What is the Difference Between Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement

The main difference between Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement is that the Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement which was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, aiming to reduce and manage the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, while the Paris Agreement, adopted in Paris in 2015, is an international treaty regarding climate change and the control of global warming.

Both Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement are international agreements that address both climate change and its consequences.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Kyoto Protocol 
     – Definition, Nature, Aims
2. What is Paris Agreement
     – Definition, Nature, Aims
3. Similarities Between Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement
     – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, Climate Change, Global Warming 

What is Kyoto Protocol

Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement that was adopted at a conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997. The main aim of the Kyoto Protocol was to reduce and manage the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. This Kyoto Protocol became international law on the 16^th of February, 2005.

Moreover, the Kyoto Protocol functionalized the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change, where 192 world nations agreed to work towards reducing their CO2 and greenhouse gas emission by an average of 5.2% by the year 2012. Generally, this represents  29% of the world’s total CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the countries that signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol have a maximum carbon emission limit for a particular period of time. Furthermore, they received the opportunity to engage in carbon credit trading.

What is Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement refers to an international treaty that was adopted by almost 190 countries around the world and the European Union in 2015. The aim of this treaty is mainly to find solutions for the harmful consequences of the global climate crisis. Furthermore, the Paris Agreement involves and addresses nearly 97% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

During the Paris Agreement, all high greenhouse gas emitting states who attended agreed to reduce their GHG emissions over time. Moreover, most consider it as the first time in history where the majority of the world agreed to work towards a common cause. One of the major objectives of the Paris Agreement, therefore, is to reduce GHG emissions as a solution for global warming. They expect to limit the rise up of the global temperature of this century to 2 degrees Celsius while taking further steps to minimize this to 1.5 degrees.

Similarities Between Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement

• Both Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement are international agreements that address both climate change and its consequences.
• Both involved more than 100 countries.

Difference Between Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement

Definition

Kyoto Protocol refers to an international agreement which was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, aiming to reduce and manage the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, while Paris Agreement is an international treaty signed in Paris, France, in 2015 and focuses on climate change and global warming.

Targeted Countries

Kyoto protocol mainly involved developed or industrialized states, but the Paris agreement involved both developed and developing countries alike.

Aim

The aim of the Kyoto protocol is to reduce the emissions of CO2 and greenhouse gases specific gases, while the aim of the Paris agreement is to prevent the global temperature from rising up, which is a consequence of the emission of greenhouse gases.

Time Frame

When it comes to the Kyoto protocol, its first phase was scheduled to be completed by the year 2012. The time frame of the Paris agreement is different from nation to nation. However, the majority of countries expect to achieve their target by the years  2025-2030.

Conclusion

To conclude, the main difference between Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement is that the Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement that was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, aiming to reduce and manage the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, while the Paris Agreement adopted in Paris, France in 2015 is an international treaty regarding climate change and the control of global warming.

Reference:

1. Tardi, Carla. “The Kyoto Protocol.” Investopedia.
2. “Key Aspects of the Paris Agreement.” United Nations | Climate Change.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Kyoto Parties with first period (2008-2012) greenhouse gas emissions limitations targets and the percentage change in their carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion between 1990 and 2009” By Enescot – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “They did it! (23692333176)” By UNclimatechange from Bonn, Germany (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia