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Events convened on Wednesday, 12 June |
Methodological assessment of contributions to climate change
Presented by the UNFCCC Secretariat and the Brazilian delegation
Gylvan Meira, Brazil, noted that carbon dioxide (CO2) sinks have become more saturated since the Industrial Revolution and therefore take up less excess CO2. He explained that the assessment should result in the identification of methods to determine the contribution of specific sources of emissions to climate change, underscoring that these methods are not designed to determine historical responsibilities. He expressed confidence that material for the September 2002 workshop would soon be produced and that the exercise would continue beyond the workshop. He reiterated the importance of involving developing country institutions, and offered to make data available to Brazilian modeling groups. Discussion: Participants discussed potential uses of the methodologies, including determining responsibilities for GHG emissions, improving education about climate change, and building capacity. It was noted that the upcoming workshop's results would be submitted to SBSTA-17.
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Establishing National Authorities for the CDM: A Guide for Developing Countries Presented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
Mamadou Honadia, Burkina Faso, encouraged sponsors to support the translation of the guide into other languages, stressing that it would be extremely useful to African countries hoping to host CDM activities in setting up the necessary institutional framework. Eduardo Sanhueza, Chile, welcomed the book as a helpful guide to using the CDM in ways that are appropriate for both international and domestic requirements. He highlighted its usefulness particularly with regard to the significant responsibilities of host countries in the CDM and the need to consider various agreements between Chile and other countries when discussing investment in Chile, including in CDM projects.
Helena Olivas, CSDA, emphasized that the purpose of the guide was to assist developing countries in establishing their national authorities for the CDM. She explained that the guide: describes the operation of the CDM; outlines the steps in creating a national authority; highlights the functions of national authorities, including CDM project evaluation and approval, capacity building for CDM project development, and marketing of CDM projects; and describes the types of CDM projects that could be designed. The guide also contains annexes that provide a sample of national criteria for submission of projects and sample formats for a Project Idea Note, Project Concept Note, and Project Design Document. In terms of follow up, she noted that CSDA and IISD are seeking funding for the translation of the guide into Spanish and French, and plan to develop four capacity-building workshops in Africa to discuss next steps in establishing national authorities. Discussion: In the ensuing discussion, participants highlighted, inter alia: Colombia's experience with establishing its national authority; the importance of public participation in the entire CDM project cycle, particularly in the elaboration of sustainable development criteria, to ensure that projects contribute to sustainable development; the replicability of models from other countries versus the need for national authorities to be catered to specific national conditions; the utility of learning from the weaknesses as well as the strengths of Latin American experiences; and the need to ensure that the appropriate legal structures are in place to implement international rules in specific national contexts.
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Potent industrial greenhouse gases: Climate and ozone policy at the crossroads Presented by Climate Action Network (CAN)
János Maté, Greenpeace International, highlighted the availability of HFC-free cooling technologies, particularly Greenfreeze, a hydrocarbon developed by Greenpeace that is incorporated in nearly 80 million refrigerators around the world. He described Greenpeace's success in encouraging numerous companies to utilize hydrocarbon-based equipment, including cooling systems, commercial refrigeration, and mobile air conditioning. He outlined Greenpeace's recommendations to the fluorocarbon industry to, inter alia: end the promotion of potent GHG substitutes such as HFCs to replace ODS; support market penetration of non-fluorocarbon-based technologies to replace CFCs and HCFCs; cease lobbying for the adoption of international standards to prohibit the use of fluorocarbon alternatives; agree to a global cap on HFC production and emissions levels; and pay full reparations for health and environmental damages resulting from HFC use.
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Capacity-building needs and green investment schemes in Russia Presented by the Energy Carbon Facility (ECF)
Marina Martynova, ECF, explained that an official position adopted by several businesses on the Kyoto Protocol notes that, inter alia: ratification is a necessary step in implementing market reforms and sustainable development; investments in JI projects can be developed through bilateral agreements prior to the Protocol's entry into force; and a Russian Emissions Market Group with representatives of large emitters, the government and NGOs should be established. Martynova explained that the ECF is a non-commercial investment environmental organization whose aim is to support the energy sector's environmentally friendly development by using market-based mechanisms to reduce GHG emissions. To this end, ECF raises awareness within the government, NGOs and the private sector, and builds capacity to prepare Russia's entry into the carbon market by: negotiating the Kyoto Protocol mechanisms on behalf of the Russian Federation; building partnerships with corporate and financial institutions; and convening meetings of large GHG emitters to discuss the development of a Russian carbon market. Martynova emphasized that a Green Investment Scheme (GIS) considered under the Kyoto Protocol should not: centralize the sale of Russian assigned amount units (AAUs); subsidize inefficient sectors; undermine the role of potential Russian market players; nor be the exclusive mechanism for the sale of Russian AAUs. Instead, it should stimulate GHG emissions reductions by the private sector, strengthen the regulatory role of the Russian Government and the role of Russian companies in GHG markets; and promote market-based mechanisms for solving environmental problems. Frank Joshua, Natsource, expressed concern regarding proposals for centralized trading under the GIS, noting that adopting economic models that have failed in the past is neither in Russia's nor in Kyoto Protocol Parties' best interest. He proposed instead to hold Russia to the same standards, rules, procedures and mechanisms as other Annex I Parties, and said it should be possible to devise a trading system that involves corporations as traders under rules and regulations designed and enforced by governments. He emphasized that failure to involve corporations in the trading system will make efforts to ensure that they reduce emissions difficult, and suggested that market returns will be maximized by involving as many players as possible in the market.Annie Petsonk, Environmental Defense, stated that re-investment of proceeds gained from emissions trading can generate further emissions reductions, highlighting the additional emissions reductions achieved through emissions trading between Niagara Mohawk, a US-based energy company, and the Canada-based Suncor Energy. She noted that minimum requirements for emissions trade transactions identified by Environmental Defense include robust emissions inventories, monitoring and reporting, clear targets, and transparent mechanisms for re-investing proceeds.
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The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) on the side is a special publication of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in cooperation with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat. This issue has been written by Dagmar Lohan dagmar@iisd.org and Kira Schmidt kira@iisd.org. The Digital Editors are David Fernau david@iisd.org, Andrei Henry andrei@iisd.org, Leila Mead leila@iisd.org and Diego Noguera diego@iisd.org. Funding for publication of ENB on the side at UNFCCC SB-16 is provided by the UNFCCC Secretariat. The opinions expressed in ENB on the side are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and funders. Excerpts from ENB on the side may be used in non-commercial publications only and only with appropriate academic citation. For permission to use this material in commercial publications, contact the Managing Editor at kimo@iisd.org. Electronic versions of issues of ENB on the side from UNFCCC SB-16 can be found on the Linkages website at http://enb.iisd.org/climate/sb16/enbots/. | |
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