Guyana has accepted the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, joining 19 other countries who have so far ratified the amendment to the United Nations plan for combating global warming by limiting the greenhouse gas output of some rich countries.
The ratification paves the way for Guyana to access funds under the treaty. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that government has taken a decision to accept the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol which was adopted by parties to the Protocol on December 8, 2012. According to the ministry, “the Doha Amendment is considered a valuable part of the momentum for global climate action leading up to 2020 for reduced emission of greenhouse gases.” The treaty now only covers about 15 per cent of global emissions as several developed countries have opted out.
The Kyoto Protocol obliges about 35 industrialised nations to cut their greenhouse gas emissions until the end of 2012 but this was extended to 2020 by the Doha Amendment. It is the only legally-binding plan for combating global warming. However, the 1997 treaty has been sapped by the withdrawal of Russia, Japan and Canada and its remaining backers,
