More than a decade ago, leaders from around the world gathered at this building behind me to form what would become the Kyoto Protocol. It was the first time the international community had come together to tackle the issue of climate change.
After ten days of discussion and sometimes heated debate, the treaty was signed on Dec 11th, 1997.
"Decided."
The agreement called on industrialized nations to cut emissions by an average of about 5% by 2012. There were disagreements, but it was viewed as an important move by the international community on climate change.
To some who were there at the original summit, there was a feeling that something momentus was taking place despite the negotiations being fraught with disagreements.
"It was the first step. That was the first time that the developed countries ever made a commitment with our targets and timetables. So in a sense, it was very good."
But the treaty failed to gain traction. The Kyoto Protocol depended heavily on the commitments of the so-called 'Annex 1 Countries', who were seen at the time as the biggest polluters.
The United States was responsible for one-third of the world's emissions in 1990. But Washington refused to sign, and other key members like Australia and Russia delayed passing the treaty. So the Kyoto Protocol set idle for eight years. It needed industrialized countries to commit to a global cut of more than half the emissions of 1990 levels.
In was only in 2005 when Russia signed on that the Kyoto Protocol officially came into force. Today with only three years left on the treaty, the EU is the only major player expected to make their targets.