The historic Kyoto conference on climate change is now over. Here's what was agreed upon in 10 days of often frantic negotiation.
GREENHOUSE GASES DEFINED AS:
EMISSION TARGETS: Set for industrialized nations; Change to 1990 greenhouse gas emission levels to be achieved by 2008 - 2012.
TRADING OF EMISSION RIGHTS: Approved in principle. Details to be finalized in November at COP meeting in Buenos AiresENFORCEMENT: "Appropriate and effective" methods of enforcement to be discussed in COP meeting in April in Bonn
RATIFICATION: "Kyoto Protocol" will take effect when a min. of 55 nations representing 55% of CO2 emissions ratify treaty. Terms of treaty will become binding to individual nations only when ratified by their governments. Any nation can withdraw from the agreement for three years after it comes into effect.
CARBON SINKS: Treaty approves in principle "credits" to nations planting or protecting woodlands at home or abroad
CLEAN DEVELOPMENT: Treaty approves in principle the establishment of mechanisms to assure that developing nations achieve "clean development".
As the dust settles, ECO-COMPASS provides the additional information you need to be able to make your own informed decisions regarding the achievements/ shortcomings of the conference.
On-Line at http://www.islandpress.org you will find the full version of this feature archive:
Visit Eco-Compass at http://www.islandpress.org to view the complete series in our Kyoto coverage.
The Editors of Eco-Compass
Island Press
The Environmental Publisher
http://www.islandpress.org