2008: Introduction South Africa, in: Niel Bowerman, Marie Karaisl et.al. (eds.): The G8 and Climate Change since Heiligendamm – Interim Compliance Report for the G8 and the Outreach Five Countries, 2007-08, Oxford: G8 Research Group.
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The G8 Research Group-Oxford
The G8 and Climate Change since Heiligendamm
Interim Compliance Report for the G8 and Outreach Five Countries
31 March 2008
The G8 Research Group-Oxford is a network of more than 50 postgraduate students from Oxford and LSE interested in climate change policy and the G8 process. Its mission is to provide independent information and analysis on whether the G8 and Outreach Five countries are abiding by the climate policy commitments they made at the previous G8 summit.
www.g8.utoronto.ca/oxford/g8rg-oxford.html
G8 Research Group-Oxford
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The views expressed in this report are those of the authors alone. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the associated institutions. G8 Research Group Oxford c/o Balliol College University of Oxford Oxford UK First published 27 February 2008. Amended version 31 March 2008. Suggested Citation Niel Bowerman, Marie Karaisl, Joanna Langille, Christopher Wright, and Zinta Zommers (eds.) “The G8 and Climate Change since Heiligendamm - Interim Compliance Report for the G8 and Outreach Five Countries, 2007-08”, Oxford: G8 Research Group Oxford, 31 March 2008.
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G8 Research Group-Oxford, 2007-08
Executive Committee
Christopher Wright, Executive Director Niel Bowerman Marie Karaisl Joanna Langille
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Zinta Zommers
Analysts
Zhao Ang Martha Baxter Andy Benica Simon Billett Ruth Brandt Stephen Brosha Brendan Carey Maria Christofili Lorena Fonseca Mariz de Medeiros John Donnelly Carolina Elia Amal Enan Jean-Benoit Fournier Paul Ganga Carmen Gayoso Marianne Gillis Mhairi Guild Roberto Hanania Dominique Henri Aaron Holdway Andrew Jones Marie Karaisl Carola Kenngott Victoria Lennox Tess Lorriman James Meers Hilary Millar Catherine Nadeau Cynthia Owens Vanessa Pena Ottavia Pesce Eduardo Plastino Diana Poputoaia Massimo Preziuso Miriam Prys
Interpretive Guidelines Committee
Ruth Brandt Marie Karaisl Joanna Langille Miriam Prys Christopher Wright Zinta Zommers
Ana Francisca Ramirez Jen Robinson Takashi Sagara Alexander Schroede Nadia Siddiqui Lauge Skovgaard Aparna Sridhar Seren Tang Shun Ting Jessica Toale Christine Toczeck Diarmuid Torney Cristiana Tosti Luca Paolo Virgilio Y. Andrea Wang Kwok Hong Wong Claire Woods Karlin Younger Fonger Ypma Ina Zharkevichs
Senior Advisors
Dr. Neil MacFarlane Dr. Jennifer Welsh
Table of Contents
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FOREWORD .................................................................................... 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................................................................7 COMMITMENTS............................................................................. 12 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................ 14 GLOSSARY .....................................................................................18 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................... 20 THE G8 AND THE EU.....................................................................23 CANADA ...........................................................................................24 EUROPEAN UNION ............................................................................ 38 FRANCE ............................................................................................53 GERMANY .........................................................................................65 ITALY ............................................................................................... 77 JAPAN ............................................................................................. 86 THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.................................................................99 UNITED KINGDOM ............................................................................113 UNITED STATES ............................................................................... 128 THE OUTREACH FIVE COUNTRIES ............................................ 143 BRAZIL ........................................................................................... 144 CHINA ............................................................................................ 156 INDIA ............................................................................................. 168 MEXICO.......................................................................................... 182 SOUTH AFRICA ................................................................................ 194
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Foreword Founded in 1987, the G8 Research Group is an organisation based at the University of Toronto with a mission to serve as the world’s leading independent source of information, analysis, and research on the institutions, issues, and members of the G8. The Research Group consists of a global network of scholars, professionals in the media, business, government and research communities, and students interested in the ongoing activity of the G7 and G8. The group is assisted by a Professional Advisory Council and special advisors on specific issue areas.1 Since 1996, the G8 Research Group has produced an annual compliance report on the progress made by the G8 member countries in meeting their summit commitments, which is offered to a global network of scholars, professionals in the media, business, government and research communities, and individual members of civil society.2 The Oxford branch of the G8 Research Group was established in 2004/05 at the University of Oxford. Its primary mission is to provide information and analysis on whether the G8 and Outreach Five countries are abiding by the climate-related policy commitments they made at the previous G8 summit. In 2006, the group published a compliance report that methodologically assessed the extent to which these 13 countries and the European Union (EU) had abided by the commitments made at the 2006 St. Petersburg Summit, in areas such as promoting renewable energy and clean technologies, promoting sustainable transport, and obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.3 In 2007, the analyst base of the G8 Research Group-Oxford was expanded to include postgraduates from the London School of Economics (LSE), and the group now engages more than 50 postgraduates from both universities. G8 Research Group-Oxford The Executive Committee
Christopher Wright Executive Director Niel Bowerman Marie Karaisl Joanna Langille Zinta Zommers
About the G8 Research Group, G8 Information Centre, (Toronto), 9 February 2007. Date of Access: 18 February 2008. http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/about/g8rg_about.htm 2 Maria Banda and Joanna Langille, Eds. (2007). Governing Global Climate Change: St Petersburg Compliance Report for the 'G8 Plus Five' Countries. G8 Final Compliance Report 2007. Oxford, G8 Research Group Oxford. 3 The report titled Maria Banda and Joanna Langille, Eds. (2007). Governing Global Climate Change: St Petersburg Compliance Report for the 'G8 Plus Five' Countries. G8 Final Compliance Report 2007. Oxford, G8 Research Group Oxford is available online at: http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/oxford/2006compliance-ox.pdf
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Acknowledgements The G8 Research Group-Oxford operates on a voluntary basis and owes its existence to the time and energy provided by analysts. The Executive Committee wishes to thank all of the analysts for their commitment. In addition, it wishes to acknowledge the support of the Global Economic Governance programme at Oxford University for providing facilities to launch this report. Finally, Christopher Wright, the Executive Director, wishes to acknowledge the Alcoa Foundation for its support of his participation in the G8 Research Group-Oxford.
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Executive Summary The actual compliance of the G8 countries to the various climate change commitments has been tracked by the Toronto Research Group since 1987. Their reports have recently been evaluated by Kirton and Guebert (2007),4 who find an overall positive performance of G8 countries with respect to compliance to their climate change commitments.5 In general terms, compliance with climate and energy commitments is higher than with those in all other policy areas except trade. In June 2007, the G8 Research Group-Oxford published an in-depth compliance report that considered the extent to which the G8 and Outreach Five countries had abided by their climate-related commitments from the 2006 St.Petersburg Summit.6 Compared to the previous reporting from the G8 Research Group in Toronto, it provided for a less enthusiastic picture of compliance rates, as compliance varied greatly across countries. The EU, which was included into the assessment, obtained full compliance on all selected issue areas, while Canada and Russia achieved an average score of only -0.4, having achieved three scores of ‘work in progress’ and two scores of ‘non-compliance’ in the five selected issue areas. Although less extreme, the five outreach countries also depict a significant divergence of their scores. In 2006/07 Mexico led with an average score of + 0.2,7 while China and India trailed behind with an average score of -0.2.8 This year, compliance has increased noticeably across climate-related commitments. In terms of the G8 and the EU, the analysis assessed their final average compliance score with the five selected Heiligendamm climate change commitments to be 0.20 on a scale of -1 to +1. As for the Outreach Five countries, the analysis assessed their final average compliance score with the three selected Heiligendamm climate change commitments to be the same, 0.20 on a scale of -1 to +1. Overall, both groups scored higher in this compliance cycle than the previous one. Two factors may account for relatively higher compliance scores this year compared to last year. First, Germany, the host of the 2007 Heiligendamm Summit, had made climate change an important item prior to and during the summit, thereby raising expectations that the negotiations would produce an ambitious summit document, and among participating governments, renewed
4 Kirton, J. and Guebert, J., Compliance with Climate Change Commitments: The G8 Record, 1975–2007. Toronto: G8 Research Group, 13 December 2007, (Toronto). Date of Access: 22 February 2007. http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/evaluations/compliance-climate.html 5 Kirton, J. and Guebert, J., Compliance with Climate Change Commitments: The G8 Record, 1975–2007. Toronto: G8 Research Group, 13 December 2007, (Toronto). Date of Access: 22 February 2007. http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/evaluations/compliance-climate.html 6 Maria Banda and Joanna Langille, Eds. (2007). Governing Global Climate Change: St Petersburg Compliance Report for the 'G8 Plus Five' Countries. G8 Final Compliance Report 2007. Oxford, G8 Research Group Oxford. http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/oxford/2006compliance-ox.pdf 7 Mexico achieved a score of ‘work in progress’ in four, and a score of ‘full compliance’ in one issue area. 8 Both China and India achieved ‘work in progress’ in four, and was non-compliant in one issue area.
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political will to translate commitments into concrete policy actions. In contrast, the Russian Federation, the host of the 2006 St.Petersburg Summit, sought to integrate negotiations over climate change within a broader political discussions of energy security and development. As a result, as the climate agenda was less pronounced at the summit, participating governments were less compelled to introduce ground-breaking and far-reaching policy initiatives. Secondly, this compliance cycle featured the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, 3-14 December 2007, which produced the Bali Road Map. In response, many governments planned to propose or introduce new climate policy initiatives just prior to or after the conference. The growing media coverage of the climate crisis that coincided with the conference created an impetus for governments to introduce new climate policies. This conference may have influenced our compliance scores in two principle ways. First, the conference may have created an additional incentive for countries to follow-up their G8 commitments with new policy initiatives, thereby explaining higher levels of compliance compared to 2006. Secondly, the prevalence of partial compliance scores may be explained by the fact the conferences of this kind induce governments to make lofty and far-reaching policy statements that meet public expectations without implementing these into concrete policy actions. The next sections present some of the main findings of this Interim Compliance Report. The G8 and the EU: Main Findings Overall, the G8 and the EU have follow-up on their commitments made at the Heiligendamm Summit and introduced numerous supportive strategies, plans, and programmes. Compared to the previous years, compliance scores generally increased, yet the prevalence of “partial compliance” scores suggests that ambitious targets and notable policy statements have not been adequately follow-up by concrete policy actions and budgetary allocations. Country Scores: The final results reveal that the EU has done the most to fulfill its Heiligendamm commitments and has earned a compliance score of 0.80, including full compliance in all but one commitment (1C). Conversely, the Russian Federation was the only G8 Member that attained a negative score, as it was assessed to be non-compliant with two commitments (1B and 1D). Japan received an overall score of 0.60, a relatively strong performance that makes sense given their own ambitions to provide leadership at the next G8 Summit by making it an “Environmental Summit.” Germany, the hosts of the Heiligendamm Summit, received an overall compliance score of 0.40, again demonstrating how previous hosts may have additional incentives to follow-up summit commitments they themselves helped craft. The United States and the United Kingdom both received overall scores of 0.20, and finally, Canada, France, and Italy were found to be in partial compliance with all the commitments and therefore received an overall score of 0.00.
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Commitment Scores: Across the G8 and the EU, compliance was the highest relative to the commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy consumption, as their overall score was 0.44 on a scale from -1 to +1. This observation suggests that industrialized countries are beginning to address how domestic markets and consumer behaviour are influencing trends in domestic GHG emissions. Interestingly, both the United States and Japan, which have resisted the long-term global GHG emission targets proposed by the E.U, were assessed to be in full compliance with the commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy consumption. More broadly, the growing prevalence of demand-side regulatory interventions suggests that these countries are beginning to translate national policy targets into sectorlevel plans and programmes so as to enable a transition to a low-carbon economy.
G8 (+EU)
Canada European Union France Germany Italy Japan Russian Federation United Kingdom United States Average
1A
0 +1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.11
1B
0 +1 0 +1 0 0 -1 0 0 0.11
1C
0 0 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 +1 0.44
1D
0 +1 0 0 0 +1 -1 0 0 0.11
1E
0 +1 0 0 0 +1 0 0 0 0.22
Average
0.00 0.80 0.00 0.40 0.00 0.60 -0.40 0.20 0.20
Against the commitment to curb deforestation, the overall compliance score was 0.20, which is testimony to its prevalent position on the agenda at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali. Both the European Union and Japan were assessed to be in full compliance with this commitment, largely on the basis of initiating and implementing bilateral projects and programs with developing countries. Finally, the overall score for the remaining three commitments was 0.11, of which the score of two were undermined by a negative score given to Russia. The Outreach Five Countries: Main Findings Compared to the previous compliance cycle (2006-07), the Outreach Five countries have done well to follow-up on their commitments made at the Heiligendamm Summit and introduced numerous supportive strategies, plans, and programmes. Compliance scores generally increased, yet as with the G8 and the EU, the prevalence of “partial compliance” scores suggests that ambitious targets and notable policy statements have not been adequately follow-up by concrete policy actions and budgetary allocations. But notably, none of the Outreach Five countries were found to be non-compliant with any of three commitments. Country Scores: The final results reveal that China has done the most among the Outreach Five countries to fulfill its Heiligendamm commitments and has earned a compliance score of 0.66, including full compliance in all but one commitment (2C). Brazil received the second highest overall score – o.33 – as a result of being assessed to be in full compliance with its commitment to help stabilise global GHG concentrations. The remaining three countries, 10
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India, Mexico, and South Africa, were found to be in partial compliance with all the commitment and therefore each obtained an overall score of 0.00.
Outreach Five
Brazil China India Mexico South Africa Average
2A
+1 +1 0 0 0 0.40
2B
0 +1 0 0 0 0.20
2C
0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Average
0.33 0.66 0.00 0.00 0.00
Commitment Scores: Across the Outreach Five countries, compliance was the highest relative to the commitment to help stabilize GHG concentrations, as their overall score was 0.40 on a scale from -1 to +1. This observation suggests that large developing countries are beginning to realize how their growing domestic GHG emissions associated rapid economic growth and industrialization (or deforestation in the case of Brazil) may be constrained in a future international climate regime. Relative to the commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy production, the overall score across the Outreach Five countries was 0.20. This was driven by policies and programs that facilitate inward investment in renewable energy and clean technologies, and national targets for expanding the share of energy derived from renewable sources. Finally, all Outreach Five countries were found to be in partial compliance with the commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy consumption. It is notable that governments presiding over large populations without adequate access to energy are implementing energy-efficiency programs as a means to broaden coverage.
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Commitments
The G8 and the EU The commitments below are the most important climate-related commitments made by the G8 and the EU at the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, 7-9 June 2007. They are taken from the main summit document, “Growth and Responsibility in the World Economy”.
1A. Commitment to Stabilize GHG Concentrations (§49) “We are therefore committed to taking strong and early action to tackle climate change in order to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” 1B. Commitment to Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production (§54) “We have urgently to develop, deploy and foster the use of sustainable, less carbon intensive, clean energy and climate-friendly technologies in all areas of energy production….” 1C. Commitment to Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Consumption (§65) “We commit ourselves to a model of efficient energy systems and…will promote the appropriate policy approaches and instruments, including inter alia economic incentives and sound fiscal policies, minimum standards for energy efficiency, sound and ambitious energy performance labelling, information campaigns aimed at consumers and industry that enhance national awareness, sector-based voluntary commitments agreed with industry, investment in research and development and guidelines for public procurement.” 1D. Commitment to Support Climate Adaptation and Mitigation in Developing Countries (§58) “We emphasise our willingness to continue and enhance cooperation with and support for developing countries in adapting to climate change and enhancing their resilience to climate variability, in particular those most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change.”
1E. Commitment to Reduce GHG Emissions by Curbing Deforestation (§56) “We are determined to assist in reducing emissions from deforestation, especially in developing countries, by …continu[ing] to support existing processes to combat illegal logging and ... remain[ing] engaged in supporting developing countries to achieve their self commitments for halting forest loss and to implement sustainable forest management.”
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The Outreach Five Countries The commitments below are the most important climate-related commitments made by the Outreach Five countries at the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, 7-9 June 2007. They are taken from the “Joint Statement by the German G8 Presidency and Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa.”
2A. Commitment to Stabilize GHG Concentrations “We reaffirm our commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and to its objective through both mitigation and adaptation in accordance with our common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.“
2B. Commitment to Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production “We confirm our commitment to promote energy efficiency, through cost-effective solutions, to advance the effective use of fossil fuels, such as the clean coal technology, and to increase the use of cleaner and renewable energy sources, such as biofuels and biomass, as an important step towards secure, stable and competitive energy supplies for achieving sustainable development.” 2C. Commitment to Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Consumption “We recognise the need for closer, more practical and result-oriented regional and international cooperation in the energy sector, especially in ensuring secure and affordable supplies of energy as well as in improving energy efficiency and the access to advanced and affordable energy technologies.”
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Methodology Policy commitments made by governments in multilateral negotiations do not commonly take the form of precise statements that clearly delineate between appropriate and inappropriate policy actions. This makes the task of assessing compliance a particularly difficult task. As governments bring different and often opposing policy positions to the table, declarations commonly take the form of consensus statements that reflect a compromise between the official policy positions and goals of the different parties. The outcome is often broadsweeping statements that lend support to a wide range of policies and actions, particularly in policy areas where polarization between policy positions is strong. In such cases, we would expect parties to only endorse imprecise, vague commitments, as they are unwilling to accept language that seems to favor the other side.9 It cannot be assumed that a country’s compliant behaviour is a direct consequence of its government’s participation at the previous G8 summit. In many cases, commitments negotiated in a G8 Communiqué may coincide with, or echo, identical or similar pledges made in other international forums, international organizations, or national policy statements—just as they may precede such developments. However, establishing whether a direct causal link exists between a particular summit commitment and a subsequent policy action in a G8 or O5 country is beyond the scope of this analysis. In terms of holding countries accountable for the commitments made at the summit and providing an overview of policy action across different climate-related policy areas, providing this casual link is not relevant. The Commitments: The Heiligendamm Summit produced numerous documents containing policy commitments and broader aspirational goals across many themes, including foreign investment, energy security, and international trade.10 In line with the core objective of the G8 Research Group-Oxford, only the most important climate-related commitments were selected for this report. The G8 countries will be assessed against five commitments selected from the main summit document, “Growth and Responsibility in the World Economy.” This document was produced in consultations between G8 countries prior to and during the Summit. The Outreach Five countries – India, China, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico – will be evaluated against three commitments contained in the “Joint Statement” which they endorsed alongside the German Presidency. Both sets of countries will be assessed against the commitments to help stabilize global GHG concentrations, and to promote less emission-intensive
9 As an example, the question of whether industrialized countries should be subjected to binding national GHG emission reduction targets has been a divisive issue in climate negotiations, and the discussion of climate mitigation and adaptation within the G8 process is no different in that regard. 10 For an overview, see the G8 Information Centre, http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/summit/2007heiligendamm/index.html
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energy production and consumption. These three policy commitments were included in both documents, and thus the report will offer a comparison of policy actions across governments within the same policy areas. In addition, the G8 countries will be assessed against their commitment to support climate adaptation and mitigation in developing countries, and their commitment to help curb deforestation as a means to protect carbon sinks. Selection of Commitments: The eight commitments were not chosen at random, but through a systematic and careful selection process designed to produce a representative and multi-dimensional assessment of policy development in the climate change area. Each commitment, if taken in isolation, could at best provide only a partial appraisal of whether a single country is complying with its overall climate commitments made at the summit. But taken together, however, the commitments give a comprehensive picture of individual governments’ performance in addressing anthropocentric climate change, covering alternative and renewable energy production (supply-side policies); sustainable energy use (demand-side policies), such as building codes and product standards, and for the G8 countries, efforts to transfer finance and technology to developing countries in support of climate adaptation, mitigation and forest protection. Timeline: To report compliance, the G8 Research Group operates in compliance cycles. • For the interim report, any policy actions and initiatives that are included in the assessment of compliance should be announced or enacted between the Heiligendamm Summit (June 7-9, 2007) and January 4, 2008. For the final report, any policy actions and initiatives that are included in the assessment of compliance should be announced or enacted between the Heiligendamm Summit (June 7-9, 2007) and June 27, 2007.11
•
However, the degree to which any such policies need to be operationalized (i.e. not merely proposed, but also implemented) depends on the type of policy: For example, a long-term strategy need not be entirely fulfilled in order to count as compliance. Scoring Methodology: Individual compliance is graded on a three-point scale (-1, 0, +1), in which –1 denotes no compliance, +1 denotes full compliance, and 0 denotes some degree of compliance. Thus, a country assigned either 0 or +1 has at least some degree of compliance with the relevant summit commitments. In general terms, no compliance (-1) may be assigned if policy actions are limited to official reaffirmations or statements of intent or support, whereas strong compliance would require budget allocations and new programs of implementation. The criteria used to score each individual commitment are described in detail in the subsequent sections. All judgments should be based on exhaustive empirical data about
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The latter date is tentative.
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government policy (footnoted throughout the report), which are crossreferenced with independent commentary to establish their expected and/or actual policy impact. The resultant scores therefore reflect both the governments’ promises and the material results of their policy actions. Assigning Scores: Most commitments do not specify for countries which particular policies and initiatives they have to introduce and implement in order to secure full compliance. Therefore, given the lack of clarity and specificity that characterize multilateral consensus declarations, including the G8 summit documents, assessing compliance and assigning compliance scores require analysts to use their professional judgement in cases where objective evaluation criteria cannot be used. Yet, notwithstanding this invariable element of subjectivity, these guidelines seek to maximize coherence in assessment methodology by standardizing the evaluation of specific commitments across countries to the extent possible. Furthermore, the nature and implementation of particular policy actions often reflects a country’s distinct constitutional, legal, and institutional processes. Given the diversity of government systems, we should expect government actions, policy initiatives, and timeframes for meeting the summit commitments to differ considerably. Furthermore, contextual factors, such as elections, commodity prices or macroeconomic developments will impact the nature and pace of policy development. As such, there is no standardized cross-national evaluative criterion that can be used to rate compliance since countries are expected to take different steps to comply with the same commitment, particularly those focused on domestic policy actions. Therefore, analysts will bring their professional judgement to bear in order to assess whether a country has achieved compliance with a particular commitment. So even though the manner in which summit commitments are reached are context-dependent and will vary considerably, the extent to which each country has achieved the collectively-endorsed goals contained in each summit commitment can be established across countries. Comparing Scores: In terms of complying with Summit commitments, each country starts off from a different baseline. Therefore, all scores are judged relative to each country’s current policy position. By implication, ‘significant’ progress for one country would not necessary count as significant for another, given their different levels of emissions or support for renewable energy. In fact, the summit commitments themselves implicitly endorse this interpretation, as they commonly focus on process rather than specific targets. Moreover, the time between one summit and another may be insufficient to comply with certain (longer-term) commitments, which analysts should take into consideration. Lastly, dramatically altered international conditions or newly-available knowledge about resolving a particular problem may make compliance with a summit commitment unwise or unfeasible. Where applicable, this would be noted in the analysis. Effect of compliance: Depending on the wording and the intent of the individual commitment negotiated at the summit, it is possible that even full compliance may fail to address the deeper structural problems that the 16
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commitment seeks to solve. Indeed, given the aforementioned limitations with consensus declarations, it is entirely possible that the commitments themselves are too weak and narrow to achieve their stated aspirational goals. For example, a commitment that proposes to achieve deep cuts in GHG emissions by relying solely on voluntary regulation of the private sector may not achieve its objective. But while critiquing the commitments themselves and identifying which policy commitments the G8 should make in order to reach their aspirational goals is valuable, it is beyond the scope of this analysis. Related, whereas one country’s compliance with a commitment would represent progress towards a collectively-held policy goal, it may not materially affect the problem unless other countries comply as well. Indeed, some problems – and anthropocentric climate change may be the best example - require concerted collective action to be solved, and it is precisely this feature which induces countries to address them multilaterally. But since the implementation of summit commitments is done nationally by the respective governments, compliance should be assessed against their own specific commitments, rather than whether their efforts contribute to solving the broader problem.
