Reading the Kyoto Protocol

Instructor

Tani, Midori

Schedule

Summer Semester; Mon.; Time slot #3

Description

This course will follow the process of international negotiation after COP3, when the Kyoto Protocol was agreed, till COP7, when the agreements about the details of the Kyoto Protocol were reached. The text of the Kyoto Protocol left a number of issues to be discussed later, and intensive negotiations were necessary during this period to have the Protocol ratified.
After some introductory lectures on the global warming and the Framework Convention on Climate Change, we will read and discuss the text of the Kyoto Protocol, Article by Article, with special emphasis on Joint Implementation, Clean Development Mechanism, Emissions Trading and Compliance. We will first look for issues which need clarification in the text of the Protocol, and then look into the Marrakesh Accords which were reached at COP7. Related issues in environmental policies and energy policies will also be discussed.
The class will be in English and active participation in the discussion will be encouraged, but fluency in English is not required.
The course aims at stimulating and realizing the potentials of the students for future international communications.

Course Plan

1. Introduction and motivation. A brief history of international negotiations on climate change.
2. Framework Convention on Climate Change
3. Reading the Kyoto Protocol from the Preamble to Article 6 (Joint Implementation), touching upon issues such as the sinks and the EU bubble. Discussion on issues to be clarified about Joint Implementation.
4. Reading the Kyoto Protocol from Article 7 to Article 12(Clean Development Mechanism), touching upon issues such as the reporting of emissions and the capacity building. Discussion on issues to be clarified about the CDM
5. Reading the Kyoto Protocol from Article 13 to Article 17(Emissions Trading), touching upon issues on the organization. Discussion on issues to be clarified about Emissions Trading.
6. Reading the Kyoto Protocol from Article 18(Compliance) to Article 28, touching upon ratification and entering into force of the Protocol. Discussion on issues to be clarified about Compliance.
7. Reading and discussing the Marrakesh Accords about Compliance
8. Reading and discussing the Marrakesh Accords about Emissions Trading
9. Reading and discussing the Marrakesh Accords about the CDM
10. Reading and discussing the Marrakesh Accords about Joint Implementation
11. Environmental policies to mitigate the Climate Change
12. Energy policies to mitigate the Climate Change
13. Preparation of a possible speech by a Minister or a negotiator at COP6 by each student, with some help from the lecturer
14. Speeches by students as Ministers or negotiators, followed by discussion

 

Course materials

Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Report of the Conference of the Parties on its Seventh Session, Held at Marrakesh from 29 October to 10 November 2001(The Marrakesh Accords)
Annual Report on the Environment and the Sound Material-Cycle Society in Japan 2007
Energy Policies of IEA Countries

Evaluation

Grading will be based on class participation (40%) and a report (60%). Active class participation will be highly evaluated, but fluency in English will NOT be reflected in the grading. The report can be written either in English or Japanese.

Other resources