On the Compatibility of Flexible Instruments

This volume is on the flexibility mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol and summarises the main fmdings of a two day workshop on 'Dealing with Carbon Credits after Kyoto', organised by ETC and the JIN foundation (both from the Netherlands) in Callantsoog, the Netherlands, on 28-29 May 1998. The workshop was one of the fIrst meetings held on the flexibility mechanisms after the Kyoto Protocol had been accepted at the Third Conference of the Parties (CoP3) in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997. During the workshop it became clear that during the stage of translating the Protocol provisions on the flexibility mechanisms (notably Articles 6, 12 and 17) into concrete action, there are still many questions on how to interpret the scope and meaning of the Protocol text precisely. Indeed, various issues need to be elaborated on before a full assessment of the future practical work - the start of CDM and JI projects and possibly international emissions trading - can be made. Several issues were addressed at the workshop: e. g. how and via which procedures to determine the net abatement of particular CDMIJI projects; who is liable for non compliance in international emissions trading; is there a need for credit sharing formulae; can incentives be provided for early action, etc.

Klappentext

The Third Conference of the Parties to the Climate Convention was held in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997, the result being the Kyoto Protocol. Among the matters accepted by the parties to the Protocol were three Flexible Instruments: Joint Implementation, the Clean Development Mechanism, and International Emissions Trading. However, it soon became clear that the translation of the Protocol provisions into concrete action would raise many questions on the precise interpretation and meaning of the Protocol text. The present volume is one of the first to address the issue of how the three Flexible Instruments might work out in practice, and how they might interfere with each other. Among the issues addressed are: How might the net abatement of particular CDM/JI projects be determined? Who is liable for non-compliance in international emissions trading? Is there a need for credit sharing? Can incentives be provided for early action? All contributions are written with an eye on supporting the policy making process.

Inhalt
One: General Overview of Flexible Instruments' Issues.- 1 Flexible Instruments' Carbon Credits after Kyoto.- 2 Strengthening the Economy through Climate Change Policies: the Case of the Russian Federation.- Two: The Clean Development Mechanism.- 3 The Clean Development Mechanism: Unravelling the 'Mystery'.- 4 Creation and Sharing of Credits through the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol.- 5 An Exploration of Possible Crediting Regimes for the CDM.- 6 Additionality, Transactional Barriers and the Political Economy of Climate Change.- Three: International Emissions Trading.- 7 Towards a Successful International GHG Emissions Trading System.- 8 Administrative and Compliance Issues Related to International Emissions Trading.- 9 Designing a Domestic GHG Emissions Trading System: the Example of Norway.- 10 On Equity and Developing Country Participation.- Four: Compatibility of the Flexibility Mechanisms.- 11 Meeting the Kyoto Commitments using JI, CDM and IET: Opportunities, Risks and Constraints at the Practical Implementation Level.- 12 The Kyoto Mechanisms and the Need for Commercialised Offsets Trading.