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Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |
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Events convened on Wednesday 15 November 2000 |
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Making it happen - insights from national emissions trading presented by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
The United Kingdom's plans for a domestic emissions trading scheme were presented by representatives of the Emissions Trading Group (ETG UK) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Participants were informed that business and industry has engaged proactively in the design of the UK system and the ETG is looking to early trading activity. More information: |
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The Central American Carbon Fund: Interaction in vulnerability, energy and the Mesoamerican biological corridor
In introducing the session, Eduardo Dopazo, Oficina Guatemalteca de Implementacion Conjunta (OGIC), described the region's approach to integrated policies regarding mitigation responses to climate change. Marco Gonzàlez, Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD), presented a proposal for a regional Central American Carbon Programme (CCP) highlighting the comparative advantages of the region due to the existence of large forest areas already under legal protection and its experience with AIJ pilot projects. He illustrated the CCP's twofold design objectives: to establish a trust fund for capacity building, training, and certification and marketing of Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs); and a commercial fund for specific projects generating CERs, including financing off-grid electrification. He stressed that Central America's unique regional approach to tackling climate change is reflected in the CCP initiative. Discussion: Discussion included the issue of funding and managing the carbon trust, tackling sustainability at the project level, the competing needs of forest conservation and tree plantations under the CDM, and the variation in prices for carbon credits accruing from individual projects and those driven by an international market. More information: |
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Multi-project verification of JI/CDM projects
Ambassador Bo Kjellén, head of the Swedish Delegation, welcomed participants and explained that the event was convened to present an overview of the Swedish experience of AIJ projects in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. In gaining such experience, he explained, Sweden has gained valuable insights into the modalities of AIJ which will guide future activities under the Kyoto Protocol's JI and CDM. Jürgen Salay, SNEA, stressed the importance of cooperation with local officials, plant owners, and local experts in the host countries, and emphasized that learning-by-doing is a key factor for success. On the Swedish International Climate Investment Programme, Salay explained that its main focus is on renewable energy. Jesse Uzzell, Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Norway, presented methodologies for multi-project verification and certification. He emphasized that rules for smaller projects should be streamlined to achieve greater efficiency and lower transaction costs, for example by simultaneously verifying projects using similar technology or in similar locations. It is common practice, he argued, that business allows independent firms to verify its activities. He said that projects which generate high quality ERUs/CERs will be paid a premium. Discussion: Ingrida Apene, Latvia, suggested that SNEA should strengthen institutional capacity for verification and the establishment of baselines. Andres Kratovits, Estonia, noted that local experts are now able to calculate baselines for JI projects. In addition, participants expressed concerns about the differences between lessons learned by the investor and host countries and suggested the establishment of local centers to broaden the scope of capacity building. More information: |
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presented by Climate Network Europe (CNE) and the European Insulation Manufacturers Association (EURIMA) Climate Network Europe (CNE) convened this event for NGOs, business and trade union representatives to consider the job creation benefits of technological innovation in pursuit of carbon emission reductions. Rob Bradley, CNE's energy specialist, introduced studies on jobs and energy policies, sponsored by CNE and the Association for the Conservation of Energy (ACE). He underlined the report's focus on the practical policies and actions that have generated sustainable employment growth. He said that actions to implement the Kyoto Protocol should be concentrated in developed countries, where real shifts in energy production and consumption are required, to force structural change. Martin Rocholl, Friends of the Earth International, described the efforts of the European and German lobbies for eco-tax reform, to stimulate employment and shift taxation on to energy. Chris Hamans, EURIMA, said 50% of the carbon emissions caused by the heating of commercial and residential buildings in Western Europe could be avoided by applying state-of-the-art insulation techniques. He outlined a number of European job creation initiatives linked to energy conservation and called for energy performance labeling for all buildings, new consideration of a European Energy Audit Directive, and severe insulation performance standards. Simon Worthington, BP, described the company's approach to realizing emissions reduction targets by entrusting the initiative to workers on the ground and building GHG targets into the performance contracts of their business unit managers. More information: The Association for the Conservation of Energy report, National and Local Employment Impacts of Energy Efficiency Investment Programmes (Summary Report), 2000. Website: http://www.ukace.org Climate Network Europe report, Climate Change and Employment in the European Union (2000), by Christine Lottje. E-Mail: <canron@gn.apc.org> Contact: |
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Ocean observation theme of the Integrated Global
Observing Strategy (IGOS) and its contribution to the global climate
observing needs of the FCCC
Discussion: Participants discussed the quality of resolution available for global observation systems to monitor carbon fluxes in the atmosphere. One speaker highlighted the importance of high-resolution data in the context of the COP-6 discussions. More information: |
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Accelerating renewable energy use in developing countries
Marius Willemse, Rural Area Power Solutions (RAPS), South Africa, urged the involvement of the private sector to help accelerate the market. The absence of adequate infrastructure and financing mechanisms impact mostly at the end-user level, particularly in the off-grid rural electrification sector. Jos van de Ven, Shell Solar, explained Shell's involvement in the renewable energy business. Since few households in developing countries can afford to buy Solar Home Systems (SHS) Shell's programme operates under a lease agreement where households are charged a monthly service fee. He underlined that such households spend 3-5 times more on electricity than grid-connected households. Dana Younger, International Finance Corporation (IFC), cautioned that investments in renewable energy projects are often high risk with low returns, and that much of their success depends on the quality of management and the viability of the market. He outlined IFC's involvement in removing the barriers to a vibrant renewable energy market. IFC, together with the GEF, operates the Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Programme (SME) which aims to overcome the incremental risks associated with renewable energy investments through financial intermediaries. For example, the IFC provided seed money to the Grameen Shakti Bank in Bangladesh to stimulate loans to off-grid PV enterprises. In addition, the IFC/GEF operates the Photovoltaic Market Transformation Initiative (PVMTI) and is involved in the Solar Development Fund. More information: |
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Gaining practical experience with the Kyoto mechanisms
presented by the Fraunhofer Institute Systems and Innovation Research (ISI)
More information: |
| © 2000, IISD. All rights reserved. |
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