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The '''Kyoto Protocol''' (named after the [[Japan|Japanese]] city in which it was drafted) is a 1997 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|Japanese]] city in which it was drafted) is a 1997 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 vastly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the signed countries. Supporters say that the treaty 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 vastly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the signed countries. Supporters say that the treaty 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]], despite the fact that the USA and other Western countries produce hundreds of times more greenhouse has per capita than citizens of any developing nation.<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.  This has drastically reduced the influence and credibility of the US administration in essentially all international environmental forums.

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.