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The '''Kyoto Protocol''' (named after the [[Japan]]ese city in which it was drafted) is a 1997 [[liberal]] treaty backed by the [[United Nations]] concerning [[greenhouse gas]] emissions. It commits 39 participating industrial nations to a combined 5% reduction (from 1990 levels) in climate-damaging emission by the year 2012.

The '''Kyoto Protocol''' (named after the [[Japan]]ese city in which it was drafted) is a 1997 [[liberal]] treaty backed by the [[United Nations]] concerning [[greenhouse gas]] emissions. It commits 39 participating industrial nations to a combined 5% reduction (from 1990 levels) in climate-damaging emission by the year 2012.

The stated goal of the treaty is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the signed countries, which supporters say is crucially needed to prevent a global environmental tragedy. Opponents of the treaty argue that ratifying the treaty would greatly harm many US industries while ignoring other high polluting, developing nations such as [[China]] and [[India]].<ref>[[USA Today]], [http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-02-15-kyoto-csm_x.htm ''Kyoto Era Begins''].</ref> For these reasons, the [[United States]], while it negotiated the treaty during the [[Bill Clinton|Clinton administration]], has only signed the protocol, but has adamantly refused to ratify it. The Senate voted 95-0 not even to bring ratification up for a vote.

The stated goal of the treaty is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the signed countries, which supporters say is crucially needed to prevent a global environmental tragedy. Opponents of the treaty argue that ratifying the treaty would greatly harm many US industries while ignoring other high polluting, developing nations such as [[China]] and [[India]].<ref>[[USA Today]], [https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-02-15-kyoto-csm_x.htm ''Kyoto Era Begins''].</ref> For these reasons, the [[United States]], while it negotiated the treaty during the [[Bill Clinton|Clinton administration]], has only signed the protocol, but has adamantly refused to ratify it. The Senate voted 95-0 not even to bring ratification up for a vote.

The Kyoto Protocol became effective on February 16, 2005, requiring the [[European Union]] to reduce its average emissions between the years 2008 and 2012 by 8% relative to 1990 levels.

The Kyoto Protocol became effective on February 16, 2005, requiring the [[European Union]] to reduce its average emissions between the years 2008 and 2012 by 8% relative to 1990 levels.

==External links==

==External links==

*[http://www.cnsnews.com/SpecialReports/archive/200412/SPE20041217a.html Greens Concede Kyoto Will Not Impact 'Global Warming']

*[https://www.cnsnews.com/SpecialReports/archive/200412/SPE20041217a.html Greens Concede Kyoto Will Not Impact 'Global Warming']

*[http://unfccc.int/essential_background/kyoto_protocol/items/1678.php The official text for the Kyoto Protocol]

*[http://unfccc.int/essential_background/kyoto_protocol/items/1678.php The official text for the Kyoto Protocol]