India (1861-) 
• What is the Kyoto Protocol? (2005, Feb 20). The Times of India (1861-) 
• Ball, J. (2006, Sep 11). For German Firms, New Emission Caps Roil Landscape: To Prepare for Kyoto Protocol, EU Embarks on Road Test; Industry Responds, Slowly; the Price of Electricity Jumps. Wall Street Journal (1923-) 
• McDonald, F. (2006, Nov 18). Summit Ends with Agreement on Climate Change Plan: Countries Commit to Kyoto Protocol Review in 2008. The Irish Times (1921-) 

Tips:

• Koh, K. L., Lye, L. H., & Lin, J. (2010). Crucial Issues in Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol : Asia and the World (1st ed.). World Scientific. e-book.
• Nagy, E., & Varga, G. (2009). Emissions Trading Lessons Learned from the European Union and Kyoto Protocol Climate Change Programs (1st ed.). Nova Science Publishers, Inc. e-book.
• Prasad, N., Ranghieri, F., Shah, F., Trohanis, Z., Kessler, E., & Sinha, R. (2009). Climate Resilient Cities: A Primer on Reducing Vulnerabilities to Disasters (1st ed., pp. xxiii–xxiii). World Bank Publications. e-book.
• Uno, K. (2002). Economy-Energy-Environment Simulation : Beyond the Kyoto Protocol (1st ed.). Kluwer Academic Publishers. e-book.
• Victor, D. G. (2001). The Collapse of the Kyoto Protocol and the Struggle to Slow Global Warming (Core Textbook). Princeton University Press. e-book.

Images:

• Kyoto International Conference Center, Kyoto, Japan, Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
• Kyoto, Japan, Courtesy of Canva.

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