Durban meeting marks shift in climate change thinking

The Kyoto Protocol aimed to fulfil the objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by setting binding targets for industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by an average of 5% against 1990 levels over five years (2008-2012). The Kyoto Protocol came into force in 2005 and reinforced the UNFCCC principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, since developing countries had no emission targets.

The parties to the UNFCCC have held an annual conference of the parties (COP) since 1995 to assess the progress in dealing with climate change. The 17th COP was held in Durban, South Africa, from 28 November to 11 December.

The Durban package

The 17th COP saw a significant shift in climate negotiations. Its primary focus was to decide the fate of the Kyoto Protocol after 31 December 2012. The COP agreed to a second commitment period from 1 January 2013 and to adopt an agreement with legal force no later than 2015.

Neeraj Menon is a counsel at the Mumbai office of Trilegal and Amit Maheshwari is an associate at the Delhi office. Trilegal is a full-service law firm with offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.