Revised Kyoto Convention
Table of Contents
Overview
The Protocol of Amendment to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention) was adopted by the World Customs Organization in 1999 and aimed at presenting a blueprint for modern, efficient, and effective customs procedures. The movement, release, and clearance of goods requires customs procedures to be effective and efficient as it encourages investment and positively impacts a country’s economic competitiveness. Additionally, for the purposes of effective implementation, the convention has established a Management Committee.
The Revised Kyoto Convention provides minimum standards for predictability, transparency, availability of legal process, use of information technology, and application of modern techniques.
Key Provisions
The Revised Kyoto Convention comprises 28 Articles which provide for the following:
- Parties included in Annex 1 of the Convention need to further elaborate or implement measures and policies according to their national circumstances. The policies and measures include measures to limit and/or reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that are not controlled by the Montreal Protocol and to enhance efficient energy.
- The Parties also need to cooperate with other Parties to increase the effectiveness of the policies and measures they adopt.
- The Parties are to implement measures and policies which are aimed to have minimal adverse effects.
- At the Conference of the Parties, ways and means of elaborating on the coordination of the policies and measures taken by them can be discussed.
- The Parties are to ensure that their aggregate anthropogenic carbon dioxide equivalent emission of the greenhouse gases mentioned within the Convention does not exceed the amount that is assigned to them.
- The greenhouse gas emissions caused by reforestation, deforestation and afforestation must be considered by the Parties.
- Data must be provided to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) by the Parties so that changes related to carbon stocks over the years can be analysed.
- Conference of Parties is to be accorded flexibility in regard to the implementation of their undertakings.
- Each Party will be responsible for their own level of emissions which have been set out in the agreement if they fail to reach the reduced emissions level.
- Parties that agree to fulfill their commitments must notify the secretariat in regard to the terms of the agreement and when they ratify, accept or approve the Protocol.
- All the Parties within Annex 1 can transfer or acquire from any other Party emission reduction units resulting from projects which aim to increase anthropogenic removals or reduce anthropogenic emissions, if the project has been approved by the Parties, and the project reduces emission from sources, and if there are no emission reduction units which are not compliant with its obligations.
- Each party shall add in its annual inventory of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals of greenhouse gases that are not controlled by the Montreal Protocol.
- Each party is also to add within its national communication, information that is vital to prove compliance with their commitments.
- Expert review teams will review all the information provided by each Party included in Annex 1, which will be a thorough and comprehensive technical assessment.
- The Conference of the Parties, which serves as a meeting of those Parties who are part of this protocol will periodically review this Protocol, with consideration given to the best available information regarding science, climate change and its impacts, and social, technical, and economic information.
- All parties must formulate cost-effective national, as well as where possible, regional programs, to improve the quality of local emission factors and provide data showing what the socio-economic conditions of each Party are.
- Parties must also formulate, implement, update and publish national and where appropriate, regional programs relating to climate change.
- There must also be cooperation in regard to promoting effective modalities, technical and scientific research, at the national and international levels.
- New financial resources to cover costs and to help developing Parties meet their commitments must be provided too.
- Parties who are not part of Annex 1 are to be helped by the clean development mechanism, to help achieve the objective of the Convention and its compliance.
- Those Parties who are not part of the Protocol but are Parties to the Convention can act as observers during the meetings of the Conference of the Parties.
- The Conference of the Parties shall consider the application of this Protocol, and will define all the modalities, rules, guidelines, and principles which are relevant.
- At its first session, the Conference of the Parties will approve the effective and appropriate measures and mechanisms in order to address cases of non-compliance with the Protocol’s provisions.
- Any Party can propose for there to be amendments to this Protocol. If the amendment is approved, it will be enforced on the ninetieth day after the amendment was proposed.
- Any Party can propose for there to be amendments in regard to the annexes to this Protocol.
- This protocol is open for signature and ratification and approval of regional economic integration organizations and States which are Parties to the Convention.
Ratification Status
Participants | Date of Ratification |
---|---|
Pakistan | Ratified (10 January 2005) |
Afghanistan | Not Ratified |
Kazakhstan | Ratified (26th February 2009) |
Tajikistan | Ratified (29th December 2008) |
Kyrgyzstan | Ratified (13th May 2003) |
China | Ratified (2002) |
India | Ratified (26th August 2002) |
Turkey | Ratified (2009) |
Iran | Ratified (20th August 2005) |