The United Nations climate change conference in Doha reached an agreement on August 8 to extend the validity of the Kyoto Protocol until 2020 to achieve emissions reduction constraints. Although the greenhouse gas emissions of all signatory countries accounted for only 15% of the total after Russia, Japan, and Canada withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol, and emissions from emerging market countries such as China and India continued to grow, increasing global carbon dioxide emissions by 2.6%, 50% higher than the 1990 record, nearly 200 countries worldwide still refused to give up the opportunity to save the planet, agreeing to extend the Kyoto Protocol's validity for another eight years, making it the only legally binding document to combat global warming.
Nevertheless, representatives from various countries still believe that decisions made simply by holding meetings are far less effective than the solutions suggested by scientists, such as taking proactive measures to prevent sea-level rise, heat waves, dust storms, or floods. In addition, the debate over whether to charge developed countries more funds to help other countries deal with global warming will be postponed until next year (2013).
After two weeks of intensive consultations, the Doha Conference reached an agreement that legally affirmed the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol's emission reduction commitments, extending the Kyoto Protocol's validity until the new convention takes effect in 2020 in order to curb climate change. Some developed countries also pledged to continue to make significant emission reductions before 2020.
This meeting also resulted in the "Doha Climate Gateway" agreement, the key points of which are:
The Kyoto Protocol, the only global treaty binding greenhouse gas emissions, will be extended after its expiration on December 31 this year, in the form of a "second emissions reduction commitment period." The new period will take effect on January 1, 2013, and end at the end of 2020, binding on the 27 member states of the European Union and 10 industrialized countries, including Australia and Switzerland. However, these countries do not include major developing countries such as China and India, and the United States refuses to recognize it.
The Doha Accords urged developed countries to commit to funding developing countries "when their financial situation allows." This annual UN meeting nearly collapsed over the issue of funding for developing countries. The conference pressured developed countries to begin funding next year, with the amount reaching at least $100 billion annually by 2020. Wealthy nations provided a total of $30 billion in aid to poorer countries between 2010 and 2012, but the EU, the US, and Japan have not guaranteed continued funding from 2013 to 2019.
Developing countries say that climate change is causing increased droughts and floods, and rising sea levels, requiring at least $60 billion between now and 2015 to address these issues, with $20 billion needed next year alone. The Doha Conference resolutions urge developed countries to submit "information and strategies for mobilizing climate finance, with annual allocations to be increased proportionally to $100 billion by 2020" before the UN climate conference in Warsaw next year.
All parties reiterated their hope to draft a new global agreement by 2015, replacing the Kyoto Protocol from 2020 onwards. The new agreement will bind all countries globally. The meeting noted that the draft agreement must be finalized by May 2015. The Doha Climate Conference pointed out that there is a growing discrepancy between national emission reduction targets and actual reductions, and that efforts must be made to narrow this gap. To control global warming, temperatures must be limited to within 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Sources: Environmental Information Center (2012-12-09)
