On the 11th of December, 1997, countries from around the world gathered in Kyoto, Japan and the Protocol was negotiated. It was opened for signatures from 16 March 1998, and would come into force after 55% of the 1990 carbon dioxide emission levels were covered by signatories.

The protocol came into force,when Russia 'ratified' it in November 2004, effective as of February 2005.

Unfortunately, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, the United States, responsible for the quarter of the world's carbon emissions, didn't ratify the Protocol. This made United States and Australia the only countries that have signed but not ratified the protocol. Some people see this as one of its biggest set-backs.