Russia refused to assume obligations under the second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol
December 11, 2012
At the 18th UN Climate Change Conference that took place in Doha, the Qatari capital, the majority of votes adopted the amendment stipulating the beginning of the second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol on January 1, 2013. The period will end in 2020. Russia, Japan, New Zealand and Canada pulled out of the protocol.
The amendment means that in the second period countries will be able to keep so called hot air—CO2 emission allowances accumulated thanks to the economic slump of 1990’s. With the largest surplus of allowances, Russia, Ukraine and Poland insisted on the full retention of those, which developed countries and environmental organizations opposed.
The amendment provides for the full allowance retention, but imposes the 2% operation limit of the total volume. Besides, EC, Australia and a number of other countries of the second period refused to buy ‘hot air.’
The document also provides for limiting further banking of the ‘hot air.’ Before placing their resolutions for official consideration, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus expressed a desire for parties to the protocol to discuss discussing commentaries to that provision.
The amendment, however, was adopted without consideration of Russia’s, Belarus’ and Ukraine’s objections with regard to which the Russian Federation raised a protest on the basis of abuse of the meeting procedure.
Based on RIA Novosti and BBC News