The Kyoto Protocol was negotiated to implement specific provisions of the framework convention. The framework convention has universal participation; the Kyoto Protocol has almost universal participation. The major weakness, I guess, of the Kyoto Protocol—and I wouldn't necessarily characterize it as a flaw—and why we're engaged in these negotiations now is that it currently provides emission reduction obligations on countries representing less than 30% of global emissions. Clearly we need broader action if we're going to achieve a peak in global emissions and then the deep reductions that will be required going forward. It is for that reason we have these broader negotiations under way to build a more environmentally effective agreement that mobilizes action broadly, brings in the United States, and also includes significant actions from major developing countries.
On October 22nd, 2009. See this statement in context.