Astrid Olsson, UNFCCC, described the process for the 2005 adjustments exercise, emphasizing that the interactions between the Parties and the expert review team (ERT) are crucial to solving potential adjustment cases, in particular when problems arise due to lack of transparency.

Newton Paciornik, Ministry of Science and Technology, Brazil, described the 2005 adjustments exercise from the perspective of lead reviewers, based on a single case. He concluded that the review identified the problems easily and that it was both useful and relevant.

Audun Rosland, Norwegian Pollution Control Authority, highlighted discrepancies between Norway’s and the ERT’s emissions estimates from the aluminum sector. He stated that albeit disagreement, the adjustments exercise provided Norway an incentive to review its accounting method for perfluorocarbons from aluminum production.

Tinus Pulles, TNO Built Environment and Geosciences, provided a second lead reviewer’s perspective on the 2005 adjustments exercise. He said Parties respond differently to the review and the adjustments procedure, suggesting that a peer review might be more efficient than the legalistic perspective, which leads to repeated interactions and lengthy texts.

Tomo Aizawa, National Institute for Environmental Studies Center for Global Environmental Research, shared Japan’s experience on methods for adjustments and stated that communication with the ERT provided an opportunity to check country-specific methods used in reporting emissions.

Participants discussed: the length of the exchange of views between Parties and the ERT when disagrement on adjustments exists; and emissions estimates when specific data is unavailable.

Klaus Oppermann, World Bank, highlighted the Bank’s experience with programmatic CDM. He emphasized that while the CDM is a success for renewables, many important areas such as household heating and cooking, and transportation in developing countries are underrepresented. He stressed that RETs can utilize the existing bundling rules set by the CDM Executive Board, but noted problems with availability of methodologies for rural electrification and the new additionality tool. He added that there are high transaction costs and loss of CERs involved in small-scale CDM projects.

Johannes Lackmann, German Renewable Energy Federation, presented German and European experiences in promotional schemes for renewable energies. He underscored the presence of large subsidies for nuclear and fossil fuels as one of the main impediments to the growth of the worldwide renewables market. He outlined the major support schemes for RETs in Germany, such as research and development budgets, eco-taxes and feed-in-tariff systems. Emphasizing the effectiveness of some of the promotional policies for RETs in the electricity sector such as the use of differentiation schemes, he noted that the emissions trading scheme is one of the most expensive options in terms of energy prices.

Christoph Bals, Germanwatch, examined whether programmatic and policy CDM could promote RETs. Noting some of the problems with programmatic CDM, he highlighted the prospects of linking national incentive schemes for renewable energy such as feed-in-tariff systems with the CDM.

Participants discussed the utility of eco-taxes versus market based instruments in economies other than Germany and the applicability of German policy tools to dual energy markets such as those in Africa.

Jane Amilhat, European Commission, provided an overview of the European regulation on fluorinated gases and highlighted that it focuses on containment and recovery measures of fluorinated gases in the Kyoto Protocol such as hydroflurocarbons, perflurocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride gases. She stated that the regulation also contains provisions on training, certification, data-reporting, labeling, and market prohibitions. She emphasized that the regulation and the MAC directive could lead to an emission reduction of approximately 21 million tons of GHGs by 2012 and 40 million tons around 2020.

Participants discussed possible effects of the MAC directive and the regulation on fluorinated gases on overall emission reductions and climate change abatement.

Sonja Butzengeiger, Ministry for the Environment, Germany, stated that while Germany does not intend to use the CDM or JI mechanisms to reach its Kyoto targets, the German private sector is involved in these activities. She described the German CDM and JI project portfolio, which includes 13 CDM projects primarily focused on biogas and biomass.

Michael Fübi, RWE Power, discussed the industry’s perspective on the future of the CDM and JI market, suggesting that most of the low-cost GHG abatement projects will mainly be those that abate hydrofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide or methane.

Stephan Waerdt, Pro2 Anlagentechnik, said the capture of coal mine and landfill gas will substantially reduce GHG emissions and could make significant contributions to meeting energy needs, especially in South America and Asia.

Ahmet Lokurlu, Solitem GmbH, provided an overview of a solar based air-conditioning and steam generation system, noting that hotels are important clients.