Kyoto effective February 15th, 2005

[Chris]

http://www.berria.info/english/ikusi.php?id=993

I believe the DR signed the protocol sometime in 1998 and now with Russia signing, the effective date is mid February next year. Does anyone know what the specific actions are that the DR will have to take to adhere to the treaty? Dare we hope that motos and vehicles, trucks and busses here will have to take steps to curb their 'emissions'?

[Keith R]

Chris,
The DR not only signed, they ratified the Kyoto Protocol, effect 02 Feb. 2002. BTW, if you want to know the DR's ratification status for all the major international environment treaties & protocols, you'll find it in a chart form (with all the other Latin American & Caribbean nations) at http://www.temasactuales.com/assets/...ationchart.pdf

The DR is not an Annex I country, which means very little is required of it in terms of concrete measures to cut its own greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Where the Protocol might affect it more is in participating in one of the "flexibility mechanisms" for implementing the Protocol -- "joint implementation", "clean development mechanism" and emissions trading. In a nutshell, these mechanisms allow a developed nation listed in Annex I, such as the US or a European nation, to reduce the GHG cuts they have to make at home by investing in measures abroad. In order to participate in such mechanisms, a developing country had to first ratify the Protocol. For more info on these mechanisms, check out the following link: http://unfccc.int/kyoto_mechanisms/items/1673.php

Mexico is already selling so-called "carbon credits," and Brazil and Uruguay are right behind them.

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,
Keith

[Chris]

Thanks Keith, looks like I'll have to take a loooong sabattical for the purpose of studying this stuff It looks daunting to read and understand and I did not keep up with this stuff blow by blow as it happened. I will read up some more....

So, the bad news is that in real terms, the non Annex I signatories do not really have to do anything?

And, we might see carbon credits traded on the non Annex I stock exchanges soon

[Keith R]

Actually, from what I hear, the credits may be traded on the Chicago Merc. But I don't follow this issue day-to-day, except as it may affect other issues I am being paid to track. For example in the waste field, some countries are trying to use methane recovery from landfills to gain credits under Kyoto.

[Keith R]

Originally Posted by Chris

Thanks Keith, looks like I'll have to take a loooong sabattical for the purpose of studying this stuff It looks daunting to read and understand and I did not keep up with this stuff blow by blow as it happened. I will read up some more....

So, the bad news is that in real terms, the non Annex I signatories do not really have to do anything?

And, we might see carbon credits traded on the non Annex I stock exchanges soon

Chris, there is an interesting, quite readable article on the Latin American role in trading carbon credits at the following link, if you're still interested in the issue:
http://tierramerica.net/english/2004...articulo.shtml

Regards,
Keith

[Chris]

Thanks Keith, interesting as you say and readable.