Question

Find out more about the Kyoto Protocol. Which major countries did not sign it? And why?

Answer 1

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997 under the UNFCCC. It required industrialised countries to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, according to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. The United States signed the Protocol but did not ratify it, arguing that it could harm its economy and unfairly excluded developing countries such as China and India from binding emission targets. India, China and other developing countries were exempt because their historical and per-capita emissions were comparatively low. Australia initially did not ratify the Protocol but later ratified it in 2007.