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Climate Change:
What is Happening and
What we can do …
International Environmental Policy
Hari Srinivas
Room: I-312 / 079-565-7406
BACKGROUND
Introduction to Climate Change
A few basic facts
> Human activities are releasing greenhouse gases (GHG)
into the atmosphere.
> Climate change is a global issue:
1 tCO2 emitted in India = 1 tCO2 emitted in USA.
> Rising levels of greenhouse gases are already changing
the climate.
> Climate models predict the global temperature will rise by
about 1,4 to 5,8 degrees by 2100.
> Climate change is likely to have a significant impact on the
global environment, economy and society.
BACKGROUND
Temperature trends (1976 to 2000)
BACKGROUND
Precipitation trends (1900 to 2000)
BACKGROUND
Climate change tends by 2100
TEMPERATURE
PRECIPITATIONS
5 degrees = What separates us from the last glacial era (-15 000 BC)
: IPCC/SRESA2
Models’Source
forecasts
: +1,4 to +5,8 degrees by 2100.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Visual impact of Climate Change
CLIMATE CHANGE
Impact of Climate Change on society
…Katrina, Rita, Stan, Wilma…
Climate change will cause heavier tropical cyclones.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Cost of extreme weather events
CLIMATE CHANGE
CO2 emissions from industrial process
CLIMATE CHANGE
CO2 emissions from land use change
CLIMATE CHANGE
Less visual but with major impact
Consequences of
climate change:
Agriculture and food security
Crop yields, irrigation demands...
Forest
Composition, health and productivity...
Water resources
Water supply, water quality...
Coastal areas
Erosion, inundation, cost of prevention...
> Temperature increase
> Sea level rise
> More rain
Species and natural areas
Biodiversity, modification of ecosystems...
Human health
Infectious diseases, human settlements...
UNFCCC
Overview of UNFCCC
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
A global legal instrument (international agreement) on the
control and management of greenhouse gases (GHG).
Adopted in 1992, entered into force in 1994.
Status of participation: 189 Parties.
Contains 2 annexes:
Annex 1: countries with obligations to take measures to mitigate
the effects of climate change
Annex 2: countries with obligations to provide financing to
developing countries for their obligations under UNFCC
Affiliated instruments: Kyoto Protocol.
UNFCCC
Overall goal and objectives
What is the overall goal?
“ to protect the climate system for the benefit of
present and future generations of mankind. ”
What are the further objectives?
“ to achieve stabilisation of greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that
would prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system. ”
UNFCCC
Means to achieve the objectives
What can be done to protect the climate system?
> Enhancement of energy efficiency in relevant sectors and
development of new and renewable energy forms/sources.
> Protection of sinks and reservoirs of GHGs.
> Limitation and reduction of transport and waste
management-related emissions.
> Policy changes toward elimination of market imperfections
and implementation of market-based instruments, and policy
reform to support GHG limits and reductions.
UNFCCC
Institutional framework
UNFCCC
National level actors
National UNFCCC focal points
> Responsible for the Government’s interaction and communication
with UNFCCC.
> Usually a specific ministry / department.
> Usually interacting with a wide range of other organizations /
stakeholders at the national level.
UNFCCC
Market-based instruments
Kyoto Protocol characteristics
> Commits Annex 1 countries to reduce GHG emissions by 5.2% by 2012
compared to 1990.
> Actual commitment period: 2008 - 2012.
> Individual goals for each country.
3 mechanisms to help countries to reach their commitments
> ETS - Emissions Trading System
> CDM - Clean Development Mechanism (session 5)
> JI - Join Implementation (session 6)
6 greenhouse gases: CO2, CH4, N2O, PFCs, HFCs, SF6.
UNFCCC
Ratification of the Kyoto protocol
Signed and ratified
Signed, ratification pending
Signed, ratification declined
No position
KYOTO PROTOCOL
Emissions’ evolution in Annex1 (2003)
Decreased emissions in 2003
(1990 baseline)
Increased emissions in 2003
(1990 baseline)
KYOTO PROTOCOL
Sectors concerned
Energy supply (24 to 48% of total GHG)
> Fuel combustion (energy production, manufacturing, transport, etc.)
> Fugitive emissions (oil and natural gas, solid fuels, etc.)
Industrial processes (5 to 36% of total GHG)
> Production (metal production, mineral products, chemical industry etc.)
> Consumption (halocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride, solvents etc.)
Waste management (primarily CH4)
> Solid waste disposal on land, incineration, wastewater handling etc.
Land use (0,3 to 9% of total GHG)
> Agriculture (enteric fermentation, manure management, rice cultivation,
agricultural soils, prescribed burning of savannas, field burning of
agricultural residues, etc.)
> Forestry.
KYOTO PROTOCOL
“Flexible mechanisms”
ETS - Emissions Trading System
> Can be used as supplementary to actions to meet reduction
commitments.
> One AAU (Assigned Amount Units) represents the tradable right to emit
one tonne CO2eq.
CDM - Clean Development Mechanism
> Allows public or private entities to invest in greenhouse gas (GHG)
mitigating activities in developing countries.
> CERs (Certified Emission Reductions) can be used by the project
investor to meet its own commitments, or sold on the open market.
JI - Joint Implementation
> Emission reduction projects implemented jointly between Annex I
countries (developed countries and transition economies).
> ERUs (Emission Reduction Units) can be used by the project investor to
meet its own commitments, or sold on the open market.
KYOTO PROTOCOL
CO2 market mechanisms
Limitations of CO2 emissions in
developed countries (Annex I)
4 options for companies
1. Pay expensive
fines.
2. Carry out carbon
reduction through
processes
improvement.
3. Buy emissions
4. Carry out carbon
credits on the
reduction through
CO2 market (ETS). technology transfers
in CDM or JI project.
KYOTO PROTOCOL
Key Opportunities for industries
In Developing Countries (part of Annex 2):
No national GHG reduction commitments but opportunity to host
CDM projects, thereby benefiting from associated investments,
technology transfer and transfer of know-how.
In Economies in Transition (part of Annex 1):
JI present an opportunity for these countries with “emission
reductions to spare” to attract investments and technology transfer.
What are the main opportunities for industrie?
> Technology transfer to improve process and energy efficiency
> Co-finance investments by selling emission credits
> Prepare for future commitments (after 2012)
> Achieve sustainable development
KYOTO PROTOCOL
Assistance at national level
What can be done at the national level?
> National reporting of GHG emissions;
> Sources of technical assistance;
> Training and technology transfer;
> Ensuring compliance: penalties for not meeting reduction
targets (Annex B countries [Kyoto]):
“ For every 1 ton of CO2 emissions of non-compliance
during the first implementation period, 1.3 must be
reduced during the following implementation period.”
KYOTO PROTOCOL
Assistance at national level
1. Enabling activities - overcoming barriers
> work with government
> work with industry
2. Kyoto Protocol implementation
> work with JI or CDM projects as project partner/proponent
3. Function as a verification agency (DOE)
> auditing and on-going verification
KYOTO PROTOCOL
Assistance at national level
How can we work with governments ?
> Public sector awareness and education
> Policy advice related to industries’ needs to enable JI/CDM
projects, in co-ordination with National CDM authority.
> Build relationship with National JI/CDM authority:
- co-operation on awareness-raising, workshops;
- co-operation with policy advice to government;
- co-operation with pilot studies, projects.
KYOTO PROTOCOL
Assistance at national level
How can we work with industry ?
> Private sector awareness and education workshops.
> Continued emphasis on energy efficiency in relevant sectors
including GHG measurements:
- renewable energy sources
- energy conversion and recovery
- new energy efficient processes
- technology transfer for non-energy-related GHG reductions
> Develop projects with industry:
- integrate greenhouse gas calculations into in-plant assessments;
- transfer investment financing knowledge toward climate related
project development
KYOTO PROTOCOL
Synthesis
Policy advice on industry’s
needs to enable JI/CDM.
With national focal point (NFP),
develop projects for funding
Engage in technology needs
assessments projects with national governments.
Propose JI/CDM projects.
Raise awareness of JI/CDM opportunities among
local key industries and partners.
Assistance in formulation of National Implementation
Plans (GHG inventories, needs, etc.).