Global  Action

Kyoto Protocol
Industrialised countries of the 1990's committed to reducing green house gases (GHG's) by 5.2% annually from 1990 levels  between 2008 and 2012.
Came in to force in 1997 and effective as of 2005.  [1]
Currently 192 countries part of the protocol.
​​

The United Nations National Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

The UNFCCC was formed on the  21st of March, 1994. The convention was set up for the, 

"...Stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system..."[2]

197 countries ratified with almost world wide membership. 

Paris Agreement, 21st conference of the parties (COP21) 

December 2015 - First universal, legally binding climate change deal. 
Key Outcomes: [3]

• Aims to keep global average temperature below 2°C above pre-industrialisation levels, ideally  below 1.5 °C. 
• Agreement that global emissions must peak as soon as possible.
• Undertake rapid reductions thereafter.
• Agreement to meet every 5 years to set ever increasing ambitious targets. 
• Poor countries to be assisted by richer countries to help combat climate change through introduction of renewables. [4]

European  action

2020 Targets
The European Union has adopted binding legislation to ensure the EU meets its climate and energy targets for 2020. The 3 main targets are: 

1. 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels. 
2. 20% of the EU's energy to come from renewable sources. 
3. 20% improvement in energy efficiency. [5]

2050 Target
The EU has set target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% relative to 1990 levels by the year 2050. The approach to achieving this has been set out in a document called 'The Energy Road Map 2015'. [6]

Scottish  action

2020 and 2050 Targets
Target set by the Scottish Government in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42% relative to 1990 levels by 2020 and  reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% relative to 1990 levels by 2050. [7]

2032 Target
Following advice from the Committee on Climate Change the Scottish Government in The Climate Change (Annual target) (Scotland) order 2016 set a target of 66% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2032 relative to 1990 levels. [8] This order set the annual emissions targets for 2028 to 2032. 

[1] Almer , C., & Winkler, R. (2017). Analyzing the effectiveness of international environmental policy: the case of the Kyoto protocol . Journal of environmental economics and management, pp. 125-151.
[2] (UNFCCC, 2016) http://unfccc.int/essential_background/convention/items/6036.php ​
[3] https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/negotiations/paris_en​
[4] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35073297
[5] Climate Action, 2020 Climate & Energy Package. (2017, April 10th ). Retrieved from European Climate Commission : https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/strategies/2020_en
[6] Energy, 2050 Energy Strategy. (2017, April 11th). Retrieved from European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-strategy-and-energy-union/2050-energy-strategy
[7] http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0051/00513102.pdf​
[8] ​http://www.legislation.gov.uk/sdsi/2016/9780111032633?view=plain
Cover picture sourced from:  ​http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/young-scots-set-to-take-over-parliament