Aspirant Academy
ENHI

RAS question

Which of the following statements about the Kyoto Protocol is/are INCORRECT? 1. It was adopted at COP3 in 1997 and entered into force in 2005. 2. The United States ratified the Kyoto Protocol and committed to binding emission cuts. 3. It covered both Annex I (developed) and Non-Annex I (developing) countries with binding targets. 4. The Doha Amendment (2012) extended Kyoto commitments into a second commitment period (2013-2020).

Correct answer: (A) 2 and 3 only.

Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect because the United States signed but did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol, and Kyoto's binding emission targets applied to developed Annex I parties, not to Non-Annex I developing countries.

  1. (A)

    2 and 3 only

  2. (B)

    1 and 4 only

  3. (C)

    3 only

  4. (D)

    1, 2 and 3

Explanation

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted at Kyoto on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005. Its central design was an annex-based burden-sharing system: it operationalised the UNFCCC by committing industrialised countries and economies in transition to limit and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions under agreed individual targets. The UNFCCC notes that the Protocol only binds developed countries, with Annex B targets for 37 industrialised countries and economies in transition and the European Union. That is why statement 3 is incorrect: developing Non-Annex I countries such as China and India did not carry binding Kyoto targets. Statement 2 is also incorrect because the United States signed the Protocol but did not ratify it.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (B) Statements 1 and 4 are correct: Kyoto was adopted in 1997 and entered into force in 2005, and the Doha Amendment created a second commitment period from 2013 to 2020.
  • (C) Statement 3 is incorrect, but statement 2 is also incorrect because the United States signed the Kyoto Protocol without ratifying it.
  • (D) Statement 1 is not incorrect, since the Protocol was adopted at Kyoto in December 1997 and entered into force in February 2005.

Concept

This tests international environmental governance under the UNFCCC, especially the distinction between Annex I and Non-Annex I responsibilities. RAS repeatedly asks such treaty questions because climate agreements combine dates, institutions and differentiated obligations.

Source

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