NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet has given its approval to ratify the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol on containing the emission of Green House Gases (GHGs). This legal agreement which is set to expire 2020 puts onus on developed countries to take measures to bring down carbon emissions.
Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by India will encourage other developing countries also to undertake this exercise. The second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 2012. So far, 65 countries have ratified the Second Commitment Period.
Paris Agreement comes into being post-2020 that allow every country to decide on the action itself.
Recognising that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of Greenhouse Gas (GHGs) in the atmosphere, the Kyoto Protocol places commitments on developed nations to undertake mitigation targets and to provide financial resources and transfer of technology to the developing nations.
Developing countries like India have no mandatory mitigation obligations or targets under the Kyoto Protocol. Implementation of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects under this commitment period in accordance with Sustainable Development priorities will attract some investments in India as well.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) seeks to stabilise Green House Gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would minimise interference with the climate system.
“In view of the critical role played by India in securing international consensus on climate change issues, this decision further underlines India's leadership in the comity of nations committed to the global cause of environmental protection and climate justice,” according to a statement issues by the government.
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997 and the 1st commitment period was from 2008-2012. At Doha in 2012, the amendments to Kyoto Protocol for the 2nd commitment period (the Doha Amendment) were successfully adopted for the period 2013- 2020.