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Glossary
ACP Africa, Caribbean, Pacific ADEME Environment and Energy Management Agency, France ADF Agence Française du Développement AFREC African Energy Convention AFP Agence France-Presse ALA Asia, Latin-America ANC African National Congress APEC Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation APPCDC Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations BBC British Broadcasting Company BEE Bureau of Energy Efficiency BERR Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise, and Regulatory Reform BNDES Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social / Brazilian National Development Bank CAFE Corporate Average Fuel Economy CCPF Climate Change Partnership Framework CCS Carbon Capture and Storage CCTP Climate Change Technology Programme CCTV Television network of the People's Republic of China CDM Clean Development Mechanism CEC North American Free Trade Agreement’s Commission for Environmental Co-Operation CEF Central Energy Fund CER certified emission reductions CFL compact florescent light bulbs CHOGM Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting CIDA Canadian International Development Agency CIM Comitê Interministerial sobre Mudança do Clima CIPE Inter-ministerial Committee for Economic Planning CSLF Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum CMP Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol CO2 Carbon Dioxide COP Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC COP-13 Thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC MOP 3 Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol CTE Technical Committee on Emissions CTI Coral Triangle Initiative CSA Canadian Space Agency DEAT South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism DEFRA Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs DFID Department for International Development DME Department of Minerals and Energy DMIC Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor DOE Department of Energy DPEF Economic and Financial Programme EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EFA European Free Alliance/Greens EGSA environmental goods and services agreement EIA Environmental Investigation Agency EIB European Investment Bank EPA Environmental Protection Agency EPCA Energy Policy and Conservation Act EPE Energy Policy for Europe EREC European Renewable Energy Council ETF Environmental Transformation Fund ETI Energy Technologies Institute ETP-ZEP European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants EU European Union EU ETS European Union Emissions Trading Scheme FCPF Forest Carbon Partnership Facility FFA Federal Forestry Agency FFEM Fonds Français de l’Environnement Mondial FICCI Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry FLEGT Forest Law Enforcement and Trade FMFA French Ministry of Foreign Affairs FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FoE Friends of the Earth FTC Federal Trade Commission FY fiscal year G7/8 Group of Seven / Eight Nations GAW Global Atmosphere Watch Gcal/h Gigacalorie per hour GCCA Global Climate Change Alliance GCMS Global Carbon Monitoring System GDP Gross Domestic Product GEF Global Environment Facility GHG Greenhouse Gases GW Giga watt HOV High Occupancy Vehicle HM Her Majesty's IBSA India-Brazil-South Africa IGCC Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle IEA International Energy Agency IEPR Integrated Energy Policy Report ITER The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor ITTO International Tropical Timber Organization IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPP independent power producers JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency JI Joint Implementation JISC Joint Implementation Supervision Committee JMA Japanese Meteorological Agency JSE Johannesburg Securities Exchange Kcal Kilo calorie LCS Low Carbon Society 2050 LDCs Least Developed Countries LNG liquefied natural gas LSE London School of Economics LTER The International Long Term Ecological Research Network (Italy) LTPA Legal Timber Protection Act LULUCF land-use, land-use change, and forest degradation M2M Methane to Markets Partnership M2 square metre MEDT Ministry of Economic Development and Trade METI Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry MLIT Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism MOFA Ministry of Foreign Affairs MOST Ministry of Science and Technology MOU Memorandum of Understanding MNP Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency MW Megawatt MWe Megawatts electrical NAAMSA National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa NIES National Institute for Environmental Studies NDRC National Development and Reform Commission NCCCC National Coordination Committee on Climate Change NGO non-governmental organisation NPR National Public Radio
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NZEC Near Zero Emissions Coal ODA Official Development Assistance Ofgem Office of Gas and Electricity Markets OHPGB Office of High-Performance Green Buildings ONERC Observatoire National sur les Effets du Réchauffement Climatique PEMEX Petróleos Mexicanos PCRA Petroleum Conservation Research Association PPM Parts Per Million R&D Research and Development RDA Royal Danish Embassy RO Renewables Obligation ROC Renewables Obligation Certificate Rs. Rupee SA South Africa SABS South African Bureau of Standards SACAN South African Climate Action Network SANERI South African National Energy Research Institute SAWS South African Weather Service SBI State Bank of India SCCF Special Climate Change Fund SDTC Sustainable Development Technology Canada SD-PAM Sustainable development policy and measures SEMAR Secretariat of the Navy/Secretaría de Marina SEMARNAT Department of Environment and Natural Resources SERC State Electricity Regulatory Commission
SET plan Strategic Energy Technology plan SGC Renewable Energy Subsidy Governance Committee SIDS small island developing states SMEs Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises STDC Sustainable Development Technology Canada tCO2 Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide TFCA Tropical Forest Conservation Act TGV Train à Grande Vitesse UES-Russia United Energy Systems – Russia UMP Union pour un Mouvement Populaire UN United Nations UNCCD Convention to combat to combat the desertification in Africa UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNFCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFF7 United Nations Forum on Forests 7 US(A) United States (of America) USAID United States Agency for International Development USDA United States Department of Agriculture VAT Value-added Tax VPA Voluntary Partnership Agreements WDCGC World Date Centre for Greenhouse Gases WMO World Meteorological Organization WRI World Resources Institute WWF World Wildlife Fund for Nature
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Introduction Since the global recession resulting from the oil crisis of 1973, the leaders of the major industrialised countries have been meeting on an annual basis to tackle major economic and political challenges. Since then, energy and energy security have played a core role of the G7/G8 summits since the first meeting of the then six largest industrialised nations in 1975 in Rambouillet (France).12 The G7/G8 integrated environmental issues, beyond energy security, for the first time explicitly in the late 1970s. In 1979, at the G7 Summit in Tokyo, the seven leading economies expressed the urgency to ‘…expand alternative sources of energy, especially those which help to prevent further pollution, particularly increases of carbon dioxide and sulfur oxides in the atmosphere.’13 Over the years, the attention paid to environmental and climate change issues at G8 summits has fluctuated, and experienced an unprecedented peak at the past three summits (Gleneagles (2005), St Petersburg (2006), Heiligendamm (2007).14 The Summit at Heiligendamm in June 2007 saw climate change rise to the top of the G8 agenda.15 German Chancellor Angela Merkel helped forge a new consensus among G8 leaders ‘to take strong and early action to tackle climate change.’16 Moreover, at Heiligendamm participating countries agreed to “consider seriously (…) at least a halving of global emissions by 2050”,17 which, according to Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, has helped “reenergise” the UNFCCC process.18 The G8 stated that a global emission reduction goal must be agreed, involving “all major emitters”.19
Die Energiesackgasse, Greenpeace Gruppe Berlin, (Berlin), 17 October 2006. Date of Access: 30 January 2008. http://www.greenpeaceberlin.de/themen/presse/newsarchiv/newsarchiv/artikel/die-g8energiesackgasse/index.html 13 Kirton, J. and Guebert, J., Compliance with Climate Change Commitments: The G8 Record, 1975–2007. Toronto: G8 Research Group, 13 December 2007, (Toronto). 22 February 2007. http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/evaluations/compliance-climate.html 14 Kirton, J. and Guebert, J., Compliance with Climate Change Commitments: The G8 Record, 1975–2007. Toronto: G8 Research Group, 13 December 2007, (Toronto). Date of Access: 22 February 2007. http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/evaluations/compliance-climate.html 15 Climate Change Tops Agenda at Opening of G-8, NPR, 6 June 2007. Date of Access: 10 February 2008. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10758128 16 G8 Summit Declaration: Growth and Responsibility in the World Economy, (Heiligendamm), 7 June 2007. Date of Access: 10 February 2008. http://www.g8.de/nn_220074/Content/EN/Artikel/__g8-summit/anlagen/2007-06-07-gipfeldokumentwirtschaft-eng.html 17 G8 Summit Declaration: Growth and Responsibility in the World Economy, (Heiligendamm), 7 June 2007. Date of Access: 10 February 2008. http://www.g8.de/nn_220074/Content/EN/Artikel/__g8-summit/anlagen/2007-06-07-gipfeldokumentwirtschaft-eng.html 18 UNFCCC Executive Secretary: G8 document reenergises multilateral climate change process under the United Nations, (Bonn), 7 June 2007. Date of Access: 10 February 2007. http://unfccc.int/files/press/news_room/press_releases_and_advisories/application/pdf/2 0070607_g8_press_release_english.pdf 19 G8 Summit Declaration: Growth and Responsibility in the World Economy, (Heiligendamm), 7 June 2007. Date of Access: 10 February 2008. http://www.g12
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Importantly, this sent a clear signal to the UNFCCC meeting in Bali to immediately launch talks on a post-Kyoto climate change framework.20 Thus, as a UNFCCC press release claims, “the G8 summit in Heiligendamm has paved the way for negotiations in Bali in December and given climate talks under the auspices of the U.N a considerable boost.”21 The US, the only G8 member who has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol, pledged to host a meeting of ‘major energy consuming and greenhouse gas emitting countries,’ which is intended to ‘support [and] report back to the UNFCCC process’.22 Despite low expectations, the second of these talks was successfully held in Hawaii, in late January 2008,23 and just recently, the U.S signaled its willingness to accept binding international obligations to cut its domestic GHG emissions. In December 2007 at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties in Bali (COP 13), delegates negotiated and adopted the Bali Road Map, which charts the course of a new process to negotiate a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, once it expires in 2012. This process is expected to be concluded by 2009, at the COP-15 in Copenhagen, Denmark.24 Apart from the post-2012 framework, the COP 13 reached important agreements on deforestation, adaptation and technology transfer, which are discussed throughout this report.25 Looking ahead, climate change is once again expected to be near the top of the agenda at this year’s G8 summit in Hokkaido, Japan.26 A key priority will be to formulate a proposal for the post-2012 framework.27 In this regard, Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC has stated he hopes that “the Japanese presidency of the G8 can help to develop that concept, and get a clearer understanding of what G8 countries are willing and able to do to help
8.de/nn_220074/Content/EN/Artikel/__g8-summit/anlagen/2007-06-07-gipfeldokumentwirtschaft-eng.html 20 International Action – The G8 and the Gleneagles Dialogue, DEFRA, (London), 7 November 2007. Date of Access: 10 February 2008. http://www.defra.gov.uk/Environment/climatechange/internat/g8/index.htm 21 UNFCCC Executive Secretary: G8 document reenergises multilateral climate change process under the United Nations, (Bonn), 7 June 2007. Date of Access: 10 February 2007. http://unfccc.int/files/press/news_room/press_releases_and_advisories/application/pdf/2 0070607_g8_press_release_english.pdf 22 G8 Summit Declaration: Growth and Responsibility in the World Economy, (Heiligendamm), 7 June 2007. Date of Access: 10 February 2008. http://www.g8.de/nn_220074/Content/EN/Artikel/__g8-summit/anlagen/2007-06-07-gipfeldokumentwirtschaft-eng.html 23 Bush’s climate talks ‘engaging’, BBC, 1 February 2007. Date of Access: 10 February 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7223222.stm 24 COP15 Copenhagen 2009, 8 February 2008. Date of Access: 10 February 2008. http://www.cop15.dk/en/ 25 At a glance: Bali climate deal, BBC, 15 December 2007. Date of Access: 10 February 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7146132.stm 26 ‘Japan eyes 4 key issues for G8 summit, sherpas to begin talks Jan.,’ Kyodo News, 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 10 February 2007. http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/evaluations/2008hokkaido/2008plan/2008plan.html#climate 27 ‘Japan eyes 4 key issues for G8 summit, sherpas to begin talks Jan.,’ Kyodo News, 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 10 February 2007. http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/evaluations/2008hokkaido/2008plan/2008plan.html#climate
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developing countries act on climate change.”28 As Japan was instrumental in the creation of the environmental protocol, de Boer further expects that the Japanese can utilize their political leverage as hosts of the G8 summit in Hokkaido.29 More broadly, the G8 process has over time become an important negotiating forum for the largest and fastest-growing economies to discuss issues related to climate, energy and development. Furthermore, given the growth of China and India as major emitters and the expectation that non-Annex I countries may be included in a future climate treaty, the outcomes of the G8+5 Climate Dialogue may set the agenda for future climate negotiations between and among industrial countries and large, developing countries. In turn, the growing importance of the G8 process in global climate politics, and the recent inclusion of large developing countries in the negotiations, is precisely what provides a strong rationale for producing an in-depth report on whether participating states abide by their climate-related commitments.
28 ‘Japan in key position to tackle climate change: U.N. official,’ Kyodo News, 23 August 2007. Date of Access: 10 February 2007. http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/evaluations/2008hokkaido/2008plan/2008plan.html#climate 29 ‘Japan in key position to tackle climate change: U.N. official,’ Kyodo News, 23 August 2007. Date of Access: 10 February 2007. http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/evaluations/2008hokkaido/2008plan/2008plan.html#climate
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The G8 and the EU
Source: Dagbladet
From left to right: Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prime Minister Romano Prodi, President Vladimir Putin, President Nicolas Sarkozy, Chancellor Angela Merkel, President George Bush, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and EU President Jose Manuel Barroso.
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Canada
Background At the Heiligendamm Summit, the Canadian Government was among the strongest advocates of drastic emissions reductions as a means to stabilise global GHGs. As a measure of its success, the final summit document concluded that the G8 member countries would “consider seriously the decision made by the European Union, Canada and Japan which include at least a halving of global emissions by 2050.”30 Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was particularly pleased with the G8’s expression of intent to continue dialogue with the Outreach 5 countries, claiming that a structured dialogue between the G8 and these key emerging economies was required to address the global challenge of climate change.31 In December 2007 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, the Canadian Government maintained the position that any agreement that represents “an effective global approach to greenhouse gas emissions must have binding targets that apply to all major emitters.”32 Indeed, John Baird, the Minister of the Environment, was determined to reject any future climate change treaty unless it met this condition.33 This stance led many critics to argue that Canada was “poisoning the talks in Bali.”34 The UNDP criticized Canada for its failure to address climate change, concluding that the nation is “all talk” and “no action.” 35 According to one media source, many critics “wondered how a rich country like Canada could abandon its own targets under Kyoto, then demand that developing countries like China and India adopt specific obligations.”36 However, despite these policy positions at both Heiligendamm and Bali, Canada compliance scores vary across its climate-related commitments as set out at Heiligendamm. At home, the Canadian Government has outlined a national strategy to reduce domestic GHG emissions by 60 to 70 percent by
30 ‘Growth and Responsibility in the World Economy’, G8, (Heiligendamm), 7 June 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/summit/2007heiligendamm/index.html 31 The 2007 G8 Summit, Canada’s G8 Website, (Heiligendamm), 8 June 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.g8.gc.ca/G8_Summit-en.asp 32 Speech from the Throne: A Healthy Environment for Canadians, Office of the Prime Minister, (Ottawa), 16 October 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007 http://www.sft-ddt.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1372 33 Canada Calls New UN Agreement an Important First Step, Government of Canada, News Release, (Bali), 15 December 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/news-nouvelles/20071215-eng.cfm 34 Chorus of Condemnation Hits Canada in Bali, TheRecord.com, (Bali), 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://news.therecord.com/article/281054 35 Canada Flounders on Issue of Climate Change, CBC News, 4 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_burman/2007/12/canada_flounders_on_issue_of_c .html 36 Chorus of Condemnation Hits Canada in Bali, TheRecord.com, (Bali), 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://news.therecord.com/article/281054
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2050, with an intermediate reduction target of 20 percent by 2020.37 Yet, while Canada’s policy actions since June 2007 have largely been in the form of official reaffirmations of existing programmes, with few significant steps taken to implement them or introduce new ones. As a result, Canada level of compliance relative to these commitments is considered as work in progress. Team Leader and Analyst: Hilary Millar
Canada 1A. Stabilise GHG Concentrations
Score 0
Throughout its history, Canada has modeled itself as a proponent of multilateral co-operation and environmental stewardship. In 1997, Canada ratified the legally binding Kyoto Protocol to address climate change. Canada renewed its Kyoto obligations at Gleneagles in 200538 and St. Petersburg the following year.39 At the 2007 Heiligendamm Summit, Canada further extended its commitment to the issue of climate change, pledging to halve global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 and take “leadership in tackling climate change”.40 However, despite recent multilateral agreements, Canada has over time incrementally shifted its positions in international negotiations towards one of soft resistance. On 26 April 2007, Canada introduced the “Turning the Corner” Plan, which relies on intensity-based targets and aspires to reduce and stabilise GHG emissions and air pollution by 20 percent by 2020.41 In October 2006, Canada publicly renounced its legally binding commitments to the Kyoto Protocol, establishing itself as the only pariah signatory choosing to opt out.42 This general trend of favoring softer, national targets and policy approaches has continued since the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007.
Speech from the Throne: A Healthy Environment for Canadians, Office of the Prime Minister, (Ottawa), 16 October 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007 http://www.sft-ddt.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1372 38 Chair’s Summary, Gleneagles G8 Summit, (Gleneagles), 8 July 2005. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/summit/2005gleneagles/summary.html. 39 Chair’s Summary, St Petersburg G8 Summit, (St. Petersburg), 17 July 2006. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/summit/2006stpetersburg/summary.html. 40 Chair’s Summary, G8 Research Group , (Toronto), 8 June 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/summit/2007heiligendamm/g8-2007-summary.html. 41 Canada's New Government Announces Mandatory Industrial Targets to Tackle Climate Change and Reduce Air Pollution, Environment Canada, (Ottawa), 26 April 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE1&news=4F2292E9-3EFF-48D3-A7E4-CEFA05D70C21. 42 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol to the Convention, Government of Canada, (Ottawa), 14 April 2006. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. www.ec.gc.ca/international/multilat/unfccc_e.htm.
37
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In August 2007, Canada participated in the Vienna Climate Change Talks sponsored by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Media reports suggested that Canada, along with Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, Russia, deemed 4 °C as an acceptable level of temperature rise, and were blamed for “standing in the way of a binding agreement by watering down calls to limit concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere” that scientists estimated would stabilise global temperatures and prevent an increase of more than 2 °C.43 In September 2007, at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Forum held in Sydney, Australia was again singled out by observers as being a reluctant player and a road block for the climate negotiations. Chinese President Hu Jintao explicitly chastised Canada for its failure to adhere to its Kyoto commitments and alongside the United States, New Zealand and Australia, was criticized for its rejection of legally binding targets to reduce and stabilise GHG emissions. 44 The resulting Sydney Declaration, in which signatories only agreed on a “long-term aspirational global emissions reduction goal” to stabilise and reduce GHG emissions, is evidence of their success in the negotiations.45 However, despite its resistance to internationally-imposed binding reduction targets in some international negotiations, Canada has indicated that it is prepared to take some significant steps to redress the issue of climate change at the national level. On 12 December 2007, Minister Baird declared that Canada intends to establish mandatory regulations across all industrial sectors to reduce “emissions by 20 percent by 2020 and 60 to 70 percent by 2050.”46 He also noted that Canada aspires to cut national levels of air pollution by 50 percent by 2015, and that targeted Canadian industrial sectors including major emitting players such as electricity, oil and gas, pulp and paper, and iron and steel, will be the subject to new GHG emissions disclosure regulations as of 31 May 2008.47 On 10 December 2007, Minister Baird also
on Climate Change, CanWest News Service, (Ottawa), 1 September 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=8d9c90a4-6a87-4f10-a5e4dfd7e1580292&k=14034. 44 Harper Chastised for Spurning Kyoto, CanWest News Service, (Sydney), 9 September 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=e1a5584c-48b2-49e6-9966a24477d3f688&k=73173. 45 Sydney Declaration on Climate Change and Energy, Sydney Morning Herald, (Sydney), 9 September 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.smh.com.au/news/apec/bthedeclarationb/2007/09/09/1189276526002.html?page=2 46 Government of Canada Gets Tough on Climate Change, Environment Canada, (Ottawa), 12 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE-1&news=0F208D84-395E-4E788E6F-CCB906C30F5B. 47 Government of Canada Gets Tough on Climate Change, Environment Canada, (Ottawa), 12 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE-1&news=0F208D84-395E-4E788E6F-CCB906C30F5B.
43 Consensus
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stated that Canada will be providing $85.9 million over a four-year period to assist Canadians in responding to climate change.48 Although Canada has made some progress in addressing the issues and implementing some measures to stabilise GHG concentrations, Canadian GHG emissions continue to rise currently standing at over 35 percent above 1990 levels.49 In addition, according to the 2008 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), which indexes the climate protection performances of the 56 largest emitter countries that produce 90 percent of global GHG emissions, Canada’s dismal ranking (53 out of 56 countries) is demonstrative of its failure to promote effective policies and achieve measurable GHG reductions in comparison with other large emitter countries.50 Thus, in light of Canada’s poor overall performance in taking significant steps to curb GHG emissions and leadership on the issue of climate change, Canada warrants a score of 0, indicating partial compliance with its Heiligendamm commitment to stabilise GHG concentrations. Analyst: James Meers
Canada 1B. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production
Score 0
Yet, in spite of its intent to “put Canada at the forefront of clean technologies to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions”,51 the Government has made little concrete progress to comply with its commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy production by reducing the carbon intensity of traditional fossil-fuel based energy sources and by supporting the expanded production of energy from renewable energy sources. On 3 December 2007, while speaking at the fourth Annual Summit of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, officially announced details and eligibility requirements for the EcoENERGY for Biofuels initiative, which supports the production of renewable alternatives to gasoline and diesel and encourages the development
48 Canada Leading by Example, Environment Canada, (Ottawa), 10 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE1&news=CFF8C320-DF60-4658-9592-4D41497BE838. 49 Baird warns Canadian firms off trading in emissions credits, The Globe and Mail, (Toronto), 22 March 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2007. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070322.wbaird22/BNStory/Nati onal. 50 The Climate Performance Index 2008, Germanwatch, (Berlin), December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.germanwatch.org/klima/ccpi2008.pdf 51 Speech from the Throne, 16 October 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.sftddt.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1364
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of a competitive domestic industry for renewable fuels.52 EcoENERGY for Biofuels will invest up to $1.5 billion over 9 years in support of biofuels production in Canada. This programme administered by Natural Resource Canada runs from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2017.53 The announcement follows the launch, on 12 September 2007, of the NextGen Biofuels Fund™.54 This new fund, with $500 million in funding provided by the Canadian Government, is managed by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and supports the establishment of first-of-kind large demonstrationscale facilities for the production of next-generation renewable fuels. As for information provision about less emission-intensive energy production, the Government officially launched, on 11 December 2007, the latest version of the RETScreen International Clean Energy Project Analysis Software. The RETScreen software, available free-of-charge to industry and the public, is a software tool developed to help decision makers assess the viability of clean energy options.55 On 12 December 2007, Canada took a step forward in its plan to enforce new regulations on industry, including the electricity and oil and gas sectors, to reduce GHGs emissions.56 Minister Baird announced at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali that the Government of Canada had formally advised industry of new requirements to submit air emission data by 31 May 2008, thus moving forward with its Regulatory Framework for Air Emissions launched in April 2007. 57 The information that industry is being ordered to submit will be used to draft final regulations, which will be published later in 2008. These initiatives notwithstanding, there has been less progress in strengthening the implementation of existing programmes. The EcoENERGY for Renewable Power programme is an important factor in growing the lowimpact renewable energy sector in Canada, yet has not been significantly
“Government of Canada calls in industry to participate in new biofuels initiative”, Government of Canada, News Release, 3 December 2007. Date of Access : 3 January 2008. http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/news-nouvelles/20071203-eng.cfm. Also see: http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/ecoenergy-ecoenergie/biofuelsincentive-incitatifsbiocarburantseng.cfm 53 Natural Resources Canada website. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/ecoenergy-biofuels/index.cfm?attr=16 54 “$500M Fund Launched to Support Next-Generation Renewable Fuels”, STDC, News Release, 12 September 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://www.sdtc.ca/en/news/media_releases/media_12092007.htm 55 “Canada launches clean energy software”, Government of Canada, News Release, 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/newsnouvelles/20071211-eng.cfm 56 “Government of Canada gets tough on climate change: orders industry to submit air emissions information”, Government of Canada, News release, 12 December 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE1&news=0F208D84-395E-4E78-8E6F-CCB906C30F5B 57 “Canada's new government announces mandatory industrial targets to tackle climate change and reduce air pollution”, Government of Canada, News Release, 26 April 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE1&news=4F2292E9-3EFF-48D3-A7E4-CEFA05D70C21
52
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updated, nor improved, since its inception in January 2007.58 In addition, according to the Pimbina Institute, the current programme’s objective is quite modest given Canada’s vast renewable energy potential and the need for a massive scale-up of efforts to reduce GHG emissions.59 Furthermore, the projected rapid development of Alberta’s oil sands over the next several years is set to add tens of megatonnes (Mt) of GHG emissions to Canada’s current total. Despite this apparent conflict, the Government has not yet responded to a call from the Federal Commissioner for Environment and Sustainable Development to “clearly state how it intends to reconcile the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions against expected growth in the oil and gas sector.”60 In sum, the Canadian Government has only partially complied with its commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy production. While several ongoing commitments highlight the Government’s interest in fostering the use of “sustainable, less carbon intensive, clean energy and climatefriendly technologies in all areas of energy production”, there has been insufficient action since the Heiligendamm G8 Summit to justify a positive compliance score. Analyst: Dominique Henri
Canada 1C. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Consumption
Score 0
The commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy consumption addresses efforts to increase demand-side energy efficiency in areas such as buildings, appliances, transport, and industry. In this assessment, Canada receives a score of 0, reflecting a partial compliance with its Heiligendamm commitment. On the basis for policy statements and affirmation, there is evidence that Canada is recognizing the potential for increasing energyefficiency in the domestic economy and developing policy actions to address the challenge, particularly in the automobile sector. However, while the Canadian Government has established programmes to promote efficient energy use through demand-side intervention, primarily through its Office of
ecoENERGY for Renewable Power, Government of Canada, 21 October 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/ecoenergy-ecoenergie/powerelectricite/index-eng.cfm 59 Whitmore, J. and M. Bramley, Evaluation of the Government of Canada’s greenhouse gas reduction policies, prepared for the Climate Change Performance Index 2008, Pembina Institute, November 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://pubs.pembina.org/reports/CCPI-2008.pdf 60 2006 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the House of Commons. Chapter 3. Reducing greenhouse gases emitted during energy production and consumption, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2006. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://www.oagbvg.gc.ca/domino/reports.nsf/html/c20060903ce.html/$file/c20060903ce.pdf
58
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Energy Efficiency within the Department of Natural Resources, steps taken to strengthen or supplement these programmes have been generally limited since the Heiligendamm Summit. The domestic industrial sector offers significant opportunity for increased energy efficiency. On 25 September 2007, at the annual meeting of Canada’s Council of Energy Ministers, the Ministers agreed that Canada possesses the potential to reduce domestic energy demand to equal almost 25 percent of today’s energy use by 2030.61 On 11 December 2007, the Government launched the latest version of RETScreen, a software used to inform the industrial sector of clean energy options.62 While the software has typically dealt with renewable energy options, the updated version also supplies information about energy efficiency. In light of these announcements, it is clear that some steps have been taken to improve energy efficiency in the industrial sector. However, beyond the declaration of intent to employ new regulations, policy actions to strengthen the actual implementation of energy efficiency regulations during the assessment period is limited.63 In addressing domestic energy consumption, the Government has made the longest strides in the automobiles sector. In a speech delivered on 5 December 2007, Minister Baird announced the Government’s intention to devise a national strategy to impose mandatory standards aimed at reducing GHG emissions across the transportation sector, including automobiles, rail, marine and air. However, the Government has yet to provide a timeframe for when these standards would be implemented.64 On 7 December 2007, the Government updated its list of vehicles for the 2008 model year that are eligible for the pre-existing ecoAUTO Rebate Programme. The Rebate Programme serves to provide consumer incentives for new, fuel-efficient vehicles.65 This programme and similar voluntary measures are being put in place to influence consumer choices before new, mandatory standards are implemented in the 2011 model year.66 Significantly, on 7 November 2007, the Motor Vehicle Fuel Consumption Standards Act was proclaimed into law,
Ministers’ Conference: Collaborating on Canada’s Energy Future, Government of Canada, News Release, (Whistler, B.C.), 25 September 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/news-nouvelles/20070925-eng.cfm 62 Canada Launches Clean Energy Software, Government of Canada, News Releases, 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/newsnouvelles/20071211-eng.cfm 63 Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations, Natural Resources Canada, (Ottawa), 28 August 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/regulations/home_page.cfm?attr=24 64 Speech by the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment at the Economic Club of Toronto, E Environment Canada, (Ottawa), 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=6F2DE1CA-1&news=B593A1B8-57D2408085C8-542C6017EA0E. 65 List of 2008 Model Year Vehicles Eligible for the EcoAUTO Rebate Programme, Transport Canada, (Ottawa), 7 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/nat/2007/07-h238e.htm 66 ecoAUTO Rebate Programme Application Form Now Available, Government of Canada, News Release, (Ottawa), 1 October 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/news-nouvelles/20071001-eng.cfm
61Energy
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serving to regulate the fuel efficiency of vehicles and representing an important step toward the beginning of mandatory regulation.67 In terms of energy efficiency in the building sector, the most significant programme is EcoENERGY Retrofit Grants and Incentives, launched on 1 April 2007 and ischeduled to finish on 31 March 2011.68 According to Natural Resources Canada, the Government is working to “encourage the adoption of more stringent energy codes” as well as “consulting with experts to develop a rating and labeling system for new and existing buildings.”69 On 20 June 2007, Gary Lunn, the Minister of Natural Resources, announced a $5 million initiative to update the Model National Energy Code for Buildings, complementing the Government’s ecoENERGY Initiatives. 70 The updated code will “establish minimum requirements to construct buildings” and is set to be published in 2012.71 The Canadian Government has also taken action in addressing the issue of standby power to increase energy efficiency in consumer appliances. In June 2007, the Government announced the launch of the Standby Power Advisory Committee, which offers an opportunity for stakeholders to act in a consultancy role with the Government to reduce standby power consumption.72 Furthermore, on 23 July 2007, the Government announced that it will establish energy-efficiency regulations to “limit the amount of power consumed by products in standby mode,” remaining consistent with the priorities highlighted by the IEA.73 Accordingly, the plan to implement the regulations will occur in two phases, starting in 2008 with regards to consumer electronic products, followed by more ‘stringent’ standards in 2010.74 In light of this assessment, Canada receives a score of 0, reflecting partial compliance with the Heiligendamm commitment. Notably, there is evidence
Motor Vehicle Fuel Consumption Standards Act Proclaimed, Government of Canada, News Release, (Ottawa), 7 November 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/news-nouvelles/20071107-eng.cfm 68 ecoENERGY Retrofit Grants and Incentives, Natural Resources Canada, (Ottawa), 16 July 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/retrofitsummary.cfm?attr=0 69 Programmes and Initiatives, Natural Resources Canada, (Ottawa), 8 August 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/programs.cfm?attr=0#buildings-and-houses 70 Canada’s New Government Invests $5 Million to Update Model National Energy Code for Buildings, Government of Canada, New Releases, (Ottawa), 20 June 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/news-nouvelles/20070620-1-eng.cfm 71 Canada’s New Government Invests $5 Million to Update Model National Energy Code for Buildings, Government of Canada, New Releases, (Ottawa), 20 June 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/news-nouvelles/20070620-1-eng.cfm 72 Canada’s New Government Targets Standby Power to Help Consumers Save EnergyBackgrounder, Government of Canada, News Release, (Ottawa), 23 July 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/news-nouvelles/20070723-1-eng.cfm 73 Canada’s New Government Targets Standby Power to Help Consumers Save Energy, Government of Canada, News Release, (Victoria), 23 July 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/news-nouvelles/20070723-eng.cfm 74 Canada’s New Government Targets Standby Power to Help Consumers Save Energy, Government of Canada, News Release, (Victoria), 23 July 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/news-nouvelles/20070723-eng.cfm
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of new initiatives in areas such as transport and appliance energy efficiency. However, while there are numerous declarations of intent for future projects, the actual implementation of regulations has not occurred within the assessment period, and will only take place in 2-3 years. Nonetheless, these declarations, combined with the strength of existing energy efficiency programmes, do reflect an intention to move beyond the official announcement phase and into a period of regulation implementation. Analyst: Hilary Millar
