Sri Lanka accepts Kyoto Protocol Amendment

Bonn: Sri Lanka has submitted its instrument of acceptance of the Doha amendment to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) on 2 December.

The amendment is expected to enter into force after three quarters of the parties to the protocol submit their instruments of acceptance to the depositary, a UNFCC statement said.

The United Nations is encouraging governments to speed up their ratification of the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, the international emissions reduction treaty. Ratification is necessary to provide valuable momentum for global climate action for the years leading up to 2020.

In August 2014, the secretariat of the UN Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) wrote to governments asking for an update on their ongoing preparations for ratifying the so-called Doha Amendment.

The amendment, which extended the Kyoto Protocol in advance of the new 2015 agreement, was agreed in the Qatari capital in 2012. To date, 57 parties have accepted the extension and 144 are required to bring it into force.

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres has encouraged governments to complete their ratification process as soon as possible. This will provide an important positive political signal of the ambition of nations to step up crucial climate action.