3 Energy Transition in Africa: Context, Barriers and Strategies
75
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC’s First Assessment Report
(FAR) established that human activities play a part in warming the
planet. It is this assessment that served as the basis for the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The
UNFCCC is an international environment treaty adopted in 1992.
The objective of the treaty is enunciated as to ‘stabilise greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous
anthropogenic interference with the climate system’.
1 The treaty laid
down non-binding limits on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for countries. It also set out how separate agreements/protocols outlining precise
action to be undertaken by countries, could be brokered in future in
order to meet its objective.
2 State parties to the treaty meet annually
at the Conference of the Parties (COP) to appraise progress in tackling
climate change.
3
The UNFCCC was the springboard of the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto
Protocol extended the UNFCCC by providing for binding obligations
for the reduction of GHG emissions. Under the Kyoto Protocol, GHG
emissions were to be controlled in a manner that reflects the national
differences in the GHG emissions as well as the wealth and capacity
of nations to make the reductions.
4 In addition, state parties could use
flexibility mechanisms—International Emissions Trading (IET),
5 Clean
Development Mechanism
6 and Joint Implementation
7 —to meet their
targets.
The first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol for reductions
was 2008–2012. In 2012, the Doha Amendment amended the commitment period to 2013–2020. The Doha Amendment builds to the Paris
Agreement. The Paris Agreement is a ‘global action plan to put the world
on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming
to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C’. It goes live
in 2020 to pick up from the second commitment period. Additionally,
1 Article 2 UNFCCC.
2 Article 17 UNFCCC.
3 Article 7 UNFCCC.
4 Article 10 Kyoto Protocol.
5 Article 17 Kyoto Protocol.
6 Article 12 Kyoto Protocol.
7 Article 6 Kyoto Protocol.
75
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC’s First Assessment Report
(FAR) established that human activities play a part in warming the
planet. It is this assessment that served as the basis for the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The
UNFCCC is an international environment treaty adopted in 1992.
The objective of the treaty is enunciated as to ‘stabilise greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous
anthropogenic interference with the climate system’.
1 The treaty laid
down non-binding limits on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for countries. It also set out how separate agreements/protocols outlining precise
action to be undertaken by countries, could be brokered in future in
order to meet its objective.
2 State parties to the treaty meet annually
at the Conference of the Parties (COP) to appraise progress in tackling
climate change.
3
The UNFCCC was the springboard of the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto
Protocol extended the UNFCCC by providing for binding obligations
for the reduction of GHG emissions. Under the Kyoto Protocol, GHG
emissions were to be controlled in a manner that reflects the national
differences in the GHG emissions as well as the wealth and capacity
of nations to make the reductions.
4 In addition, state parties could use
flexibility mechanisms—International Emissions Trading (IET),
5 Clean
Development Mechanism
6 and Joint Implementation
7 —to meet their
targets.
The first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol for reductions
was 2008–2012. In 2012, the Doha Amendment amended the commitment period to 2013–2020. The Doha Amendment builds to the Paris
Agreement. The Paris Agreement is a ‘global action plan to put the world
on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming
to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C’. It goes live
in 2020 to pick up from the second commitment period. Additionally,
1 Article 2 UNFCCC.
2 Article 17 UNFCCC.
3 Article 7 UNFCCC.
4 Article 10 Kyoto Protocol.
5 Article 17 Kyoto Protocol.
6 Article 12 Kyoto Protocol.
7 Article 6 Kyoto Protocol.