Climate Agreement. Race to Carbon Neutrality From Rio Via Kyoto and Paris to Glasgow

This paper demonstrates an influence of the anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) emission trend on climate talks aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The influence of commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, undertaken by the largest emitter countries within the framework of international treaties (the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement), on the fossil energy consumption and CO₂ emissions from the combustion of various types of fuel by these countries has been analyzed. Emissions from the European Union (EU), as well as consumption of renewable and alternative energy sources by countries are beyond the subject of this paper.

The paper focuses on the obligations that the largest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions are ready to undertake in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The impact of the country’s choice of the base year on its ambitious climate action to reduce emissions has been evaluated. Challenges that the countries may face in the implementation of the Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector, developed by the International Energy Agency (IEA), have been identified.