Cabinet approves ratification of the Second Commitment Period of Kyoto Protocol
The Union Cabinet has given its approval to
ratify the Second Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol on containing the
emission of Green House Gases (GHGs).
Significance of this decision:
This decision underlines India’s leadership
in the comity of nations committed to global cause of environmental protection
and climate justice.
- Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by India will
encourage other developing countries also to undertake this exercise.
- Implementation of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
projects under this commitment period in accordance with Suslainable
Development priorities will attract some investments in India as well.
About Kyoto protocol:
- The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997 and the 1st
commitment period was from 2008-2012. The detailed rules for the
implementation of the Protocol were adopted at COP 7 in Marrakesh,
Morocco, in 2001, and are referred to as the “Marrakesh Accords.”
- At Doha in 2012, the amendments to Kyoto Protocol
for the 2nd commitment period (the Doha Amendment) were successfully
adopted for the period 2013- 2020. Developed countries have already
started implementing their commitments under the ‘opt-in’ provisions of the
Doha Amendment. So far, 75 countries have ratified the Second Commitment
Period.
- Recognizing that developed countries are principally
responsible for the current high levels of Greenhouse Gas (GHGs) in the
atmosphere, the Kyoto Protocol places commitments on developed nations to
undertake mitigation targets and to provide financial resources and
transfer of technology to the developing nations.
- Developing countries like India have no mandatory mitigation obligations or targets under the Kyoto Protocol.
