What is the purpose of the Kyoto Protocol?

The Kyoto Protocol was established primarily to address the issue of climate change by committing its parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Its main goal is to create a framework for industrialized nations to work together in decreasing their overall carbon footprints, which is essential to mitigating the impacts of climate change. The protocol set legally binding targets for emissions reductions and provided mechanisms for countries to meet these targets through various means, including emissions trading and joint implementation projects.

In contrast, promoting the use of fossil fuels goes against the very aims of the Kyoto Protocol, as fossil fuel consumption is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The establishment of a universal currency for carbon emissions is not a goal of the Protocol, but rather pertains to trading systems that can evolve from the commitments made in the treaty. Enhancing global trade agreements does not align with the primary focus of the Kyoto Protocol, which is solely centered on environmental sustainability and emissions reduction. These clarifications highlight why the focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the cornerstone of the Kyoto Protocol’s purpose.