Yvo de Boer, the executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, stated that the Kyoto Protocol is essential and will continue to exist after the climate conference in Copenhagen. De Boer emphasized the importance of the Kyoto Protocol surviving for various reasons, including the possibility of a second period under Kyoto and a new treaty under the convention. He mentioned that this new treaty would come into effect once a sufficient number of countries have ratified it. He stated that it took eight years for the Kyoto Protocol to come into effect, from when countries began signing it in 1997 to 2005. While some countries prefer a single treaty, most involved in the process are seeking a two-track outcome and want additional measures alongside the Kyoto Protocol. De Boer noted that the Kyoto Protocol already includes functioning market-based mechanisms, but there is currently no provision for additional mechanisms under the Convention. If someone is interested in proposing a new treaty, there is a reluctance among people to accept it. The Kyoto Protocol is the sole legally binding agreement related to climate change, and there is no valid reason to discard it, he stated. De Boer noted that there has been considerable advancement on key components of an agreement. "Now is the opportune moment to concentrate on the broader perspective." Bangladesh had previously advocated for a more robust climate agreement by expanding on the Kyoto Protocol, which is set to end in 2012. They also recommended a new phase with fresh targets for the Kyoto protocol. The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) has also urged for the creation of a new 'Copenhagen Protocol', which would be rooted in the current legally-binding Kyoto Protocol.