The Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement ratified by 163 countries, including Canada, that have undertaken to collectively reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 5.2% from 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. Canada 's specific objective is a 6% reduction during the same period.

This historic agreement on GHG reduction was crafted in Kyoto , in December 1997, during the Third Conference of Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change had already agreed to stabilize their GHG emissions during the Rio Earth Summit in 1992.

Canada 's record
Canada has a less than sterling record on greenhouse gas reduction. In fact, Canadian greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions increased by 26.6% between 1990 and 2004.

Canada is the third largest per-capita consumer of energy in the OECD and the world's fourth largest per-capita producer of GHG, behind Australia , Luxemburg and the United States . The 32.4 million Canadians represent 0.5% of the world's population and produce 2% of the world's GHG emissions.

In 2004, over 80% of Canada 's GHG emissions came from the energy sector, and in particular the consumption of fossil fuels (petroleum, fuel oil, natural gas and coal). The agricultural sector produced 7.25% of GHG emissions, while the production of industrial goods generated almost 7.16%. Waste and waste water were responsible for 3.8% of GHG emissions.

Quebec 's record
Between 1990 and 2004, Quebec had the smallest increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, compared to increases of 39.4% for Alberta , 46.9% for New Brunswick and 61.7% for Saskatchewan during the same period.

The slight increase in Quebec emissions is primarily due to the fact that Quebec 's energy production is based on hydroelectricity, a clean and renewable energy source.

The greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect is produced by gases found in minute quantities in the atmosphere that trap the heat from solar radiation. The result is an increase in heat, just like in a greenhouse, where the glass lets the solar radiation through and then keeps in the heat.

It is because of the "natural greenhouse effect" that the earth's surface is 33 degrees Celsius warmer than it would be without an atmosphere. In comparison, the temperature on the surface of the moon, which has no atmosphere, is -18 degrees Celsius.

Unfortunately, concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere increased considerably during the 20 th century. Caused primarily by human activity, this increase in GHG meant that more of the sun's heat was trapped and led to a 0.6 degree Celsius increase in the planet's temperature.

This global warming will continue during the 21st century. The experts estimate that the increase could be between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees Celsius.

Numerous international studies tend to show that an increase in the earth's temperature of 2 degrees Celsius above the average temperatures of the pre-industrial period would have harmful effects.

Above this critical warming threshold, the environment and Quebec 's biodiversity, as well as Quebecer's activities and their security, could be endangered.

The greenhouse gases
Six gases responsible for enhancing the greenhouse effect and thus for accelerated global warming are identified by the Kyoto Protocol.

The three best-known gases are carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O).

The other gases identified are hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC):

• hydrofluorocarbons, HFC;
• perfluorocarbons, PFC;
• sulphur hexafluoride.

HCFCs replaced chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), such as Freon, which were banned in the 1980s.

Carbon dioxide or CO 2
A colourless, odourless gas produced by burning carbon or a carbon compound.

Concentration in the atmosphere

• 370 parts per million, compared with around 280 parts per million in 1800.
• The highest level in the past 160,000 years, and it continues to increase by around 1.5 parts per million each year.

Contribution to the increase in the greenhouse effect

• 60% over the past 200 years.

Sources 

• CO 2 comes from the consumption of fossil fuels (petrol, fuel-oil, natural gas and coal), deforestation, waste incineration, and the manufacture of cement.
• Volcanoes, decomposition of plants and animals, evaporation of the oceans and respiration are natural sources of CO 2 .

Methane or CH 4
The primary constituent of natural gas, methane is colourless, odourless and non-toxic.

Concentration in the atmosphere

• It has doubled since 1800, from 0.8 to 1.72 parts per million.

Contribution to the increase in the greenhouse effect

• 20% over the past 200 years.

Sources 

• Methane is produced at sites where waste is buried or fossil fuels are used.
• The decomposition of organic and fecal matter, primarily that of ruminants, along with swamps, marshes, termites and oceans are natural sources of methane.

Nitrous oxide or N 2 O
Better known as "laughing gas," nitrous oxide is a colourless, non-flammable gas with a sweet odour.

Concentration in the atmosphere

• It has increased by 10% since 1800, reaching 310 parts per billion.

Contribution to the increase in the greenhouse effect

• 4% over the past 200 years.

Sources 

• N 2 O comes from the production of nitric acid and nylon, the use of agricultural fertilizer, catalytic converters in cars and the combustion of organic matter.
• The oceans and humid tropical forests are natural sources of N 2 O.
  

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons or HCFC
The three hydrochlorofluorocarbons identified by the Kyoto Protocol are hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFC) and sulphur hexafluoride.

These synthetic compounds contain hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine and carbon. They were first produced in the 1980s to replace the CFCs banned because they were destroying the ozone layer.

HCFCs are used primarily in air-conditioning and refrigeration as a substitute for the best-known CFC: Freon. These gases are also used as an aerosol propellant and in the manufacture of foam.

While HCFCs do not attack the ozone layer like CFCs do, they are virulent greenhouse gases, even though their concentration in the atmosphere is measured in parts per trillion (a million millions).

To learn more about the Kyoto Protocol

United Nations

http://unfccc.int/essential_background/kyoto_protocol/items/1678.php

Media

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/kyoto/index.html

Encyclopaedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol

http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/english.html

Organisations and political party

http://www.greenpeace.ca/e/campaign/climate_energy/depth/kyoto/history.php

http://www.equiterre.org/en/

http://www.blocquebecois.org/fr/publications-english.asp

Governments

http://climatechange.gc.ca/english/events/cop/cop6.asp