Canada 1D. Support for Climate Adaptation/Mitigation in DCs
Score 0
Canada is assessed to be partially in compliance with its commitment to support climate adaptation in developing countries. This is based on the Government’s commitment to assist in generating information and data about vulnerability to climate change and implement climate adaptation projects in developing countries. Canada has improved its capacity to generate information about climate impacts and vulnerabilities. On the project implementation side, the Canadian Government has provided substantial new funding for multilateral development projects since the G8 summit at Heiligendamn, including a project to improve Chile’s collection of climate change data. However, few new bilateral projects have been developed since this commitment was made. Successful adaptation to climate change requires timely and accurate information. Canada has upheld its commitment to assist in generating information and data to assess vulnerability to climate change. Data related to climate change are collected by the RADARSAT-1 satellite, developed by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).75 It is equipped with remote sensing capabilities and measures surface textures, ground cover, and moisture levels to monitor the impacts of climate change.76 On 26 July 2007, Canada and Chile signed a memorandum of understanding to develop land information systems using Canadian technology and expertise.77 This cooperation will help Chile build capacity to adapt to climate change in a number of sectors, including mineral development, forestry, and agriculture.78 On 14 December
RADARSAT-1, Canadian Space Agency, (Longueuil), 4 November 2004. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/satellites/radarsat1/default.asp 76 A Sampling of Projects at CIDA, Canadian International Development Agency, (Ottawa), 11 November 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.acdicida.gc.ca/CIDAWEB/acdicida.nsf/En/EMA-218125632-P53 77 Canada’s New Government Strengthens Ties with Chile with Mapping Agreement, Natural Resources Canada, (Ottawa), 26 July 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/media/newsreleases/2007/200772_e.htm 78 Canada’s New Government Strengthens Ties with Chile with Mapping Agreement, Natural Resources Canada, (Ottawa), 26 July 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/media/newsreleases/2007/200772_e.htm
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2007, the CSA launched RADARSAT-2, further expanding Canada’s data collection capabilities.79 In addition, the Government has provided support for the implementation of climate adaptation projects through bilateral adaptation projects developed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). On 26 November 2007, Prime Minister Harper announced the Initiative to Save a Million Lives, aimed at strengthening health systems in Africa.80 Canada would provide $105 million over 5 years to the multilateral initiative, which targets malaria and malnutrition,81 both climate-related diseases. On 30 November 2007, CIDA announced new funded development projects managed by Canadian universities, three of which target the adaptation to climate change impacts. These include building a national strategy in forestry and agricultural management in Mali,82 a sustainability project in Bangladesh,83 and a water management project in Bolivia.84 Finally, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference of December 2007 in Bali, Minister Baird announced a voluntary $7.5 million contribution to the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF),85 which assesses and finances adaptation projects. This new contribution brings Canada’s total contributions to $13.5 million, second only to the U.K.86 The SCCF is run by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), on which Canada has a seat and provides scientific and technical advice on programmes.87 On 13 December 2007, Minister Baird announced another $1.5 million contribution to the
Successful Launch of RADARSAT-2, Canadian Space Agency, (Longueuil), 14 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/media/news_releases/2007/1214.asp 80 PM Launches Initiative to Save a Million Lives, Office of the Prime Minister, (Ottawa), 26 November 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1911 81 PM Launches Initiative to Save a Million Lives, Office of the Prime Minister, (Ottawa), 26 November 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1911 82 The Government of Canada Supports Université Laval in a Development Project in Mali, Canadian International Development Agency, (Ottawa), 30 November 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/CIDAWEB/acdicida.nsf/En/ANI-1130114913MQT 83 The Government of Canada Supports Canadian University to Deliver Development Aid Projects, Canadian International Development Agency, (Ottawa), 16 November 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/CIDAWEB/acdicida.nsf/En/NAT1116113644-MGZ 84 Canada Supports the University of Calgary in a Development Project in Bolivia, Canadian International Development Agency, (Ottawa), 16 November 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/CIDAWEB/acdicida.nsf/En/NAT-1116112056-M75 85 Canada Takes Action to Help Developing Countries Fight Climate Change, Environment Canada, (Ottawa), 10 December 2007. Date of Access 3 January 2008. http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE-1&news=323B0F50-9F66-424AAF64-34EDBFB1A461 86 Backgrounder: Canada Enhances its Support to the Special Climate Change Fund for Developing Countries, Environment Canada, (Ottawa), 19 March 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE-1&news=27C1A28F4BE5-475C-A32E-7F90E5F00D5B 87 United Nations Organizations/Agencies: Global Environment Facility (GEF), Environment Canada, (Ottawa), 27 April 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.ec.gc.ca/international/unorgs/gef_e.htm
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Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), providing additional incentives for the private sector to invest in environmentally friendly projects in the developing world.88 In summary, as a leader in the earth sciences, Canada assists in generating information and data to assess vulnerability to climate change. In addition, CIDA’s development projects and federal financial support to international adaptation funds demonstrate Canada’s commitment to implement adaptation projects. However, while Canada’s international commitments have grown, the Government has developed few bilateral projects focusing on climate adaptation. Furthermore, it has not put any particular emphasis on directing expertise and resources toward developing countries. On this basis, Canada is judged only to be partially compliant with its commitment to support climate adaptation in developing countries. Analyst: Tess Lorriman
Canada 1E. Reducing GHG Emissions by Curbing Deforestation
Score 0
Canada is home to almost 25 percent of the world’s remaining boreal forest. Yet, since the G8 summit, the Canada Government’s activities on curbing deforestation have largely been limited to official reaffirmations of the commitments it made at Heiligendamm in June 2007. Although some forested areas have been protected in northern Canada and a small number of projects have included assistance to developing countries in protecting their forests (albeit tangentially in some cases), Canada has only partially fulfilled its Heiligendamm commitments and thus receives a score of 0. In October 2007, the Government announced it was moving to protect some of the nation’s vast boreal forests. On 17 October 2007, in the Speech from the Throne, the Government noted that it was working on a “massive expansion” of the Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories,89 increasing it more than five-fold in size from its current 4766 square kilometres.90 The enlargement of Nahanni, however, followed on commitments made in January 2007 and thereby implemented promises made prior to the Heiligendamm Summit. In addition, on 21 November 2007, Minister Baird announced the withdrawal of over 100,000 square kilometres of boreal forest from industrial development at two additional sites in the
88 Canada Demonstrates Commitment to UN Clean Development Mechanism, Government of Canada ecoAction, (Ottawa), 13 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/news-nouvelles/20071213-eng.cfm 89 Speech from the Throne, Government of Canada, (Ottawa), 16 October 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.sft-ddt.gc.ca/grfx/docs/sftddt-e.pdf 90 Taking Care of Naha Dehé: A Proposal to Expand Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada, Parks Canada, (Ottawa), Summer 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/nahanni/images/lrnewsletter1_e.pdf
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Northwest Territories, which according to one media source, amounted to “the largest land withdrawal for interim protection in Canadian history.”91 The commitments at Heiligendamm, however, were focused primarily on helping developing countries to protect their forests, and in this area Canada’s actions were of a more limited nature. On 28 June 2007, the Government announced a project in Michoacan, Mexico, implemented through the North American Free Trade Agreement’s Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). While the project contributed to reducing GHG emissions by carbon dioxide keeping Mexican forests intact, its chief purpose was to protect the habitat of the monarch butterfly whose winter nesting grounds are threatened by illegal logging.92 On 26 July 2007, Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, announced a mapping agreement with Chile intended to share Canada’s knowledge in geospatial information systems in, among other areas, forest management, and to “facilitate collaboration in developing these systems further in Chile.”93 On 1 August 2007, at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Canada Post-Ministerial Conference in Manila, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Leonard Edwards met with ASEAN ministers to adopt the Second ASEAN-Canada Joint Cooperation Work Plan for 2007-2010, which included commitments to “examine scope for exchange of information on climate change, including land use, land use change and forestry”; to “promote and develop cooperation . . . in areas such as . . . sustainable forest management”; and to “promote networking between government authorities” on forestry.94 Subsequently, on 21 August 2007, Canada announced a “Joint Action Plan for 2007-2008” with Mexico “to further enhance . . . bilateral collaboration” in, among other areas, forestry.95 As part of the agreement, the Government stated that a new bilateral Working Group would be established under the Canada-Mexico Partnership to advance cooperation on the environment and sustainable forest management, including training in forest conservation. In November 2007, the Canadian Model Forest Network of Natural Resources Canada (the federal ministry of natural resources) announced that it would be sharing its knowledge in sustainable forest management by hosting the next International Model Forest Network Global Forum, in Alberta in June 2008.96
Government of Canada Takes Landmark Action to Conserve Canada’s North, Parks Canada, (Ottawa), 21 November 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://news.gc.ca/web/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=362739& 92 Canada, Mexico Unite to Save Monarch Butterfly Habitat, CBC News, (Toronto), 28 June 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://origin.www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/06/28/mexico-butterfly-070628.html 93 Notes for a Speech by The Honourable Gary Lunn on Announcement of Mapping Agreement with Chile, (Santiago), 26 July 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/media/speeches/2007/200776_e.htm 94 2nd ASEAN-Canada Joint Cooperation Work Plan (2007-10), (Manila), 1 August 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.aseansec.org/20800.pdf 95 Canada and Mexico: A Joint Action Plan for 2007-2008, (Ottawa), 21 August 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/mexicocity/news/Bilateralpercent20Actionpercent20Planpercent20finalpercent2020aug-en.pdf 96 International Model Forest Network Global Forum 2008, Natural Resources Canada – Canadian Forest Service, (Ottawa). Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.modelforest.net/cmfn/en/news_events/events/events_record.aspx?title_id=479 7
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Despite the commitments made in the agreements mentioned above, only one project specifically focused on deforestation in developing countries appears to be mentioned on governmental web sites. In a document dated 26 October 2007, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) briefly describes its proposed Central Africa Regional Tropical Forest Management Programme, which would aim to help protect Central Africa’s forests through sustainable forest management and community engagement, with the aim of “conservation and regeneration of the tree cover.” 97 Monitoring is to be done in cooperation with recipient governments and other donor nations in the Congo Basin Forest Partnership. Similar projects will likely be implemented through the World Bank’s new Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, announced in October 2007 and officially launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali in December 2007, though it is not yet clear what Canada’s contribution may be.98 Following Heiligendamm, Canada reiterated its commitments on deforestation and sustainable forest management at a number of other international fora. In the week following the G8 summit, Canada joined officials from 30 countries for a four-day informal meeting on climate change hosted by Sweden in the town of Riksgransen, where ministers discussed further action on deforestation and agreed that this issue should receive urgent attention.99 At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in Sydney in September 2007, Canada signed a final declaration that cited forests as one of the issues that “must underpin an equitable and effective post-2012 international climate change arrangement.”100 The declaration also announced an “Action Agenda” that included commitments to “work to achieve an APEC-wide aspirational goal of increasing forest cover in the [APEC] region by at least 20 million hectares of all types of forests by 2020” and to “establish an Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation to enhance capacity building and strengthen information sharing in the forestry sector,” which would include collaboration with other regional initiatives such as the Asia Forest Partnership. Following the APEC meeting, Prime Minister Harper made a “Joint Statement on Climate and Energy” with Australian Prime Minister John Howard in Canberra that committed to “promot[ing] enhanced implementation of sustainable forest management, including the link between sustainable
Central Africa Regional Tropical Forest Management Programme, Canadian International Development Agency, (Ottawa), 26 October 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/CIDAWEB/acdicida.nsf/En/NAT-10259514-J9G 98 Two New World Bank Carbon Facilities Will Help Fight Climate Change and Deforestation, World Bank, (Washington), 11 October 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://go.worldbank.org/IDLC46JNT0. 99 Informal Talks Help Ministers Shape New Climate Regime, Environment News Service, (Riksgransen, Sweden), 15 June 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.ensnewswire.com/ens/jun2007/2007-06-15-03.asp. 100 Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, (Sydney), 9 September 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.apec.org/apec/leaders__declarations/2007/aelm_climatechange.html.
97
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management of forests and climate change.”101 In the statement, Canada highlighted “its interest in achieving agreement of like-minded countries on a Legally-binding Instrument on Sustainable Forest Management.” Canada had earlier participated in the High-Level Meeting of 63 countries under Australia’s Global Initiative on Forests and Climate in Sydney in July 2007, aimed at “significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions through projects to tackle deforestation.”102 In the Joint Statement in September 2007, Canada committed with Australia to “explore actively working together on the Global Initiative on Forest and Climate”103 (though this appears to be the only mention of the Global Initiative on any Canadian Government Web site). Finally, at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali in December, Canada was among the countries calling for deforestation to be part of the framework for a post-2012 climate change agreement.104 Canada’s actions since the G8 summit to protect forests domestically have provided a boost to efforts to reduce deforestation in Canada’s vast boreal forests, but efforts to help reduce deforestation in developing countries, which received greater emphasis in the Heiligendamm commitments, have been more limited. Reiterations of Canada’s commitment to work with developing countries to promote sustainable forest management have been important but represent only a start. More will need to be done in the coming months to achieve full compliance with the commitments made in Heiligendamm, and as a result of this shortcoming, Canada receives only a score of partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Aaron Holdway
Backgrounder - Australia and Canada - Joint Statement on Climate Change and Energy, Office of the Prime Minister, (Ottawa), 11 September 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.pm.gc.ca/includes/send_friend_eMail_print.asp?id=1820 102 Global Initiative on Forests and Climate, Government of Australia, Department of Climate Change, (Canberra), 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/international/forests/pubs/gifc-booklet.pdf 103 Backgrounder - Australia and Canada - Joint Statement on Climate Change and Energy, Office of the Prime Minister, (Ottawa), 11 September 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.pm.gc.ca/includes/send_friend_eMail_print.asp?id=1820 104 Earth Negotiations Bulletin: COP 13 and COP/MOP 3 Highlights: Tuesday, 4 December 2007, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Reporting Services, (Nusa Dua, Indonesia), 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.iisd.ca/download/pdf/enb12345e.pdf
101
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European Union
Background The EU is a diffuse set of institutions, with policy making dispersed among multiple levels of governance and between different actors. Key institutions of the EU include the European Council, comprised of heads of state or government of the member states, the Council of Ministers of the European Union, comprised of government ministers of the member states, the European Commission, comprised of individuals nominated by the governments of the member states and approved by the European Parliament, and the European Parliament itself, with members who are elected every five years.105 The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union share the responsibility of enacting European legislation, while the European Commission has sole right to initiate legislation.106 The European Commission is also responsible for ensuring that member states abide by the European legislation, and can initiate legal proceedings against those that do not comply in the European Court of Justice.107 In the G8 process, the European Union is represented by the President of the European Commission and the leader of the country that holds the Presidency of the European Union. While policy-making often occurs at the level of the EU institutions, implementation is ultimately a matter for EU member states, making compliance with G8 commitments necessarily difficult to assess.108 In general terms, the most notable action undertaken by the EU during the compliance period was in conjunction with the United National Climate Change Conference in Bali 3-14 December 2007. On 30 October 2007, the European Commission presented a list of goals for the Bali negotiations, which according to Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas provided evidence of the fact that “the EU has broken the link between economic growth and CO2 emissions”.109
How is the EU Organised?, European Union, (Brussels). Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://europa.eu/abc/panorama/howorganised/index_en.htm. 106 How is the EU Organised?, European Union, (Brussels). Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://europa.eu/abc/panorama/howorganised/index_en.htm. 107 The EU currently comprises Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.107 Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Turkey are currently candidate countries. See How is the EU Organised?, European Union, (Brussels). Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://europa.eu/abc/panorama/howorganised/index_en.htm. 108 European Countries, European Union, (Brussels). Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://europa.eu/abc/european_countries/index_en.htm. 109 EU Seeks Global Road map at Bali Climate Talks, Euractiv, 3 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.euractiv.com/en/climate-change/eu-seeks-globalroadmap-bali-climate-talks/article-168715
105
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On 23 January 2008, the European Commission launched a comprehensive package of measures which by far constitutes the most ambitious climate action plan among G8 members.110 These proposals build on the conclusions of the European Council meeting of March 2007, and it is hoped that overall agreement will be reached on the European Commission’s proposals by the end of 2008.111 For this and other reasons, the EU has registered significant, but not complete, compliance with the five commitment areas analyzed in this report. Team Leader and Analyst: Diarmuid Torney
European Union 1A. Stabilise GHG Concentrations
Score +1
With ambitious binding domestic targets for the stabilisation of greenhouse gases (GHG) and significant internal legislation, funding and international actions to back them up, the EU is becoming a global leader in the fight against climate change. The EU’s official policy goal is to limit global warming to no more than 2°C above pre-industrial temperatures.112 According to the European Commission, this aim is most likely to be met if concentrations of atmospheric GHG are kept at a lower level than 550 ppm CO2 eq.113 In order to limit concentrations at this level, EU member states have among themselves agreed to a set of binding targets for 2020, requiring a 20 percent cut in GHG emissions from 1990 levels, or alternatively, a 30 percent cut provided that other developed – and economically advanced developing – countries also make significant commitments.114 At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, moreover, the EU proposed that
Boosting Growth and Jobs by Meeting our Climate Change Commitments, European Commission, (Brussels), 23 January 2008. Date of Access: 28 January 2008. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/80&format=HTML&aged =0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en 111 Building a Global Low-Carbon Economy, European Commission, (Brussels), 23 January 2008. Date of Access: 28 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/president/focus/energy-package2008/index_en.htm#press 112 Climate change and the EU’s Response, memo/07/515, European Union, (Brussels), 27 November 2007. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/515&format=HTML& aged=0percent3Cuage=EN&guiLanguage=en 113 Winning the Battle Against Global Climate Change, memo/05/42, European Union, (Brussels), 9 February 2005. Date of Access 14 December 2007. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/42&format=HTML&a ged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en 114 Agreement from the 2826th Meeting of Council of European Union, 14178/07, Council of the European Union, (Brussels), 30 October 2007. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/envir/96961.pdf
110
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developed countries collectively reduce emissions by 60 to 80 percent by 2050 compared with 1990 levels.115 In evaluating the EU’s compliance with this commitment, it is important to note that the EU has already taken significant steps to implement long-term initiatives in order to stabilise GHG concentrations, some of which were referenced in last year’s report.116 Most ambitiously, these policies include the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) (including its use of Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation credits), which restricts CO2 emissions from some 10,500 energy-intensive installations in the power generation and manufacturing industry. Under the umbrella of the European Climate Change Programme, it has issued requirements to promote electricity produced from renewables (including biofuels); minimum energy performance standards for buildings; energy efficiency labelling requirements; energy efficiency requirements for industrial and agricultural instalments; funding forest management and natural forest expansion; major steps – including research funding - towards encouraging innovative energy technologies in hydrocarbon production and use; minimum tax rates for energy products; international energy initiatives; as well as various public awareness campaigns.117 The EU has initiated numerous European and international policy actions related to stabilising GHG emissions. First, the European Commission has proposed to build a Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) between the EU and poor developing countries (for details see section 1D).118 And related, the European Commission entered into the International Carbon Action Partnership to share experiences and best practices with other governments and public authorities on the design of emission trading schemes. 119 Within the EU, the Council of Ministers invited the European Commission to come forward with a legislative proposal containing the necessary amendments to
Winning the Battle Against Global Climate Change, memo/05/42, European Union, (Brussels), 9 February 2005. Date of Access 14 December 2007. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesction.do?reference=MEMO/05/42&format=HTML&ag ed=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en 116 Governing Global Climate Change: St. Petersburg Final Compliance Report, G8 Research Group – Oxford Branch, (Oxford), 2007. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/evaluations/2006compliance_final/2006_g8compliance_final.p df 117 The European Climate Change Programme, European Commission, (Brussels), 2006. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/pdf/eu_climate_change_progr.pdf 118 Commission Proposes a Global Alliance to Help Developing Countries Most Affected by Climate Change, European Commission, (Brussels), 18 September 2007. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1352&format=HTML&age d=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en 119 Nations, States, Provinces Announce Carbon Markets Partnership to Reduce Global Warming, International Carbon Action Partnership, 29 October 2007. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://www.icapcarbonaction.com/pr20071029.htm
115
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the EU ETS Directive with a view to increasing the transparency of the EU ETS as well as strengthening and broadening its scope.120 On 23 January 2008, the European Commission launched a comprehensive package of renewable and climate action measures tailored to each member state.121 This includes an extension of the EU ETS to include all greenhouse gases and all major industrial emitters and an overall reduction in emissions under the EU ETS of 21percent by 2020 compared with 2005. From the beginning of the new regime in 2013 quotas will be auctioned to the power sector and gradually other sectors will have to buy their emission allowances as well. The substantial revenues expected from the auctioning are to support innovation in climate friendly technologies as well as helping developing countries adapt to climate change. The package furthermore requires a reduction in emissions from sectors not covered by the EU ETS – such as buildings, transport, agriculture, and waste - of 10 percent by 2020 compared with 2005 levels. Finally, the package includes legally enforceable targets for renewable energy for each member state and a minimum target of 10percent for use of biofuels in transport by 2020. Combined, these and other planned policies are estimated to allow EU15 countries to meet, and perhaps even exceed, their combined 2012 Kyoto target of reducing GHG emissions to 8percent below 1990 levels.122 In summary, the EU’s ambitious binding targets backed by internal legislation, funding and international actions means the EU is assessed to be in full compliance with its commitment of stabilising GHG emissions. Analyst: Lauge Skovgaard Poulsen
European Union 1B. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production
Score +1
The EU has registered significant compliance with the commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy production. Among the main initiatives by the European Commission were the publication of a Strategic Energy Technology plan, the allocation of 470 million to the proposed
120 Review of the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme, European Commission, (Brussels), 4 July 2007. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/07/st11/st11429.en07.pdf 121 Boosting Growth and Jobs by Meeting our Climate Change Commitments, European Commission, (Brussels), 23 January 2008. Date of Access: 28 January 2008. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/80&format=HTML&aged =0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en 122 Greenhouse Gas Emission Trends and Projections in Europe 2007: Tracking Progress Towards Kyoto Targets, European Environmental Agency, (Copenhagen), 2007. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://reports.eea.europa.eu/eea_report_2007_5/en/Greenhouse_gas_emission_trends_an d_projections_in_Europe_2007.pdf
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public-private partnership ‘Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative’, and a new legislative package on the unbundling of gas and electricity networks from suppliers, lowering barriers for new entrants (e.g. renewable energy companies). Moreover, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has increased its target for investment in renewable energy projects to 600-800 million per annum. On 23 January 2008, the European Commission announced, as part of its broader package of climate measures, that from 2013 the European power sector would face full auctioning of emission credits under a revision of the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS), as part of a goal of reducing emissions from sectors covered by the EU ETS by 21 percent by 2020 compared with 2005 levels.123 Furthermore the package of measures also included a proposal to establish legally binding national targets for the share of renewables in total energy consumption, with the aim of achieving the previously-established target of 20 percent of total consumption by 2020.124 A starting point for the EU’s new ‘integrated climate and energy policy’ is the Energy Policy for Europe (EPE).125 The key objectives of the EPE are: (1) increasing security of energy supply; (2) ensuring the competitiveness of European economies and the availability of affordable energy; (3) promoting environmental sustainability and combating climate change. Regarding renewables, the so-called Renewable Energy Road Map,126 contains several binding targets, including that 20 percent of overall EU energy consumption by 2020 should come from renewables.127 As part of the EPE, the European Council has adopted an Energy Action Plan for the period 2007-2009,128 which includes the aim of completing the EU’s internal market for gas and electricity, and a European Strategic Energy Technology plan establishing new energy research on how to deploy low-carbon intensive technologies, including environmentally safe Carbon Capture and Sequestration. 129
123 Boosting Growth and Jobs by Meeting our Climate Change Commitments, European Commission, (Brussels), 23 January 2008. Date of Access: 28 January 2008. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/80&format=HTML&aged =0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en 124 Boosting Growth and Jobs by Meeting our Climate Change Commitments, European Commission, (Brussels), 23 January 2008. Date of Access: 28 January 2008. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/80&format=HTML&aged =0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en 125 An Energy Policy for Europe, European Commission, (Brussels), 10 January 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2007/com2007_0001en01.pdf. 126 Renewable Energy Road Map, European Commission, (Brussels), 10 January 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/energy_policy/doc/03_renewable_energy_roadmap_en.pdf. 127 Presidency Conclusions of the Brussels European Council, Council of the European Union, (Brussels), 9 March 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=DOC/07/1&format=HTML&aged =1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en. 128 Presidency Conclusions of the Brussels European Council, Council of the European Union, (Brussels), 9 March 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=DOC/07/1&format=HTML&aged =1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en. 129 Commission Welcomes Council’s Support to Accelerate Energy Technologies for a LowCarbon Future, European Commission, (Brussels), 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 14
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Regarding the securing of energy supplies, the European Commission put forward a ‘third package’ of legislative proposals for completion of an internal energy market.130 Announced on 19 September 2007, one of its main objectives is unbundling, or separating the operation of electricity and gas transmission networks from supply and generation activities. The European Commission expects that unbundling will provide incentives for network operators and suppliers to invest in renewable energy and to diversify energy generation methods, in addition to giving smaller companies (e.g. ones that invest in renewable energy) access to the networks and thus the energy market.131 In a speech at the EU Energy Law Conference in Brussels, EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs stated the “package is one of the key elements – or foundations – of the EU’s efforts to tackle climate change. Without a competitive electricity market... the achievement of our objectives regarding renewable energy will never be met.”132 Reactions from the different stakeholders in response to the third energy package were broadly positive.133 On 22 November 2007, the European Commission put forward its Strategic Energy Technology plan (SET plan)134 which is to be endorsed by the European Council in its Spring 2008 Meeting. Some of the key proposals in the SET plan are: (i) a new joint strategic planning, (ii) more effective implementation, and (iii) an increase in resources. Among its key components, the SET plan proposes to establish in early 2008 a Steering Group on Strategic Energy Technologies, composed of high level government representatives from member states, in order to be able to coordinate policies and programmes, make resources available, and monitor and review progress systematically.135 The SET plan also proposes to establish an open-access information and knowledge management system. As part of this deliberative work, the European Commission will organise a European Energy Technology
December 2007. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1838&format=HTML&age d=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en 130 Energising Europe: A Real Market with Secure Supply, European Commission, (Brussels), 19 September 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1361&format=HTML&age d=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en. 131 Questions and Answers, European Commission, (Brussels), 19 September 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/362&format=HTML& aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en. 132 Better Choice, Service and Prices in the New European Energy Market, Speech of Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs at the EU Energy Law Conference, (Brussels), 19 September 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/07/562&format=HTML &aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en. 133 Third Energy Package: Stakeholder Reactions Broadly Positive, EurActiv, 20 September 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2007. http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/third-energypackage-stakeholder-reactions-broadly-positive/article-166908. 134 A European Strategic Energy Technology Plan: Towards a low carbon future , European Commission, (Brussels), 22 November 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/res/setplan/doc/com_2007/com_2007_0723_en.pdf. 135 A European Strategic Energy Technology Plan: Towards a low carbon future , European Commission, (Brussels), 22 November 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/res/setplan/doc/com_2007/com_2007_0723_en.pdf.
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Summit in the first half of 2009, where representatives of industry, customer groups, European institutions, the financial community, and international partners will be brought together. In addition, the European Commission proposes to launch, as part of the SET plan, separate initiatives in the areas of wind energy, solar energy, bio-energy, CO2 capture, transport and storage (CCS), smart electricity grids, and sustainable nuclear fission.136 Relative to technology, the EU also sees a clear role for clean coal technologies and CCS, which are addressed in the SET plan as part of a new initiative scheduled to be implemented in 2008.137 In a speech to the World Energy Congress, President José Manuel Barroso of the European Commission stated “it is important to accelerate the advance of clean coal technologies”,138 although the EU has not registered any specific actions regarding clean coal technologies and CCS during the current compliance period. In relation to energy sources, the European Commission launched the ‘Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative’ on 10 October 2007.139 As part of this initiative, which will take the form of a public-private partnership, it will provide funding up to 470 million for the period 2007-2013, to be matched by private industry. Apart from such initiatives, the European Commission proposes the creation of a European Energy Research Alliance, possibly as part of the new European Institute of Technology. With regards to new financing commitments, the European Commission has pledged to present a ‘Communication on financing low carbon technologies’ by the end of 2008. With regard to human resources, the SET plan proposes to boost training in the field of energy research through Marie Curie Actions of the Research Framework Programme. Among observers, the SET plan got a mixed reception. The European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) welcomed the SET plan, while noting that “the sector of heating and cooling is not addressed accordingly while it represents approximately half of the EU’s final energy consumption”, adding that the necessity of an integrated strategy to accommodate decentralised generation has also not been fully reflected in the SET plan.140 Because of the
A European Strategic Energy Technology Plan: Towards a low carbon future , European Commission, (Brussels), 22 November 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/res/setplan/doc/com_2007/com_2007_0723_en.pdf. 137 A European Strategic Energy Technology Plan: Towards a low carbon future , European Commission, (Brussels), 22 November 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/res/setplan/doc/com_2007/com_2007_0723_en.pdf. 138 Our Energy Future in an Interdependent World, Speech by President Barroso to the World Energy Congress in Rome, European Commission, (Brussels), 12 November 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/07/703&format=HTML &aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en 139 The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative, European Commission, (Brussels), 10 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/404. 140 Press release on the Strategic Energy Technology Plan, European Renewable Energy Council, (Brussels), 22 November 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2007.
