At a glance
Plenary – 4 June 2015
EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service
Author: Gregor Erbach, Members' Research Service
EN
PE 559.475
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Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol
The European Parliament is asked to give its consent to the European Union's ratification of two
climate-related agreements: the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol and an agreement
between the EU and Iceland concerning the joint fulfilment of commitments under the Protocol.
The Doha Amendment establishes a second commitment period (2013–20) for the Kyoto Protocol,
an international agreement to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases.
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was adopted in 1997 by
the third Conference of the Parties in Kyoto (Japan). The Protocol obliges developed nations to reduce their
collective greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% (compared to 1990 levels) by the end of the first commitment
period (2008–12). However, the United States – at the time the world's number one emitter – did not ratify
the Protocol, seriously limiting its effectiveness. Canada withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol in 2011.
Doha Amendment – second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol
The 18th Conference of the Parties in Doha (Qatar) in 2012 agreed an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol. The
'Doha Amendment' establishes a second commitment period (2013–20), adds nitrogen trifluoride to the list
of greenhouse gases covered, and facilitates the unilateral strengthening of commitments by individual
parties. The Lima call for climate action, adopted by the 20th Conference of the Parties in December 2014,
encourages all 192 parties to the Kyoto Protocol to ratify the amendment. As of 14 May 2015, 31 countries
had ratified the amendment, which will enter into force once 144 parties have ratified it.
The second commitment period affects only 14% of global emissions because only EU Member States, other
European countries and Australia have commitments. The USA, Russia, Canada, Japan and developing countries
do not. Countries without commitments under the Kyoto Protocol have made voluntary pledges for climate action
up to 2020. For the post-2020 period, a new climate agreement applicable to all countries is under negotiation,
and is expected to be adopted by the 21st Conference of the Parties, in December 2015 in Paris.
For the EU and its Member States, ratification of the Doha amendment does not entail any new
commitments beyond those set out in the 2009 climate and energy package: a 20% reduction in greenhouse
gas emissions compared to 1990 levels. EU legislation concerning the technical implementation of the Doha
amendment was adopted in May 2014.
On 26 January 2015, the Council of the EU approved the Doha Amendment and requested the consent of the
European Parliament. On 6 May 2015, the Parliament's Environment Committee (rapporteur Elisabetta
Gardini, EPP, Italy) voted in favour. The plenary vote is expected to take place in June 2015.
Joint fulfilment agreement with Iceland
The EU and its Member States have chosen to fulfil jointly their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.
Joint fulfilment means that several parties agree to achieve their emission commitments together and are
considered to be in compliance with the Kyoto Protocol’s emission obligations when the joint commitment
has been achieved. Otherwise each party becomes responsible for its individual emissions level.
In 2012, the EU, its Member States and Iceland declared that they intend to jointly fulfil their commitments
in the second commitment period (2013–20). Iceland and the EU concluded negotiations of an agreement on
joint fulfilment in June 2014. The Council of the EU approved the agreement on 26 January 2015 and
requested Parliament's consent. Iceland and the European Union signed the agreement on 1 April 2015. The
Environment Committee (rapporteur Giovanni La Via, EPP, Italy) voted in favour on 6 May 2015. The plenary
vote is expected to be held in June 2015.
