Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada / Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada -- spacer --
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada / Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada
français -- spacer -- Contact Us -- spacer -- Help -- spacer -- Search -- spacer -- Canada Site
-- spacer --
AAFC Online -- spacer -- Links -- spacer -- Newsroom -- spacer -- What's New -- spacer -- Site Index
-- spacer --
National Science Programs Home Page blank button Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
-- blue spacer --
National Science Programs
-- orange spacer --
Scientists
-- orange spacer --
Industry
-- orange spacer --
Media
-- orange spacer --
Youth
-- orange spacer --
Online Publications
-- orange spacer --
Centres
-- orange spacer --
-- blue spacer --

COMMITMENTS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS

Concern about the enhanced greenhouse effect has prompted international action to reduce emissions. A first agreement, intended to stabilize emissions at 1990 levels by 2000, was signed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. A more binding agreement was reached at Kyoto, Japan in 1997. This protocol was aimed at reducing emissions from participating countries to at least 5% below 1990 levels, by 2008 to 2012. This treaty will come into effect, however, only when ratified by at least 55 countries representing 55% of total greenhouse gas emissions from developed countries.

In the Kyoto protocol, Canada agreed to reduce its emissions to 94% of 1990 levels by 2008 to 2012. But Canada's emissions are already well above 1990 levels. Based on increases from 1990 to 1997 and assuming a "business as usual" scenario thereafter, one estimate suggests that Canada will need to reduce its emissions by about 21%. Consequently, a widespread effort involving all sectors of our economy will be required to meet Canada's commitments.

The Kyoto protocol
At Kyoto, developed countries agreed to reduce their combined emissions of greenhouse gases by 5.2% from 1990 levels. This target will be realized through national reductions of 8% by Switzerland, many Central and East European states, and the European Union; reductions of 7% by the United States; and reductions of 6% by Canada, Hungary, Japan, and Poland. Russia, New Zealand, and Ukraine are to stabilize their emissions, while Norway may increase emissions by 1%, Australia by up to 8%, and Iceland by 10%.

The protocol aims to lower overall emissions from a group of six greenhouse gases by 2008­2012, calculated as an average over these 5 years. Cuts in the three most important gases-CO2, CH4, and N2O­will be measured against a base year of 1990. Cuts in the three long-lived industrial gases-hydrofluorocarbon, perfluorocarbon, and sulfur hexafluoride-will be measured against either a 1990 or a 1995 base year, depending on what year is most beneficial.

In 1992, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada initiated a research program to estimate emissions of greenhouse gases from Canadian agriculture and to devise ways of reducing these emissions. Findings from this effort, some of which are summarized in this report, may help Canada meets its reduction target.

Previous / Table of Contents / Next

Go to Top of Page
Date Modified: 2003-08-27
Important Notices