Evaluating the emission reduction targets in UNFCCC Kyoto Protocol by applying primary energy data analyses

Abstract

Emission reduction targets set for Annex I countries to the Kyoto Protocol have been raising questions about its rationality though it has been agreed upon by member countries. This paper focuses on evaluation of emission reduction targets in the Kyoto Protocol based on energy supply structure and consumption analysis for major developed and developing countries. Energy supply and consumption, per capita energy consumption, per capita emission and share of clean energy in energy supply structure for 13 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and non-OECD Annex I and non-Annex I countries to the Kyoto Protocol have been analyzed. It is argued that emission reduction targets set in the Kyoto Protocol for various Annex I countries are neither rational nor consistent from the viewpoint of energy data analysis. Furthermore, it is recommended that a common per capita emission norm is a more rational and simple approach to set an emission reduction target.

Keywords:

• emission reduction targets
• Kyoto Protocol
• energy data analysis

Notes

1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2007. Meehl et al., (2007). The First Assessment Report of IPCC served as the basis for negotiating the United Nations. Available from: http://ipcc-wg1.ucar.edu/wg1/Report/AR4WG1_Print_Ch10.pdf [accessed 6 May 2008].

2. This information is based on International Energy Agency Statistics brought out on page II.17 while discussing the supply and consumption of energy in Table World: 2004 in IEA Statistics on energy balances of non-OECD Countries. IEA Statistics: energy balances of non-OECD countries 2004–2005 (2007 ed.). Paris: IEA Publications.

3. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 2008. Total GHG (CO₂ Equivalent) emissions from energy in greenhouse gas inventory data: time series – Annex I. CO₂ equivalent energy-related emission data for the Annex I countries have been used for study from this source. Available from: http://unfccc.int/ghg_emissions_data/ghg_data_from_unfccc/time_series_annex_i/items/3814.php [Accessed 10 April 2008].

4. All the energy-related information for non-OECD countries has been taken from the following source: IEA Statistics (2007).

5. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Energy and Environment, 2008. Sustainable energy. Available from: http://www.undp.org/energy/ [accessed 5 May 2008].

6. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Working Group 1 (WG1).

7. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on GEO-3.

8. Ibid.

9. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Assessment Report 4 (AR4).

10. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Fourth Assessment Report.

11. United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 1998.

12. Paterson and Grubb (1992).

13. Gupta 2006.

14. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 2007.