Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol
Climate Justice and Climate
Negotiations
Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol
The Clean Development Mechanism and Emissions Trading are the flexibility
mechanisms which mostly affect Non-Annex I Parties.
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
The purpose of the CDM is ostensibly to 'assist' Parties not included
in Annex I in achieving sustainable development and in contributing to
the ultimate objective of the convention¹ (Kyoto Protocol Article 12).
This should mean investment in renewable energy and clean industrial production.
However many countries, including Australia, argue that non-renewable
energy sources should be included in the CDM. These include coal and nuclear
energy.
The ramifications for developing countries are substantial. Technology
such as coal and nuclear energy projects have associated problems such
as air-quality in the case of coal, and disposal of radioactive waste
in the case of nuclear energy. In the case of coal, the reductions in
emissions would be negligible, despite industry attempting to promote
'clean' coal, which contains less sulphur. Proponents of nuclear energy
fail to make a full account of emissions caused by the development of
nuclear infrastructure and those arising from attempts to either dispose
of or store radioactive waste. They also gloss over the glaring disadvantages
of the nuclear options being the prohibitive costs; routine radioactive
emissions; the potential for large-scale nuclear disaster; and the simple
fact that there is still no known method for isolating radioactive waste
from the environment for the periods of time it remains lethal.
Developing countries are well aware that they will have to take on emission
reduction targets of their own. Establishing CDM projects now that will
lock them into a carbon or nuclear economy will make it harder for them
to move away from this technology once they have invested in it. It is
therefore imperative that CDM projects are restricted to real renewable
and clean production technology projects which will allow developing countries
to by-pass the fossil-fuel dependent stage that developed countries have
gone through.
Sinks
Developed countries, including Australia, are very keen to have sinks
(i.e. plantation forests which absorb carbon) included as eligible projects
under the CDM. This is because sinks could potentially provide a very
cheap way for developed countries to continue emitting greenhouse gases
domestically while off-setting these emissions through planting trees
in other countries. Sinks projects in developing countries potentially
have many problems including:
-
Displacement of indigenous people from their traditional lands for the establishment of sinks projects
-
Clearance of native forests to be replaced by plantations (growing forests absorb more carbon than mature forests)
-
Associated problems of loss of culture/ heritage and biodiversity
Emissions Trading (ET)
The adoption of emissions trading as a solution for climate change entrenches
the notion that markets can solve environmental problems. Historically,
consumer societies and the market-based approach have caused environmental
degradation They have exacerbated the problem of climate change and are
one of the main obstacles being encountered in the attempt to address
the problem. Economic growth is linked historically to growth in emissions
and it is only recently that some economies have been able to decouple
the link between economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions. The use
of ET, while seemingly pragmatic, in the current economic climate has
the potential to hold up the fundamental social changes that will be required
to move to a more sustainable world.
Ratification and Developing Country Targets
Some countries, such as Australia and the United States, have taken the
position that the Kyoto Protocol should not be ratified until developing
countries take on emission reduction targets of their own. This raises
some important issues. Firstly, developing countries are aware that they
will need to adopt targets. Those countries who are historically the most
responsible for climate change are morally obliged to act first, and that
is the spirit and intent of the Convention. Secondly, the manner in which
emission reduction targets are allocated to developing countries is yet
to be agreed upon. The Kyoto Protocol must be ratified, and developed
countries must begin reducing their own greenhouse gas emissions at source.
Only then can a genuine engagement proceed to determine equitable targets
for non-Annex I Parties. The current tactic, lead by the United States
and slavishly followed by Australia uses developing countries as an excuse
to delay an equitable solution.
Other Issues
Technology Transfer
The convention requires Annex I countries to assist non-Annex I countries
in adapting to and addressing climate change through the transfer of technology.
However, to date, Annex I Parties have sought to have this technology
owned by the developed country, and merely located the developing country.
This will maintain inequalities of income and wealth distribution between
the global North and South.
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
The Convention (UNFCCC Article 11) established a financial mechanism to
provide funds on a grant or concessional basis to help developing countries
to implement the Convention and address climate change. The Convention
assigned the role of operating the financial mechanism to the Global Environment
Facility. Many developed countries have failed to fulfill their commitments
in terms of contributions to this fund.
References:
"A Guide to the Climate Change Process", UN Climate Change Secretariat
www.unfccc.int
Equity Watch, Centre for Science and Environment
www.cseindia.org
"No Framework, No Deal", The Cornerhouse, 1997
Rising Tide
www.risingtide.nl
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
www.unfccc.int
more on Climate Justice and Climate Negotiations;
background
the Kyoto Protocol
Implementation and other issues
