Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Parties with reservations, declarations and objections

Party	Reservations / Declarations	Objections
Argentina	Yes	No
Australia	Yes	No
Cook Islands	Yes	No
Denmark	Yes	No
EU (European Union)	Yes	No
France	Yes	No
Ireland	Yes	No
Kiribati	Yes	No
Nauru	Yes	No
New Zealand	Yes	No
Niue	Yes	No
Russian Federation	Yes	No
Syria	Yes	No

Argentina

27-03-2007

The Argentine Republic objects to the extension of the territorial application to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change of 11 December 1997 with respect to the Malvinas Islands, which was notified by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Depositary of the Convention on 7 March 2007.
The Argentine Republic reaffirms its sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands, the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime spaces, which are an integral part of its national territory, and recalls that the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted resolutions 2065 (XX), 3160 (XXVIII), 31/49, 37/9, 38/12, 39/6, 40/21, 41/40, 42/19 and 43/25, which recognize the existence of a dispute over sovereignty and request the Governments of the Argentine Republic and
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to initiate negotiations with a view to finding the means to resolve peacefully and definitively the pending problems between both countries, including all aspects on the future of the Malvinas Islands, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

Australia

12-12-2007

The Government of Australia declares that it is eligible to apply the second sentence of Article 3.7 of the Protocol, using the Revised 1996 IPCC methodologies, as stipulated in Article 5.2 of the Protocol and paragraph 5 (b) of the Annex to Decision 13/CMP.1.

Cook Islands

16-09-1998

The Government of the Cook Islands declares its understanding that signature and subsequent ratification of the Kyoto Protocol shall in no way constitute a renunciation of any rights under international law concerning State responsibility for the adverse effects of climate change and that no provision in the Protocol can be interpreted as derogating from principles of general international law.
In this regard, the Government of the Cook Islands further declares that, in light of the best available scientific information and assessment on climate change and its impacts, it considers the emissions reduction obligation in article 3 of the Kyoto Protocol to be inadequate to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

Denmark

31-05-2002

With a territorial exclusion to the Faroe Islands.

EU (European Union)

29-04-1998

The European Community and its Member States will fulfil their respective commitments under article 3, paragraph 1, of the Protocol jointly in accordance with the provisions of article 4.

31-05-2002

The following States are at present members of the European Community: the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, Ireland, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The European Community declares that, in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular article 175 (1) thereof, it is competent to enter into international agreements, and to implement the obligations resulting therefrom, which contribute to the pursuit of the following objectives:
- preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment;
- protecting human health;
- prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources;
- promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or world wide environmental problems.
The European Community declares that its quantified emission reduction commitment under the Protocol will be fulfilled through action by the Community and its Member States within the respective competence of each and that it has already adopted legal instruments, binding on its Member States, covering matters governed by the Protocol.
The European Community will on a regular basis provide information on relevant Community legal instruments within the framework of the supplementary information incorporated in its national communication submitted under article 12 of the Convention for the purpose of demonstrating compliance with its commitments under the Protocol in accordance with article 7 (2) thereof and the guidelines thereunder.

France

29-04-1998

The French Republic reserves the right, in ratifying the [said Protocol], to exclude its Overseas Territories from the scope of the Protocol.

31-05-2002

The ratification by the French Republic of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change of 11 December 1997 should be interpreted in the context of the commitment assumed under article 4 of the Protocol by the European Community, from which it is indissociable. The ratification does not, therefore, apply to the Territories of the French Republic to which the Treaty establishing the European Community is not applicable.
Nonetheless, in accordance with article 4, paragraph 6, of the Protocol, the French Republic shall, in the event of failure to achieve the total combined level of emission reductions, remain individually responsible for its own level of emissions.

Ireland

29-04-1998

The European Community and the Member States, including Ireland, will fulfil their respective commitments under article 3, paragraph 1, of the Protocol in accordance with the provisions of article 4.

Kiribati

07-09-2000

The Government of the Republic of Kiribati declares its understanding that accession to the Kyoto Protocol shall in no way constitute a renunciation of any rights under international law concerning State responsibility for the adverse effects of the climate change and that no provision in the Protocol can be interpreted as derogating from principles of general international law.

Nauru

16-08-2001

[...] declares its understanding that the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol shall in no way constitute a renunciation of any rights under international law concerning State responsibility for the adverse effects of climate change; [...]
[...] further declares that, in the light of the best available scientific information and assessment of climate change and impacts, it considers the emissions of reduction obligations in Article 3 of the Kyoto Protocol to be inadequate to prevent the dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system;
[...] that no provisions in the Protocol can be interpreted as derogating from the principles of general international law.

New Zealand

19-12-2002

[...] consistent with the constitutional status of Tokelau and taking into account the commitment of the Government of New Zealand to the development of self-government for Tokelau through an act of self-determination under the Charter of the United Nations, this ratification shall not extend to Tokelau unless and until a declaration to this effect is lodged by the Government of New Zealand with the Depositary on the basis of appropriate consulation with that territory.

Niue

08-12-1998

The Government of Niue declares its understanding that ratification of the Kyoto Protocol shall in no way constitute a renunciation of any rights under international law concerning state responsibility for the adverse effects of climate change and that no provisions in the Protocol can be interpreted as derogating from the principles of general international law.
In this regard, the Government of Niue further declares that, in light of the best available scientific information and assessment of climate change and impacts, it considers the emissions reduction obligations in article 3 of the Kyoto Protocol to be inadequate to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

Russian Federation

18-11-2004

The Russian Federation proceeds from the assumption that the commitments of the Russian Federation under the Protocol will have serious consequences for its social and economic development. Therefore, the decision on ratification was taken following a thorough analysis of all factors, inter alia, the importance of the Protocol for the promotion of international cooperation, and taking into account that the Protocol can enter into force only if the Russian Federation ratifies it.
The Protocol establishes for each of the Parties that have signed it quantified reductions of greenhouse gas emissions to atmosphere for the first commitment period from 2008 to 2012.
The commitments of the Parties to the Protocol on quantified reductions of greenhouse gas emissions to atmosphere for the second and subsequent commitment periods of the Protocol,that is after 2012, will be established through negotiations of the Parties to the Protocol scheduled to start in 2005. On the outcome of these negotiations the Russion Federation will take a decision on its participation in the Protocol in the second and subsequent commitment periods.

Syria

27-01-2006

The accession of the Syrian Arab Republic to this Protocol shall in no way imply its recognition of Israel or entail its entry into any dealings with Israel in the matters governed by the provisions thereof.