136
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European Commission’s proposals on nuclear energy technologies and CCS, Greenpeace criticised the SET plan, with Frauke Thies, energy expert at Greenpeace European Unit, being quoted saying: “Under the umbrella of ‘lowcarbon’ technologies, the plan fails to distinguish between the real solutions to the climate crisis, renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, and expensive technologies that either bear an unacceptable environmental cost, like nuclear energy, or that are mere distractions, like carbon capture and storage”.141 In conclusion, the EU advanced several initiatives to promote less emissionintensive energy production, within a broader strategic framework to transform the region into a low-carbon economy. The plans did not only launch separate initiatives that individually contribute to lowering emissions, but these were part of a broader strategic effort to restructure energy markets. As a result of these policy actions, the European Union is awarded a score of +1 for this commitment. Analyst: Fonger Ypma
European Union
Score 0
1C. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Consumption
The European Union’s commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy consumption must be seen in the broader picture of the EU’s decision to cut its energy consumption by 20 percent by 2020142 as part of the 2006 Action Plan for Energy Efficiency.143 At that time, the EU set out 75 specific actions in ten priority areas to be implemented over a period of six years.144 With the support of the Council of Ministers, the second half of 2007 saw the focusing of EU action on some very specific areas, such as efficiency improvements in home appliances and buildings.145 In addition, the EU proposed an Environmental Compliance Assistance Programme aimed at
http://www.erec.org/fileadmin/erec_docs/Documents/Press_Releases/Press_release_Strate gic_Energy_Technology_Plan.pdf. 141 (un)-Strategic Energy Technology Plan, Greenpeace, 22 November 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2007. http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/press-centre/press-releases2/EUStrategic-Energy-Plan-071122. 142 Saving 20percent by 2020, European Commission, (Brussels), October 2006. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/action_plan_energy_efficiency/doc/memo_en.pdf 143 Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, European Commission, (Brussels), 19 October 2006. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/action_plan_energy_efficiency/doc/com_2006_0545_en.pdf 144 Energy Efficiency: The EU's Action Plan, Euractiv, 31 August 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/energy-efficiency-eu-action-plan/article143199 145 EU Gets Mixed Scores on Energy Efficiency. Euractiv, 7 December 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.euractiv.com/en/sustainability/eu-gets-mixed-scores-energyefficiency/article-168951
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assisting small and medium-sized companies in implementing European environmental legislation.146 In June 2007, the European Parliament adopted a new version of the regulations on the Energy Star programme, making it the first time European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission agreed that certain energy efficiency criteria are needed as binding in public procurement. The Energy Star programme is a voluntary energy labeling programme for office equipment, which, through a logo applied on complying products, helps consumers to identify products that consume less energy.147 The European Parliament’s regulation requires member states to apply “demanding energy efficiency criteria in the public procurement of office equipment”.148 On 17 December 2007, the European Council adopted new regulations for implementing the EU-US Energy Star programme requiring EU institutions and central Member State government authorities to use energy efficiency criteria no less demanding than those defined in the Energy Star programme when purchasing office equipment.149 In the area of consumer products, the EU has begun a consultation process with a view to revising the Energy Labeling Directive later in 2008. However, most policy actions have taken the form of expert deliberations. On 22 June 2007, the Consultation Forum for the Eco-Design of Energy Using Products held its first meeting to discuss public street lighting, the possibilities of reducing the energy consumption through better assessment of lighting mechanisms, and signaling the most inefficient types in order for consumers to replace them with more energy-saving devices.150 Based on Directive 2005/32/EC (article 18),151 the main task of the group of experts is to contribute in particular to the definition and review of the implementing measures, to monitor efficiency of the established market surveillance mechanisms, and to assess of voluntary agreements and other self-regulatory
Commission to Help Small and Medium Sized Companies Become Greener, European Commission, (Brussels), 8 October 2007. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1457&format=HTML&age d=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en 147 Office Equipment: the Energy Star Programme, European Commission, (Brussels), 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/energy_star_programme_en.htm 148 Commissioner Piebalgs Welcomes More Stringent Energy Efficiency Standards in Public Procurement, European Commission, (Brussels), 10 July 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1056&format=HTML&age d=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en 149 Commissioner Piebalgs welcomes adoption of the new Energy Star programme, EU press release IP/07/1943, 17 December 2007. Date of Access: 22 February 2008. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1943&format=HTML&age d=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en 150 Working Document on Possible Ecodesign Requirements for Public Street Lighting, Consultation Forum for the Eco-Design of Energy Using Products, (Brussels), 22 June 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/doc/2007_06_22_working_document.pdf 151 Directive 2005/32/EC, European Commission, (Brussels), 6 July 2005. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/doc/2005_07_06_directive_ecodesign.pdf
146
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measures taken in the context of the Directive.152 Later meetings, held on 19 October 153 and 18 December 2007154, established a proposal for new ecodesign requirements for standby and off-mode electric power consumption of electrical and electronic household and office equipment, and eco-design requirements for fluorescent lamps and other office lighting. While such meetings facilitate the inclusion of experts in the legislative process, the fact that heeding to their advice is voluntary undermines their effectiveness in bringing about real change. In terms of lowering emissions associated with transport, the EU has taken several steps. On 28 September 2007, the EU called for cuts in aviation emissions in the 36th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization.155 On 19 December 2007, the European Commission made a revised proposal to the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament on a new directive on the promotion of clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles.156 The proposal is intended to introduce efficiency criteria into public procurement of vehicles and transport services and would reduce the average CO2 emissions of new passenger cars to 130 grams per kilometre by 2012. When implemented, the legislation will place the EU among the world leaders of fuel-efficient cars and will translate into a 19 percent reduction of CO2 emissions within the EU.157 As this has just been submitted, further reactions from the other EU institutions are expected. It is expected that the European Commission will make several new proposals on energy savings from office and street lighting, on incandescent lamps
Eco-Design of Energy Using Products, European Commission, (Brussels), 20 December 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/eco_design_en.htm 153 Working Document on Possible Ecodesign Requirements for Standby and Off-Mode Electric Power Consumption of Electrical and Electronic Household and Office Equipment, Consultation Forum for the Eco-Design of Energy Using Products, (Brussels), 19 October 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/doc/2007_10_19_working_document_stan dby_offmode.pdf 154 Working Document on Possible Ecodesign Requirements for Fluorescent Lamps without Integrated Ballast, for Ballasts and Luminaires used with these Lamps, and on the Conditions for the Indication of Suitability of Lighting Products for Office Lighting, Consultation Forum for the Eco-Design of Energy Using Products, (Brussels), 18 December 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/doc/2007_12_18_working_document_fluor escent_lighting.pdf 155 Europe Stands Firm on Ambitious Action to Cut Aviation Emissions, European Commission, (Brussels), 28 September 2007. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1420&format=HTML&age d=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en 156 Revised Proposal for a Directive on the Promotion of Clean and Energy-Efficient Road Transport Vehicles, European Commission, (Brussels), 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/transport/clean/promotion/doc/com_2007_0817_en.pdf 157 Commission Proposal to Limit the CO2 Emissions From Cars to Help Fight Climate Change, Reduce Fuel Costs and Increase European Competitiveness, European Commission, (Brussels), 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1965&format=HTML&age d=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
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lighting in private households, on passive heating in buildings, on an international energy efficiency agreement and revising the Energy Labeling Directive.158 However, in this period of compliance, most of the policy actions were limited to statements of intent or consultations. There have been no new Directives or significant budgetary allocations to support existing frameworks for energy efficiency. This shortcoming is the primary reason why the EU only receives a score of partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Paula Ganga
European Union 1D. Support for Climate Adaptation/Mitigation in DCs
Score +1
Since the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007, the EU has provided support for climate adaptation, both within the EU and in developing countries. The European Commission proposed the establishment of a ‘Global Climate Change Alliance’ between the EU and developing countries deemed particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and has earmarked 50 million for this Alliance. Adaptation also featured prominently in the ‘Africa-EU Partnership on Climate Change’ for 2008-2013, agreed at the EUAfrica Summit in December 2007. On the basis of these activities, the EU achieved a compliance score of +1. On 29 June 2007, the European Commission articulated the EU’s broad policy for climate adaptation in a Green Paper entitled ‘Adapting to climate change in Europe – options for EU action’.159 This document represents the European Commission’s first comprehensive statement on adaptation, and launched a public consultation process over the following months.160 While primarily focused on intra-EU adaptation, the Green Paper identifies ‘integrating adaptation into EU external actions’ as one of its four pillars. On adaptation in developing countries in particular, the Green Paper states that “the EU’s experiences with adaptation measures should be shared with developing countries’ governments”, and that “Adaptation should also be integrated into
Energy Efficiency: the EU's Action Plan, Euractiv, 31 August 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/energy-efficiency-eu-action-plan/article143199 159 Adapting to Climate Change in Europe – Options for EU Action, European Commission, (Brussels), 29 June 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2007/com2007_0354en01.pdf 160 Adapting to Climate Change in Europe - Options for EU Action: Launching a Public Debate on 3rd July 2007, Charlemagne Building, Brussels, European Commission, (Brussels), 3 July 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/adaptation/2007_07_03_conf/index_en.htm
158
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strategies for poverty reduction…as well as development planning and budgeting”.161 On 20 September 2007, the European Commission published, a Communication to the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament on “Building a Global Climate Change Alliance between the European Union and poor developing countries most vulnerable to climate change”.162 This Alliance is to have five priority areas, two of which relate to adaptation. The first of these includes proposals to support the development and/or implementation of adaptation action plans in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), as well as in vulnerable countries other than LDCs, and to finance pilot adaptation projects. In addition, it advocates support for international collaborative research on the impacts of climate change in developing countries and regions, as well as on the identification and design of innovative adaptation solutions.163 The second priority area aims to improve the preparedness of developing countries and societies for climaterelated natural disasters and to mitigate risks and limit their impact, through improving climate monitoring, forecasting, and information systems and strengthening regional capacity for climate-related disaster risk reduction.164 The European Commission has already earmarked 50 million for the Global Climate Change Alliance,165 and the proposal has been welcomed by the Council of Ministers.166 On 9 December 2007, heads of state or government of the EU and Africa agreed a ‘Joint EU-Africa Strategy’.167 Under this Strategy, an Action Plan for
Adapting to Climate Change in Europe – Options for EU Action, European Commission, (Brussels), 29 June 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2007/com2007_0354en01.pdf 162 Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Building a Global Climate Change Alliance between the European Union and Poor Developing Countries Most Vulnerable to Climate Change, European Commission, (Brussels), 18 September 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/development/ICenter/repository/env_cc_GACC_com2007_0540en.pdf 163 Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Building a Global Climate Change Alliance between the European Union and Poor Developing Countries Most Vulnerable to Climate Change, European Commission, (Brussels), 18 September 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/development/ICenter/repository/env_cc_GACC_com2007_0540en.pdf 164 Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Building a Global Climate Change Alliance between the European Union and Poor Developing Countries Most Vulnerable to Climate Change, European Commission, (Brussels), 18 September 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/development/ICenter/repository/env_cc_GACC_com2007_0540en.pdf 165 Intervention areas: Environment, Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, European Commission – DG Development, (Brussels). Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/development/Policies/9Interventionareas/Environment/climate/climate _en.cfm 166 Adoption of Council Conclusions on a Global Climate Change Alliance between the European Union and Poor Developing Countries Most Vulnerable to Climate Change, Council of the European Union, (Brussels), 14 November 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/07/st15/st15078.en07.pdf 167 The Africa-EU Strategic Partnership: A Joint Africa-EU Strategy, EU-Africa Summit, (Lisbon), 7-9 December 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/development/icenter/repository/EAS2007_joint_strategy_en.pdf
161
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2008-2010 outlines eight “partnership areas”, one of which is an “Africa-EU Partnership on Climate Change”.168 This Partnership is to have two priority actions. The first of these includes the setting up of national/regional adaptation plans to climate change and supporting the implementation of the “African Climate Information for Development in Africa” initiative; the launching of risk-awareness and preparedness campaigns on climate-related natural disasters; the strengthening of climate-monitoring and forecasting capacities; the implementation of adaptation strategies, particularly in relation to water, energy, health, environment, agricultural and food security issues; and the promotion of climate observation, in particular for the African continent, and the enhancement of links to global climate observatory systems. The second priority area is cooperation to address land degradation and increasing aridity, including the “Green Wall for the Sahara Initiative”.169 Thus, both priority areas of the Partnership deal with the issue of adaptation. Also at the Summit, the European Commission signed country strategy papers of the 10th European Development Fund with 31 Sub-Saharan Africa countries, amounting to 8 million from 2008-2013.170 The priorities of this fund mirror the eight partnerships of the Joint EU-Africa Strategy just discussed, with one being devoted to climate change. In conclusion, the EU, and in particular the European Commission, has advanced a number of new initiatives during the compliance period in the area of support for climate adaptation in developing countries. These include the publication of a Green Paper on adaptation, concrete proposals for a Global Climate Change Alliance which would deal with, inter alia, climate adaptation, and an “Africa-EU Partnership on Climate Change” containing a significant adaptation component. Significant funding from the EU, furthermore, backs these latter two initiatives. On this basis, the EU achieves a score of +1 for this commitment. Analyst: Diarmuid Torney
168 Africa-EU Partnership on Climate Change, EU-Africa Summit, (Lisbon), 7-9 December 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/development/icenter/repository/EAS2007_action_plan_climate_chang e_en.pdf 169 Africa-EU Partnership on Climate Change, EU-Africa Summit, (Lisbon), 7-9 December 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/development/icenter/repository/EAS2007_action_plan_climate_chang e_en.pdf 170 8 billion: A Great Step Forward for Development and Ambitious Partnerships for 31 States in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Commission, European Commission, (Brussels), 9 December 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1880&format=HTML&age d=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
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European Union 1E. Reducing GHG Emissions by Curbing Deforestation
Score +1
The EU has long committed itself to curbing deforestation with the elaboration of one of the “most comprehensive, and ambitious”171 bodies of legislation on Forest Law Enforcement and Trade (FLEGT). Although the main focus of the EU’s forestry policy in developing countries is reducing illegal logging, developments of the past year have added a new dimension to this through the EU’s actions in linking the entire environmental problem of deforestation to the issue of climate change.172 Steps such as the further advancement of the Voluntary Partnership Agreements on illegal logging with developing countries, the EU-Brazil Summit, and the EU’s strongly positive contribution to the Bali climate conference represent clear commitments to the issue limiting GHG through the curbing deforestation which explain the positive evaluation the EU receives in this report. This breakthrough law has been in place since 2006 with an initial period of project finance from 2007 to 2013.173 But the second part of 2007 brought an extension of international cooperation with developing countries on this regulation. Ghana, Indonesia and Malaysia have already started negotiation processes, but it is Cameroon that moved the partnership further.174 On 28 September 2007, Cameroon officially joined the Voluntary Partnership Agreement, and joined the EU in agreeing to stop illegal timber from Cameroon to be sold on the European market and to increase the rule of law in the way forests are being exploited.175 On 4 July 2007, the EU organized the first-ever EU-Brazil Summit to discuss the prevention of deforestation. Just a few days after the EU Summit in Lisbon, the same city hosted the Brazilian delegation in the context of the
Chatham House, EU FLEGT, (London), 2 January 2008. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.illegallogging.info/sub_approach.php?approach_id=26&subApproach_id=119&category_id= 172 The EU's Contribution to Shaping A Future Global Climate Change Regime, the European Commission, (Brussels), 27 November 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/future_action.htm 173 Thematic Programme on Environment and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, Including Energy, European Commission, (Brussels), 23 March 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/development/policies/9interventionareas/environment/funding/enrtp/e nrtp_en.cfm 174 FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs), European Commission, (Brussels), 9 November 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/development/Policies/9Interventionareas/Environment/forest/Flegt_V PAs_en.cfm 175 Déclaration Commune du Cameroun et de la Commission Européenne sur la négociation d'un APV(Accord de Partenariat Volotaire) de l'initiative FLEGT, European Commission, (Brussels), 9 October 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://ec.europa.eu/development/ICenter/Pdf/Environment/forests/VPAs/Cameroon_VPAs /Rapport_Lancement_Negociations_APV_FLEGT.pdf
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Portuguese Presidency of the EU.176 The importance of Brazil in the domain of deforestation is crucial as this country is home to the Amazon rainforest, which is being threatened by deforestation for agriculture and energy purposes.177 These two issues of deforestation and biofuel energy were among the most important issues discussed by the leaders present at the Summit, with the final joint statement recalling the need for further action in light of commitments already made during the German G8 Presidency and the Summit at Heiligendamm on 8 June 2007.178 Curbing deforestation also featured high on the EU agenda at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, 3-14 December 2007 and was amongst its propositions in the negotiations.179 Of all the proposals the EU made, the issue of deforestation was among those successfully included on the Bali road map along side a programme of clean technology transfers to developing countries, in spite of continuing opposition from the US and other nations including Japan.180 However, this political statement was severely criticized by the Greens/European Free Alliance (EFA), who argued that biofuels production can have “disastrous consequences for the environment and food security”, and does not address the problem of illegal logging and agro-industrial destruction.181 This point of view is supported by the fact that during the Summit, Portuguese oil company Galp Energia signed an agreement with Brazil’s Petrobras to produce 600,000 tonnes of vegetable oils in Brazil, representing an incentive to continue on the road to deforestation for energy purposes and not the other way around.182 These actions and initiatives reinforce the role the EU has in international negotiations as a promoter of forest protection. Bilateral initiatives that confront illegal logging practices, combined with advocacy in international negotiations, forms the basis for assigning the EU with an overall score of +1 in actions directed towards curbing deforestation. Analyst: Paula Ganga
176 José Sócrates Accomplishes First EU-Brazil summit, Portuguese EU Presidency, (Lisbon), 3 July 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.eu2007.pt/UE/vEN/Noticias_Documentos/20070203LULA2.htm 177 EU, Brazil Join in Strategic Partnership, Euractiv, 5 July 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.euractiv.com/en/trade/eu-brazil-join-strategic-partnership/article165263 178 Joint Statement, Portuguese EU Presidency, (Lisbon), 4 July 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.eu2007.pt/UE/vEN/Noticias_Documentos/20070704BRSUM.htm 179 Interview with José Manuel Barroso, Euractiv, 4 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.euractiv.com/en/bali/barroso-climate-change-energy-top-eupolitical-agenda/article-168854 180 Bali Progress on Forests and Tech Transfers Despite EU-US Row, Euractiv, 14 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.euractiv.com/en/climate-change/baliprogress-forests-tech-transfers-despite-eu-us-row/article-169133 181 EU-Brazil Summit: Environmental and Social Concerns Sidelined in Pursuit of ShortTerm Economic Gain, Monica Frassoni, (Brussels), 4 July 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.greensefa.org/cms/pressreleases/dok/189/189749.eubrazil_summit@en.htm 182 Brazil Invited to Become Special EU Partner, Reuters, 4 July 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L0442894.htm
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France
Background After the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007, France took several significant steps top respond to the challenge of climate change, most notably in relation to increasing the efficiency of domestic energy consumption. But relative to other comparable countries, most of the Government’s policy measures that address climate change are in their inception and have yet to deliver concrete results. In addition, France still has to translate policy statements and aspirational goals into concrete actions in order to be in full compliance with its commitments from the Heiligendamm Summit last year. As a reflection of France’s progression in developing national climate policies, the main policy action since June 2007 has been a national consultation process named the Grenelle Environnement, in which a broad range of interest groups and citizens were asked to reflect on the environmental future of France and the world. 183. In October 2007, President Nicolas Sarkozy claimed he would support the outcomes of the process, and the Government endorsed several resolutions that emerged from the extensive consultations with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), unions, business organisations and governmental agencies.184 France’s actions to meet greenhouse gases (GHG) reductions benefit from the synergy occasioned by resolutions and action aimed at promoting less emission-intensive production and consumption, notably through the advancement of renewable energy. The country also is complying with its commitment to support climate adaptation and mitigation in developing countries, but more extensive action is possible and desirable. Team Leader and Analyst: Jean-Benoit Fournier France 1A. Stabilise GHG Concentrations Score 0
On 25 October 2007, President Nicholas Sarkozy announced new initiatives to mitigate GHG emissions. While France’s per capita GHG emissions are 21 percent below the European average because of its reliance on nuclear energy, Sarkozy argued that the Government had ambitions to put the country “in the
183 Le Grenelle Environnement - official website, Ministère de l’Ecologie, du Développement et de l’Aménagement durables, (Paris), 17 September 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.legrenelle-environnement.fr/grenelle-environnement/ 184 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html
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lead.”185 To demonstrate this political will, President Sarkozy promised that the ’carbon cost’ would be taken into account in the preparation and planning of all major public projects.186 Furthermore, he announced that he was willing to consider introducing a ‘climate energy tax’ (in other words, a carbon tax),187 although he stopped short of expressly committing to implementing such a tax.188 He asserted the ability of some companies to exclude the carbon price from goods would lead to unfair competition with businesses that are required to include the carbon price in their goods, and proposed that “within the next six months the European Union should debate the meaning of fair competition.”189 Apart from the fact that its climate policy actions are in early stage of development compared to other European countries, France has not committed to significant long-term reduction targets. According to its official position, it would be willing to tolerate a global temperature rise of two degrees centigrade,190 a global GHG concentration level of 565 ppm191 and under the Plan Climat, aims to stabilise its emissions at 1990 levels by 2010, and to reduce its emissions levels by 75 percent by 2050.192 According to UNDP, a stabilisation of GHG concentrations at 450 ppm is necessary to keep the global temperature rise a two degrees centigrade.193 France’s short term GHG reduction goal of 0 percent reduction by 2010 is less than Europe as a
Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 186 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 187 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 188 Sarkozy puts France on green track, Angelique Chrisafis for the Guardian, (Paris), 26 October 2007. Date of Access 24 january 2007. http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,,2199594,00.html. 189 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 190 Plan Climat, Ministère de l’Ecologie et du Développement, (Paris), 20 September 2004. Date of Access 7 January 2008. http://www.effet-de-serre.gouv.fr/images/documents/BATPLANCLIMAT04.pdf. 191 Plan Climat, Ministère de l’Ecologie et du Développement, (Paris), 20 September 2004. Date of Access 7 January 2008. http://www.effet-de-serre.gouv.fr/images/documents/BATPLANCLIMAT04.pdf. 192 Plan Climat, Ministère de l’Ecologie et du Développement, (Paris), 20 September 2004. Date of Access 7 January 2008. http://www.effet-de-serre.gouv.fr/images/documents/BATPLANCLIMAT04.pdf. 193 2007/2008 Human Development Report, UNDP, (Geneva), 27 November 2007. Date of access 8 January 2008. http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2007-2008/
185
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whole, which plans 8 percent emissions reductions by 2010.194 More broadly, uncertainty remains as to what extent rhetorical statements and aspirations will be translated into action. While it is expected that the plans agreed at the Grenelle will be turned into law in 2008, some observers have noted that many of the policy measures and standards have already been implemented by most European nations.195 Yet, notwithstanding this fact, national consultation process and the pronouncement of ambitious policies are important foundations for national climate action. As a result, France is assessed to be in partial compliance with its commitment to stabilise GHG concentrations. Analyst: Jean-Benoit Fournier France 1B. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production Score 0
Since June 2007, France has strongly reiterated its commitment to promote cleaner and renewable energy technologies. In the wake of the “Grenelle Environnement” (Environment round table) which culminated in October 2007, France spelled out specific measures to tackle climate change, including the promotion of less emission-intensive energy production.196 However, as a reflection of France’s long-time dependency on domestically-produced nuclear energy, President Sarkozy stated in his speech that this energy source will play a central role in France’s effort to combat climate change.197 Just as the national nuclear programme was launched in 1974 to reduce energy dependence, President Sarkozy stated that France will initiate a “renewable energy development plan” to address climate change.198 In fact, he stated his ambition was to make France “the leader in renewables, over and above [...] the EU objective of 20 percent of [its] energy consumption by
194 Plan Climat, Ministère de l’Ecologie et du Développement, (Paris), 20 September 2004. Date of Access 7 January 2008. http://www.effet-de-serre.gouv.fr/images/documents/BATPLANCLIMAT04.pdf. 195 La France ne réussira son «New Deal environnemental» qu'avec l'Europe, Jacques Barrot, European Transport Comissioner, (Paris), 29 October 2007. Date of access 25 January 2008. http://www.lesechos.fr/info/energie/300214473.htm 196 Le Grenelle Environnement - official website, Ministère de l’Ecologie, du Développement et de l’Aménagement durables (Paris), 17 September 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.legrenelle-environnement.fr/grenelle-environnement/ 197 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 198 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html
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2020.”199 To meet this ambitious objective, he announced a plan to invest heavily in renewable energy, including an “earmark of 1 billion over a fouryear period for the energies and the engines of the future, for biodiversity and for environmental health.” 200 The plan does not specify how this money will be allocated among the enunciated goals. And in response to nuclear skeptics and to strike a balance between the promotion of nuclear energy innovation and renewable energy technologies, the Governmemt pledged to spend 1 on clean technologies and the prevention of environmental violations for each 1 spent on nuclear energy.201 In the aftermath of the Grenelle, the Government announced more concrete renewable energy targets. In terms of the various energy technologies, it aims to raise domestic wind power generation capacity from 810 megawatts (MW) in 2006 to 25,000 MW by 2020, increase its photovoltaic capacity from 32,7 MW to 3000 MW in 2020, and install 5 million solar thermal units on buildings (80 percent of which would be residential homes), again by 2020.202 These objectives of “increas[ing] the renewable share of the country's total energy consumption from 6.7 percent in 2004 to 20 percent by 2020”, says Jean-Michel Parroufe, from the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME), “mark a new era in the development of wind and solar power in France, and though they are ambitious, they can be achieved.”203 At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, JeanLouis Borloo, France’s Minister of Ecology argued that these policy actions would promote low carbon development while contributing to economic growth, thus reiterating the French position on the non-mutually exclusive objectives of growth and green measures.204 On the regulatory side, it is prudent to expect new legislation in first half of 2008. First, some environmental measures spelled out in the Grenelle Environnement have already been translated into regulatory text and adopted
199 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 200 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 201 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 202 France Sets Ambitious Renewable Energy Targets, Renewable Energy Access, 2 January 2008. Date of Access: 5 January 2008. http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50971 203 France Sets Ambitious Renewable Energy Targets, Renewable Energy Access, 2 January 2008. Date of Access: 5 January 2008. http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50971 204 The Bali Conference, Prime Minister Governmental Portal, (Paris), 26 December 2007. Date of Accesss: 2 January 2008. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/latest_news_97/the_bali_conference_58804.html
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by the Parliament (see Commitment to less-emission intensive energy consumption – below). Second, 33 operational committees are now, as scheduled, meeting to define guidelines and objectives for operational programmes which are to be embedded in two legislative propositions named “Grenelle 1” and “Grenelle 2”. In addition, a Renewable Energy Operational Committee has been created to find ways to reduce the carbon content of France’s energy supply.205 The committee identified four goals to achieve the goal of drawing 20 percent of energy from renewable sources; development of each renewable energy channel, promoting “renewable heating” networks, extensive cross-study of first-generation biofuels’ environmental, economic and societal impacts, and development of economical sector’s energetic autonomy. 206 In addition, even though France does not make extensive use of coal energy due to its heavy reliance on nuclear power, it still encourages research into clean coal and CCS through some of its public research centres in close collaboration with the European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants (ETP-ZEP).207 With its dependency on nuclear power, France is in a different position than most European nations in terms of lowering the emission-intensity of domestic energy production. Yet, the Government has indicated that it does not intend to use its comparatively low emission levels as an excuse to withstand from addressing the problem of climate change. As a result of President Sarkozy stated ambitions to place France in a leadership role on climate change, there is much pressure on the Government to translate the renewable energy targets and policy measures identified in Grenelle Environnement’s resolution into effective legislation and actual budget allocations. On the basis of ambitious policy targets, yet few conrete policy measures, France scores 0 on this commitment. Analyst: Jean-Benoit Fournier
France
Score 0
1C. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Consumption
205Renewable Energy operational committee, Le Grenelle Environnement - official website, Ministère de l’Ecologie, du Développement et de l’Aménagement durables (Paris), 7 January 2008. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://www.legrenelle-environnement.fr/grenelleenvironnement/spip.php?article715 [Analyst’s translation] 206 Renewable Energy operational committee, Le Grenelle Environnement - official website, Ministère de l’Ecologie, du Développement et de l’Aménagement durables (Paris), 7 January 2008. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://www.legrenelle-environnement.fr/grenelleenvironnement/spip.php?article715 [Analyst’s translation] 207 Zero Emission fossil fuel Power plants, Country profile: FRANCE (Draft document), European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants (ETP-ZEP), 4 June 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. www.zeroemissionplatform.eu/website/docs/GG/Country%20Profiles/FR%20Country%20Profile%20 070604%20(draft).doc
