5 October 2015: Since 18 August 2015, the UNFCCC Secretariat has reported that Algeria, Bhutan, Hungary, Madagascar, Panama, Samoa, Switzerland and Thailand have accepted the Doha Amendment, which formalizes commitments for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (2013-2020). These announcements bring the total number of Parties that have deposited their instruments of acceptance to 49.

The Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol was adopted by decision 1/CMP.8 at the eighth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 8), which took place in Doha, Qatar, from 26 November to 8 December 2012. Switzerland submitted its instrument of acceptance to the Depository on 28 August; Thailand, on 1 September; Samoa, on 18 September; Algeria, on 28 September; Bhutan and Panama, on 29 September; and Hungary and Madagascar, on 1 October 2015.

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres is encouraging governments to complete their ratification process as soon as possible in order to provide an “important positive political signal” of countries’ ambition to step up climate action. In August 2014, the UNFCCC Secretariat wrote to governments asking for an update on preparations for ratification.

The amendment will enter into force when 144 or three-quarters of Parties to the Protocol have submitted instruments of acceptance. [UNFCCC Press Release on Hungary and Madagascar] [UNFCCC Press Release on Switzerland] [UNFCCC Press Release on Thailand] [UNFCCC Press Release on Samoa] [UNFCCC Press Release on Algeria][UNFCCC Press Release on Bhutan and Panama] [Status of the Doha Amendment]