India ratified the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol

•  India has ratified the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol that commits countries to contain the emission of greenhouse gases, reaffirming its stand on climate action.
• With this, India became the 80th country to accept the amendment relating to the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, the international emissions reduction treaty.

About Kyoto protocol and its second commitment

• The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was adopted in 1997 by the third Conference of the Parties in Kyoto (Japan).
• The Protocol obliges developed nations to reduce their collective greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% (compared to 1990 levels) by the end of the first commitment period (2008–12). However, the United States – at the time the world's number one emitter – did not ratify the Protocol, seriously limiting its effectiveness.
• Canada withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol in 2011.The 18th Conference of the Parties in Doha (Qatar) in 2012 agreed an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol.
• The 'Doha Amendment' establishes a second commitment period (2013–20), adds nitrogen trifluoride to the list of greenhouse gases covered, and facilitates the unilateral strengthening of commitments by individual parties.
• The Lima call for climate action, adopted by the 20th Conference of the Parties in December 2014, encourages all 192 parties to the Kyoto Protocol to ratify the amendment.
• As of 14 May 2015, 31 countries had ratified the amendment, which will enter into force once 144 parties have ratified it.
• India has ratified the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol that commits countries to contain the emission of greenhouse gases, reaffirming its stand on climate action.

By: Vishal