Part of delegates at the COP30. PHOTO/ UN Climate Change.
By PATRICK MAYOYO
2025 has proven to be a landmark year for climate action, with pivotal developments in both the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement compliance mechanisms.
In September, the Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee (PAICC) convened for its 15th meeting, building on progress made during its July session.
Notably, 33 additional countries submitted their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), bringing the total number of submissions to 65. This marks a significant step forward in ensuring countries meet their climate goals under the Paris Agreement.
The PAICC also noted a rise in transparency with 92 Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) submitted, reflecting nations’ efforts to track and report their emissions reductions. However, the committee also acknowledged that some Parties faced challenges in preparing these reports.
A total of 63 countries reported difficulties in submitting their NDCs, while seven had similar issues with their BTRs. For the first time, the PAICC held direct consultations with these countries, helping them navigate obstacles and offering support in meeting their obligations.
A key development this year was the facilitative approach taken by the PAICC, which led to the creation of a practical guide for Parties seeking assistance in meeting their NDC and BTR commitments. The committee plans to continue offering guidance and support, with a follow-up meeting scheduled for March 2026.
Meanwhile, the Kyoto Protocol’s Compliance Committee (KPCC) marked its 20th anniversary in 2025, concluding its core activities with the final resolution of implementation issues under the protocol.
With no third commitment period in place following the expiration of the second commitment period, the committee’s plenary meeting in September concluded that no further meetings are required unless deemed necessary.
In a move to share lessons learned, the PAICC also initiated discussions with the KPCC’s facilitative branch to exchange insights on transparency reporting, with a view to refining future compliance assessments under the Paris Agreement.
This year’s developments signal significant progress towards global climate goals, even as the work of both the Paris Agreement and Kyoto Protocol compliance bodies continues to evolve.
The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997 and entered into force in 2005, was an international treaty aimed at addressing climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
It established legally binding commitments for developed countries (often referred to as Annex I countries) to reduce their emissions of six key GHGs; carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆).
However, while the Kyoto Protocol was a landmark agreement, it faced several challenges and was ultimately succeeded by the Paris Agreement in 2015, which sought to build on the lessons of Kyoto and take a more inclusive and flexible approach to tackling climate change, with every country, developed and developing alike, participating in emission reduction efforts.
The Paris Agreement, adopted in December 2015 at the h21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is a legally binding international treaty aimed at addressing the global issue of climate change.
Unlike its predecessor, the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement was designed to be more inclusive, flexible, and universally applicable, involving both developed and developing countries in efforts to combat climate change.
Among the key goals of the Paris Agreement is to limit llobal warming to well below 2°C and strive for 1.5°C. The 1.5°C target is considered critical to preventing the most severe impacts of climate change, such as: more frequent and severe heatwaves, increased risk of extreme weather events like floods and droughts and rising sea levels threatening coastal communities.
