UN puts teeth into Kyoto

The United Nations Environment Programme has made a move to ensure the Kyoto Protocol has teeth.

The recently launched enforcement wing of the Kyoto Protocol’s Compliance Committee has the power to determine consequences for countries that do not meet commitments. The facilitative branch of the committee will provide advice and assistance to different states to help them comply.

Richard Kinley, acting head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat in Bonn, said “A strong and effective compliance mechanism is key to the success of the implementation of the treaty.”