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Climate Action
News article16 November 2017Directorate-General for Climate Action

EU to conclude ratification for second Kyoto Protocol commitment period by end of this year

The European Union and its Member States intend to deposit their ratification instruments for the Doha Amendment establishing the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol by the end of this year at the latest.

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The European Union and its Member States intend to deposit their ratification instruments for the Doha Amendment establishing the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol by the end of this year at the latest.

The Doha Amendment involves a number of amendments to the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement on reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. The Amendment, agreed in 2012, established a second Kyoto period of legally-binding emissions commitments for 2013-2020.

EU ratification of the Doha Amendment requires 30 ratification procedures – in its 28 Member States, in Iceland and by the EU as a whole. Once all domestic processes are completed, the EU's ratification instruments will be deposited at the UN.

Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete said: "Climate change is already dramatically impacting our lives, most of all those in small islands and other vulnerable communities. The world must listen and respond to their call for urgent action. The EU is listening and responding. We are already overachieving our Kyoto commitment to reduce emissions by 20% by 2020 compared to 1990. Formal ratification of the Doha Amendment will send a strong signal to our global partners: count on Europe to lead the efforts to fight climate change."

The EU is also close to completing a comprehensive legislative framework that will enable it to implement its commitment under the Paris Agreement to cut emissions by at least 40% by 2030.

EU ratification of the Doha Amendment will not trigger its entry into force. To take legal effect, the Doha Amendment must be ratified by 144 parties to Kyoto Protocol, with 84 having now done so. The EU accounts for less than 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

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Publication date
16 November 2017
Author
Directorate-General for Climate Action