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Europe proposes ratification of 2nd phase of Kyoto Protocol

The European Commission has proposed the legislation necessary for the European Union to formally ratify the second commitment period (2013-2020) of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

The Commission has made two legislative proposals: for a Council Decision on ratification of the Doha amendment to the Kyoto Protocol establishing the second commitment period, and for a European Parliament and Council Regulation on technical issues related to implementation of the second period. The ratification Decision enables the EU, as a Party to the Kyoto Protocol, to ratify the Doha amendment. It also sets out the terms according to which the EU, its Member States and Iceland will fulfil the 20% emissions reduction commitment jointly. The ratification Decision does not change any national targets set in the climate and energy package, nor the emissions 'cap' of the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) which will reach 21% below 2005 levels in 2020.

Both proposals now go to the European Parliament and the Council. In parallel with ratification by the European Union, Member States and Iceland will need to finalise their national ratification processes. The Commission would like the EU and national ratifications to be completed by February 2015. The EU, the Member States and Iceland will then deposit their respective instruments of acceptance at the UN simultaneously, enabling the Doha amendment's entry into force at the same time for all.