The Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement are both international treaties aimed at addressing climate change, but they have significant differences in terms of their goals, structure, and mechanisms.

The Kyoto Protocol focused on legally binding emission reductions for developed countries, while the Paris Agreement takes a more inclusive and flexible approach, involving all countries in the global effort to combat climate change with voluntary targets that are expected to increase in ambition over time.

Timeline
and participation
Emission
reduction targets
Flexibility
and differentiation
Long-Term
Goal
Mechanisms
Kyoto
Protocol

Adopted in 1997 and entered into force in 2005, it initially required 37 industrialized countries (Annex I countries) to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Many developing countries were not required to reduce emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.

Set legally binding emission reduction targets for developed countries, based on their 1990 emission levels. Targets varied among countries and were designed for commitment periods (2008-2012 and 2013-2020).

Adopted a rigid distinction between developed and developing countries, with mandatory emission reduction targets only for developed nations.

Focused on short-term emission reduction targets, without establishing a long-term goal for limiting global temperature rise.

Established market-based mechanisms like Emissions Trading, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Joint Implementation (JI) to help countries achieve their emission reduction targets more cost-effectively.

Paris
Agreement

Adopted in 2015 and entered into force in 2016, it involves virtually all countries in the world, including both developed and developing nations, in the effort to combat climate change.

Does not impose legally binding emission reduction targets but instead asks countries to set their own voluntary targets, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Each country is required to submit updated NDCs every five years, with the expectation of increased ambition over time.

Acknowledges the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities" but allows for greater flexibility in how countries approach their commitments, taking into account their national circumstances and capacities.

Set a long-term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with an ambition to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Introduced new mechanisms, such as the Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM), which aims to enhance global climate action by promoting sustainable development and environmental integrity. It also emphasizes the importance of transparency, adaptation, loss and damage, and financial and technological support for developing countries.