Tom Levitt, MSN Environment Editor

All you need to know about the Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol was the first worldwide agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (PA Photos)

It was famously shunned by the United States - and they still remain the only major country not to have signed it - but the Kyoto Protocol was the first concerted effort by the world to tackle climate change.

Originally signed in December 1997 the historic agreement only came into force on February 16 2005. But what's it all about and why does it matter more than ever today? We take a look at the key issues.

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

It is the name given to the agreement made between most of the major countries of the world in Kyoto, Japan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by a 5 per cent.

Whose idea was it?

According to Greenpeace no-one person has ever been given the credit for coming up with the idea of getting countries to commit to reducing their GHG emissions.

The UN-organised 'Convention on Climate Change' in 1992 had made it an objective to tackle the problem of climate change, which scientists had been reporting on at the time.

Once they had made this commitment countries realised they would have to come together again to decide what they would actually do. The Kyoto Protocol was organised to set some targets.

What was agreed?

Industrialised countries, including the EU, Japan and the United States would cut their emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by 2008-2012.

Newly industrialised countries like China and India were allowed to increase their emissions.

Who didn't sign it?

The United States along with Russia and Australia were initially hesitant about making commitments to cut their emissions for fear of damaging their economy.

US President George Bush officially pulled out of the agreement in 2001.

However, Russia eventually signed the agreement in November 2004 just a few months before it was due to begin in February 2005. Australia followed suit in 2007.

President Obama has made clear he wants to set tough GHG reduction targets but has yet to sign the Kyoto agreement.

What's going to happen after 2012?

The Kyoto agreement runs until 2012 but countries need to agree long before that date what the targets will be for the next period 2012-2020.

According to most international observers the crunch date will be this December when countries convene in Copenhagen to try and agree new GHG reduction targets.

Climate change scientists and environmental organisations like Greenpeace have been calling for minimum cuts of 40% by 2020.

Will everyone sign up this time?

Now that the Obama administration has made clear its commitment to cutting emissions it would seem every country is in favour of higher targets.

However, observers are warning that it will be harder this time round.

"The science has hardened up since 1997 and the Kyoto agreement," said Greenpeace senior climate change advisor Charlie Kronick.

"Then it looked like we could get off with a 5% cut. Now we need significant reductions in GHG emissions in the next 5-10 years if we are to avoid the more serious consequences of global warming.

"Governments didn't have to do much at all to make 5% cuts but to reach 40% reductions we'll need to transform our energy systems," added Mr Kronick.

Further Reading

The official Kyoto Protocol website

Countries signed up to the Kyoto Protocol

Water crisis special report

Coastal flooding special report

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