Geography Kyoto Protocol/ Copenhagen Conference Examples

Criteria | Success (examples) | Limitations (examples) | Kyoto Protocol | Successes of Kyoto ProtocolGermany met the emission targets for the 2008 to 2012 period under the Kyoto Protocol already in 2008. Greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 22.2% or roughly 280 million tons in 2008 compared with 1990. This exceeded the target of 21% set previously. | Limitations of Kyoto ProtocolDeveloping countries that did not sign the Protocol contribute largely to the global emissions. For example in 2012, China emitted 300 million tons more than in 2011, increasing greenhouse gas emissions by 3.8%. | Copenhagen Conference | Successes of Copenhagen Conference * Developed countries agreed to provide long –term financial aid of US$100 billion to the most vulnerable developing countries. * Examples of developing countries are the countries in Africa such as Congo. * From 2010 to 2012, a total of US$30 billion was raised. * Funds are used to provide resources including forestry and investments through international institutions. | Limitations of Copenhagen ConferenceTargets proposed by developed countries, even the higher, conditional pledges, do not come close to the 25-40% reductions by 2020 that are required, based on the assessment by the International climate policy post-Copenhagen (IPCC), to remain below a 2°C temperature increase. | Countries involved in Carbon Sinks | Countries involved in forest as Carbon Sinks * New Zealand will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions through a mixture of domestic emission reductions, the storage of carbon in forests, and the purchase of emission reduction units in other countries. * New Zealand’s forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing 25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year * Many of these policies and measures have co-benefits; for example they may help to improve public health, reduce erosion or save money. | | Countries in CDM/ Carbon Trading | Countries in CDM / Carbon Trading
Australia, Austria, United Kingdom, United States of America, Russia, Poland | |