Maarg Manthan · Topic 20.9

Kyoto Protocol (Second Commitment Period, 2013–20) and COP Conferences

Environment & Ecology › Protected Areas Lists and Recent Developments in Environment · Topic 20.9

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits industrialised countries, listed in Annex I, to legally binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions. It was adopted on 11 December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, at the third Conference of the Parties (COP3) and entered into force on 16 February 2005. In the first commitment period, 2008 to 2012, developed countries agreed to cut emissions by an average of about 5 percent below 1990 levels. The Doha Amendment, adopted at COP18 in 2012, set a second commitment period from 2013 to 2020 with a target of at least 18 percent below 1990 levels; it entered into force on 31 December 2020, just as the period ended, after enough countries accepted it. India ratified the Protocol in 2002 as a non-Annex I country with no binding limit, and accepted the Doha Amendment in 2017. The Protocol set up three flexibility mechanisms: emissions trading, joint implementation and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). It covered six gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride, with nitrogen trifluoride added for the second period. The United States signed but never ratified, and Canada withdrew in 2011. The Paris Agreement of 2015, applicable from 2020, replaced the Kyoto approach with nationally determined contributions for all countries. The Conference of the Parties meets every year, and its decisions shape global climate policy. Hedge details: check the latest COP outcomes.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Protected Areas Lists and Recent Developments in Environment

At a Glance

Adopted 11 December 1997, COP3
In force 16 February 2005
First period 2008-12
Second period 2013-20 (Doha)
Mechanisms ET, JI, CDM
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Protected Areas Lists and Recent Developments in Environment

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the Bonn Challenge and begins a block on climate negotiations, which leads into the HFC phase-down and the later topics on carbon neutrality and geo-engineering. Previous topic: Bonn Challenge and Climate Change Performance Index. Next topic: India’s Commitment to Eliminate HFCs by 2030 (Kigali Agreement).

What Did the Kyoto Protocol Decide?

Aspect	Details
Adoption	11 December 1997 at COP3, Kyoto; in force 16 February 2005
Binding on	Annex I (developed) countries, under the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities
First period	2008 to 2012; about 5 percent below 1990 levels on average
Second period	2013 to 2020 under the Doha Amendment (COP18, 2012); at least 18 percent below 1990; in force 31 December 2020
Mechanisms	Emissions trading, Joint implementation, Clean Development Mechanism
Gases	CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs and SF6; NF3 added from 2013
India	Ratified in 2002; no binding target; accepted Doha Amendment in 2017

Which COP Meetings Should You Remember?

COP1 Berlin, 1995: Berlin Mandate to negotiate binding targets
COP3 Kyoto, 1997: Kyoto Protocol adopted
COP13 Bali, 2007: Bali Action Plan
COP15 Copenhagen, 2009: Copenhagen Accord and the USD 100 billion goal
COP16 Cancun, 2010: Green Climate Fund created
COP21 Paris, 2015: Paris Agreement
COP26 Glasgow, 2021: Glasgow Climate Pact; phase-down of unabated coal
COP28 Dubai, 2023: first global stocktake and call to transition away from fossil fuels

What Else Should You Remember?

UNFCCC: adopted in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit and in force from 1994
COP: highest decision body of the UNFCCC, meeting annually
Annex I: industrialised countries and economies in transition
Annex II: developed countries that provide finance
Non-Annex I: mostly developing countries, including India
CBDR-RC: common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities
CDM: lets developed countries earn credits by funding projects in developing countries
CERs: Certified Emission Reductions, one tonne of CO2 equivalent each
Joint implementation: credits from projects between Annex I countries
Emissions trading: trading of assigned amount units
Adaptation Fund: financed partly by a share of CDM proceeds
US position: signed in 1998 but did not ratify
Canada: withdrew from the Protocol in 2011
Japan, Russia, New Zealand: did not take second period targets
Durban 2011: Durban Platform led to a new global agreement
Warsaw 2013: Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage
Lima 2014: Lima Call for Climate Action, with INDCs
Katowice 2018: Paris rulebook
Sharm el-Sheikh 2022: agreed to set up a loss and damage fund
Baku 2024: new collective quantified goal on finance of USD 300 billion a year by 2035
Belem 2025: COP30 in Brazil; check the outcomes
Paris difference: all countries make NDCs; the approach is bottom-up and nationally determined
Link to previous: see Bonn Challenge and Climate Change Performance Index
Link to next: see India’s Commitment to Eliminate HFCs by 2030 (Kigali Agreement)
Link to UNFCCC: see United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 1992
Caution: recent COP outcomes should be checked
Exam hint: remember 1997, 2005, 2008-12, 2012 Doha and the main COP landmarks
Carbon market: The CDM created a market for carbon credits, and India was among the largest hosts of CDM projects
Criticism of CDM: Concerns included additionality of projects, quality of credits and a fall in credit prices after 2012
Share of emissions: By the second period, the countries with targets covered only a small share of global emissions
Legal form: Kyoto targets were legally binding, with a compliance committee, while Paris NDCs are not enforceable
Kyoto units: Assigned amount units, removal units, emission reduction units and CERs were the main trading units
After 2020: Remaining CDM activities moved into the Paris Agreement’s Article 6 mechanisms
Global stocktake: The first stocktake concluded at COP28 and the next is due in 2028

