There were parties Canada withdrew from the protocol, effective December [ 5 ] to the Protocol in The Kyoto Protocol implemented the objective of the UNFCCC to reduce the onset of global warming by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to "a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system" Article 2.
The Protocol was based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities: it acknowledged that individual countries have different capabilities in combating climate change, owing to economic development , and therefore placed the obligation to reduce current emissions on developed countries on the basis that they are historically responsible for the current levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
The Protocol's first commitment period started in and ended in All 36 countries that fully participated in the first commitment period complied with the Protocol.
However, nine countries had to resort to the flexibility mechanisms by funding emission reductions in other countries because their national emissions were slightly greater than their targets. The β financial crisis reduced emissions. The greatest emission reductions were seen in the former Eastern Bloc countries because the dissolution of the Soviet Union reduced their emissions in the early s.
A second commitment period was agreed to in to extend the agreement to , known as the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, in which 37 countries had binding targets: Australia , the European Union and its then 28 member states , now 27 , Belarus , Iceland , Kazakhstan , Liechtenstein , Norway , Switzerland , and Ukraine. Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine stated that they may withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol or not put into legal force the Amendment with second round targets.
