Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

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Key definition

Kyoto Protocol definition

What does Kyoto Protocol mean? In legal practice, “Kyoto protocol” refers to the UN climate treaty that set binding greenhouse gas reduction targets for developed (Annex I) countries and created carbon‑market mechanisms used in regulation, compliance and contracts. It is an international agreement under the UNFCCC rather than a domestic statute, but it is referenced in UK and Irish legislation and regulatory schemes. Key features: - Quantified emission limitation and reduction obligations for the first commitment period (2008–2012) and, via the Doha Amendment, a second period (2013–2020). - Coverage of a “basket” of gases: originally six (CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs, SF6), with nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)...

Kyoto Protocol 1997: targets and obligations, mechanisms (emissions trading, CDM, JI), compliance, COP milestones, adaptation fund, and EU/UK implementation; transition to the Paris Agreement (Archived)

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Practice notes

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note is archived and no longer maintained

Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Kyoto Protocol)

Parties: 192 — see ratification status for details
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Adopted: COP3 on 11 December 1997
Entered into force: 16 February 2005
Subject: Climate change

The Kyoto Protocol

From 2008 to 2020, the Protocol required developed economies listed in Annex I to the UNFCCC (Annex I Parties) to meet quantified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. These commitments covered the following gases:

carbon dioxide (CO2)
methane
nitrous oxide
hydrofluorocarbons
perfluorocarbons
sulphur hexafluoride

The UNFCCC’s objective is to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that prevents dangerous human-induced disruption of the climate system. Its signatories endorse principles that curb emissions, and the Kyoto Protocol operationalised those principles. The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the UNFCCC’s decision-making forum and meets yearly to review progress and advance implementation. For more on the UNFCCC, see Practice Note: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992—snapshot...

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