Previous page | ToC | Next page
Under the Kyoto Protocol, a number of developed countries committed to individual emission reduction targets for a basket of six greenhouse gases (GHG) (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons) for the period covering 2008-2012. Canada’s target under the Kyoto Protocol corresponds to an average emission reduction of 6% below 1990 levels over the compliance period.
Canada has met, and will continue to meet, a series of requirements under the Kyoto Protocol. These include: maintaining a national system for the estimation of GHG emissions; submitting periodic “national communications” that include additional information to the material submitted to the UNFCCC; submission of various reports (including the “Initial Report under the Kyoto Protocol” and “Report on Demonstrable Progress under the Kyoto Protocol”); and payment of various fees including those in support of the International Transaction Log that manages transactions between National Registries of GHG.
The Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997, but only entered into force in 2005. In recent years, programs and policies that begin to reduce Canada’s emissions have been put in place but their benefits may not be fully felt during the Kyoto period. Canada’s climate change plan is focused on meeting the goal of a 17% reduction in GHG emissions from 2005 levels by 2020, consistent with Canada’s commitments under the Cancun Agreement.
The first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol began January 1, 2008, and ends December 31, 2012. Kyoto Protocol Annex B Parties are required to submit their annual GHG emissions data in the form of a national inventory report, with the final report for 2012 due on April 15, 2014. The degree to which a signatory Party has met its emission reduction obligations under the Kyoto Protocol will be assessed after its final report has been filed in 2014, at which point Parties’ compliance will be determined.