The Kyoto Protocol adopted at COP 3

The Kyoto protocol was adopted at the third COP after two years of intense negotiations. The objective of the Protocol is to reduce the industrialized countries' overall emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by at least 5 per cent below the 1990 levels in the commitment period of 2008 to 2012.

It was open for signature from 16 March 1998 to 15 March 1999 at United Nations Headquarters, New York. By that date the Protocol had received 84 signatures.

Read about the Kyoto Protocol

_{Credit: UN Photo/Frank Leather}

_{The Third Session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC - COP3) met in Kyoto, Japan.
More than 4000 media representatives were accredited to the Conference and had access to the press centre located in the exhibit hall adjacent to the Conference site.}