‘A Gentle Whisper in Your Ear’

COP-15 : UNFCCC : Kyoto Protocol : GHG’s – Confused ?

The World’s Media will gather in Copenhagen (Denmark) over the next few weeks … and we will all be bombarded with news, gossip, political ‘shenanigans’ and spin.  What is happening ?

The 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be meeting between the 7th and 18th December 2009.  There will be many other gatherings in Copenhagen around the same time.  Go on … have a quick look …

UNFCCC – Copenhagen, 7-18 December 2009

 COP-15 Overview Schedule (version 2009-12-01)

 Click the link above to read and/or download PDF File, 159kb.

 

UNFCCC – The Framework Convention on Climate Change was adopted, in New York (USA), on 9th May 1992.

Kyoto Protocol – This is a legally binding, internationally agreed addition to the UNFCCC.  The Protocol was adopted, in Kyoto (Japan), on 11th December 1997.

6 Greenhouse Gases (GHG’s) are specified at the beginning of Annex A in the Kyoto Protocol:

-   Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

-   Methane (CH₄)

-   Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)

-   Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC’s)

-   Perfluorocarbons (PFC’s)

-   Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF₆)

The Reference or Base Year for reliably calculating GHG Emission Reductions is 1990.

Demonstrable Progress in achieving GHG Emission Reductions was to have been made by 2005.

GHG Emission Reduction Targets are to be reached within the Commitment Period of 2008-2012.

Discussing compliance with the Kyoto Protocol’s legally binding Emission Reduction Targets in terms of Carbon Dioxide Equivalents, only, runs the risk of underestimating the significance of emissions from the industrial or fluorinated gases, i.e. HFC’s, PFC’s and SF₆.

 

Reality Check

With all of the spin … before, during and after COP-15 in Copenhagen … it is very important to be able to distinguish fact from fiction … and from plain, outright ‘spoof’ …

2008 Global Observations of Greenhouse Gases (GHG’s) in the Atmosphere

Date: 23 November 2009.  PDF File, 3.14Mb.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Greenhouse Gas Bulletin No.5

Click the link above to read and/or download WMO GHG Bulletin No.5

Enjoy !

 

 

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Tags: 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15), 2008 Global Observations of Greenhouse Gases (GHG's) in the Atmosphere, 6 Greenhouse Gases (GHG's), Built Environment, Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Dioxide Equivalents, Climate Change Adaptation, Demonstrable Progress for GHG Emission Reductions by 2005, european union, GHG Emission Reduction Targets to be reached within Commitment Period of 2008-2012, human and social rights, human environment, Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC's), International Legal Instrument, Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Perfluorocarbons (PFC's), Reality Check, Reference Year for calculating GHG Emission Reductions is 1990, Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6), Sustainability Implementation, Sustainable Human & Social Development, UNFCCC COP-15 in Copenhagen on 7-18 December 2009, UNFCCC COP-15 Overview Schedule (version 2009-12-01), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Bulletin Number 5

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