Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 1.20
Emission Limitations or Reduction Commitment Pursuant to the
Kyoto Protocol and Evolution by Signatories to the Protocol
Annex I party
Kyoto protocol
Greenhouse gas
Change from
targets for
emissions in Mt
1990 to 2000
2012 (%)
1990
2000
(%)
European Community
-8
4216
4072
-3.4
Liechtenstein, Monaco,
Switzerland
-8
54
53
-0.8
Bulgaria, Czech Republic,
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia
-8
832
511
-38.6
US
-7
6131
7001
+14.2
Japan
-6
1247
1358
+8.9
Canada
-6
607
726
+19.6
Poland, Hungary
-6
666
471
-29.4
Croatia
-5
NA
NA
NA
New Zealand
±0
73
77
+5.2
Russian Federation
±0
3040
1965
-35
Ukraine
±0
919
455
-51
Norway
+1
52
55
+6.3
Australia
+8
425
502
+18.2
Iceland
+10
3
3
+6.9
Total
-5.2
18,265
17,250
-5.6
Note:
CO
2
-equivalents exclude land-use change and forestry
Source:
data from UNFCCC, 2002
The Annex I countries are not necessarily required to reduce their
emissions. Flexible mechanisms allow parties to trade reductions with other
countries if they contribute to these reductions, for example, by giving money
for conservation measures. Furthermore, natural carbon sinks such as forests
can be considered. As a result of these evasive measures and the low reduction
goals, there was a lot of criticism of the international agreement on climatic
protection. On the other hand, without these mechanisms there would not
have been any chance of ratifying the Kyoto Protocol.
Table 1.20 shows the emission limitations and reduction commitments of
the contracting parties as well as the change of carbon dioxide emissions in
recent years. The member countries of the European Union have very different
emission goals. For instance, Germany and Denmark have to reduce their
emissions by 21 per cent and the UK by 12.5 per cent, whereas Spain can
increase them by 15 per cent, Greece by 25 per cent and Portugal by 27 per
cent.
Economic upheaval in the former Eastern Bloc countries is the reason for
the majority of emission reduction achieved to date. In coming years, an
increase in greenhouse gas emissions can be expected from these countries. On
the other hand, some western countries have set positive examples. The UK
has replaced the bulk of its coal demand by natural gas and had reduced its
