What is the Kyoto Protocol?The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement setting targets for industrialised countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
These gases are considered at least partly responsible for global warming - the rise in global temperature which may have catastrophic consequences for life on Earth.
The protocol was agreed in 1997, based on principles set out in a framework convention signed in 1992.
What are the targets?
Industrialised countries have committed to cut their combined emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by 2008 - 2012.
Each country that signed the protocol agreed to its own specific target. EU countries are expected to cut their present emissions by 8% and Japan by 5%. Some countries with low emissions were permitted to increase them.
Russia initially wavered over signing the protocol, amid speculation that it was jockeying for more favourable terms. But the country's cabinet agreed to back Kyoto in September 2004.
When did the Kyoto Protocol come into force?
The Kyoto Protocol became a legally binding treaty on 16 February 2005. It could only come into force after two conditions had been fulfilled:
- It had been ratified by at least 55 countries
- It had been ratified by nations accounting for at least 55% of emissions from what the Treaty calls ''Annex 1'' countries - 38 industrialised countries given targets for reducing emissions, plus Belarus, Turkey and now Kazakhstan.
The first target was met in 2002. But following the decision of the United States and Australia not to ratify, Russia's position became crucial for the fulfilment of the second condition. It finally did ratify on 18 November 2004, and the Kyoto Protocol came into force 90 days later - on 16 February 2005.
The targets for reducing emissions then become binding on all the Annex 1 countries which have ratified the Protocol. The two main countries which have not are Australia and the USA.