The Day of the Atmosphere
At Kyoto in December 1997, Al Gore told the American delegation to show flexibility, provided the treaty contained market mechanisms. The resulting carbon market began as three sentences saying trading could happen and the rules would follow. The United States never ratified, Russia held the key to the treaty's life, and the 1990 baseline left billions of tonnes of surplus "hot air." Parties still complied, at about a tenth of forecast cost.
Who's who
- Al Gore+2 more episodesVice President who told the U.S. delegation to show flexibility given markets
- Raúl Estrada-OyuelaArgentine chairman who saved emissions trading; named the Day of the Atmosphere
- Stuart E. EizenstatUnder Secretary of State who led the U.S. delegation
- Bill Clinton+5 more episodesPresident who signed Kyoto in 1998 but never sent it onward
- George W. Bush+2 more episodesPresident who repudiated Kyoto in March 2001
- Robert ByrdSenator who co-sponsored the 95-0 Byrd-Hagel Resolution
- Chuck HagelSenator who co-sponsored the Byrd-Hagel Resolution
- Vladimir Putin+1 more episodeRussian leader who sent ratification to the Duma in 2004
Where it happens
- Kyoto, Japan+2 more episodesHost of the December 1997 climate conference
- Russia+3 more episodesHeld the key to Kyoto entering into force
- Ukraine+1 more episodeHolder, with Russia, of most surplus assigned amount
- Marrakesh, MoroccoSite of the 2001 conference that wrote the rulebook
Timeline
- July 25, 1997The Senate passes the Byrd-Hagel Resolution 95-0.
- December 11, 1997Kyoto Protocol is adopted after an all-night session.
- March 13, 2001Bush states the U.S. will not implement Kyoto.
- October 22, 2004Russia's Duma ratifies the Protocol.
- February 16, 2005The Protocol enters into force.
- December 31, 2020The Doha Amendment enters into force on the last day of its period.
Still debated
Whether Kyoto worked is argued. Compliance at a tenth of forecast cost is set against reliance on a 13.4 billion tonne surplus, sink credits, and the exit of two Parties. The split between hot air and legitimate headroom, and the formal bargain between Russia's ratification and WTO support, are also disputed.
Connected episodes in other series