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Given that domestic energy supplies are primarily based on nuclear power, the climate impacts of domestic electricity consumption are less than most other countries. However, the French Government has already taken some significant steps implementing measures to increase the efficiency of domestic energy consumption. As with the “supply-side” measures listed above, most of these consumption-oriented propositions stems from the Grenelle Environnement’s consultations and outputs. With regards to increasing the energy-efficiency of buildings, the Government has announced that standards promoting greater energy efficiency will be extended to cover new housing and public buildings, and thermal renovation and insulation measures will be encouraged through tax credits and loans.208 As stated by President Sarkozy, “by 2012, all new buildings built in France should comply with the so-called ‘low-consumption’ standards; and by 2020, all new buildings should be energy positive, i.e. they should produce more energy than they consume.”209 As for the renovation of old buildings, France wants to double the number of renovated buildings each year.210 In addition to these measures targeting the building sector, France also wants to prohibit the sale of energy-inefficient appliances as soon as alternatives become “available at a reasonable price.”211 The uncertainty inherent in such a measure is attenuated by the stated objective of prohibiting, by 2010, incandescent light bulbs and single-glazed windows.212 Various measures of increased energy efficiency are also aimed at public buildings. Even though the above measures have yet to be translated into legislation, it is prudent to believe that they will be part of the “Grenelle 1” legislative package to be put to the attention of the Parliament during the first half of 2008. Notwithstanding these policy measures, it is in the area of transport that France comes up with the most significant moves towards developing concrete
Environment round table: France aims to set an example, Prime Minister Governmental Portal, (Paris), 26 December 2007. Date of Accesss: 2 January 2008. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/latest_news_97/environment_round_table_france_57898. html 209 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 210 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 211 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 212 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html
208
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policy measures that fulfill its G8 commitment to lower the emission-intensity of domestic energy consumption. As part of the Grenelle process, President Sarkozy proposed to “tax lorries traveling through France and using [France’s] road network.” 213 In turn, revenue from this tax will be used to finance public modes of transport. 214 Furthermore, President Sarkozy has stated that words in transport planning, “priority will no longer be given to road construction but to other modes.” 215 As an indication, the Government has stated it will direct its transport investments in the construction of bus lanes, bicycle lanes and tramways (Over 1,500 kilometres216), as well as in the construction of a supplementary 2,000 kilometres of TGV lanes,217 deemed to free up lines for freight train. On 26 December 2007, France took a decisive step to ensure energy efficiency in individual transport and thus comply with its commitment. A new law introduced the ‘annual ecology tax’, which will be applied to the highestpolluting new vehicles.218 The generated revenues will pay for the withdrawal of the most polluting vehicles from the roads through a “progressive and longterm vehicle scrapping bonus.”219 Known as the “green disc”, the tax is accompanied by a bonus for very energy-efficient vehicles and by extension, provides a financial incentive for drivers not to buy energy-inefficient vehicles. Drivers buying a car emitting more than 160 grams of CO2 per kilometre will have to pay a tax (from 200 to 2,600 ) when paying their licence plate, and drivers buying cars emitting less than 130 grams of CO2will receive a bonus
213 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 214 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 215 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 216 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 217 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html 218 Official texts available at http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/ 219 Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, (Paris), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.premierministre.gouv.fr/en/information/press_871/presentation_of_the_grenelle_57902.html
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spreading from 200 to 1,000 .220 This bonus is also matched with a “superbonus” of 300 when the buying of a new energy-efficient car is accompanied by the scrapping of a more than 15 year-old vehicle.221 With regards to increasing the energy-efficiency of French industry, the Government seems to rely on past agreements as no new significant policies have been introduced since the Heiligendamm Summit. The most notable existing policies and agreements include the White Certificate Trading programme (industry tradable permits) and the Voluntary Agreements with Industry to Reduce GHG Emissions and Conserve Energy.222 Of the 33 operational committees in charge of putting the Grenelle Environnement’s resolutions to practice, more than a third look at energy consumption (either through transport, buildings, appliances or industry) as well as educative measures with the objective of informing consumers how reduce emissions and increase the efficient use of energy. Because of the multi-sector nature of this commitment, no single unified demand-side emission reduction objective was found. However, France stated some clear energy efficiency objectives regarding buildings and some appliances and quickly established legislative grounding for its new individual transport policy. For this reason, France is assessed to be only in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Jean-Benoit Fournier France 1D. Support for Climate Adaptation/Mitigation in DCs Score 0
A multiplicity of public agencies that have traditionally provided national climate risk assessment through satellite observation systems provide research and information to developing countries on climate change. The ONERC (l’Observatoire National sur les Effets du Réchauffement Climatique) produces research on climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation in cooperation with both the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FMFA) and the Fonds Français de l’Environnement Mondial (FFEM).223 It mainly offers
Bonus écologiques : les textes réglementaires sont parus, Actu Environnement, (Paris), 2 January 2008. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://www.actuenvironnement.com/ae/news/bonus_malus_decret_voiture_propre_4184.php4 221 Bonus écologiques : les textes réglementaires sont parus, Actu Environnement, (Paris), 2 January 2008. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://www.actuenvironnement.com/ae/news/bonus_malus_decret_voiture_propre_4184.php4 222 Energy Efficiency, Policies and Measures : France, International Energy Agency, (Paris), 2 January 2008. Date of Access: 27 January 2008, http://www.iea.org/textbase/pm/index_effi.asp 223 Impacts, vulnerability and adaptation in France: From strategy to action and north-south collaboration, Ministère de l’Ecologie, du Développement et de l’Aménagement Durables, (Paris). Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/Impacts-vulnerabilityand.html
220
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support for adaptation policies for its overseas territories but this provides a basis for supporting north-south collaboration with regards to adaptation policies throughout its collaboration with the FMFA and the FFEM.224 Research focusing on economic cost analysis of adaptation and mitigation at a global level was produced by the IPCC in collaboration with the ONERC on several occasions throughout 2007.225 In line with its compliance with the UNFCCC as well as with the Kyoto Protocol and the COP-13 in Bali, France treats international cooperation with developing countries as a high priority with regards to aiding developing countries with high climate vulnerability.226 On 20 December 2007, the Agence Française du Développement (ADF) announced it would provide 762 million to new sustainable development, mitigation and adaptation projects in more than twenty developing countries.227 This financing package included schemes aimed at improving water resource management for agro-ecology, irrigation and access to water projects in Madagascar, Uganda, Sudan, South Africa, Burkina Faso and Congo.228 Moreover, the AFD is providing financial assistance to the Maldives and Indonesia in the light of the impact natural catastrophes had on their infrastructure. The agency also participates in capacity building and technology transfer programmes in order to reinforce these countries’ capacity to react to the impacts of climate change, especially to rising sea levels.229 In this regard, the AFD also acts in partnership with Mexico to manage flood risks and to ensure agricultural processes are
Observatoire national sur les effets du réchauffement climatique, Ministère de l’Ecologie, du Développement et de l’Aménagement Durables, (Paris). Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/-Presentation,640-.html 225 Bilan 2007 des Changements Climatiques: l’atténuation des changements climatiques, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Executive summary – Working group 3 (translated in French), 4 May 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/AR4_SPM_GR3_FR_07-05-17_site.pdf , Bilan 2007 des changements climatiques : Impacts, adaptation et vulnérabilité, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Executive summary - Working group 2 (translated in French), 6 April 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/AR4_SPM_GR2_FR_07-04-18.pdf , Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change Synthesis 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessmentreport/ar4/syr/ar4_syr_spm.pdf 226 Mission Interministérielle de l’Effet de Serre – Relations internationales, Ministère de l'Ecologie, du développement et de l'Aménagement durables, (Paris). Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.effet-de-serre.gouv.fr/relations_internationales 227 Press Release, Agence Française du Développement, 20 December 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.afd.fr/jahia/Jahia/cache/offonce/lang/en/home/Presse/Communique/pid/3853 ;jsessionid=D60FDFD1DAF32760D94EF1CDBABBF837 228 Press Release, Agence Française du Développement, 20 December 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.afd.fr/jahia/Jahia/cache/offonce/lang/en/home/Presse/Communique/pid/3853 ;jsessionid=D60FDFD1DAF32760D94EF1CDBABBF837 229 Press Release, Agence Française du Développement, 20 December 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.afd.fr/jahia/Jahia/cache/offonce/lang/en/home/Presse/Communique/pid/3853 ;jsessionid=D60FDFD1DAF32760D94EF1CDBABBF837
224
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environmentally sustainable.230 On a regional level, the AFD is sponsoring a health surveillance scheme in the Indian Ocean whose vulnerability to epidemics is aggravated by climate conditions.231 Similarly, despite the lack of information on recent projects, the FFEM provides financial assistance to developing countries throughout projects directly aimed at climate mitigation and adaptation.232 These initiatives, covering a wide range of regions and sector, illustrate how France took significant steps to assist and promote adaptation and mitigation policies in developing countries vulnerable to climate change impacts. Aid and development agencies have provided funds for adaptation projects while scientific research and meteorological agencies have offered research support on mitigation policies for developing countries. However, there remain gaps in France’s support to adaptation and mitigation policies in developing countries, particularly with regards to providing adaptation technologies. As a result, France is only assessed to be in partial compliance with its commitment to support adaptation and mitigation in developing countries. Analyst: Ana Francisca Ramirez
France 1E. Reducing GHG Emissions by Curbing Deforestation
Score 0
This analysis looks at French Government initiatives to curb deforestation through enhancing the protection of domestic forests and providing financial support for avoided deforestation in developing countries. Since the Heiligendamm Summit, the Government has engaged in diplomacy and policy deliberations on the international stage to address deforestation in developing countries. The Grenelle process resulted in several positive outcomes for sustainable forestry in France. France will increase the production of wood while protecting forest biodiversity, and will encourage the use of local wood in local products, for both materials and energy.233 France will reinforce the
Press Release, Agence Française du Développement, 20 December 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.afd.fr/jahia/webdav/site/myjahiasite/users/administrateur/public/Portail%20E au%20et%20Assainissement/pdf/03-inondations-GB-easyprint.pdf 231 Press Release, Agence Française du Développement, 20 December 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.afd.fr/jahia/Jahia/cache/offonce/lang/en/home/Presse/Communique/pid/3853 ;jsessionid=D60FDFD1DAF32760D94EF1CDBABBF837 232 Climate Change, Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.ffem.fr/jahia/Jahia/lang/en/accueil/pid/225 233 Objectifs, Ministère de l'Ecologie, du Développement et de l'Aménagement durables, (Paris), 9 January 2008. Date of Access: 26 January 2008. http://www.legrenelleenvironnement.fr/grenelle-environnement/spip.php?article721.
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importance of certification: by 2010, all wood purchased by France will have to be certified as sustainable.234 Finally, France will recognize and value the environmental services that forests provide.235 In terms of international engagement, France is a member of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership which aims to promote the sustainable management of the Congo Basins’ forests and wildlife.236 France contributed 15 million Euros over 3 years from 2004 to 2007 for this initiative.237 On 21-23 November 2007, Paris hosted the International Workshop on Avoided deforestation and the Evolution of Public and Private Forest Policies in the South, funded by the French Ministry of Research.238 This workshop focused primarily on measures to combat deforestation, including illegal logging.239 At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, France expressed “determined support” for the inclusion of avoided deforestation in future UNFCCC negotiations.240 France’s Minister for Ecology, Jean-Louis Borloo argued that the Bali Roadmap should include “fighting deforestation [and] forest degradation”241. Furthermore, France promised to contribute $5million to the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership.242
Objectifs, Ministère de l'Ecologie, du Développement et de l'Aménagement durables, (Paris), 9 January 2008. Date of Access: 26 January 2008. http://www.legrenelleenvironnement.fr/grenelle-environnement/spip.php?article721. 235 Objectifs, Ministère de l'Ecologie, du Développement et de l'Aménagement durables, (Paris), 9 January 2008. Date of Access: 26 January 2008. http://www.legrenelleenvironnement.fr/grenelle-environnement/spip.php?article721. 236 Congo Basin Forest Partnership, UN Partnerships for Sustainable Development, (New York), 6 April 2004. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://webapps01.un.org/dsd/partnerships/public/partnerships/14.html. 237 Congo Basin Forest Partnership, UN Partnerships for Sustainable Development, (New York), 6 April 2004. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://webapps01.un.org/dsd/partnerships/public/partnerships/14.html. 238 International Workshop - International Regime, Avoided deforestation and the Evolution of Public and Private Forest Policies in the South, Cirad, (Paris), 21-23 November 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://www.cirad.fr/ur/index.php/ressources_forestieres/actualites/colloques_et_seminaire s/international_regime_avoided_deforestation. 239 International Workshop - International Regime, Avoided deforestation and the Evolution of Public and Private Forest Policies in the South, Cirad, (Paris), 21-23 November 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://www.cirad.fr/ur/index.php/ressources_forestieres/actualites/colloques_et_seminaire s/international_regime_avoided_deforestation. 240 The 13th United Nations Climate Change Conference’s results (Bali), 3 - 14 December 2007, Ministère des Affaires Etrangères et Européennes, (Paris), December 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008: http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/francepriorities_1/environment-sustainable-development_1097/environmentaldiplomacy_4155/climate_4596/13th-united-nations-climate-change-conference-results-0314.12.-2007_10514.html?var_recherche=avoided+deforestation. 241 International Climate Conference – Speech by Jean-Louis Borloo, Ministre d’Etat, Minister for Ecology and Sustainable Planning and Development (excerpts), France in the United Kingdom, (Bali), 12 December 2007. Date of Access: 24 January 2008. http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Jean-Louis-Borloo-on-Bali-climate.html 242 Les accords de la Conférence de Bali, Ministère de l’écologie, du développement et de l’aménagement durables, (Paris), 18 December 2007. Date of Access: 26 January 2008. http://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/Les-accords-de-la-Conference-de.html.
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The Grenelle revealed France’s domestic commitment to forestry, but its international commitment is less clear. While France has contributed financially the Congo Basin Forest Partnership and will contribute to the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership, there is no evidence that it has provided technical support directly to developing countries to reduce deforestation. As a result, France is only assessed to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Claire Woods
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Germany
Background The German Government has introduced significant initiatives to meet its energy and climate change commitments made at the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007. In the wake of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali 3-14 December 2007, the German Government passed a comprehensive energy and climate-change package of legislation and regulations. This climate change and energy plan sets a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target of 40 percent relative to 1990 levels, by 2020. In order to help stabilise GHG emissions, Germany has announced plans to increase international cooperation and funding for the promotion of renewable energy technologies, carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), improvements of its feed-in tariff structure, and energy efficiency improvements in the built environment. The Government has also announced it will promote efficient energy consumption through decreasing taxes, decreasing tolls for low-emission vehicles, and amending the Biofuel Quota Act to ensure its goals are in line with the country’s renewable energy objectives. In order to help developing countries adapt to the threats of climate change, it has initiated bilateral agreements to promote an adaptation fund and technology transfer. In addition, Germany has contributed to the Forest-Carbon-Partnership Facility, which aims to find methods of compensating developing countries for efforts to reduce deforestation. Overall, since the Heiligendamm Summit, Germany has shown a commitment to accomplish its goals towards the mitigation of, and adaptation to climate change. Nevertheless, in order to claim to offer progressive leadership, the Government would have to propose more ambitious emissions reduction targets than what is proposed in the climate and energy package, and expand its international partnerships and alliances to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. Nonetheless, its current initiatives show the potential for other countries to follow suit. As German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced: “we hope that the example set by our decisions will be followed, and that we come together internationally to implement ambitious climate goals.” 243 Team Leader and Analyst: Vanessa Peña
Blake, Mariah. In Bali, Germany takes dramatic step on climate change. The Christian Science Monitor. 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 5 January 2008. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1205/p10s01-woeu.html?page=2.
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Germany 1A. Stabilise GHG Concentrations
Score 0
At the Heiligendamm Summit, Germany was among the foremost proponents of stringent emissions reduction targets for industrialized countries. Domestically, in relation to mitigating its impact on climate change, Germany has introduced a new package of climate and energy legislation, which it claimed to be the “most extensive package of energy- and climate-policy measures anywhere in the world.”244 Yet, critics point to significant contradictions in Germany’s energy policy, which appear to undermine its progress towards achieving its targets. As a result, Germany is only found to be partially in compliance with its commitment to stabilise GHG concentrations. On 5 December 2007, in the wake of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, Germany introduced a new package of climate and energy legislation that was meant to help Germany reach its stated target of reducing GHG emissions by 40 percent by 2020 relative to 1990 levels. According the German Government, some 3.3 billion have been earmarked for climate policy for the fiscal year 2008, 1.8 billion more than in the 2005 budget.245 The primary objectives of the climate and energy package are (1) to ensure an uncontested place for base load energy alternatives in the future energy mix; (2) to ensure greater energy efficiency, and promote combined heat and power solutions; (3) to further expand the use of renewable sources of energy; and (4) to promote modern energy technologies such as “clean coal” as well CO2 recovery and sequestration.246 In particular, the objectives focus to mitigate GHG emissions from energy consumption of electricity, heating, and traffic and transport, which together account for roughly one third of primary energy consumption.247 The climate and energy package proposes a legal framework that facilitates the development of clean technologies, such as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), through promoting energy research, amending the Cartel Law, the Incentives Regulation, and strengthening competition in the energy
A great step forward for climate protection, Die Bundesregierung, (Berlin). 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Artikel/2007/12/2007-12-05-energie-klimaprogramm__en.html. 245 A great step forward for climate protection, Die Bundesregierung, (Berlin). 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Artikel/2007/12/2007-12-05-energie-klimaprogramm__en.html. 246 Pointing the way forward for energy and climate policy until 2002, Die Bundesregierung, (Berlin), 5 July 2007. Date of Access: 25 January 2007. http://www.bundesregierung.de/nn_6562/Content/EN/Artikel/2007/07/2007-07-03energiegipfel__en.html. 247 Pointing the way forward for energy and climate policy until 2002, Die Bundesregierung, (Berlin), 5 July 2007. Date of Access: 25 January 2007. http://www.bundesregierung.de/nn_6562/Content/EN/Artikel/2007/07/2007-07-03energiegipfel__en.html.
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market by reforming the Power Station Grid Connection Ordinance.248 Following the launch of this climate change package, Germany sought to play a leading role in the negotiations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali 3-14 December 2007.249 Speaking at the conference, Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel urged industrialised nations to commit to a medium term goal to reduce GHG emissions by 30 percent by 2020.250 Although the outcomes of the conference did not meet Germany’s initial expectations, Gabriel nevertheless welcomed the negotiated Bali roadmap as major progress, and reconfirmed Germany’s commitment to work towards a second climate protection agreement.251 Apart from Germany’s actions towards reducing GHG emissions domestically, it took action towards climate change mitigation at bilateral and multilateral levels. In this respect, the bulk of Germany’s contributions to global climate protection is provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). In 2008, some 900 million will be committed in the bilateral and multilateral sphere for climate protection efforts in developing countries, mostly for projects and programmes concerned with renewable energy and energy efficiency.252 On 27 July 2007, Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul rejected demands for ending development cooperation with China, stressing that continued cooperation with developing countries in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency is necessary to mitigate global climate change.253 As an indication, on 8 November 2007, Germany announced it would intensify its cooperation with India, channelling 72 million to strengthen India’s renewable energy and energy efficiency programmes.254 Similarly, it aims to channel 92 million into its cooperation with Brazil during the next two years, mainly focusing on raising the efficiency and sustainability of Brazil’s energy system and protecting its rainforest.255
Pointing the way forward for energy and climate policy until 2020, Die Bundesregierung, (Berlin), 5 July 2007. Date of Access: 25 January 2007. http://www.bundesregierung.de/nn_6562/Content/EN/Artikel/2007/07/2007-07-03energiegipfel__en.html. 249 ‘Everyone must do their bit to protect the climate,’ says Chancellor Merkel, Die Bundesregierung, (Berlin), 3 December 2007. Date of Access: 25 December 2007. http://www.bundesregierung.de/nn_6538/Content/EN/Artikel/2007/12/2007-12-03klimakonferenz-auf-bali-hat-begonnen__en.html. 250 Bali must lay the foundations for the future, Speech by Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, BMU, (Berlin), 12 December 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.bmu.de/english/speeches/doc/40641.php. 251 Minister Gabriel welcomes Bali outcome as major progress, BMU, (Berlin), 15 December 2007. Date of Access: 25 December 2007. http://www.bmu.de/english/current_press_releases/pm/40640.php. 252 Development policy more important than ever before, says Wieczorek-Zeul, BMZ, (Berlin), 28 November 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.bmz.de/en/press/pm/2007/november/pm_20071128_136.html. 253 Strategic cooperation with China in Germany's interest, BMZ, (Berlin), 27 July 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.bmz.de/en/press/pm/2007/july/pm_20070727_90.html. 254 Germany strengthens environmental and climate protection in India, BMZ, (Berlin), 8 November 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.bmz.de/en/press/pm/2007/november/pm_20071108_128.html. 255 Partnerschaft mit Brasilien für globalen Umwelt- und Klimaschutz Entwicklungszusammenarbeit wird Brasiliens neuer Rolle als globaler Akteur angepasst,
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In November 2007, the German Development Cooperation (GTZ) finalised its capacity development scoping mission related to CDM in Rwanda, as part of GTZ’ plans to implement future training programmes in five African countries.256 Germany’s commitment to reduce domestic emissions by 40 percent demonstrates a bold step in international climate change politics. Yet, despite the various actions that Germany has adopted, some non-governmental voices are critical of Germany’s actual achievement with respect to reducing GHG emissions. For example, Hans-Josef Fell, the parliamentary member and scientific development speaker of the Bündis90/Green party, points out that Germany’s fast progress in emissions reductions does not actually derive from its policies, but rather from the historic accident of the collapse of Eastern Germany’s industry.257 Against this backdrop, the actual achievement of a 40 percent reduction relative to 1990 levels is in fact not as ambitious. Even so, a study of Eutech commissioned by Greenpeace, highlights that Germany’s package is likely to fail to achieve the targeted emissions reduction of 40 percent.258 This is mainly due to current plans to secure future energy supply by the construction of additional coal fired power plants, even though future construction plans may incorporate the use of clean coal technologies.259 So in conclusion, even though Germany’s climate and energy plan suggest a significant step in the right direction, these contradictions in Germany’s energy policy render its overall compliance only to be partial. Analysts: Carola Kenngott, Vanessa Peña, and Alexandre Shrode
Germany 1B. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production
Score +1
BMZ, (Berlin), 23 November 2007. Date of Access 1 January 2008. http://www.bmz.de/de/presse/pm/2007/november/pm_20071123_135.html 256 CDM Highlights No. 54, Monthly newsletter of the GTZ Climate Protection Programme (CaPP), Perspectives GmbH, November 2007, (Eschborn), 7 November 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.gtz.de/de/dokumente/en-climate-cdm-highlights-11-07.pdf. 257 Heiße Luft, Die fünf größten Schwachstellen im Klimaprogramm der Bundesregierung. Hans-Josef Fell, Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen, (Berlin), 5 May 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.hans-joseffell.de/cms/component/option,com_docman/task,doc_download/Itemid,231/gid,216/. 258 Energie & Management GmbH. Bewertung und Vergleich mit dem Greenpeace Energiekonzept ‘Plan B,’ EUtech, (Aachen), November 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.greenpeace.de/fileadmin/gpd/user_upload/themen/klima/Halbzeit_Kurzbewer tung_IKEP.pdf. 259 Klimaschutzpaket: Zum Scheitern verurteilt?, Greenpeace, (Hamburg), 5 May 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.greenpeace.de/themen/klima/nachrichten/artikel/klimaschutzpaket_zum_schei tern_verurteilt/.
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In terms of promoting less-emission intensive energy production, Germany has pledged to invest in research and development to promote clean and renewable energy technologies. In addition to being one of the most progressive states in renewable energy production, Germany has adopted what is said to be one of the most comprehensive climate protection packages enacted worldwide.260 This package sets the target to double the share of renewable energy in the total energy mix, from current 13 percent to 30 percent.261 Other initiatives include partnerships for the advancement of carbon capture and sequestration technology, and improvements in the feedin tariff system. Germany has partnered with industry to make the production of solar cells more cost-effective, and to increase their commercialisation.262 Another renewable energy technology promoted by the German Government is offshore wind turbines. On 4 December 2007, the Government announced that it would intensify cooperation with Denmark and Sweden to support the deployment of off-shore wind energy projects in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.263 It projects that offshore wind energy in German marine areas could generate up to 25,000 megawatts of installed capacity by 2025/2030, equivalent to 15 percent of Germany’s current energy demand. Furthermore, Germany has taken action to improve its feed-in tariff system design through participation in international workshops of the International Feed-In Cooperation,264 that aim to improve the feed-in tariff systems in participating countries. Germany’s participation in the fourth workshop, which was held 18- 19 October 2007 in Slovenia, reflects its commitment to exchange ideas and experiences with other countries in order to strengthen public incentive programmes for renewable energy markets. Addressing the current situation of coal production, Germany has announced it will double the percentage of electricity generated in combined heat and power stations, from the current level of 12 percent to around 25 percent by 2020.265 In addition, every year, Germany will provide 750 million for power
In Bali, Germany takes dramatic step on climate change, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 5 January 2008. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1205/p10s01-woeu.html. 261 A great step forward for climate protection, Die Bundesregierung, (Berlin), 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Artikel/2007/12/2007-12-05-energie-klimaprogramm__en.html. 262 German Government and Industry Boost New Technology, Printed Electronics World, 21 August 2007. Date of Access: 5 January 2008. http://www.idtechex.com/printedelectronicsworld/articles/german_government_and_indus try_boost_new_technology_00000670.asp. 263 Germany, Denmark and Sweden intensify cooperation in offshore wind energy deployment, BMU, (Berlin), 4 December 2007. Date of Access: 5 January 2008. http://www.bmu.de/english/current_press_releases/pm/40570.php. 264 The 4th workshop of the International Feed-In Cooperation took place on October 18 & 19, 2007. International Feed-In Cooperation, (Berlin), October 2007. Date of Access: 5 January 2008. http://www.feed-in-cooperation.org/. 265 A great step forward for climate protection, Die Bundesregierung, (Berlin). 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007.
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stations to integrate heat production in addition to electricity production. Moreover, Germany will increase the funding available for these ventures up to 350 million a year until 2012.266 In addition, there are also plans to better integrate renewable energies into the national electricity grid. Overall, Germany’s cooperation with international governments and industry, as well concrete policy actions and budget allocations that promote renewable energy technologies, provide the basis for awarding Germany a score of +1 for its commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy production. Analysts: Vanessa Peña and Alexandre Schrode
Germany
Score +1
1C. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Consumption
Since the Heiligendamm Summit, Germany has made significant advances in its commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy consumption. The Government has been focusing on long term goals rather than short-term fixes, emphasizing the connection between climate protection and economic growth.267 Most notably, in a cabinet decision on 5 December 2007, the German Government adopted an integrated climate protection and energy programme. In comparison with 1990 levels, Germany intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 21 percent by 2012, 40 percent by 2020, and 80 percent by 2050.268 To achieve these goals, Germany aims to double energy productivity by 2020, alongside a large-scale expansion of renewable energies.269 As part of the programme, the German Government set forth stricter requirements for energy efficiency in buildings that will be followed by a
http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Artikel/2007/12/2007-12-05-energie-klimaprogramm__en.html. 266 A great step forward for climate protection, Die Bundesregierung, (Berlin). 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Artikel/2007/12/2007-12-05-energie-klimaprogramm__en.html. 267 Germany is taking action! Climate and energy policy and the cabinet decision of 5 Dec 2007, BMU, (Berlin), 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 21 December 2007. http://www.bmu.de/files/pdfs/allgemein/application/pdf/infopapier_bali_dez2007_en.pdf, p. 1. 268 Germany is taking action! Climate and energy policy and the cabinet decision of 5 Dec 2007, BMU, (Berlin). Date of Access: 21 Dec 2007. http://www.bmu.de/files/pdfs/allgemein/application/pdf/infopapier_bali_dez2007_en.pdf, p. 1 269 Germany is taking action! Climate and energy policy and the cabinet decision of 5 Dec 2007, BMU, (Berlin). Date of Access: 21 Dec 2007. http://www.bmu.de/files/pdfs/allgemein/application/pdf/infopapier_bali_dez2007_en.pdf, p. 1
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supplementary package and formally adopted in May 2008.270 According to the Government, these building sector requirements will be adjusted according to technological advances and shifts in energy prices. Through the tightened Energy Saving Ordinance, new buildings are expected to consume 30 percent less energy than current levels, and the German Government will contribute more than 1.4 billion per year toward the modernization of energy systems in existing buildings.271 Among the most drastic demand-side measures, the German Government will require homeowners to use renewable energy sources in new buildings, and will contribute funding to support the use of renewable energies in existing buildings ( 350 million in 2008, 500 million from 2009).272 By 2020, renewable energies should contribute 14 percent of heating in Germany.273 Additionally, the government is introducing incentives for consumers to choose more environmentally-friendly automobiles. On 13 November 2007, the German Ministry of Finance released a plan that exempts new vehicles that emit less than 100 grams of CO2 per kilometre from an annual tax.274 In addition, Germany’s new climate change package sets out that the Government will reduce tolls for clean vehicles, and increase tolls for higheremitting vehicles.275 The Government intends to amend the existing ordinance on energy consumption labelling of cars to enable consumers to more easily identify how much energy vehicles consume.276 Furthermore, Germany will amend the Biofuel Quota Act to ensure that the percentage of biofuels used for transport energy is increased to 20 percent, by 2020.277
270 Germany is taking action! Climate and energy policy and the cabinet decision of 5 Dec 2007, BMU, (Berlin). Date of Access: 21 Dec 2007. http://www.bmu.de/files/pdfs/allgemein/application/pdf/infopapier_bali_dez2007_en.pdf, p. 1. 271 Germany is taking action! Climate and energy policy and the cabinet decision of 5 Dec 2007, BMU, (Berlin). Date of Access: 21 Dec 2007. http://www.bmu.de/files/pdfs/allgemein/application/pdf/infopapier_bali_dez2007_en.pdf, p. 2. 272 Germany is taking action! Climate and energy policy and the cabinet decision of 5 Dec 2007, BMU, (Berlin). Date of Access: 21 Dec 2007. http://www.bmu.de/files/pdfs/allgemein/application/pdf/infopapier_bali_dez2007_en.pdf, p. 2. 273 A great step forward for climate protection, Die Bundesregierung, (Berlin), 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Artikel/2007/12/2007-12-05-energie-klimaprogramm__en.html. 274 Germany Plans Tax Exemption for Low-Emission Cars, Deutsche Welle, 14 November 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 23 2007. http://www.dwworld.de/dw/article/0,2144,2912535,00.html. 275 Germany is taking action! Climate and energy policy and the cabinet decision of 5 Dec 2007, BMU, (Berlin), 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 21 Dec 2007. http://www.bmu.de/files/pdfs/allgemein/application/pdf/infopapier_bali_dez2007_en.pdf, p. 2. 276 Germany is taking action! Climate and energy policy and the cabinet decision of 5 Dec 2007, BMU, (Berlin), 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 21 Dec 2007. http://www.bmu.de/files/pdfs/allgemein/application/pdf/infopapier_bali_dez2007_en.pdf, p. 2. 277 Germany is taking action! Climate and energy policy and the cabinet decision of 5 Dec 2007, BMU, (Berlin), 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 21 Dec 2007. http://www.bmu.de/files/pdfs/allgemein/application/pdf/infopapier_bali_dez2007_en.pdf, p. 3.
