It's still possible to have a second commitment period.

But Kyoto's effective, early phase, called "first commitment period", ends next year.

At the time of the Protocol's first commitment period, in 1997, it provided a 15-year window for action.

The first commitment period under the Kyoto protocol expires in 2012.

At this time, two years and eleven months remained from the four-year commitment period.

The conditions attached to a possible second commitment period are very important for environmental integrity and the ambition of the future climate regime.

"Europe's leaders can secure the future of the Kyoto later this year, by agreeing to a second commitment period," she said.

It looked forward to a second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol.

In the second commitment period, the base year shall be 1990.

Whether countries will sign up for a second "commitment period" to cuts beyond 2012 remains to be seen.