Question

The major objective of ‘Kyoto Protocol’ was :

• A. to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• B. to reduce pollution by increasing forest cover.
• C. to provide grant-in-aid to the developing nations to control environmental pollution.
• D. to promote sustainable development.

Hint:

Key Environmental Agreements: - Kyoto Protocol (1997): Focuses on limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions . - Montreal Protocol (1987): Focuses on phasing out Ozone Depleting Substances (CFCs). - Rio Earth Summit (1992): Focuses on Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (Agenda 21) .

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept: The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997, it entered into force in February 2005.

Step 1: Identifying the core target of the Kyoto Protocol.
The primary objective of the Kyoto Protocol was to establish legally binding commitment targets for industrialized nations to significantly curb and reduce their anthropogenic emissions of principal greenhouse gases (GHGs) , including:
• Carbon dioxide (CO\(_2\))
• Methane (CH\(_4\))
• Nitrous oxide (N\(_2\text{O}\))
• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and Sulfur hexafluoride (SF\(_6\))

Step 2: Understanding the principle of CBDR in Kyoto Protocol.
The protocol operated on the principle of "Common But Differentiated Responsibilities" (CBDR) , recognizing that developed industrialized nations were historically responsible for the majority of cumulative atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, binding emission targets were assigned primarily to developed countries (Annex-I nations), while developing countries like India and China were initially exempted from mandatory reduction targets.