In 1997 the Kyoto Treaty was agreed with the objective of reducing greenhouse gases in order to tackle climate change. The Treaty was established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The Kyoto protocol expires in 2012, so it is now necessary to decide what measures the international community must take to reduce its constantly growing emissions. It is crucial that the world leaders take major decision if we are to cope with global warming.

The latest evidence collated by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that the global average temperature will rise by between 1.5C and 4.5C if human activities double the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.

 

Also Sir Nicolas Stern in his October 2006 report makes a strong economic case for urgent action to reduce greenhouse gases. The Stern Review, published in 2006, focused on the economics of climate change. The Review recommended that policy to reduce emissions should be based on 3 elements - carbon pricing, technology removal of the barriers and behavioural change.

COP15 (the Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC), is an international conference which will take place in December 2009 in Copengahen. This conference will seek the agreement of all countries on what the Kyoto Protocol will be replaced with.

In due course, the EU has decided to agree its own package of measures prior to the COP 15. In January 2008, the Commission announced its legislative climate and energy package to deliver on the commitments agreed at the 2007 Spring European Council for an EU greenhouse gas reduction of 30% by 2020 on 1990 levels in the context of an international climate agreement, or a unilateral 20% reduction.