Establishing National Authorities for the CDM - A Guide for Developing Countries
The United Nations has provided a framework for an effective and equitable global response to this challenge—the 1992 Convention—and the first building block of that response, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Yet the emission reduction targets in the Protocol, modest as they are in environmental terms, have generated economic resistance in industrialized countries and, notably, the rejection of the Protocol by the U.S.
The withdrawal of the largest emitter will undoubtedly weaken the initial impact of the Protocol. But the Protocol is more than a first set of targets. It also a method for approaching the collective task of limiting emissions, a set of mechanisms largely and paradoxically "made in the USA." The possibility of acquiring emission reductions offshore is a main feature of these mechanisms. The period ahead is one in which these mechanisms will be tested and improved. Hopefully, the parallel system that may be developed by the United States will also encourage recourse to "Kyoto-type" mechanisms by American corporations, thus contributing to the stock of experience and boosting global market demand for offshore emission reductions.
You might also be interested in
A Scan of Natural Infrastructure Approaches
A scan of communities in Canada that are successfully implementing natural infrastructure to help deliver municipal services.
Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas Initiative: Nature-based solutions for climate adaptation (infographic)
Climate change impacts greatly affect ecosystems and the communities who depend on them. Nature-based solutions for adaptation (NbS) can play a vital role in helping people and biodiversity build resilience to climate risks. Learn more about what effective NbS for adaptation are and their practical application across different ecosystems to strengthen their resilience.
Will the Inclusion of Voluntary Standards in Trade Agreements Lead to More Sustainable Trade?
The use of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and similar systems in free trade agreements (FTAs) is gaining traction. Will it lead to more sustainable production and consumption globally?
Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Mining Sector
Strategic environmental assessments (SEA) are an essential tool for policy-makers working to develop a sector-wide vision for responsible mining.