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The Kyoto Protocol

A recent Pilot installation at Ricoh of just eight Powerboss units provided an annual reduction in CO2 emissions of 34.8 tonnes.

It would take 6900 mature trees to reduce CO2 emissions by the same amount.

Powerboss isn't just saving money, it's saving the planet.

The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement for industrialised countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions. These gases are considered at least partly responsible for global warming - the rise in global temperature which may have catastrophic consequences for life on Earth. The Kyoto Protocol was established in 1997, based on principles set out in a framework agreement signed in 1992.

Under the Kyoto Protocol agreement industrialised countries have committed to cut their combined emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by 2008 - 2012. Each country that signed the Kyoto Protocol agreed to its own specific target. EU countries are expected to cut their present emissions by 8%. Within this the UK has been set a target of 12%.

The Kyoto Protocol became a legally binding treaty on 16th February 2005. It could only come into force after two conditions had been fulfilled:

It has been ratified by at least 55 countries
It had been ratified by the industrialised nations accounting for at least 55% of emissions

The first target was met in 2002 and the second on 18th November 2004 and the Kyoto Protocol came into force 90 days later - 16 th February 2005.

The Kyoto agreement acknowledges that developing countries contribute least to climate change and do not have to commit to specific targets, but have to report their emissions levels and develop national climate change mitigation programmes.

China and India, potential major polluters with large populations and growing economies have both ratified the Kyoto Protocol.

The Kyoto Protocol sets quantified emission limitations and reduction obligations with respect to six gases. Of these, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), which derives from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, is the most important. In the UK, businesses are responsible for around one half of UK carbon emissions. Every business has a part to play and the easiest way to make a difference is to reduce their energy use - which will also bring substantial cost savings.

Powerboss has a direct involvement in reducing energy and therefore offers companies and countries the opportunity to help them meet their Kyoto Protocol targets.