Paul V. DesankerHead, LDC and CB & Outreach Units,

UNFCCC SecretariatBonn, Germany

The UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol and its mechanisms

IFAD 1st CLIMTRAIN Workshop, July 2008

The UNFCCC

• Framework convention – lays out an objective, then allows for instruments to be developed over time, e.g. Kyoto Protocol (till 2012)

• Sets global to country commitments (mainly funding related and national commitments e.g. policies and measures to address climate change)

• Country-driven multilateral process to address climate change

• Conference of Parties (Ministerial Level – once a year), and technical session twice a year (Subsidiary Bodies & Ad Hoc Working Groups)

• SB 28 in June 2008; COP 14 and COP/MOP (KP) 4 in Dec 2008

Objective: Article 2

The ultimate objective of this Convention and any related legal instruments that the Conference of the Parties may adopt is

to achieve, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

Such a level should be achieved within a time-frame sufficient - to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change- to ensure that food production is not threatened and - to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable

manner.

The UNFCCC subsidiary bodies

AWG-LCABali Action

Plan

SBI SBSTAImplementat

ionKnowledge

and technical

basis

AWG-KP

The Kyoto Protocol

Main features• Legally binding targets for emissions of six

major greenhouse gases in industrialized countries during first commitment period

• New international market-based mechanisms, creating a new commodity: carbon

• Facilitate sustainable development and additional support to developing countries on adaptation

• Entry into force on 16 February 2005• 178 Parties (April 2008)

• Emission Trading (ET): exchanging emission allowances among Kyoto Protocol Parties

• Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): credits for emissions avoided through sustainable development projects in developing countries (non-Annex I countries)

• Joint Implementation (JI): credits for emissions avoided through projects in Annex I countries

The three Kyoto mechanisms

The three Kyoto mechanisms –Clean Development Mechanism

•Projects in developing countries can earn saleable credits for reducing/avoiding emissions – certified emission reductions (CERs)

•The CERs can be used by countries with commitments under KP toward meeting a part of their targets

•Host countries benefit from sustainable development initiatives