Final answer:
The Kyoto Protocol is indeed considered the first real global attempt to address climate change, established in 1997 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but not all key nations ratified it, including the USA and China.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the Kyoto Protocol might be regarded as the first real global attempt to deal with the problem of climate change is true. Developed in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, the Kyoto Protocol emerged from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as an international treaty aimed at combating global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Significant is the fact that while the treaty was ratified by numerous countries, key nations such as the United States and China did not ratify it. The United States, under the Bush administration, expressed concerns that adherence would harm its economy, whereas China was worried about the impact on its growth.
The protocol's enforcement remained a topic of debate, and while some countries met and exceeded their emission reduction targets, overall global reductions have not been achieved as needed. Governments have found it challenging to agree on new timelines and benchmarks for a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, highlighting the complexity of international climate agreements amidst varying national interests and economic considerations.