194 The Environmental Debate
Noting that there are many uncertainties in
predictions of climate change, particularly with
regard to the timing, magnitude and regional
patterns thereof,
Acknowledging that the global nature of cli-
mate change calls for the widest possible coop-
eration by all countries and their participation
in an effective and appropriate international
response, in accordance with their common
but differentiated responsibilities and respective
capabilities and their social and economic con-
ditions...
Affirming that responses to climate change
should be coordinated with social and economic
development in an integrated manner with a
view to avoiding adverse impacts on the latter,
taking into full account the legitimate priority
needs of developing countries for the achieve-
ment of sustained economic growth and the
eradication of poverty...
Have agreed as follow:
The ultimate objective of this Convention
and any related legal instruments that the Con-
ference of the Parties may adopt is to achieve
... stabilization of greenhouse gas concentra-
tions in the atmosphere at a level that would
prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference
with the climate system. Such a level should
be achieved within a time-frame sufficient to
allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate
change, to ensure that food production is not
threatened and to enable economic develop-
ment to proceed in a sustainable manner.
B. The Kyoto Protocol
Article 3
- The Parties included in Annex I [all the
countries of Western Europe and most of the
countries of Eastern Europe, as well as the United
States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and New
Zealand] shall, individually or jointly, ensure
that their aggregate anthropogenic carbon
dioxide equivalent emissions of the greenhouse
gases listed in Annex A [carbon dioxide, meth-
ane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, per-
fluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride] do
not exceed their assigned amounts, calculated
pursuant to their quantified emission limitation
and reduction commitments... , with a view to
reducing their overall emissions of such gases by
at least 5 percent below 1990 levels in the com-
mitment period 2008 to 2012.- Each Party included in Annex I shall,
by 2005 have made demonstrable progress in
achieving its commitments under this Protocol. - [A] certain degree of flexibility shall be
allowed by the Conference of the Parties... to
the Parties included in Annex I undergoing the
process of transition to a market economy.
Article 6 - For the purpose of meeting its commit-
ments under Article 3, any Party included in
Annex I may transfer to, or acquire from, any other
such Party emission reduction units resulting
from projects aimed at reducing anthropogenic
emissions by sources or enhancing anthropo-
genic removals by sinks of greenhouse gases in
any sector of the economy.
Article 12 - Under the clean development mechanism:
(a) Parties not included in Annex I will ben-
efit from project activities resulting in cer-
tified emission reductions; and
(b) Parties included in Annex I may use the
certified emission reductions accruing
from such project activities to contribute
to compliance with part of their quanti-
fied emission limitation and reduction
commitments under Article 3.
Source: A. United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change, U.N. document A/AC.237/18, Part II/
Add.1 and Corr.1, New York, May 9, 1992, pp.1, 3, 4.
B. Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, U.N. document FCCC/
CP/1997/L.7/Add. 1, Kyoto, December 1997, pp. 3, 4, 7, 12.