The term protocol is often used to describe less agreements that are less formal than, treaties, agreements or conventions, although they have the same legal characteristics.
In general, they complement, expand or clear up a multilateral treaty and their advantage lies in that they focus on a specific detail of that agreement in greater detail.
Climate Change
In the last few decades, the consequences of climate change are becoming greater. Due to this, several countries are gaining awareness and increasing the ways of minimizing the impacts of this phenomenon.
The environmental protection protocols of Kyoto and Montreal are among the most important official measures.
The first one was approved on December 10th, 1997 at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and it establishes a commitment to decrease and not increase (in the case of developed countries) greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s), among others.
Then, when this protocol began to be enforced (February 16th, 2005), the 141 countries made a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (especially the most hazardous one, CO2) at an average 5.2% between 2008 and 2012.
The Montreal protocol, which is an extension of the Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, was signed on September 16th, 1987. This agreement was designed to control and regulate the production, consumption and trading of substances considered responsible for the damage suffered by the ozone layer.
The 190 countries that participate in the protocol are split into different categories according to the per capita consumption of CFC’s and halons. They agreed to lower or eliminate their production and consumption through aerosols, air conditioners and refrigeration equipment.
This agreement also established deadlines and the levels of CFC production and consumption that damage the ozone layer.
– Developed countries have to stop producing substances that damage the ozone layer.
– Countries that have a low consumption of CFC’s and halons cannot increase them and have to stop producing them by the year 2010. For example, Chile, whose CFC and halon consumption is lower than 0.3 kg/inhabitant, has 10 years to comply with the obligations set force by this agreement and also has the right to obtain resources from this protocol’s Multilateral Fund to finance the costs associated to this technological conversion.
– These substances (CFC’s) may only be used for essential ends in which there are no substitutes in the marketplace.
Economics field
Chile has signed several economic protocols that complement the international agreements signed in this matter. The most important ones are:
– Bilateral Protocol between Chile and El Salvador: this is a complementary agreement to the FTA signed with Central American nations. It establishes tax levies for merchandise exported between both countries.
– Additional Protocols to the Complementary Agreement between Chile and Argentina: four complementary agreements were signed; one concerning the trafficking of plant products in hermetically sealed containers; another regarding mining cooperation and integration; a third related to land, maritime and air transportation and a final one pertaining to the norms that regulate gas interconnection and the supply of natural gas by Argentina.
– Additional Protocols to the Complementary Agreement between Chile and Bolivia: 14 agreements were signed; cooperation and integration when it comes to customs and forestry and agriculture are among the most important topics.
– Aditional Protocols to the Complementary Agreement between Chile and Colombia: six agreements were signed; a standout among them is a special tax relief program for products that appear on a list of exceptions.
– Aditional Protocols to the Complementary Agreement between Chile and Ecuador: four agreements were signed. Two of them stand out: one modifies the conditions for accessing the Chilean market for the export of crude oil from Ecuador and the other involves cooperation and coordination in matters related to forestry and agricultural hygiene.
– Additional Protocols to the Complementary Agreement between Chile and Peru: two complementary agreements were signed; a standout being the conformation of a tree trade zone between both countries.
– Additional Protocols to the Complementary Agreement between Chile and Venezuela: three agreements were signed. A standout among them is a special tax levy program for products contained on a list of exceptions.
