General

What is climate change?

It is the change on the Earth's climate attributed directly or indirectly to human activity. Over the past 200 years there has been an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases as a consequence of human activity (burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and changes of land use) that alter the overall composition of air, and natural climate variability, observed in comparable periods. The increase in temperature of the earth has been about 0.6 °C over the past twentieth century.

What is the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change?

The United Nations Framework Convention on climate change (UNFCCC) was established in 1992 during the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, and has been signed by 189 countries committed to address the problem of climate change by controlling the excessive emissions of greenhouse emissions. The UNFCCC divides countries into two groups: Annex I parties, which are the industrialized countries that historically have contributed largely to climate change, and non Annex I parties, which are mainly developing countries.

What is the Conference of the Parties?

It is the prime authority of the Framework Convention on climate change where the most important decisions about climate change are taken. It is an association of all member countries of the convention. The COP meets annually, unless the parties decide to conduct additional meetings.

What is the Intergovernmental Panel on climate change?

It is a body form by more than 2000 scientists and experts who evaluated in an objective, open and transparent matter, relevant information on climate change. It also provides scientific, technical, and socio-economic advice to the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework on climate change convention (UNFCCC).

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

In 1997 the Kyoto Protocol was approved and entered into force in February 2005, when it was ratified by 55 countries, responsible for over 55% of greenhouse gases emissions globally. According to the protocol, which currently brings together 175 governments, countries listed in Annex 1 (industrialized countries and countries in transition to market economies) are committed to achieve individual and legally binding targets to limit or reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases effect. Countries that ratify the protocol joined with a total of cutting of greenhouse gases emissions by at least 5.2% compared to the levels of 1990 baseline in the commitment period of 2008-2012.

These countries in turn, allocate quotas to certain sectors, reaching the level of facilities, through National Allocation Plans (NAP), and there are sanctions for countries that fail to meet their quotas (40 euro plus the entitlement of emissions during the 2005-2007 period and 100 euro plus the purchase of emissions allowance for the 2008-2012 period).

What are the assigned amounts that correspond to each country? What corresponds to the EU?

The emission targets set for each country depend on their energy development and their level of past and present contamination. Saying this, the United States is required to a reduction of 7%, Canada and Japan of 6%. Australia, however, was allowed an increase of 8%.
The EU has an 8% reduction target (to the 15 member countries before May 1st , 2004) and according to the internal distribution of shares among the partner countries, Spain could raise its own emissions by 15% over the baseline of 1990. There aren't any emission targets on countries with no energy development.

What are the commitments made by Spain?

The European Union, after having a strong leadership in the negotiations, assumed the obligation to reduce such emissions by 8% compared to the year baseline (1990). The commitments made by each Member State vary depending on a number of benchmarks. In the case of Spain, it meant the obligation not to exceed its emissions level by more than 15%.

Solutions