POL101Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Kyoto Protocol, Carbon Emission Trading, Copenhagen Accord
Document Summary
Kyoto protocol is an international treaty, extends the 1992 united frameowrk convention on climate change (unfccc) that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, based on 2 premises. It is man-made, not natural(co2 emissions caused it) Goal was to get developed countries to lessen emissions. Us under bill clinton became very involved in negotiations. If canada says they will reduce 20% over 10 years canada could do this by actually reducing its own emission, investing in renewable energy, imposing strict control over oil sands, stricter environmental laws over manufacturers to reduce own emissions. Carbon trading is a second way it could do that trading carbon credits with countries that are emitting a lot less. Countries emitting more than allotment (canada, us, china) can avoid reducing emissions by buying up the right to emit from other countries. Individual countries can register as clean development mechanism and then they can sell certifies emissions reduction units.