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In addition, Germany plans to increase production of agricultural products through rural development. As Minister of Environment, Sigmar Gabriel, said: “promoting renewable energy sources, direct marketing of organic food, farm holidays - that is in my eyes the future of agricultural policy.”278 The promotion of local/organic foods and farm holidays have both direct and indirect effects on the level of emission intensity, since local food delivery is less emission intensive in terms of transportation, than imported foods. In addition, farm holidays provide avenues for promoting less emissionintensive holiday packages and thus provide a way to manage the energy consumption in the tourism sector.279 Though these initiatives indicate a clear commitment towards improving the efficiency of energy consumption in Germany, there are still areas that could be improved. A recent emissions study by the Brussels-based European Federation for Transport and Environment show that despite efforts to curb vehicle emissions, cars produced in Germany pollute more than those produced in other European countries.280 Thus, rather than introducing one or two eco-models, an overhaul of the entire fleet should be considered to enhance emission efficiency.281 Other areas where Germany seems reluctant to take actions include introducing speed limits on motorways. Even if speed limits only contribute marginally towards reducing GHGs, according to Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel, it could set an important political statement.282 Thus, there is scope for Germany to further strengthen its policies towards enhancing the efficiency of energy consumption. Nevertheless, policy actions since the Heiligendamm Summit warrant a score of full compliance. Analyst: Marianne Gillis Germany 1D. Support for Climate Adaptation/Mitigation in DCs Score 0
At the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, Germany advocated for including means for adaptation in a future international climate agreement along with
278 Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel: EU Commission sets the course for a more sustainable CAP. (Berlin), 20 November 2007. Date of Access: 5 January 2008. http://www.bmu.de/english/current_press_releases/pm/40478.php. 279 Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel: EU Commission sets the course for a more sustainable CAP. (Berlin), 20 November 2007. Date of Access: 5 January 2008. http://www.bmu.de/english/current_press_releases/pm/40478.php. 280 Heavy German Cars Pollute More than European Competition. Deutsche Welle, 15 November 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://www.dwworld.de/dw/article/0,2144,2914156,00.html. 281 Heavy German Cars Pollute More than European Competition, Deutsche Welle, 15 November 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://www.dwworld.de/dw/article/0,2144,2914156,00.html. 282 Umweltpolitik: SPIEGEL-Gespräch mit Minister Sigmar Gabriel über Klimaschutz, Tempolimits und AKW-Laufzeiten, DER SPIEGEL 5/2008 vom 28.01.2008, p. 36
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enhanced technology cooperation and financing.283 At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, Germany contributed to the creation of the Adaptation Fund, and pledged support for financing adaptation in developing countries. Yet, concrete information with regard to current or planned future activities is largely not available at present. Nevertheless, Germany’s Action Programme on Climate and Development (“Aktionsprogramm Klima und Entwicklung”), although published in April 2007 and thus outside the compliance period, suggests that Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is currently planning and developing activities with respect to climate adaptation projects284 such as adaptation to agriculture in Africa, systematic assessment of climate risks, and integration of disaster prevention in relevant programmes and projects of German development cooperation.285 Further, German Development Cooperation supports the approach to implement climate adaptation measures into development aid – for instance by means of the ongoing programme ‘Klimaschutzprogramm für Entwicklungsländer.’286 Thus, despite lack of detailed publicly available information on new activities in the compliance period, Germany is awarded a ‘work in progress’ for its current planning activities. Shortly before her departure to Bali, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Germany’s Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development announced that she considered it a duty to support the world’s poorest countries in their effort to take measures to adapt to climate change.287 At the Bali Conference, Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel pledged an extra 120 million for technology transfer and adaptation to developing countries every year. As a result, Germany’s financial contribution to combating climate change, including spending on economic cooperation and development, reached up to 1 billion per year.288 On 10 December 2007, Germany was among the
Joint Statement by the German G8 Presidency and the Heads of State and/or Government of Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa on the occasion of the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, (Heiligendamm, Germany), 8 June 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/summit/2007heiligendamm/g8-2007-joint.pdf. 284 Klimakonzept Konkret, Aktionsprogram “Klima und Entwicklung”, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, (Berlin), 24 April 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://www.bmz.de/de/zentrales_downloadarchiv/Presse/Aktionsprogramm_Klima_Entwic klung_070522.pdf 285 Katastrophenvorsorge im Klimawandel - Die entwicklungspolitische Perspektive, Adolf Kloke-Lesch, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Karlsruhe), 15 and 16 October 2007. Date of Access; 9 March 2008. http://www.cedim.de/download/02_Kloke_Lesch.pdf. 286 Süsswasservorräte und Klimawandel, Das Parlament, Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung,. edition 25, 2006. Date of Access: 9 March 2008. http://www.bundestag.de/dasparlament/2006/25/Beilage/003.html 287 Wieczorek-Zeul nach Bali abgereist Bundesentwicklungsministerin nimmt an der UNKlimakonferenz teil, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, (Berlin), 9 December 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://www.bmz.de/de/presse/pm/2007/dezember/pm_20071209_144.html. 288 Bali must lay the foundations for the future, Speech by Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, BMU, (Berlin), 12 December 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.bmu.de/english/speeches/doc/40641.php.
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countries behind the creation of the Adaptation Fund.289 While acknowledging the agreement achieved on the Adaptation fund, the German Advisory Council on Climate Change (WBGU) raised criticisms with respect to its volume, as well as the form of financing. According to the WBGU, the primary objective for the future should be to develop an adaptation and compensation regime that ensures adequate and sustainable funding to compensate climate damage and support climate adaptation strategies.290 (Oxfam claims, about US$50 billion per year would be required to cover the cost for insurance, improved house building, reforestation, relocations, etc.)291 Overall, Germany is not only supporting renewable and efficient energy production and consumption in developing countries through projects implemented by GTZ and KfW (accounted for in commitment 1A), but is currently developing further projects and activities to support adaptation in developing countries, and has announced substantial financial resources to this end. Germany therefore receives a ‘work in progress.’ Analyst: Carola Kenngott Germany 1E. Reducing GHG Emissions by Curbing Deforestation Score 0
Germany has demonstrated full compliance with its commitment to help curb deforestation. In various international forums, it has pledged support for the Forest Carbon Partnership, a multilateral facility that aims to assist developing countries in their efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and land degradation. Since the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007, Germany has also initiated and strengthened bilateral relationships with various developing countries to address issues related to deforestation. In October 2007, Germany announced it intended to provide 40 million for the implementation of a Forest-Carbon-Partnership Facility (FCPF) in support of the Forest Carbon Partnership, which was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, 3-14 December 2007.292 This
Erste konkrete Einigung auf Bali: Anpassungsfonds eingerichtet Wieczorek-Zeul: Wichtiger Schritt, um auf Klimawandel zu reagieren, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, (Berlin), 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://www.bmz.de/de/presse/pm/2007/dezember/pm_20071211_145.html 290 Last-minute breakthrough for global climate protection, German Advisory Council on Climate Change, (Berlin), 16 December 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://www.wbgu.de/wbgu_presse_07_06e.html 291 Zu wenig Mittel für Anpassung an Klimawandel – Lob für Deutschland, Co2- Handel.de – Das Portal zum Emissionshandel und Klimaschutz, 6 December 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.co2-handel.de/article347_7498.html. G8 Research Group-Oxford Interim Compliance Report 27 February 2008 292 Klimawandel und Entwicklung, Die Entwicklungspolitik setzt Akzente, Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, (Berlin), October 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.bmz.de/de/service/infothek/buerger/themen/Faltblatt_Klimawandel_dt.pdf.
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pledge is the highest among partner countries.293 The partnership’s primary goal is the protection of forests in developing countries and it offers an economic incentive for developing countries to protect their forests.294 At bilateral level, Germany has extended its support to sustainable forest management in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Brazil. Inter-governmental negotiations between Germany and the Philippines concluded that Germany will continue to support climate change mitigation through sustainable forest management providing a total of 20 million (for forest management as well as poverty eradication) over the next two years, which will for example support communal forest management in the Visayas.295 Similarly, on 4 October 2007, Germany announced that combating deforestation was one of the main outcomes of recent bilateral negotiations with Indonesia.296 Furthermore, Germany announced to continue its support to the protection of the Brazilian rainforest in cooperation with other bi- and multilateral donors as well as non-governmental organisations.297 Last but not least, on 26 October 2007, Germany took over the coordination of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership for the next two years.298 This work will be supported by the GTZ’ sector project on International Forest Policy (IWP), which supports the development of long-term forest protection plans in developing countries. Germany is also providing a total of 53 million for rainforest protection in Central Africa.299 Given the substantial commitment of funding both at the international, as well as bilateral level in various countries, and Germany’s support for the Congo Basin Forest Partnership, Germany is awarded full compliance for its commitment to reduce GHG emissions by curbing deforestation. Analysts: Alexandre Shrode and Carola Kenngott
293 Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Takes Aim at Deforestation, World Bank, (Washington, D.C.), 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTABOUTUS/ORGANIZATION/EXTSD NETWORK/0,,contentMDK:21581819~menuPK:3981802~pagePK:64159605~piPK:6415766 7~theSitePK:3167628,00.html. 294 Bali is a first step, others must follow, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, (Berlin), 15 December 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://www.bmz.de/de/presse/pm/2007/dezember/pm_20071211_145.html. 295 Deutsches Engagement für Konfliktbearbeitung und Klimaschutz auf den Philippinen wird ausgebaut, BMZ, (Berlin), 21 June 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.bmz.de/de/presse/pm/2007/juni/pm_20070621_77.html 296 Indonesien strategischer Partner im weltweiten Klimaschutz, BMZ, (Berlin), 4 October 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.bmz.de/de/presse/pm/2007/oktober/pm_20071004_113.html. 297 Partnerschaft mit Brasilien für globalen Umwelt- und Klimaschutz Entwicklungszusammenarbeit wird Brasiliens neuer Rolle als globaler Akteur angepasst, BMZ, (Berlin), 23 November 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.bmz.de/de/presse/pm/2007/november/pm_20071123_135.html. 298 Deutschland koordiniert internationalen Schutz des Waldes im Kongobecken, BMZ, (Berlin), 26 October 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.bmz.de/de/presse/pm/2007/oktober/pm_20071026_120.html. 299 Deutschland koordiniert internationalen Schutz des Waldes im Kongobecken, BMZ, (Berlin), 26 October 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.bmz.de/de/presse/pm/2007/oktober/pm_20071026_120.html.
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Italy
Background Since the G8 Heiligendamm summit in June 2007, the trajectory of Italian environmental policy has continued to be influenced by the economic and political context in the country. Until the change of government in January 2008, the most important recent events to have influenced Italian climate policies are two conferences on climate change. On 12-13 September 2007, the Government hosted a National Conference on Climate Change in Rome, and later in the year, it participated in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali. After having dealt with a huge public budget problem in 2007, and restarted the “Italian machine”, the Italian Government introduced the Budget Law of 2008, and outlined a new set of development and growth strategies. In this new context, environmental actions have played an important role, including the promotion of climate mitigation policies as a means to address energy security. The political coalition made up of the Democratic Party, the Communists, and the Greens passed the 2008 Budget Law, which included several climate-related initiatives. The Government strengthened its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol by defining new and ambitious emissions reduction targets. It established a financial fund for financing public awareness campaigns to promote energy- efficiency among Italian citizens, and introduced economic incentives for them to purchase low emissions vehicles and energy-efficient electronic devices. In addition, all new buildings are obliged to demonstrate energy-efficiency by obtaining green certification. Relative to renewables, it has introduced public incentive programmes, and funded research aimed at accelerating the development of the renewable and low carbon technologies industry. These cross-cutting actions across a range of sectors and policy areas suggest a broad-based and holistic response to climate change. After years of political inertia, the Government seems to have finally embarked on a policy path that attempts to reverse the long-time incremental growth in domestic GHG emissions. Several initiatives point to a strategic ambition to make climate mitigation a priority across different ministries. These efforts provide a strong foundation for a comprehensive response to climate change, but their effectiveness will only be revealed once they are put into practice. Team Leader and Analyst: Massimo Preziuso
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Italy 1A. Stabilise GHG Concentrations
Score 0
Italy has shown a significant delay in implementing national measures to address its national commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, especially with regard to cutting GHG emissions. In 1998, the government introduced “guidelines for policies and national measures to reduce GHG emissions” which identified a series of areas where actions had to take place, particularly as to means of transport and energetic consumption in the industrial and housing sectors. 300 These were reviewed in 2002. 301 Yet, no progress has been made in cutting GHG emissions since, indeed, these have even increased by 12.1 percent since 1990.302 The increase is mainly due to increased road transport, production of fossil-fuel energy and oil-refining.303 On 24 December 2007, the Government introduced the 2008 Budget Law which established a fund for the management of GHG emissions quotas, 304 whose resources are to be channelled into the “new enterers’ stocks” (those destined to new factories), in compliance with the “national plans of quotas” allocation”. At least 40 percent of the newly built public infrastructure will be required to obtain a certificate that states the amount of emissions reductions.305 Globally, the 2008 Budget Law allocates about 600 million for actions directed at achieving emissions reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol,306 accounting for approximately five percent of the total resources deployed by the law.307 In the future, the government has committed to include in its annual Budget Law an overall evaluation of progresses made in achieving the reduction in GHG emissions. 308
CIPE resolution no. 123/2002; Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://db.formez.it/StoricoFontiNor.nsf/bb05f9ea5aa422dbc1256a930025c290/399EF8BDE 71BAFFAC1256B3B00400631/$file/Delibera percent20CIPE.pdf 301 Revisione delle linee guida per le politiche e misure nazionali di riduzione delle emissioni dei gas serra (legge 120/2002). Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www2.minambiente.it/Sito/settori_azione/pia/docs/deliberaCIPE_19_12_02.pdf 302 Emissions increased from 516,851 to 579,548 GHG Mt. Italy should reach in 2012 the target of 487,1 Mt, Ministero dell’Ambiente e della tutela del territorio e del mare, Date of Access: 27/12/07. http://www2.minambiente.it/sito/settori_azione/pia/att/kyoto/ipk_indice.asp 303 Communication by the Commission, (COM(2007)757final) 304 Law 24 December 2007, no. 244; art. 2, c. 554, e) 305 Law 22 November 2007, no. 222; art. 26, c. 2 306 Ambiente, 10 buone notizie, Governo Italiano. Date of Access: 02/01/2008, http://www.governo.it/GovernoInforma/Dossier/finanziaria_2008/schede_ministeri/ambie nte.pdf, p. 4 307 Giudizio del WWF Italia sulla Finanziaria 2008, WWF Italia, 17 October 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.wwf.it/UserFiles/File/News percent20Dossier percent20Appti/DOSSIER/comunicatipercent20stampa/CS_WWF_17_10_07_finanziaria20 08.pdf. 308 Law 22 November 2007, no. 222; art. 26, c. 3
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On 11 December 2007, the Inter-ministerial Committee for Economic Planning (CIPE) adopted a reviewed309 version of the 1998 resolution for reducing domestic GHG emissions, which sets 31 March 2008 as the deadline for introducing “all the necessary actions and measures to reach the goal of reducing GHG emissions in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol.” 310 Areas in which the government is most to intervene include urban and extra-urban mobility, civil construction industry (with special focus on schools), and the promotion of eco-efficient public and private consumption.311 On 12 December 2007, Mr. Pecoraro Scanio declared that by 15 January 2008, all the ministries will have to report to the CTE (Technical Committee on Emissions) on how they intend to cut emissions in their respective industry sectors, and by the end of March 2008, the new national plan will be presented. 312 In reference to these policy actions, Paolo Cento, vice-secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, stated that Italy has “at last fulfilled technical requirements for gradually approaching Kyoto targets”, adding that now there is an urge for “an immediate public and private commitment, also in order to avoid financial sanctions for exceeding the emissions’ limit in 2012”.313 In conclusion, Italy is assigned a compliance score of “0” for this commitment. On the one hand, after the political inertia that have characterised the Government’s response to climate change during past few years, it has finally embarked on a policy path that more comprehensively tackles domestic GHG emissions. The government has recognized a need to take further and welltimed actions, and has set a deadline to devise a new comprehensive national climate change strategy. However, despite these actions, it is premature to gauge whether these political declarations will result in concrete emissions reductions. Analyst: Luca Paolo Virgilio Italy 1B. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production Score 0
Relative to other European countries, Italy has an energy mix that is more heavily dependent on traditional energy sources, including hydroelectric power. While energy production from renewable sources is limited (7.8 percent of total offer in 2005), the contribution of non-traditional sources (wind power, solar, biomass, biofuel, and so on) has risen by 339 percent
CIPE resolution no. 135/2007; http://www.lexambiente.com/modules.php?name=AvantGo&file=print&sid=3651. Date of Access: 20/12/07 310 CIPE resolution no. 135/2007; art. 3 and 3.1 311 CIPE resolution no. 135/2007; art 3.2 312 Tagliare i Gas Serra, Portale della Federazione dei Verdi, 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 9 January 2008. http://www.verdi.it/apps/news.php?id=17433. 313 Tagliare i Gas Serra, Portale della Federazione dei Verdi, 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 09 January 2008. http://www.verdi.it/apps/news.php?id=17433
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between 1991 and 2005.314 Achieving a new balance between cleaner and traditional sources of energy has emerged as one of the key aspects of Italy’s environmental policy since the Heiligendamm Summit. Stimulating this agenda is a decision by the European Community that renewable sources should account for 20 percent of energy production by 2020. On 28 June 2007, the government presented the Economic and Financial Programme 2008-2011 (DPEF), 315 which underlined Italy’s requirement under the European Union’s renewable energy target to reduce GHG emissions by at least 20 percent relative to 1999 levels, within 2020. The government announced it would adopt all the necessary measures to achieve the objective by greatly increasing domestic renewable energy production through a mix of research and incentives. On 10 September 2007, the government presented Energy: issues and challenges for Europe and Italy, a position paper that responded to the paper Energy Policy for Europe, adopted by the European Council on 9 March 2007 316 . In the paper, the government committed to reach three main objectives by 2020; fighting climate change, improving the reliability of energy procurement, and promoting European competitiveness. It has argued that each EU Member State should consume energy from sources where energy production is most efficient. Subsequently, the government has come out in support of covering 100 percent of investment costs for renewable energy production, including big hydroelectric plants, and affirmed that the commitment of each EU Member State must be proportional to its potential production of renewable energy.317 With regards to expanding renewable energy in the domestic economy, the government has introduced a number of supportive policy actions. On 24 December 2007, the government passed the 2008 Budget Law which established norms that promote the production of electric energy from renewable sources. Under an existing “green certification” scheme, plants with a production capacity exceeding 1 MWh receive the tradable certificate which can be used to reach the compulsory renewable energy’s quotas. Plants with production capacity of less than 1 MWh receive, instead of the certificates, a
314 Vademecum APAT Agenzia per la Protezione dell’Ambiente e per i servizi Tecnici:Annuario dei dati ambientali 2007; December 2007. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. http://www.apat.gov.it/site/_contentfiles/00146800/146828_vademecum_annuario07.pdf 315 Documento di programmazione Economico-Finanziaria per gli anni 2008-2011 presented by Prime Minister R.Prodi and Minister of Economy and Finance T.Padoa Schioppa. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.governo.it/GovernoInforma/Dossier/finanziaria_2008/documenti/dpef_2008_ 2011.pdf 316 Energy Policy for Europe, 7224/1/07REV 1. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/fr/ec/93141.pdf 317 Subsequently, the government has come out in support of covering 100 percent of investment costs for renewable energy production, including big hydroelectric plants, and affirmed that the commitment of each EU Member State must be proportional to its potential production of renewable energy. Department for European Affairs, Secretariat of the Ministerial Committee for European Affairs. Energia:temi e sfide per l’Europa e per l’Italia. Position Paper del Governo Italiano. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. http://www.governo.it/backoffice/allegati/36271-4111.pdf
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fixed tariff lasting 15 years, readjusted every 3 years. Starting in 2008, and until 25 per cent of internal energy consumption is composed of renewables, the green certificates which exceeds the minimum quota are retired from the market at a price equal to their average price of green in the previous year. The scheme has been expanded to include more plants, augmenting both the value of each certificate and their market price. Mr. Pier Luigi Bersani, the Minister of Economic Development, has committed to a target in which 25 percent of total energy consumption by 2012 comes from renewable sources. In part to achieve this, the government has increased the minimum quota of renewable sources to be produced in the national electric production from 0.35 to 0.75 percentage points.318 It has also established a 10 million fund that supports the accumulation, transportation, and utilization of hydrogen produced through new and renewable energy sources.319 In addition, the Ministry of Environment has created a 40 million fund designed to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency through controlling and reducing GHG emissions, and promoting thermodynamic solar electric energy production. Overall, the Government has introduced several measures that set this year apart from previous years. It has announced an ambitious short-term policy target of sourcing 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2012, and has introduced some public programmes that stand to benefit new energy technologies. However, despite its stated willingness to use public regulation and investment to promote renewable energy, it has not yet implemented many of them. As a result, Italy is only found in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Ottavia Pesce
Italy
Score 0
1C. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Consumption
Since the Heiligendamm Summit, Italy has introduced several measures to improve energy efficiency in the domestic economy, including in the transportation, industrial, building, and information sectors. This included a national action plan with concrete regulatory measures that provide real incentives for energy-savings in the economy. But notwithstanding these constructive steps, Italy is still lagging behind other countries in implementing national measures to achieve EU energy efficiency targets.
Budget Law 2008. December 2008. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. www.tesoro.it/web/MF2008/3256.pdf 319 Fondo per la Piattaforma italiana per lo sviluppo dell’idrogeno e delle celle a combustibile, within the Ministry of Environment and Protection of Territory and Sea. Date of Access 30 December 2007. www.tesoro.it/web/MF2008/3256.pdf.
318
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The Economic and Financial Programme 2008-2011 recognized the European Council’s emissions reduction target of at least 20 percent by 2020, relative to 1999 levels, and emphasized the need to increase energy efficiency. 320 On 1 August 2007, Mr. Pierluigi Bersani, Minister of Economic Development, presented a National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency that included the government’s proposed measures to meet the target set by European Union.321 The plan facilitates the commercialization of energy-based products that conform to European energy efficiency standards. These components of the National Action Plan were reinforced in the 2008 Budget Law, which extended tax breaks for re-qualification of buildings, of the installation of solar panels, and the replacement of inefficient heating systems, by 2010. 322 As the success of demand-side interventions invariably rests on the decisions of consumers, access to credible “information” becomes an important prerequisite for making sustainable decisions. In the 2008 Budget Law, the government created a 1 million fund to finance public awareness campaigns and promote the benefits of reducing energy consumption. The two main government-controlled energy producers, ENI and ENEL, have implemented public awareness campaigns - ENI 30 PER CENTO and ENEL.SI. – which encourage customers to engage in more rational and efficient energy consumption. But it is in the area of transport that the Government has introduced the most far-reaching policy measures to lower emissions. On 2 November 2007, the Ministry of Environment published a decree which promoted the diffusion of low emissions fuel through the development of the relative distribution points, and their use by public transportation.323 A “Renewal Plan” (Piano Rottamazione) was inserted into the 2008 Budget Law to discourage car use, including a scheme that provides car owners with 150 and three years of free public transportation in exchange of getting rid of their car. The plan provides similar incentives to encourage car-sharing, and the purchase of low emission cars, including electric and hybrid vehicles. On top of these incentives, the National Plan for Energy Efficiency introduces a 140gr CO2/km limit on average emissions for the automobile industry, which if implemented corresponds to a saving of 23.260 GWh/annum, or roughly 18 percent of the
Documento di programmazione Economico-Finanziaria per gli anni 2008-2011 presented by Prime Minister R.Prodi and Minister of Economy and Finance T.Padoa Schioppa. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.governo.it/GovernoInforma/Dossier/finanziaria_2008/documenti/dpef_2008_ 2011.pdf 321 Minister of Economic Development National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency. 1 August 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. www.sviluppoeconomico.gov.it/pdf_upload/comunicati/phpPyTt6n.pdf 322 Budget Law 2008. December 2008. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. www.tesoro.it/web/MF2008/3256.pdf. 323 Minister for Environment and Protection of Territory and Sea, 3 August 2007. Decree, “Programma di finanziamenti per il miglioramento della qualità dell’aria nelle aree urbane e per il potenziamento del trasporto pubblico” Gazzetta Ufficiale n.255 of 2 November 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.sicurezzaonline.it/leggi/legamb/legamb2007./legamb2007.doc/legamb2007.din /din2007.0803.htm.
320
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objective set by the European Union.324 And finally, the 2008 Budget Law also created a fund worth 500 million to support local public transport initiatives, and a financial fund named “One cent for Climate”, supported by consumers voluntarily contributing 1 cent for every litre of fuel they purchase. And the government addressed energy-efficiency in other areas of transport as well. For example, it introduced another fund worth 11 million to finance energy efficiency actions and GHG emissions reductions in the shipping industry. In the railways sector, energy efficiency programmes are also expected for TRENITALIA, the government-owned Italian rail company. In conclusion, while Italy lags behind many EU member states in imposing, and enforcing energy efficiency standards in appliances, buildings, and cars, policy measures since the Heiligendamm Summit have begun to address many of these gaps. Significantly, new regulations and incentive programmes have been coupled with public awareness campaigns aimed at expanding consumer knowledge and interest in energy-efficient products. However, since questions remain as to how committed the government is to enforcing these regulations, Italy only registered partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Massimo Preziuso
Italy 1D. Support for Climate Adaptation/Mitigation in DCs
Score 0
Climate change is already having serious negative consequences for economic development in many countries, and for this reason climate adaptation is increasingly addressed in the climate policies of many governments. In Italy, some recent announcements were significant in this regard. On 12-13 September 2007, at the National Conference on Climate Change, Mr. Pecoraro Scanio, the Minister for Environment, announced the Government would release a national strategy for climate adaptation in 2008. The plan would include an annual report on the effects of climate change on the environment, public health, and the economy, and efforts to increase public participation in climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives. The latter included the launch of a “Climate Day”, marked each year on February 16, the date Italy ratified the Kyoto Protocol.325 To realize all these objectives the Ministry proposed to re-launch APAT (Agenzia per la Protezione dell’ambiente e per i servizi tecnici) as a centre of competence on the impacts of climate change and climate adaptation. With
Energia:Bersani,presentato a Bruxelles piano efficienza. 1 August 2007. Date of Access : 29 December 2007. http://www.illuminazione-oggi.it/archives/000811.html 325 Cambiamenti climatici: un’emergenza planetaria sottovalutata Articolo di: Valentina Corsaletti Date of Access: 11 January 2008. http://www.laici.it/viewarticolo.asp?Id=489
324
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Law Decree 159/2007, the government allocated 10 million in support of urgent adaptation and mitigation actions. 326 This is perhaps in recognition of the fact that Italy still lags behind most Annex I countries in the usage of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) with the exception of ENEL, the government-controlled provider of electrical energy, which has invested in CDM projects in China.327 In terms of development cooperation, the government has proposed initiatives aimed at assisting developing countries in programming and accomplishing sustainable adaptation plans that also reduce social imbalances. For example, it has called for the creation of a European financial fund for adaptation on climate change to support developing countries, with a particular attention to those surrounding the Mediterranean basin. In conclusion, the Italian government is increasingly devoting time and resources to aiding developing countries with climate adaptation and mitigation, also reflected in the proposal to draft a national climate adaptation plan. It has also called for marginal funding to assist the climate adaptation efforts of developing countries, particularly those in its vicinity. Yet, the proposed policy measures are relatively small in scale, and do not significantly increase resource flows to developing countries. As a result, Italy is only found to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Author: Massimo Preziuso
Italy 1E. Reducing GHG Emissions by Curbing Deforestation
Score 0
Policy-makers are increasingly recognizing the connection between deforestation and climate change. As trees store carbon, deforestation releases carbon into the air, contributing to the climatic and environmental damages (drought, global warming, and desertification). Domestically, Italy’s GHG emissions fell marginally in 2006 after 15 years of incremental growth, which has been attributed to forest growth, accounting for at least 10 percent of domestic emissions reductions.328 However, growing attention to deforestation has placed Italian logging companies operating in developing countries, such as Cameroon and the Congo, under great public scrutiny.329
326 Finanziaria 2008 e Decreto Legge 159/2007. Proposte verdi approvate in Senato http://www.retejonicambientale.it/proposte percent20Verdi percent20approvate percent20in percent20Senato.htm 327 Nei progetti di Kyoto l’Italia non c’è, QualEnergia, 13 December 2007. Date of Access: 03 January 2008. http://qualenergia.it/view.php?id=485&contenuto=Articolo 328Le foreste salvano l’Italia, 30 November 2007, Date of Access: 6 January 2008. http://www.lanuovaecologia.it/inquinamento/clima/8609.php 329M.Forti, L’Italia saccheggia le foreste del Camerun, Il Manifesto, 20 April 2007.
