Should Developing Countries Participate In The Clean Development Mechanism Under The Kyoto Protocol The Low Hanging Fruits And Baseline Issues

Under the Kyoto Protocol, industrialized countries committed to emission reductions may fulfill part of their obligations by implementing emission reduction projects in developing countries. In doing so, they make use of the so-called Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Two important issues surround the implementation of the CDM. First, if the cheapest abatement measures are implemented for CDM projects, developing countries may be left with only more expensive measures when they have to meet their own commitments in the future (the so-called low-hanging fruits issue). Second, a choice must be made on the type of baseline against which emission reductions are measured: an absolute baseline or a relative (to output) one (the baseline issue). The purpose of this paper is to study the interactions between these two issues from the point of view of the developing country. Two major results are obtained. First, when possible future commitments for developing countries and irreversibility of abatement measures are taken into account, we show that the industry where CDM projects are implemented enjoys larger profits under an absolute baseline than under a relative one. Second, concerning the low-hanging fruits problem, the financial compensation required by the developing country for implementing too many CDM projects is larger under the relative baseline.

The Kyoto Protocol has introduced the so-called Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under which industrialized countries are allowed to fulfill part of their obligations through the use of emission credits generated by emission reduction projects undertaken in developing countries. Developing countries have been reluctant to participate in the CDM, fearing that the CDM will use up most of their cheap abatement options (the 'low-hanging fruits' problem). In this paper we show that developing countries should in general participate in the CDM, unless the credit prices are relatively low. Moreover, these countries always gain by participating in the CDM when banking of credits is allowed. Nevertheless, three effects that are likely to limit the extent of such a participation are identified. A case-study (South Africa) reveals that these effects may play a significant role.

This publication provides insights on deliberations regarding the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) transition and implications for Asia and the Pacific. With the Article 6 Rulebook expected to be finalized at the 26th Conference of Parties in Glasgow, the Asian Development Bank hopes this publication can increase knowledge and understanding of the CDM transition along with its relevance to economies in the region. It is also intended to help stakeholders from Asia and the Pacific become better prepared to contribute to the finalization of the Article 6 Rulebook and move toward operationalizing Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Crucial Issues in Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol: Asia and the World focuses on responses to climate change in the world''s most populous region. This book provides the most comprehensive insight to the climate change discourse within Asia to date by drawing on the diverse disciplines and experience of legal practitioners, climate change consultants, government officials and academics. Individual chapters address issues such as how the various Asian countries OCo highly disparate in their cultures, socio-economic conditions and political systems OCo are responding to climate change, the challenges of mitigating and adapting to climate change, and the effective implementation of the Kyoto Protocol in Asia. Sample Chapter(s). Foreword (37 KB). Chapter 1: Climate Disruption: Remaking the Agenda of Meas in Asia and the World (138 KB). Contents: Setting the Stage: Climate Disruption: Remaking the Agenda of MEAs in Asia and the World (N A Robinson); Reframing Global Warming: Toward a Strategic National Planning Framework (S V Valentine); Climate Change OCo Living in the Anthropocene (J Obbard); Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): An Overview of the Clean Development Mechanism in Southeast Asia (J Lin); CDM in China (X Yang & X Wang); Empirial Considerations in the Development of CDM Projects in Asia (W I Y Byun & F H C Chan); Making Markets Work OCo A Review of CDM Performance and the Need for Reform (C Streck & J Lin); Emissions Trading in the European Union and Asia: Regional Framework: The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme OCo Past, Present and Future (K Deketelaere & M Schurmans); Trends in Carbon Trading: Practical Lessons (A Beatty & E Williams); Effective Implementation of the Kyoto in Asia: Singapore''s National Climate Change Strategy (K Suresh); Japan: Achieving Its Kyoto Target (H Isozaki); Compliance Under the Kyoto Protocol and Its Implications for the Asian Region (M S Manguiat); Climate Change as a Threat to Peace & Security: Glacial Melting & Human Security in the Himalayas (K Khoday); The Kyoto Protocol and Beyond: A South Asian Perspective (A Gunawansa); Beyond Kyoto: Climate Change Including a Discussion of the AP6 Initiative from the Australian Perspective (M I Jeffery); Protecting Forests to Mitigate Global Climate Change (C streck). Readership: Environmental lawyers, policy makers, practitioners in CDM, tertiary students in environmental sciences.

This report on the technical, financial and institutional aspects of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in relation to the Kyoto Protocol is based on the work and deliberations of the Ad Hoc Working Group commissioned by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.--Publisher's description.

Global warming and climate change pose a dire threat to life. The Kyoto Protocol is the UN treaty committing signatories to dealing with climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is a non-technical account of what inspired people to transform the dry language of this international climate change treaty into measurable improvements in people's lives in four countries (Brazil, Bangladesh, Indonesia and South Africa). These stories come to life through a kaleidoscope of photographs and children's artworks.

The adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in December 1997 was a major achievement in the endeavour to tackle the problem of global climate change at the dawn of the 21st century. After many years of involvement in the negotiation process, the book's two internationally recognised authors now offer the international community a first hand and inside perspective of the debate on the Kyoto Protocol. The book provides a comprehensive scholarly analysis of the history and content of the Protocol itself as well as of the economic, political and legal implications of its implementation. It also presents a perspective for the further development of the climate regime. These important features make this book an indispensable working tool for policy makers, negotiators, academics and all those actively involved and interested in climate change issues in both the developed and developing world.

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) was established under the Kyoto Protocol to help countries achieve sustainable development and meet their reduction commitments for emissions of greenhouse gases. The CDM allows developed countries to acquire certified emissions reductions (CERs) by undertaking greenhouse gas mitigating projects in developing countries. This report looks at the technical, financial and institutional aspects of the CDM. It discusses the structure of the CDM's investment function, the various sources of financing available for CDM projects and issues relating to its institutional structure and governance. It finds that the effect of CDM investments could be substantial, if used effectively and with an integrated approach to the other Protocol mechanisms.