In the aftermath of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (signed in 1992), the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997. The first objective of this protocol is to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. These emissions are link to human activities and have been destroying our planet. Thus, this protocol was implemented in February 2005; after the Russian Federation ratified the protocol in November 2004 (it was only ratified at this moment because it had to be ratified by 55 countries that represent 55% of the total emissions). Developed countries (Annex A countries) who ratified the Treaty committed to reduce their carbon emission by 5.2% in average over the period 2008-2012 (the reference date is 1990). The fact that it is compared to historical emissions is a way to ensure international equity. Thus, the developing countries (Annex B countries) who have not contributed a lot to historic emissions, only need to prepare “national plans”; they do not have specific targets to reach like the industrialized countries.
Is the Kyoto Protocol effective to reduce greenhouse gases? Has it lead to more ethical behaviors in businesses? What impacts will it have in the future in my country, that is to say France?
Rationales and provisions of the Kyoto Protocol
Rationales
Many ecologists warned the nations that the corporate activities have been the cause of the climate change. The rational behaviors of the managers have lead to numerous effects on the environment, notably through the emissions of greenhouse gases. However, the climate change is a huge threat in our current world in as much as it impacts human health, water resources, food availability… Moreover has Felix Ekardt (2009) pointed out, one reason for avoiding climate change is social responsibility. For instance, people living in the south of our world did not contribute a lot to the climate change but are going to be the victims of the human activities of Western countries. The water and food