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On 12-13 September 2007, the Government organized a National Conference on Climate Change in Rome, which addressed the issue of deforestation. Numerous proposals were put forward at the conference that identify ecosystem protection as an important element in combating climate change. They included a project that would identify the most vulnerable forests, and develop mechanisms to enhance their protection. In addition, the Government proposed to protect vulnerable ecosystems from forest fires, and restore ecosystems that had been most damaged by climate change.330 Finally, it announced it would develop a national strategy for biodiversity by 2010, with a focus on ecological restoration. In conclusion, the Italian government gave ample attention to the issue of deforestation at its national conference, and launched several notable policy initiatives. But unlike domestic initiatives, the Italian Government has issued few concrete proposals to help curb deforestation in developing countries. Its ports continue to serve as an entry point for illegal timber from Africa, and it remains an important market for tropical hardwood in Europe. As these market-enabling conditions for illegal logging have not been addressed by the Italian government, it is only assessed to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Cristiana Tosti
330
Conferenza Nazionale sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Rome, 12-13 December 2007, Date of Access: 30 January 2008. http://www.conferenzacambiamenticlimatici2007.it/site/_Files/12settembre/matteucci.pdf
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Japan
Background At the Heiligendamm Summit, the Japanese government proposed the “Cool Earth Initiative”, a long-term strategy to halve global GHG emissions by 2050. In general terms, it would be achieved by developing technologies that reduce GHG emissions while contributing to economic growth, promote cleaner forms of energy, and provide financing to developing countries for mitigating and adapting to climate change. On 1 October 2007, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda stated that he would continue the policy 331 introduced by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.332 Furthermore, he called for the next G8 summit in Toyako be an “Environmental Summit”. In this regard, the Government has recognized that it needs to take a strong leadership position in solving environmental problems reflected in several climate initiatives in the past year.333 At the national level, the Government implemented a number of actions to reduce GHG emissions and promote energy savings, including the promotion campaign to reduce CO2 emissions by one kilogram per day and the reinforcement of energy efficiency standards for automobiles. And at the international level, the Government has provided financial and technological aid to developing countries to tackle climate change and save energy.334 While the Japanese Government has mostly achieved the climate commitments it made at the previous G8 Summit, its policy actions have not gone beyond expectations. Several approaches taken by the Japanese Government have been weak and noticeably less innovative than those taken by other industrialized countries. For instance, in contrast to many other G8 governments, the Japanese Government has hesitated to introduce tradable pollution permits for carbon emissions in the domestic economy because of industry opposition.335 However, many local governments, following a long tradition of instigating environmental action, have implemented strong and innovative policies to address climate change, especially for GHG emissions reduction and the restoration of forests. Team Leader and Analyst: Takashi Sagara
331 Invitation to "Cool Earth 50" - 3 Proposals, 3 Principles, Office of the Prime Minister of Japan, 24 May 2007. Date of Access: 13 December 2007. http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/abespeech/2007/05/24speech_e.html. 332 Policy Speech by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to the 168th Session of the Diet, Office of the Prime Minister of Japan, 1 October 2007. Date of Access 13 December 2007. http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/hukudaspeech/2007/10/01syosin_e.html. 333 Official Interview with Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Akira Amari, 27 August 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://www.meti.go.jp/speeches/data_ed/ed070827aj.html 334Kokusai kyoryoku Shinbun, 28 September 2007. Date of Access: 3 February 2008. 335 Kankyo Shinbun, 29 October 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://eco.goo.ne.jp/news/files_daily/daily_20071029_818.html
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Japan 1A. Stabilise GHG Concentrations
Score 0
As the host of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, Japan has a strong incentive to be supportive of international efforts to stabilise GHG emissions. Since the Heiligendamm Summit, the Japanese Government and various ministries have implemented public awareness campaigns to diffuse information and build knowledge about climate change carried out policies to reduce GHG emissions and. On 3 July 2007, the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) started the promotion campaign, an idea first proposed by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which encouraged citizens to reduce their CO2 emissions by one kilogram per day.336 In addition, the Government is partnering with 200 companies to provide consumers with more climatefriendly products and reward purchases.337 On 7 December 2007, the Cabinet approved a set of basic principles concerning the promotion of contracts between the state and public corporations that show an interest in reducing GHG emissions.338 Prior to the Heilgendamm Summit, METI started to examine how a domestic Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) could be used to provide incentives for large companies could financially and technologically help domestic SMEs reduce their GHG emissions.339 On 6 December 2007, it issued a report which announced a mechanism whereby SMEs carry out verified emissions reduction projects for large companies in return for financial and technological assistance. For doing so, large companies receive emissions reduction credits which be used to meet their voluntary targets set by the Government. At the international level, the Japanese Government has promoted regional cooperation with other Asian countries on climate mitigation. On 30 December 2007, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Wen Jiabao, the Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China,
Hitori itiniti itikiroguramu no CO2 sakugen ouen campaign ni tsuite (Regarding the ‘Go for it! CO2 emissions reduction by one kilogram, per person per day’ promotion campaign), 3 July 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://www.env.go.jp/press/press.php?serial=8542 337 Hitori itiniti itikiroguramu no CO2 sakugen ouen campaign no kyosankigyo ni tsuite (Regarding the supporting corporations for the ‘Go for it! CO2 emissions reduction by one kilogram, per person per day’ promotion campaign), 25 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.env.go.jp/press/press.php?serial=9204 338 Kuni oyobi dokuritsugyoseihojinto niokeru onshitsukokagasu tono haishutsu no sakugen ni hairyoshita keiyaku no suishin ni kansuru kihonhoshin kaisetsu shiryo (Materials: a guide for basic principles concerning promotion of contracts of the state and public corporations that consider reduction of GHG emissions). Date of Access:23 December 2007. http://www.env.go.jp/policy/ga/bp_mat/bp_sdoc.pdf; Kuni oyobi dokuritsugyoseihojinto niokeru onshitsukokagasu tono haishutsu no sakugen ni hairyoshita keiyaku no suishin ni kansuru kihonhoshin ni tsuite (Regarding for basic principles concerning promotion of contracts of the state and public corporations that consider reduction of GHG emissions), 6 December 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://www.env.go.jp/press/press.php?serial=9137 339 Chushokigyoto CO2 haishutsuryo sakugen seido no kohyo ni tsuite (Regarding the official announcement on a system for CO2 emission reduction from SMEs), 10 December 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://www.meti.go.jp/press/20071210002/20071210002.html
336
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agreed to cooperate on addressing environmental and energy security problems, especially global climate change.340 This included joint research projects on climate mitigation and adaptation, and research exchanges between Chinese and Japanese universities and research institutes between 2008-2012.341 On the basis of this analysis, the Japanese Government receives only partial compliance with its commitment to stabilise GHG emissions. It has promoted many schemes aimed at incentivizing reductions and increasing public awareness of climate change. However, it has hesitated to introduce tradable permits or other economic instruments to reduce GHG emissions in the face of industry opposition, which has drawn criticism from Dr Rajendra, the IPCC Chairman.342 In addition, Japan sided with the United States, Canada, and Russia during the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali and rejected the EU’s proposal of a 25-40 percent cut in global GHG emissions by 2020.343 This resistance on the international stage stands in contrast to some local governments in Japan that have shown a greater political will set targets and reduce GHG emissions. For example, on 29 November 2007, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government issued a report which announced that the commission would consider the feasibility of carbon tax for fuel consumption such as gasoline usage.344 This illustrates how a transition to a low-carbon economy is as much a function of sub-national political initiatives as strategic planning by the Japanese Government. Analyst: Takashi Sagara
Nihonkokuseifu to Chukajinminkyowakokuseifu tono kankyo/energy bunya niokeru kyoryokusuishin ni kansuru kyodo communiqué (Joint communiqué between the Government of Japan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China concerning promotion of cooperation in the environmental and energy sectors), December 2007: Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/kaidan/s_fukuda/china_07/annex1.html 341 Nihonkokuseifu to Chukajinminkyowakokuseifu niyoru kikohendomondai o taishotoshita kagakugijutsu kyoryoku no issono kyoka nikansuru kyodoseimei (Joint-statement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the People’s republic of China concerning further reinforcement of technological cooperation in global climate change), 28 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area/china/ks_0712.html 342 Kankyo Shinbun, 29 October 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://eco.goo.ne.jp/news/files_daily/daily_20071029_818.html 343 Summary of the thirteenth conference of parties to the UNFCCC and third meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, Earth Negotiations Bulletin, Vol. 12 No. 354, International Institute for Sustainable Development, 18 December 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12354e.html 344 MSN Sankei News, 30 November 2007. Date of Access: 03 February 2008. http://sankei.jp.msn.com/life/environment/071130/env0711300112002-n1.htm
340
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Japan 1B. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production
Score 0
The Japanese Government has taken several actions to comply with its G8 commitment of less emission-intensive energy production but also faces a harsh reality in its energy economy. Although Japan is the world’s third largest energy consumer, domestic energy production is negligible. This has increased pressure on the Government to promote renewable energy as a means to replace energy imports from dirtier sources, and it seems to have responded by making technology and innovation a major component of its “Cool Earth 50” initiative. On 7 October 2007, Prime Minister Fukuda, as part of promoting the “Cool Earth 50”initiative, said Japan was committed to “generate new power" by investing in new technology and innovation.345According to existing law, electric power companies must more than double their use of renewable energy sources -- wind, solar, small-sized hydro plants, terrestrial heat and biomass -- to 1.35 percent of Japan's total electricity supply by March 2011. This is meant to stimulate domestic demand for energy produced from renewable sources as a means to build a market for newly established technology companies. On November 16 2007, Japan announced it would cooperate with the United States in developing clean technologies and deploying these in key industry sectorsincluding low-carbon fossil power generation, transportation, land use, near-zero carbon energy.346 As part of this effort, both countries argued that pther countries should increase public funding for research and development of clean energy and climate technologies and encourage the commercialization and adoption of such technologies. Although Japan is the world’s third largest energy consumer, domestic energy production is negligible. This has increased pressure on the Government to promote renewable energy as a means to replace energy imports from dirtier sources, and it seems to have responded by making technology and innovation a major component of its “Cool Earth 50” initiative. From previously, the Japanese Government has committed to roughly double the energy output produced from renewable sources between 2003 and 2010.347 Among these various kinds of new energy sources, the Government
345 Fukuda Pushes Cool Earth 50 Initiative, Japan Times, 8 October 2007. Date of Access: February 22 2008. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20071008a7.html 346 Fact Sheet: U.S.-Japan Cooperation on Energy Security, Clean Development, and Climate Change, whitehouse.gov, 16 November 2007. Date of Access: 22 February 2008. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/11/20071116-4.html 347 Kigyo no tameno biomass donyu A to Z (Introducing biomass A to Z for corporations) March 2007. Date of Access: 23 February 2008. http://www.chubu.meti.go.jp/enetai/data/baio_a.to.z.pdf
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has in the period since the Heiligendamm Summit particularly focused on the development of biomass-related power generation, particularly from waste streams. For instance, on 12 July 2007, in order to substantially introduce domestic bio fuels, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) announced that it started the development and verification projects for regional-based bio-diesel fuel utilization model, in which five projects of five companies for bio-diesel fuel utilization, from material procurement, biodiesel fuel production to sales, were developed and verified: Sun Care Fuels (Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki: sunflower), Eco Desu (Edogawa Ward, Tokyo: waste food oil), Nihon Shoun (Sakai City, Fukui: waste food oil), Fuchigami (Kurume City, Fukuoka: waste food oil) and Nishida Shoun (Shingu Machi, Fukuoka: waste food oil).348 In addition, on 1 August 2007, the methane fermentation facility was completed and moved in Suzu City, Ishikawa. This was a first project supported by MoE and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) to utilize biogas and bio fertiliser made from centralised sludge and raw garbage. Further, on 21 November 2007, in order to realize the dramatic innovation of technologies to produce effectively biofuels, the Committee for Innovative Technology for Biofuels was established by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of the Environment (MoE) in cooperation with industry and academia.349 The committee seeks to study how to produce economically and massively biofuels from cellulose materials and plans to produce its interim report in the mid-March 2008. On 15 August 2007, METI started the deliberation on how to accelerate and promote the development of innovative energy technologies in order to halve GHG emissions by 2050, as set by the “Cool Earth 50” initiative launched by Prime Minister Abe and endorsed by his successor. In the study, METI sought to examine how to develop innovative energy technologies and what kind of international cooperation has to be created to stimulate innovation, and ultimately, reduce global GHG emissions. Further, on 7 October 2007, the current Prime Minister Fukuda, as part of promoting the “Cool Earth 50” initiative, said the Japan was committed to “generate new power" by investing in new technology and innovation.350 Finally, on November 16 2007, Japan announced it would cooperate with the United States in developing clean technologies and deploying these in key industry sectors including low-carbon fossil power generation, transportation, land use, near-zero carbon energy.351 As part of this effort, both countries
Bionenryo chiikiriyo model jissho jigyo (bio-diesel nenryo jigyo) no jigyo jisshi chiku ni tsuite (concerning areas for the development and verification project for regional bio-diesel fuel utilization model (project for bio-diesel fuels). 12 July 2007. Date of Access: 23 February 2008. 349 Kankyo Shinbun. 28 November 2007. Date of Access: 23 February 2008. http://eco.goo.ne.jp/news/files_daily/daily_20071128_861.html 350 Fukuda Pushes Cool Earth 50 Initiative, Japan Times, 8 October 2007. Date of Access: February 22 2008. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20071008a7.html 351 Fact Sheet: U.S.-Japan Cooperation on Energy Security, Clean Development, and Climate Change, whitehouse.gov, 16 November 2007. Date of Access: 22 February 2008. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/11/20071116-4.html
348
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argued that their countries should increase public funding for research and development of clean energy and climate technologies and encourage the commercialization and adoption of such technologies. In addition to these supportive policy actions, the Government has allocated additional budgetary funds in 2008 to the ministries engaged in the developing domestic capacity to generate energy from biofuels.352 Therefore, in conclusion, Japan has shown a strong commitment to promoting renewable energy, not surprising given that they may contribute to reduce its dependence on foreign sources of energy in the long-term. Coupled with substantial budgetary allocations, Japan is assessed to be in full compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Maria Christofili
Japan
Score
1C. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Consumption +1 Japan registered a relatively high level of compliance with the commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy consumption. The Government’s regulatory policy on energy-efficiency follows the “top runner approach”. The concept is based on identifying the highest possible energy-efficiency levels across product groups, and then establish timetables for when producers need to be in compliance with them. Currently, there are 21 products groups covered by the programme, including passenger cars, trucks, air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, rice cookers, microwaves, fluorescent lamp machines, electric heated toilet seats, television receivers, video tape recorders, DVD recorders, electronic calculators, magnetic disc apparatuses, copying machines, heaters, gas cooking machineries, gas water heaters, oil-fired water heaters, slot machines and voltage transformers.353 Alongside mechanical equipment, the law that introduced the programme includes measures for factories and offices (such as reporting on energy usage and designation of energy managers), and measures for houses and buildings (submission of reports on strategies for energy saving in building new buildings and reforming buildings).These energy-efficiency standards are periodically revised when the Government finds it necessary. In terms of transport, the Japanese Government launched several policy actions targeting the automobile sector. On 2 July 2007, the Government
352 Heisei 20 nendo biomass kankei yosan gaisan yokyu no gaiyo (the outline of demand for bio-mass related budgetary appropriations in the 2008 fiscal year. September 2007. Date of Access: 23 February 2008. http://www.maff.go.jp/j/biomass/b_strategy/dai10/pdf/data01.pdf 353 Top runner kijun haayawakari (A quick guide to the top runner standards) , September 2006. Date of Access: 3 February 2008. http://www.eccj.or.jp/toprunner/pamph/06/index.html
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strengthened the standards for passenger cars and trucks.354 As part of this effort, on 3 December 2007, the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MLIT) introduced system in which a sticker would be placed on cars, heavy trucks and buses conforming to the Emission Standard of Automobile NOx/PM Law.355 This is a follow-up to the comprehensive package of fuel-efficiency standards released in December 2006, which considered 15 to 20 different vehicle weight classes and in introduced a fine on automakers that fail to meet the new standards. Overall, it targeted a 20 percent improvement by 2015 relative to 2004. In terms of energy-savings in the building sector, various initiatives have been introduced. On 2 August 2007, the MOE established a new programme to support initiatives introducing measures against climate change in the public service sector aimed at accelerating the spread of the introduction of energysaving equipment and the use of renewable energy. On 29 November 2007, it introduced a policy to promote national energy savings that included a competition in which public and private hospitals and social welfare facilities were invited to apply to be pronounced model projects on the basis of their energy-savings.356 Further, the policy also included a request to households and offices to purchase energy efficient appliances and lower indoor air temperatures. In addition, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has approved particular construction machines as energy-efficient, and introduced a programme to finance SMEs that choose to purchase them.357 In terms of its own emissions, the MLIT created a study group on 5 November 2007 to discuss GHG emission reduction targets and measures for office buildings across industries.358 In terms of home appliances, METI has launched several initiatives that seek to mobilize consumers behind energy-efficient products. On 1 October 2007, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) started to use biofuel in its official cars in order to promote its usage.359 More significantly, on 30 July 2007, METI introduced a two-month “Summer Energy-Saving Campaign” in
354 Joyoshato no atarashi nenpikijun no sakuteinitsuite (Concerning the establishment of the new energy efficiency standards for automobiles), 2 July 2007. Date of Access: 3 February 2008. http://www.meti.go.jp/press/20070702001/20070702001.html 355 Sticker system for cars conforming to Emission Standard of Automobile NOx/PM Law, MOE and MLIT, 3 December 2007. Date of Access: 22 February 2007. http://www.env.go.jp/en/headline/headline.php?serial=641 356 Shoenergy kokuminundo no kyoka ni tsuite (Regarding reinforcement of the national energy-saving movement), 29 November 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://www.meti.go.jp/press/20071129001/20071129001.html 357 Kensetsukikai no CO2 haishutsuryo o teigen shimasu (Reducing CO2 emissions from construction machines), 2 November 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://www.mlit.go.jp/kisha/kisha07/01/011102_.html 358 The amount of GHG emissions in the commercial, service and office sectors in 2005 was 44.6 percent higher than that of 1990. Offisu biruno CO2 haishutsu sakugen no suishin hosaku ni tsuite (Regarding measures to promote reduction of CO2 emission from office buildings), 21 December 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://www.mlit.go.jp/kisha/kisha07/01/011221_.html 359 Koyosha eno baio gasoline no donyu ni tsuite (Regarding introduction of biogasoline into official cars), 28 September 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://www.meti.go.jp/press/20070928006/20070928006.html
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order to promote energy savings among consumers.360 On 17 October 2007, it helped establish a forum on the promotion of energy efficient home appliances including manufacturers, retailers, consumer groups, and the MoE, aimed at reversing the growth of household energy consumption.361 From 23 November to 2 December 2007, the forum held an intensive campaign that promoted energy efficiency labeling and provided information on energy efficient home appliances to consumers. During 2008, the Forum will send lecturers to 440 sites in Japan to teach how to save energy at home. At the international level, the Japanese Government has assisted other Asian nations to become more energy-efficient by transferring its energy efficient technologies and knowledge on energy savings.362 On 27 September 2007, for instance, at the Japan-China forum on energy-saving and the environment, Japan and China agreed to cooperate in several projects for energy-saving and the environment, including the project of increasing energy-saving in Textile factories in China.363 Based on these initiatives across a range of sectors, the Japanese Government complied with the commitment to reduce the emission-intensity of domestic energy consumption as set out in the last G8 Summit. However, while its fuelefficiency standards are among the strongest in the OECD, other energyefficiency initiatives are of a voluntary nature and seem weak and less innovative. As a result, while full compliance has been achieved, only time will determine whether the various initiatives produce real results. Analyst: Takashi Sagara
Japan 1D. Support for Climate Adaptation/Mitigation in DCs
Score +1
Japan was found to be in full compliance with it commitment to aid developing countries mitigate and adapt to global climate change. Among other things, the Japanese Government took concrete actions to improve weather data gathering and sharing, and offered financial aid to developing
Natsuno shonenergy campaign ni tsuite (Regarding the campaign for energy saving in the summer season), 30 July 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://www.meti.go.jp/press/20070730003/20070730003.html 361 Shoene kaden fukyu sokushin forum no setsuritsu oyobi kongono katsudo naiyo ni tsuite (Regarding the establishment of the forum on promotion of energy efficient electric home appliances and its activities), 18 October 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://www.meti.go.jp/press/20071018009/20071018009.html 362 Shigenenergycho mail magazine Vol.2 (Email Magazine of the Agency for Natural Resource and Energy Vol.2), 19 September 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://www.enecho.meti.go.jp/mailservices/mail_02.html 363 Dainikai nicchu shoenergy/Kankyo forum niokeru nicchukan no kyoryoku goi jikog ni tsuite (Regarding items agreed between Japan and China in the second comprehensive energy and environmental forum between Japan and China), 27 September 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007
360
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countries for climate adaptation, primarily through Official Development Assistance (ODA). However, the Government’s actions have not included new measures to help developing countries strengthen their own adaptation capacity. With superior level of technology in East Asia, Japan is the largest collector of climate data in the region. The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to act as the major monitor for greenhouse gas, atmosphere condition and surface climate in the region. On 1 June 2007, the World Date Centre for Greenhouse Gases (WDCGC) issued the WDCGG Data Submission and Dissemination Guide to improve archive volume and quality in accordance with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Strategic Plan.364 On 31 August 2007, the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) joined to make the imageries of Japanese Meteorological Satellite MASTA available to the public through a website “Sentinel Asia”, to provide information for disaster prevention and mitigation in the region.365 On 24 October 2007, the Japanese Government requested a 30 percent budget increase for an international monitoring system and research on global climate change.366 On 8 December 2007, Fukuda reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to financially assisting developing countries to adapt to climate change, including small island developing states (SIDS).367 As of 21 December 2007, about 24.43 billion yen was granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to foreign governments either bilaterally or through international organizations in areas directly related to food production, infectious diseases, water supplies, and disaster preventions since the last G8 Summit. For example, the MOFA approved a loan of 42.9 billion yen to Iraq in July, and 22.8 billion yen to India in August for water supply projects.368 A further 6.3 billion yen was lent to China to support its fight against desertification in Qinghai.369 A loan of 7.6 billion yen was provided to the Philippines for the third phrase of its hazard mitigation project, and 11.8 billion yen for
364 Work that could contribute to the improved understanding of current and historical climate, and its impacts, UNFCCC, 24 October 2007. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2007/sbsta/eng/misc23.pdf 365 MTSAT imagery has become available through Sentinel Asia website, Japan Meteorological Agency, 3 September 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/satellite/NEWS/sentinel.html 366 Gov't seeks 18 percent more funding to fight global warming, Mainichi Daily News, (Japan), 25 October 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. Nexis UK. 367 Fukuda, Ban agree on helping developing nations over climate change, Kyodo News (Japan), 8 December 2007. Date of Access: 13 December 2007. http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/422621; See also, Govt eyes ways to help island nations tackle global warming, The Daily Yomiuri, (Tokyo), 23 November 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. Nexis UK. 368 Exchange of Notes in Fiscal Year 2007, Loan Aid by Date, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, last updated on 20 November 2007. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/note/loan-7.html 369 FY2007 Japanese ODA Loan to China, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2007/12/1176563_840.html
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increasing food production in December 2007.370 And lastly, it granted 1.8 billion yen to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to improve their meteorological information system for better disaster prevention and management, and other countries received financing for combating infectious diseases, reducing their vulnerabilities to extreme weather and enhancing irrigation.371 Internationally, trade in emissions credits serves as an important financing mechanism for facilitating resource transfers to developing countries. However, there is an internal dispute between Japanese ministries over whether emissions-trading is effective and should be supported. The MoE called the system an “extremely effective approach”, embracing the idea of expanding the system; the Financial System Council, an advisory panel to the Prime Minister Fukuda, also favoured the expansion of the system and saw it as a business opportunity if the ban on emission trading on Japanese stock markets is to be lifted.372 However, METI took the view that the trading of emission credits would “dampen” the cooperative efforts in cutting emissions. Alongside one of Japan’s largest companies, Nippon Keidanren, METI opposed the plan to require companies to pay for emissions credits and instead pushed for a sectoral approach in which companies from different countries in the same industry join together to cut their joint emissions. This proposition would in effect more advantageous to Japanese corporations as it makes it easier for them to sell Japanese green technology to developing countries, instead of buying credits from them373. Despite the limited effort on new measures and technical support in enhancing the capacity of developing countries to tackle climate change on their own, the Japanese Government has facilitated the generation and diffusion of information about climate impacts in vulnerable countries and supported the implementation of adaptation attempts. It is thus rewarded with the score +1. Analyst: Kwok Hong Wong
Japan 1E. Reducing GHG Emissions by Curbing Deforestation
Score +1
370 Exchange of Notes in Fiscal Year 2007, Loan Aid by Date, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, last updated on 20 November 2007. Date of Access: 21 December 2007. http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/note/loan-7.html 371 Exchange of Notes in Fiscal Year 2007, Grant Aid by Date, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, last updated on 21 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/note/loan-7.html. Loans for areas like poverty reduction, food aid for unspecified reasons, general healthcare facilities, education and rural electrification are excluded. (Annex I) 372 Industry welcomes U.N. climate accord, The Daily Yomiuri, Tokyo, 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. Nexis UK. 373 Industry welcomes U.N. climate accord, The Daily Yomiuri, Tokyo, 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. Nexis UK.
