The Kyoto Protocol, which aims to slow global warming, has come into force seven years after being agreed. Signed in December 1997, the Kyoto Protocol called for a worldwide reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases by an average 5,2 % below 1990 levels by the first commitment period of 2008 to 2012. Since the greenhouse gas emissions otherwise would have increased, the Kyoto Protocol will result in 2010 emissions levels that are approximately 20 % below 1990 levels. The treaty has come into force 90 days after Russia's crucial decision to ratify it in November 2004, ensuring ratification by nations accounting for at least 55% of greenhouse gas emissions. This target was only met after Russia joined.

Kyoto, in Japan, is today hosting the main ceremony to mark the occasion.

Some 141 countries - who account for about 55% of greenhouse gas emissions - have ratified the treaty, which pledges to cut these emissions by 5.2% by 2012.
The protocol, which became a legally binding treaty at midnight New York time (0500 GMT) on 16 February, demands a 5.2% cut in greenhouse gas emissions from the industrialised world as a whole, by 2012. Each country has been set its own individual targets according to its pollution levels.

However, the US and Australia have abstained for economic reasons, and developing countries such as China and India are outside its framework.

Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi issued a statement welcoming the treaty but also calling on non-signatories to rethink. "From now, we have to build a system in which more nations will work together under the common framework to stop global warming," he said.

Hiroyuki Hosoda, Japan's chief government spokesman, said: "We have been calling on the US to join. But the country that is the world's biggest emitter has not joined yet, and that is regrettable."

Environmentalists plan to hold protests around the world to mark the treaty coming into force - with many targeting the US.

But even for countries that have signed up to Kyoto, meeting the goals could be difficult. Canada, one of the treaty's first signatories, has no clear plan for reaching its target emission cuts. Far from cutting back, its emissions have increased by 20% since 1990. And Japan is also unsure it will be able to meet its legal requirement to slash emissions by 6% from 1990 levels by 2012.

For Denmark the road to meet the reduction demands is also still very long. In a newly released report by the European Environment Agency, Actually Denmark is the worst of all the EU countries to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. Until now Denmark has, under the Kyoto Protocol, agreed to reduce the emissions by 21%, according to the 1990 level. That is a reduction from 69 million tonnes of CO2 in 1990 to 54,5 million tonnes in 2012.

The Kyoto Protocol offers a number of flexible mechanisms aiming to reduce greenhouse gasses. The point is that the parties to the protocol can buy emission reductions where they are cheapest.

Countries like Denmark, England and Holland are already starting to see the advantages of the flexible mechanisms, making greenhouse gas reducing projects in developing countries, where the reduction is very cheap.

The Kyoto Protocol is now a reality - and very likely many greenhouse gas reduction projects will be made the next five years.


More info on the Kyoto Protocol:
http://unfccc.int/essential_background/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php