What is being done?

Each country agreed to their own specific target depending on their income levels and existing greenhouse gas emissions. Countries were given a decade to meet their targets, and in 2012 the treaty would expire.

Countries not included in the treaty

Poor countries did not have to sign because they contribute least to climate change. China and India were not given specific targets, since at that time, their emissions were still relatively low.

But even the United States, then the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, did not ratify the treaty. The USA pulled out of the international agreement in 2001 when US President George W Bush said implementing Kyoto would gravely damage the US economy.

This decision provoked anger and resentment from many other countries around the world.

Reducing emissions

As a rich, industrialized nation, Britain agreed to cut emissions by 12.5% of its 1990 levels. By investing in clean and renewable energy, and efficiency incentives, UK emissions have decreased by 18.4% since the 1990 start date.

And it’s not the only country that succeeded - since the Kyoto Protocol came into effect, overall emissions by participating countries have fallen by 5%. That’s a good beginning, but climate scientists say more action is desperately needed.

Stern report

The Stern report was produced for the UK government in 2006. It was the first major report on climate change written by an economist, rather than a scientist.

The report countered fears that reducing carbon dioxide emissions would stop economic growth. Stern recommended that 1% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) should be spent on reducing carbon dioxide emissions – this figure was later revised to 2%. However, if action is not taken then climate change could cost 5% of GDP each year. In the worst case scenario this figure could rise to 20%.

Stern’s conclusion was that early action on climate change is crucial, and that the costs are very small compared to the cost of doing nothing.

Next steps for the international community

To stop the most serious consequences of global warming, carbon emissions need to be cut by 70% across the world, according to the Colorado-based National Centre for Atmospheric Research. 

China produces 1.8 billion metric tons of carbon from burning fossil fuels per year, more than any other country in the world, although this is still far less per person than many other countries.

Any future treaty must include China and also India, which have rapidly rising emissions as their economies grow and develop.

The Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012 and governments need to reach a new agreement that makes further cuts in carbon dioxide.