Update: Leaving Kyoto

The Kyoto Protocol, the result of a United Nations meeting in Kyoto, Japan, is the legally binding international agreement to stabilise greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This was to be achieved by the involved nations reducing their emissions between 2008 and 2012 to 5.2 per cent less than 1990 levels.

Countries signing up to Kyoto 2 agreed to make greater collective GHG cuts from 2013-2020 and set a timetable to adopt a “universal climate agreement” by 2015. Explaining the decision to opt out, Climate Change Minister Tim Groser cited the fact that 85 per cent of global carbon emissions would not be included in the scheme, including the emissions of USA and China, stating, “you cannot seriously argue you are dealing with climate change unless you start to tackle the 85 per cent of emissions that are outside (Kyoto).”

Unpopular move

There was strong opposition to the Government’s decision from the Opposition parties, Australia, and the WWF, with Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright saying of New Zealand’s clean, green image: “you can’t just abuse it and expect it to look after itself.”  So far, of the nations who took part in the Kyoto Protocol, only the USA, Japan, Russia and Canada have also opted out of Kyoto 2. Australia, our biggest trading partner, and 36 other nations have signed  up for the second round.

While New Zealand could still re-enter the scheme at a later date, our withdrawal from Kyoto 2 means the country keeps access to the international carbon credits market until at least 2015, while no longer being obliged by law to cut down its GHG emissions. This means that – in conjunction with the recent weakening of our domestic Emissions Trading Scheme (click here for more information) – New Zealand carbon polluters no longer have any meaningful cap on GHG emissions.