Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol (KP), otherwise called the "climate protocol," is an international emissions reduction treaty under the UNFCCC. Adopted in 1997, the protocol commits 43 Annex I countries to limit their greenhouse gas emissions for the 1st commitment period 2008-2012 by at least five percent below or equal to the level of their emissions in the base year 1990. The Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005.

The KP put forth three market-based mechanisms in order to assist Annex I countries or the industrialized nations to meet their commitments. These are the (1) Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), (2) Joint Implementation (JI), and (3) International Emissions Trading. CDM is relevant for developing countries since it allows entities in the industrialized nations to support GHG mitigation projects in developing countries and purchase credits generated by the latter.

The targets for the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol cover emissions of the six main greenhouse gases, namely: Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). The maximum amount of emissions (measured as the equivalent in carbon dioxide) that a Party may emit over a commitment period in order to comply with its emissions target is known as a Party's assigned amount. The individual targets for Annex I Parties are listed in the Kyoto Protocol's Annex B (https://unfccc.int/process/the-kyoto-protocol). Only Annex I (developed countries) have binding targets under the Kyoto Protocol that are supposed to be accomplished at the end of 2020. The Philippines is not part of the Annex I countries and therefore, has no targets to reduce its GHG emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.

Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol

DATE ACCEPTED BY THE PHILIPPINES 13 April 2016

During the 8th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP) held in Doha, Qatar, on 8 December 2012, the parties adopted the Doha amendment to the KP by decision 1/CMP.8 in accordance with Articles 20 and 21 of the Kyoto Protocol.

Article 1, Section B of the Amendment states that the following list shall replace the list under the heading "Greenhouse Gases" in Annex A to the Kyoto Protocol: Greenhouse gases---Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).

Inter alia, Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the Doha Amendment states that the Parties included in Annex I (developed countries, including those undergoing transition to a market economy) shall, individually or jointly, ensure that their aggregate anthropogenic carbon dioxide equivalent emissions of the Greenhouse Gases listed in Annex A do not exceed their assigned amounts, calculated pursuant to their quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments inscribed in the third column of the table contained in Annex B (Quantified emission limitation or reduction commitment) and in accordance with the provisions of this Article, with a view to reducing their overall emissions of such gases by at least 18 percent below 1990 levels in the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, i.e., 2013 to 2020.

Article 20, paragraph 4 of the Doha Amendment states that it will enter into force for those Parties having accepted it on the 90th day after the date of receipt by the Depository of an instrument of acceptance by at least three fourths of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. However, as of 21 February 2019, only 126 Parties out of the required 144 parties have deposited their instrument of acceptance.

Developing countries (Non-Annex 1 Parties) such as the Philippines do not have the obligation to reduce GHG emissions under the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol.