The Kyoto Treaty was drawn up in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 to implement the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change. The Kyoto Protocol came into effect on 16th February 2005 and provides the first ever framework for international action with binding targets and timetables for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the end of 2005, 157 countries had ratified the Protocol, which became legally binding on participating developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5.2% below their 1990 levels in the period 2008 to 2012.

Importantly, the Kyoto Protocol provides real impetus for combating climate change through the stabilisation of greenhouse gases within the atmosphere. One of the most important of these gases is carbon dioxide (CO2), which is produced by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.

Under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol the UK Government is committed to reducing levels of CO2 to 12.5% below 1990 levels by 2008-2012. In addition to its Kyoto commitments, the UK Government has set itself a domestic target of a 20% reduction of CO2 emissions, below 1990 levels, by 2010.