Kyoto Protocol Adopted
The Kyoto Protocol (adopted 1997, in force 2005) was the first binding international agreement to set emission reduction targets, committing developed-country signatories to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5.2% below 1990 levels by 2008-2012. The US signed but never ratified (the Senate vote was 95-0 against ratification in advance); Australia refused to sign until 2007. Developing countries, including China and India (then rapidly industrialising), were exempt from binding targets. The protocol's structural problem was that its coverage excluded the world's largest emitters: China overtook the US as the world's largest CO2 emitter in 2006, but had no Kyoto obligations.
- Year: 1997 CE
- Category: Diplomatic
