J) Replacing the Kyoto Protocol in 1997

Wed, 06 May 2026 20:51:19 +0000

The Replacement of the Kyoto Protocol: What Came After Kyoto (1997) In 1997, the international community took a significant step toward global climate action with the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol, a landmark environmental agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Though often remembered as a milestone, the Kyoto Protocol itself was not a final solution—it represented a critical, but interim, phase in managing global warming. Understanding what replaced or succeeded Kyoto is key to grasping the evolution of international climate policy. ### The Kyoto Protocol: A Foundational yet Limited Agreement Ratified in 2005, the Kyoto Protocol mandated binding emissions reduction targets for developed countries (Annex I parties) during its first commitment period (2008–2012). It marked the first time nations legally committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, setting a framework for accountability. However, key limitations hindered its global impact: