| dc.description.abstract | Increased human activity is causing a build-up of greenhouse gases (GHGs)
which are thought to contribute to global warming. Climate change is an
international environmental concern because the effects of GHG emissions
will be felt throughout the world irrespective of their origin.Similarly,mitigation
activities undertaken anywhere in the world have the same impact on the
global environment.
The Framework Convention on Climate Change, opened for signature in
June 1992 during the Rio conference, seeks to address the problem of global
warming at the international level. It has received widespread acceptance and
has been ratified by 171 states.While the convention does not set out specific
emission reduction targets,the recently adopted Kyoto Protocol sets out quantified
emission limitation and reduction commitments for OECD countries
and countries undergoing the process of economic transition to a market economy
(Annex B parties).Annex B parties commit themselves to reduce their
overall GHG emissions by at least 5 per cent below 1990 levels between 2008
and 2012.1 Developing countries do not take on emission limitation or reduction
commitments.
In the first part of this article,we analyse the mechanism of joint implementation
(JI) generally and in the Climate Change Convention specifically.The
second part concentrates on JI projects in the forestry sector.We argue that the
carbon sequestration potential of trees on which JI forestry projects are predicated
has not been proven.Indeed,in the long term,these projects have a very
limited effect on carbon sequestration considering that woody biomass
eventually decays or burns.We also argue that JI forestry projects often conflict
with local and international environmental priorities.The third part addresses
concerns with JI at the international level.It focuses on reordering JI priorities
and fitting development concerns in JI. | en |
