Common use of Kyoto Protocol Clause in Contracts

Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that extends the 1992 UNFCCC’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This protocol deals with reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to a “level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” 5 This Protocol was adopted in 1997, and as of December 2012, 192 parties have ratified this Protocol. It is to be noted that U.S. has not ratified this Protocol as of 2016. The central aim of Kyoto Protocol is: “to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the fact that (a) global warming exists and (b) human-made CO2 emissions have caused it.” Although there are some criticisms to this Protocol, this Protocol is a “small but essential first step towards stabilizing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.6” This Protocol excludes emissions due to international aviation and shipping.