Why do we need voluntary commitments?

Transcription

1 Why do we need voluntary commitments? In current regime, non-annex 1 countries wishing to take commitments face rather lengthy procedure full of obstacles and uncertainties In the future regime, voluntary commitments might effectively allow to involve broader range of countries in achievement of the Convention goals

2 The goal of the Russian Proposal is to make the current framework of the Convention and the Kyoto protocol flexible and attractive for Parties, and to provide them with opportunities to contribute to achieving the ultimate objective of the Convention

3 Procedures of existing legal framework Article 4.2g of the Convention Article 1.7 of the Kyoto Protocol (KP) Currently Kazakhstan is following this path, not being a Party to the KP but having expressed its intention to take on commitments under Article 4.2g of the Convention in Belarus, being a Party to the KP, put forward an amendment to Annex B in 2006 in order to obtain access to the mechanisms. At this moment the amendment is open for ratification by the Parties to the KP. Adoption of an amendment to Annex B to the Protocol requires its ratification by 3/4 of the Parties to the KP The Convention and the Kyoto protocol do not contain any reference to voluntary commitments of countries, their approval and incentives mechanisms.

4 Future arrangements beyond 2012 Basic principles Common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities Fair burden-sharing Broader participation (inclusiveness) Realistic & achievable commitments Voluntary commitments can effectively help to meet these principles

5 How to move forward the concept of voluntary commitments? We propose two tracks Kyoto track Convention track

6 Kyoto track Parties need to agree on simplified procedures for joining Annex 1 and then Annex B, i.e. through a decision by COP/MOP (no ratification needed) This may require introducing amendments to the texts of the Kyoto Protocol and/or Convention Where to handle the issue? Several options Review under Article 9 -? Separate process (under SBI-?)

7 Convention track National voluntary commitments by developing countries should be recognized as a contribution to common framework for confronting climate change Such voluntary commitments could be encouraged through a system of incentives Where to handle the issue? Several options Post-Bali Dialogue -? Integral part of future post-2012 package -?

8 Types of commitments By targets, i.e. Absolute GHG emission reduction targets (in relation to a base year in all economic sectors or for specific economic sector) Relative GHG emission reduction targets (more flexible, e.g. energy or carbon intensity of GDP, energy and carbon intensity per capita). Such commitments may be applied either to the whole country or to specified sectors. (e.g. Argentina in 1998 proposed to limit its GHGs emission growth on a voluntary basis and obliged not to exceed 0.5% emission growth when GDP increased by 1%.) Commitments based on implementation of national policies and measures (e.g. development of a national emissions trading system by sector with further access to the external carbon market, introduction of a tax or price policy to promote energy saving and deployment of new technologies Commitments based on development, deployment and expansion of low-carbon technologies

9 Conditionality of voluntary commitments Unconditional commitments a Party commits to achieve national voluntary targets with its own resources, and uses the resulting benefits to attain national development goals. Conditional commitments a Party takes on certain commitments under the condition that it will be provided with technologies/financing in order to achieve voluntary targets.

10 Incentives for commitments The main principle of voluntary commitments is noregret emission reduction measures by countries. If a Party has not achieved its stated voluntary targets, it does not enter into a non-compliance regime and does not incur penalties. In the case of success, a Party gains various financial or technological benefits. Possible types of benefits: a) Emission trading b) Technology transfer options c) Finance mechanisms (insurance etc.) d) Other types

11 Questions to be answered How to simplify monitoring and verification of the achieved emission reductions under voluntary commitments, in particular in developing countries? How to reach the agreement on the adoption of appropriate incentives by all Parties to the Convention? Can the Party to the Kyoto protocol, in addition to its existing commitments, take also voluntary commitments under the Convention? Is it feasible to consider creating a new Annex (Annex III -?) to the Convention for countries with voluntary commitments? Which mechanisms to employ for incorporation of national actions and initiatives into the future international regime?

12 Current examples of individual suggested voluntary actions Voluntary initiatives by tropical forests countries to reduce emissions through lowering the rate of deforestation. Voluntary actions discussed under the current Dialogue

13 Actions for Bali Kyoto track: Consider the Report by the President on the workshop Identify appropriate process to adopt simplified procedure for joining joining Annex 1 and Annex B (possible decision by COP/MOP) Convention track: As the first step forward, the Parties to the Convention should take a political decision which recognizes the importance of voluntary initiatives by countries in achieving the objective stated in Article 2 of the Convention, calls for an early development of necessary incentives and procedures in order to encourage the Parties to the Convention to take voluntary national commitments on GHG emissions reduction or limitation.