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Adopted: 1997
In force: 2005
Doha: 2012; 2013-20
Current affairs link: Recent COP outcomes
Common errors: confusing Kyoto with Montreal

As an analytical point, Kyoto set the principle that developed countries lead but covered a shrinking share of global emissions. Paris answered this by bringing every country in, with weaker legal force but wider reach.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Kyoto Binding targets
Doha Second period
Paris All countries

What Came Next?

The next topic covers India’s commitment on HFCs under the Kigali Amendment. Next topic: India’s Commitment to Eliminate HFCs by 2030 (Kigali Agreement).

Key People and Terms

Annex I Developed country list
CDM Clean Development Mechanism
CER Certified Emission Reduction
COP Conference of the Parties
NDC Nationally determined contribution
CBDR Common but differentiated responsibilities

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Adopted 1997; force 2005.
First period 2008-12.
Doha 2012; period 2013-20.
Three mechanisms.
India ratified 2002.

Do Not Confuse With

Kyoto and Montreal Climate versus ozone treaty
Kyoto and Paris Binding top-down versus nationally determined
Annex I and Annex II All developed versus finance providers

Memory Hook

Ninety-seven adopt, oh-five force; Doha extends for thirteen to twenty.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for years, targets and mechanisms. These points help.

Kyoto Binding
Mechanisms Three
Paris Shift

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the Kyoto Protocol and its flexibility mechanisms. How did the Paris Agreement change the approach?”

How to Answer

Kyoto Binding.
Mechanisms Three.
Doha Second period.
Paris Shift.

GS Relevance

Prelims: years, targets, mechanisms, COP landmarks. GS Paper 3: climate negotiations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

The Kyoto Protocol is a treaty under the UNFCCC, adopted on 11 December 1997 and in force from 16 February 2005, that sets legally binding greenhouse gas reduction targets for developed countries listed in Annex I. Developing countries such as India had no binding targets, in line with common but differentiated responsibilities.

What was the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol?

The second commitment period ran from 2013 to 2020 under the Doha Amendment adopted at COP18 in 2012, with a target of at least 18 percent below 1990 levels for participating developed countries. It entered into force on 31 December 2020, and several major economies did not take targets.

What are the Kyoto flexibility mechanisms?

The three mechanisms are emissions trading among Annex I countries, joint implementation of projects between Annex I countries, and the Clean Development Mechanism, which lets developed countries earn Certified Emission Reductions by funding projects in developing countries such as India. They aim to lower the cost of meeting targets.

Which COP meetings were important?

Important meetings include COP3 Kyoto (1997), COP13 Bali (2007), COP15 Copenhagen (2009), COP16 Cancun (2010, Green Climate Fund), COP21 Paris (2015, Paris Agreement), COP26 Glasgow (2021) and COP28 Dubai (2023, global stocktake). Recent outcomes should be checked in the latest news.

How is the Paris Agreement different from Kyoto?

Kyoto set binding targets for developed countries only, in a top-down approach. The Paris Agreement, applicable from 2020, requires all countries to submit nationally determined contributions in a bottom-up approach, with transparency and a global stocktake every five years, but without legally binding emission targets.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997.

True

At COP3.

2 India had a binding target under Kyoto.

False

It was non-Annex I.

3 The Doha Amendment set a second period from 2013 to 2020.