The result of negotiations at the third Conference of the Parties (COP-3) in Kyoto, Japan, in December of1997. The Kyoto Protocol sets binding greenhouse gas emissions targets for countries that sign and ratify the agreement. The gases covered under the Protocol include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), per fluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride.