Protecting our planet against climate change is our collective responsibility as human beings. While affordable LED Lighting helps individual homeowners take simple measures towards lowering their carbon footprint, governments must rely on international agreements to regulate the environmental impact of a country as a whole.
he successful reduction of emissions depends on mutual understandings between governments that can only be reached after years of painstaking talks and negotiations. One such example is the 1997 Kyoto Protocol which has dominated the world's energy concerns for the past decade.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international environmental treaty originally established between 37 countries on 11 December in Kyoto, Japan, to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% over the five year period between 2008 and 2012. As of September 2011, 191 countries have signed and ratified the agreement.
The protocol builds directly upon concepts laid down by the 1988 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, but unlike the convention which 'encouraged' nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the protocol commits them by legal force.
Although the protocol was establish in 1997 in Kyoto it only came into force in 2005 after it had received the ratification of 55 countries (amounting to over 55% of the world's greenhouse emitters). The United Kingdom became one of the first countries to ratify, doing so on the 29 April 1998.
Countries that give their ratification are committed to setting individual targets for reducing the six principle greenhouse gases identified by the protocol; Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane, (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorcarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).
Although the collective target for participating countries has been set at 5.2%, the individual target of each country varies. Generally speaking developed countries, also known as Annex I countries, are expected to take greater responsibility in recognition of their industrial activities over the past 150 years. Countries such as India and China that still depend on an industrial economy are entitled to more leniencies. The UK's target has been set at an 8% reduction by 2012.
While all countries are expected to enforce their own national measures for meeting their targets, there are other mechanisms in place to help those who can't. One example is 'emissions trading,' which allows shared responsibility between countries.
So far the Kyoto Protocol is a mixed success story. The scientific data supporting the protocols objectives has come under much scrutiny in recent years, leading many to doubt whether its targets will be met. It has however demonstrated the preparedness of countries to unite in addressing an issue that effects us all. The recent 2012 climate change conference in Durban has successfuly extended the commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol until 2020.
Doing your individual part is more important than ever. The future of our planet is an issue that cuts across national divisions. Making an effort to reduce your personal carbon footprint is the first step towards making the Kyoto protocol a modern success story. Switching to energy efficient LED Lights is just one way you can go about doing this.
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