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Kyoto Protocol
•1997 International (UN COP 3) agreement to reduce GHG emissions
•Targets for developed countries
•No targets for less developed countries
•Several subsequent meetings to establish details
•UN COP 7 (Marrakech) in the fall of 2001 establishes a near consensus on the way to proceed (US abstains?)
•Countries talking ratification in 2002
•A first step to GHG Control
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In view of the global nature of the problem the United Nations has taken on the task of trying to coordinate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  In the process of negotiations reduction targets have been set for the so-called developed nations. Developing nations have been (temporarily) excused from numerical commitments as they so far have not been the major contributor of emissions. A  UN meeting last fall arrived at an international agreement  to limit greenhouse gas emissions to about 5 or 6% below 1990 levels by about 2010. Many countries, including Canada, are considering signing on the bottom line by ratifying the agreement in 2002.
Should this happen it will be an important first step toward controlling greenhouse gas emissions.