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Curbing deforestation is a relatively new issue on the international climate agenda, including within the G8 process. It is perhaps not surprising then, that most – though not all - of the actions reported here are of a more declaratory nature. In this regard, Japan has given numerous statements of support, pledged funds and offered expertise to help in the international efforts to reduce deforestation in developing countries. On 9 September 2007, Japan reaffirmed the commitments it made at the G8 Heiligendamm summit by signing the APEC Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development,374 and on 21 November 2007, it endorsed the Singapore Declaration on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment in November375 both of which include a commitment to reduce deforestation. The same day, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued a joint statement with his Australian counterpart that “reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation is a key component of global action on climate change.” 376 Furthermore, the two governments pledged to cooperate to develop an integrated forest and carbon monitoring systems towards a Global Carbon Monitoring System (GCMS). On 30 October 2007, the Government reaffirmed its willingness to cooperate in the fight against illegal logging, promote adequate land-use management and implement the Non Legally Binding Instrument on Forests, agreed at United Nations Forum on Forests 7 (UNFF7).377 In terms of material support, Japan has pledged US$10 million for the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF).378 First made on 21 October 2007, this pledge was restated on 22 November 2007 at the third East Asia Summit as part of Japan's Initiative on the Environment379 and again on 11 December 2007 during the United Nations Climate Conference on Bali, where the FCPF was launched.380 As part of Japan's Initiative on the
374 Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change Energy Security and Clean Development, APEC, 9 September, 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.apec.org/apec/leaders__declarations/2007/aelm_climatechange.html 375 Singapore Declaration on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 21 November, 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/eas/dec0711.txt 376 Joint Statement by Japan and Australia on the Enhancement of Cooperation on Climate Change and Energy Security, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 9 September, 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asiapaci/australia/joint0709.html 377 Statement by Ambassador Takahiro Shinyo, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, On Agenda Item 54: Sustainable Development, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 30 October, 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/speech/un2007/un0710-9.html 378 Statement by the Hon. Otohiko Endo, Senior Vice Minister of Finance of Japan At the 76th Meeting of the World Bank/IMF Joint Development Committee Washington, D.C., 21 October 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.mof.go.jp/english/if/wb_imf_071021_st.htm 379 Media FAQ : Japan's Initiative on the Environment, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 22 November 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/media/2007/11/1122.html 380 Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Launched At Bali Climate Meeting, The World Bank, 11 December, 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:21582088~pagePK :34370~piPK:34424~theSitePK:4607,00.html
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Environment, the Government has further pledged to assist global forest management by sharing data gathered by its ALOS satellite.381 This has already provided scientists at the Woods Hole Research Center with data which enabled them to generate a preliminary land cover map of the Xingu basin in Brazil.382 Japan is a major consumer of tropical wood and over the years has participated in several international agreements aimed at managing and monitoring trade in forest resources. This year, Japan has participated in the funding of new projects and activities for the conservation and sustainable management, use and trade of tropical forest resources through its membership of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), which is based in Japan.383 On 31 August 2007, the Government approved the International Tropical Timber Agreement from 2006 which should further assist in reducing trade of illegal timber.384 However, on 20 August 2007, the Government signed a free trade pact with Indonesia that includes palm oil, which may negate this support for international efforts to reduce deforestation. The production of palm oil in Indonesia is linked to extensive deforestation, an issue the pact does not directly address.385 In terms of managing domestic forests, Japan has a long standing awareness of domestic reforestation, stemming from the post World War II era. However, as the goal of post World War II reforestation was timber rather than natural habitat, these reforested areas degrade when not managed properly. And as the Japanese forest industry has been declining, labour shortage led to management problems and forest degradation.”386 There are no new initiatives since June 2007 to address this degradation, at least not policy actions by the central government. However, several local governments
381 Media FAQ : Japan's Initiative on the Environment, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 22 November 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/media/2007/11/1122.html 382 Woods Hole Research Center debuts new image mosaic that will strengthen global forest monitoring, Woods Hole Research Center, 27 November, 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-11/whrc-whr112707.php 383 US$10.1 million in new funds for tropical forests, International Tropical Timber Organization, 10 November 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.itto.or.jp/live/PageDisplayHandler?pageId=217&id=3693 384 Deposit of the Instrument of Acceptance of the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 31 August. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2007/8/1175313_832.html 385 Indonesia, Japan sign free trade pact, Forbes, 20 August, 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2007/08/20/afx4034139.html 386 Forest Power: "Forests Help People. People Help Forests." - Collaboration between the Kochi Prefectural Government and Companies to Restore Forests, Japan for Sustainability. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.japanfs.org/en/public/gov_15.html; Kinosangyozkukuri to mori no saisei plan (Regarding creation of wood industry and restoration of forests), March 2007. Date of Access: 12 January 2008. http://www.pref.kochi.jp/~seisaku/plan/H18plan/18plan.pdf
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are involved in forest regeneration projects, initiated in the Kochi Prefecture387 and adopted by other prefectures. 388 While there are no signs that the Japanese Government is seriously addressing forest degradation at a domestic level, it has provided considerable support for international ventures to reduce deforestation in developing countries and continues to be part of international efforts to better regulate the timber industry. Therefore it is appropriate to award Japan a score of +1. Analyst: Ruth Brandt
387 Kochi Prefecture Launches Innovative Forest Regeneration Project, Japan for Sustainability, 5 February, 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.japanfs.org/db/1623-e 388 Forest Power: "Forests Help People. People Help Forests." - Collaboration between the Kochi Prefectural Government and Companies to Restore Forests, Japan for Sustainability. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.japanfs.org/en/public/gov_15.html
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The Russian Federation
Background Russia’s compliance with its G8 commitments on climate change and energy has been mixed, but overall weak. In none of the five commitments has Russia been awarded a score above 0, indicating a weak policy framework with regards to climate change which did not go beyond policy statements and political goals. Russia’s progress in meeting its commitment to stabilise GHG concentrations was limited to one policy action – introducing legislative initiatives to promote the Joint Implementation (JI). Although there was progress in this area, Russia is actually not required to make significant reductions under the Kyoto Protocol because carbon emissions are measured against a baseline equivalent to emissions in 1990 and therefore it did not take significant action to meet its commitment to stabilise GHG concentration. Russia made no significant progress in promoting less emission-intensive energy production. While it is participating in multilateral efforts to address the issue, the Government has not undertaken any significant new federal measures, as policy actions were limited to a few legislative policy proposals, periodic public statements, and the adoption of non-binding targets. Furthermore, existing national programmes remain under-funded, and no ambitious carbon reduction targets have been assumed. In terms of providing assistance for adaptation in developing countries, growing commodity prices, and the fact that Russia has made the transition from an aid receiving to an aid giving country, has in principle enabled it to do more. However, few policy actions have been recorded. Finally, its commitment to reduce emissions by curbing deforestation did not go beyond impressive policy statements which failed to reflect on a number of indicators. Though forest covers are increasing in Russia, there are national plans to develop the forest industry that would increase the volume of timber procurement. Analyst: Amal Enan
Russian Federation 1A. Stabilise GHG Concentrations
Score 0
Russia’s progress in meeting its commitment to stabilise GHG concentrations has been partial and limited predominantly to one policy area – introducing legislative initiatives to promote Joint Implementation (JI). Despite the significant progress in this sphere, Russia has failed to take “strong and early action” in order to meet its commitment to stabilise GHG concentrations, and
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unlike many other G8 members, has not formulated long-term policy goals or strategies for reducing domestic GHG emissions. The Russian Government’s current position on the reduction of GHG emissions should be understood within the context of being a party to the Kyoto Protocol, under which Russia needs to make very few reductions in GHG emissions because the baseline for emissions is 1990. The severe economic recession of the 1990s and the slowdown of industrial activity caused a 30 percent drop domestic GHG emissions. And despite recent growth rates, Russia will be operating with a surplus of 3.2-3.7 bill tons of CO2-equivalents in 2008-1012, which can be translated into excess emission credits under Kyoto’s flexible mechanisms.389 As a result, Russia approaches climate policy and the reduction of GHG emissions as an investment programme. On 24 May 2007, Chairman of the Federation Council S.M. Mironov, stated, with reference to Russia, that “we must get involved in [carbon trading], using all competitive advantages that we have at our disposal… Implementation of the Protocol provisions must bring benefits not only to our government but also to business.”390 In this light, the absence of long-term policy goals and commitments are more indicative of Russia’s partial and inconsistent adherence to the obligations it has undertaken during Heiligendamm Summit. Although Russia has reiterated its commitment to reduce GHG emissions in the Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration,391 it has neither set any specific targets within definite timeframes nor formulated a long-term national strategy to deal with climate change, or reduce GHG emissions. Moreover, Russia sided with the United States, Canada, and Japan during the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali on the issue of rejecting the EU proposal of a 25-40 percent cut in GHG emissions by 2020, arguing that it was overly prescriptive and was attempting to prejudice the outcome of the process.392 Russia’s position on future post-Kyoto arrangements is also notable. In 2005, Russia made a proposal, which was reworked in 2007, that non-Annex 1 parties take voluntary commitments to reduce GHG emissions, which reflects Russia’s vision of post-Kyoto arrangements based on principles of “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”, “fair burden
389 Russia and the Kyoto Protocol: how to meet the Challenges and not to miss the Chances, M.A. Yulkin, Environmental Investment Centre. Date of Access: 24 December 2007. http://www.eel.nl/documents/cms_eel_105_1_Kyotopercent20Article.pdf. 390 Speech made by Chairman of the Federation Council S.M. Mironov at the Conference “Russia and the Kyoto Protocol”, St. Petersburg, May 24 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.ncsf.ru/conf2007/materials/conf/eng/01percent2000percent20Mironovpercent 20Federationpercent20Councilpercent20eng.pdf 391Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development, Sydney, Australia, 9 September 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://www.kremlin.ru/interdocs/2007/09/07/0811_type72067_143514.shtml 392 Summary of the thirteenth conference of parties to the UNFCCC and third meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, Earth Negotiations Bulletin, Vol. 12 No. 354, International Institute for Sustainable Development, 18 December 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12354e.html
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sharing”, “inclusiveness”, and “realistic and achievable commitments”.393 Russia will push for negotiations on future commitments for the post-Kyoto era which are based not so much on climate change considerations, as “national interests and priorities of socio-economic development”.394 On 7 December 2007, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade confirmed that if the commitments of the second period of Kyoto arrangements will impede economic growth, Russia will not ratify them.395 Joint Implementation (JI) offers Russia a chance to attract inward investment while reducing domestic GHG emissions. Within a short time span Russia has made significant progress in preparing the legislative base for using the opportunities offered by the JI mechanism and participating in the carbon trading market, which is reflected in Russia’s improved position in the rating of the countries hosting JI projects this year.396 On 28 May 2007, the Government signed the Decree about “Statute on Adoption and Review of Realization of JI Projects”, initiated already in the National Action Plan on the implementation of Kyoto Protocol (September 2004).397 On 20 August 2007, the Decree regarding “The Order of Creation and Maintenance of the National Registry of Carbon Units” entered into force. 398 These changes in the legislative base have opened the way for a wide-scale process of submitting project design documents for JI projects. However, some documents related to the procedures for approval of projects, are still in the process of being prepared, but are likely to be adopted no later than the beginning of 2008.399 The economic rationale behind compliance with the commitment to reduce GHG emissions primarily through the use of the JI mechanism is revealed by the fact that the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) expects to attract at least $2 billion of targeted investments into the
393 Proposal on Voluntary Commitments, Russian Federation, Presentation, 26-th Meeting of UNFCCC subsidiary bodies, Bonn, 11 May 2007.Date of Access: 27 December. http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/workshops/other_meetings/application/pdf/russian_prese ntation.pdf 394 Analytic materials for the preparation of proposals on the position of Russian Federation on the issue of future commitments to reduce anthropogenic emissions of GHG for the period after 2012 (p.3.9. of the Kyoto Protocol), Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Moscow, 2006.Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.ncsf.ru/resources/materials/54.pdf 395The Future of the Kyoto Protocol, M.Shishkin, A.Shapovlov, Kommersant, N 226(3802), Moscow, 7 December 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?docsid=833721 396 Commentary on the rating of the counties, hosting JI projects, PointCarbon, 20 December 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.pointcarbon.ru/ 397 Russian JI procedures: more problems than solutions? A.Korppoo, A.Moe, Briefing paper, National Organisation for the Support of Carbon absorbing Projects, June 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.ncsf.ru/resources/materials/70.pdf 398 Decree of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russian Federation, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade from 7 May 2007, N 121/, Moscow “Decree about the Order of Creation and Maintenance of the National Registry of Carbon Units”, Russian Gazeta, 5 September 2007.Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.rg.ru/2007/09/05/ygleroddok.html 399Russia invites experts to submit applications for making the assessment of JI projects, PointCarbon, 15 August 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.pointcarbon.com/ A / / article23994-304.html
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economy.400 These investment flows may serve to modernize the energy sector, and reduce its large share of GHG emissions (81.6 percent in 2004) in the Russian economy.401 To date, documentation on more than 50 Russian projects exceeding 79 million emissions reduction units (ERUs) has been submitted to the Joint Implementation Supervision Committee (JISC).402 The projects range from the use of biofuels for heating and electric power generation in the remote villages of the Irkutsk region to the use of associated petroleum gas in Chanty-Mansisjski region.403 Despite the fact that Russia has complied with its limitations under the Kyoto Protocol, in 2004, an increase of 7.2 percent over 1999 (the year when the lowest level of GHG emissions was emitted) in GHG emissions was registered.404 Moreover, converted to one dollar of PPP GDP, Russia emits 3.8-fold more greenhouse gases than the leading European countries, 2.6-fold more than the developed countries and countries in transition on the average. 405 Therefore, using opportunities offered by the Kyoto Protocol to modernize its economy and employing a rapid pace to establish all the conditions for the implementation of JI projects is the logical policy strategy for Russia. Legislative reforms that encourage the preparation of JI projects may prove to reduce GHG emissions from the Russian economy and modernize its energy sector. But notwithstanding policy actions that facilitate investment into emissions reductions projects in Russia, the Government’s failure to formulate a clear strategy to deal with climate change challenges suggests that it regards the whole Kyoto arrangement primarily as an economic and investment activity rather than one that facilitates a collective international response to global climate change. Furthermore, during negotiations over a post-Kyoto treaty, Russia rejected the EU’s proposal at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali for ambitious global reduction targets by 2050. Given its lack of national leadership in support of a strategic framework for reducing domestic GHG emissions, the Government is only assessed to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Ina Zharkevich
Kyoto bog, Supplement to the newspaper Kommersant,N 170(3746), Moscow, 19 September 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=803850 401 National Report of the Russian Federation on the Amount of GHG Emission, Moscow, 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://unfccc.int/files/national_reports/initial_reports_under_the_kyoto_protocol/applicat ion/pdf/initial_report_russia.pdf 402 Government Decree Containing Procedures for JI Projects Adoption and Review of Their Implementation has been adopted , Russian Regional Environmental Centre, Moscow. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.rusrec.ru/ru/docs/1236 403 Preparation of JI projects, National Organization for the Support of Carbon Absorbing Projects, Moscow. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.ncsf.ru/prepare2.php 404 National Report of the Russian Federation on the Amount of GHG Emission, Moscow, 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://unfccc.int/files/national_reports/initial_reports_under_the_kyoto_protocol/applicat ion/pdf/initial_report_russia.pdf 405 Russia and the Kyoto Protocol: how to meet the Challenges and not to miss the Chances, M.A. Yulkin, Environmental Investment Centre. Date of Access: 24 December 2007. http://www.eel.nl/documents/cms_eel_105_1_Kyotopercent20Article.pdf
400
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Russian Federation 1B. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production
Score -1
The Russian Government has insufficiently complied with its commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy production. Although Russia continues to promote energy efficiency through existing multilateral programmes (especially in the area of clean coal combustion technologies), no new federal measures have been undertaken, existing national programmes remain under-funded, and no ambitious carbon reduction targets have been assumed. This analysis arises from an examination of three key areas: clean coal technologies, carbon capture and storage, and renewable energy sources. In terms of clean coal combustion technologies, the Russian Government shows a clear commitment through existing programmes under the RussiaEU Energy Dialogue. The key provisions of a 2003 government document entitled “Energy Strategy until the year 2020” envisage a 75 percent increase in coal production and a subsequent increase in coal use for electricity generation.406 Because such a large part of Russia’s energy production will be coal-based, clean coal burning technologies are especially important if the Russian Government is to comply with its related Heiligendamm Summit commitment. The Russia-EU Energy Dialogue was initiated in 2000, and support for the CARNOT Programme407 represents a strong commitment on Russia’s part to increase coal energy efficiency. Four CARNOT projects are currently underway.408 The two more general ones aim respectively to facilitate the technology transfer of relatively low cost methods to improve the efficiency of coal-fired plants, and to conduct and present a market assessment on the prospects of rehabilitating/rebuilding coal-fired plants to increase their efficiency. A third plant-specific project underway is studying the rehabilitation of the Novocherkasskaya GRES coal-fired plant to establish the most suitable solutions considering environmental constraints and the quality of coal used. A fourth project is a study of the potential for a new Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC) plant, resulting in a combustible gas that is highly efficient and virtually pollutant-free.409
Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the Development of Energy Policy for the Enlarged European Union, its Neighbours and Partner Countries. 26 May 2003. p.9. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/international/doc/2003_communication_en.pdf 407 The CARNOT Programme was adopted in December 1998 by the Council of the European Union in support of technological actions promoting the clean and efficient use of solid fuels. European Commission Energy Framework Programme. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/rtd/carnot/index_en.htm 408 European Union Russia Energy Dialogue. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/russia/issues/coal_en.htm 409 The IGCC concept is based on a coal gasification process that converts coal into a synthetic gas that is subsequently cleaned. The technology also has the potential of CO2 capture, and
406
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Concerning Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS), Russia has not adopted any policies promoting CCS research and/or deployment unilaterally. Russia is a member of the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF)410 that recently decided to focus on ways in which political barriers to CCS implementation (that outweigh technical challenges) can be surpassed. However, the CSLF provides little in the way of formal decision-making, or any economic means by which to implement actions based on its discussions and observations. More broadly, in 2007, Russia’s record continues to be mixed, and the country’s renewable energy potential remains unrealised. Under Kyoto, the Russian Government has approved joining the emission trading market and JI rules.411 At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali 3-14 December 2007, Economics Ministry official Vsevolod Gavrilov announced that the Government had approved approximately ten JI projects in electricity generation, public utilities, heavy industry, and pollution management.412 However, Russia’s Kyoto target for the first commitment period (2008-2012) as an Annex I country (equivalent to 1990 levels) could potentially mean that the adoption of renewable energy technologies effectively translates into no mandatory emissions cuts, since Russia’s emissions fell below the baseline during the economic decline following the collapse of the Soviet Union. In addition, there is insufficient Government support for policy targets, regulations, and incentive programmes that promote renewable energy. Russia’s “Energy Strategy until the year 2020” provides strategic goals but no real quantitative targets. In terms of national regulations, the “Energy Efficient Economy” programme of 2001 stipulates renewable energy targets of 800MWe and 1000 Gcal/h by 2010. However, this and other similar federal programmes remain under-funded. Moreover, due to insufficient comprehensive data, the potential for private investment is unrealised. On the positive side, although a draft renewable energy law was vetoed in 1999, a new draft has been in development since 2004 as well as a draft biofuels law. Furthermore, an electricity sector reform programme was launched in 2001 to improve efficiency. Other multilateral programmes such as EBRD-funded
thus of sequestration, and of hydrogen production that can then be used for clean technologies. European Union Russia Energy Dialogue. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/russia/issues/coal_en.htm 410 The CSLF is an international initiative focused on surveying the technical, economical and legal conditions that can influence the establishment of CCS projects. Stangeland, Aage. Carbon Capture and Storage: Technically Possible but Politically Difficult. 1 December 2006. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.bellona.no/bellona.org/articles/ccs_technicallypercent20possible_politically_di fficult 411 Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty. Russia Says it will Meet Emissions Target. 16 June 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/06/126cc61ca755-4729-8de5-a2f37c052829.html 412 The Climate Depends on the U.S. Participation, Russia’s Economy, Kommersant Russia’s Daily Online, (Moscow), 7 December 2007. Date of Access: 13 December 2007. http://www.kommersant.com/p833721/global_warming/
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projects413 and the GEF-World Bank “Russian Programme for Renewable Energy” are more promising.414 Funded through multilateral organizations, such programmes receive appropriate financial backing and follow-up. This lack of concern for low emission energy sources in Russia’s energy strategy stands in contrast to many other G8 member states. In any case, aside from Russia’s continued commitment to multilateral programmes, particularly in the area of clean coal combustion technologies, the country fails to provide sufficient regulatory support for programmes promoting low carbon-energy sources and to specify ambitious targets for lowering the carbon content of domestic energy production beyond Kyoto. As a result, Russia’s insufficient performance on the three major elements of its G8 commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy production warrants an overall score of -1. Analyst: Carmen Gayoso
Russian Federation
Score 0
1C. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Consumption
Russia’s policy actions in promoting less emission-intensive energy consumption has largely been limited to periodic public statements, a few legislative and policy proposals, and the adoption of non-binding efficiency targets. On 30 November 2007, the Ministry of Industry and Energy announced it has drafted a new law “On Saving Energy” which proposes that every enterprise undergoes an energy audit and receives an “energy passport” that would contain information on energy use and the steps being taken to improve energy efficiency. The audits would be carried out by Federal Service for Ecological, Technical and Atomic Supervision (Rostekhnadzor).415 The draft law aside, other compliance efforts have been limited to plans or statements of possible policy initiatives. For example, the Ministry of Regional Development introduced a “Long-Term Strategy for Mass Construction of Housing” in September 2007, which included the establishment of a new licensing agency that would ensure the energy efficiency of the new housing
For example, the Tambov region of Russia is considering a 200M bioethanol plant to increase biofuel production. EBRD Renewable Development Initiative Developments. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.ebrdrenewables.com/sites/renew/default.aspx 414 Merle-Beral, Elena. Russia Renewable Energy Markets and Policy: Key Trends. Global Best Practice in Renewable Energy Policy Making Experts Meeting. Paris, 29 June 2007. Date of Access: 27. December 2007. http://www.iea.org/textbase/work/2007/bestpractice/Merle_Beral.pdf 415 Note that Rostekhnadzor has stated that it as yet to formulate an official position, and the draft has yet to undergo conciliation. Law on Industrial Energy Saving Drafted, Kommersant Russia’s Daily Online, (Moscow), 30 November 2007. Date of Access: 13 December 2007. http://www.kommersant.com/p830984/ecology_energy/
413
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constructed under the proposal.416 According to the Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Kudrin, who is also the Finance Minister, Russia is considering imposing energy tariffs417, but concrete programmes have yet to be formulated.418 In the international arena, Russia’s policy actions on promoting energyefficient consumption have been confined to periodic public statements and gestures. On 8 June 2007, the President remarked that Russia “intends to do even more” to support energy efficiency.419 Later in the same month, Putin attended the Southeast Europe Energy Summit, and endorsed the Statement of the Chairman, which stated that, inter alia, “the countries of the region will encourage measures for strengthening energy efficiency and energy saving through initiatives to be implemented at the national, regional and international level, including a possible international agreement on energy efficiency.”420 Furthermore, on 9 September 2007, in the Joint Statement on Climate Change and Energy with the former Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, President Putin committed Russia to be actively involved in promoting energy efficiency under the APEC Energy Working Group framework.421 Russia’s most important public statement has been its adoption of the Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Environment in 9 September 2007 (the so-called “Sydney Declaration”).422 Russia agreed to a number of non-binding goals on improving energy efficiency.423 Specifically, it pledged to work towards achieving an
Call to Extend a National Project, Kommersant Russia’s Daily Online, (Moscow), 25 July 2007. Date of Access: 13 December 2007. http://www.kommersant.com/p789573/housing/ 417 Russian Govt. to Provide $40 mln to Curb Food Prices-1, RIA Novosti, (Moscow), 26 October 2007. Date of Access: 18 December 2007. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20071026/85575817.html 418 The Deputy Prime Minister only said, “We have been working on an energy efficiency program for some time and we should probably devote more attention to it.” Russian Govt. to Provide $40 mln to Curb Food Prices-1, RIA Novosti, (Moscow), 26 October 2007. Date of Access: 18 December 2007. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20071026/85575817.html 419 Putin Bestows Awards on Energy Scientists, Talks Energy Security, RIA Novosti, (Moscow), 9 June 2007. Date of Access: 18 December 2007. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20070609/66991413.html 420 Statement of the Chairman of the Southeast Europe Energy Summit, President of Russia Official Web Portal, (Moscow), 24 June 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/events/articles/2007/06/136241/136422.shtml 421 Joint Statement by the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon John Howard MP, and the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, on Climate Change and Energy, President of Russia Official Web Portal, (Moscow), 7-9 September 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/events/articles/2007/09/143433/143452.shtml 422 Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change, Energy, Security and Clean Development, President of Russia Official Web Portal, (Moscow), 9 September 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.kremlin.ru/images/07_aelm_ClimateChangeEnergySec[1].pdf 423 APEC Leaders Wind up Summit with Statements on Trade, Climate, RIA Novosti, (Moscow), 9 September 2007. Date of Access: 18 December 2007. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20070909/77582477.html
416
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“aspirational goal of a reduction in energy intensity of at least 25 per cent by 2030.”424 It also agreed to “promote policies that advance the deployment of low and zero emission energy uses, in particular in the field of clean coal use and carbon capture and storage through co-operative work in the APEC Energy Working Group.”425 Where the aviation industry is concerned, it undertakes to “advance work in key areas such as air traffic management systems, aircraft design and alternative fuels.”426 Despite these statements of support in international forums, Russia has introduced no significant national policies or programmes aimed at promoting more efficient energy use through demand-side interventions. Its efforts are limited to the drafting of a law which is yet to be passed, and various policy suggestions which are yet to be realized. It is noted that Russia has committed itself to several goals on improving energy efficiency through the adoption of the Sydney Declaration. However, those goals are nonbinding, and the targets are “aspirational”;427 and have been criticized by environmental groups as being vague and inadequate.428 As a result, Russia is only found to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Seren Tang
Russian Federation 1D. Support for Climate Adaptation/Mitigation in DCs
Score -1
In relation to this commitment, Russia figures as much as an recipient country as a donor. Several multilateral organizations, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the UN Development
424 Annex: Action Agenda, Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change, Energy, Security and Clean Development, President of Russia Official Web Portal, (Moscow), 9 September 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.kremlin.ru/images/07_aelm_ClimateChangeEnergySec[1].pdf 425 Annex: Action Agenda, Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change, Energy, Security and Clean Development, President of Russia Official Web Portal, (Moscow), 9 September 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.kremlin.ru/images/07_aelm_ClimateChangeEnergySec[1].pdf 426 Annex: Action Agenda, Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change, Energy, Security and Clean Development, President of Russia Official Web Portal, (Moscow), 9 September 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.kremlin.ru/images/07_aelm_ClimateChangeEnergySec[1].pdf 427 Annex: Action Agenda, Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change, Energy, Security and Clean Development, President of Russia Official Web Portal, (Moscow), 9 September 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.kremlin.ru/images/07_aelm_ClimateChangeEnergySec[1].pdf 428 APEC Leaders Wind up Summit with Statements on Trade, Climate, RIA Novosti, (Moscow), 9 September 2007. Date of Access: 18 December 2007. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20070909/77582477.html
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Programme (UNDP), provide financial and technical support for adaptation and mitigation projects in Russia. Yet, as a donor, Russia has not introduced any significant new political initiatives to aid adaptation in developing countries. For example, Russia has not provided support for multilateral programmes that improve information and data gathering with the purpose of predicting climate change effects in developing countries. Moreover, the Government has not issued any significant statements with regards to the provision of technical assistance for developing countries to develop their assessment capabilities. Similarly, Russia has not engaged in bilateral relations with any country to launch projects or directing financing in support climate change adaptation or mitigation projects. The Government’s lack of initiative in aiding developing countries adapt to climate change is also a function of its position as an emerging donor. Reflecting its recent entry into the international aid business, UNDP is currently strengthening the organizational and technical capacity of its bilateral agency for development assistance, “RUSAID”.429 However, it remains to be seen whether the agency will be actively involved in adaptation projects in developing countries. Yet, in terms of measuring compliance, in the absence of political initiatives that demonstrate compliance, Russia is awarded a score of -1. Analyst: Amal Enan
Russian Federation 1E. Reducing GHG Emissions by Curbing Deforestation
Score 0
Since the Heiligendamm Summit, Russia has made some significant efforts to meet the goal of reducing GHG emissions by curbing deforestation. However, despite the visible progress made in complying with the commitment, the mixed results of the domestic policy reform in forest sector and the lack of sufficient budgetary allocations has undermined Russia’s performance in this area. Russia has a strong interest in abiding by its commitment to reduce GHG emissions by curbing deforestation. While 2.8 percent of Russia’s total emissions result from land-use, land-use change, and forest degradation (LULUCF), Russia represents one-fifth of world’s forest areas and holds almost 50 percent of the Northern Hemisphere’s terrestrial carbon.430 While
UNDP Russia, 9 January 2008. Date of Access: 24 January 2008 http://www.undp.ru/index.phtml?iso=RU&lid=1&cmd=programs&id=158 430 Russia's Boreal Forests, WWF, Russia, 13 November 2007.Date of Access: 24 December 2007. http://assets.panda.org/downloads/russia_forest_cc_final_13nov07.pdf
429
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Russia’s total quota of emissions equals 3.048 mil tons CO2-eq/yr,431 its forests carbon sink values are estimated at 146-439 MtCO2/yr.432 As a result, unlike most other G8 member states, fulfilling a commitment to curb deforestation should be viewed principally as a domestic priority. According to the Marrakech Accords, Russia has the right to count additional carbon removals by sinks from improvement of land and forest management practices in the amount up to 33 million tons of carbon annually, which means 121 million tons CO2-eq.433 As a result, Russia may add 605 million removal units to its budget of emissions over a period of five years.434 However, to use the benefits resulting from the Marrakech Accords, Russia must prove the increase of carbon sinks are a consequence of targeted policies and measures in the field of land and forest management practices. Russia has initiated several domestic and international policy initiatives to address deforestation. On 26 September 2007, Valerij Roschupkin, the Head of the Federal Forestry Agency (FFA), stated that within the framework of the Kyoto Protocol, Russia must create carbon absorbing forests and promote sustainable forest management.435 Russia’s implementation of the first policy direction is illustrated by two pilot projects: the creation of “Kyoto forests”, launched in Nizhegorodskaya and Uljanovskaya oblast on the territory of 3,500 hectares.436 FFA plans aim to increase forest plantations in the period of 2008-2012 by up to 30,000 hectares on the territory of ten regions of Russia. It is estimated that removal of carbon from sinks in “Kyoto forests” will amount up to 3.5 mill C/yr, while improved forest management in other forests will amount to up to 33 mill tons C/yr.437 These policy initiatives have been supported by increased funding. While at present about 200 million rubles are invested in creating of “Kyoto forests” annually, Russia has committed to increasing this sum four-fold and raise it to 1.5 billion rubles by 2010.438
Russia's Boreal Forests, WWF, Russia, 13 November 2007.Date of Access: 24 December 2007. http://assets.panda.org/downloads/russia_forest_cc_final_13nov07.pdf 432 Mitigation of Climate Change. Chapter 9 –Forestry, IPCC Fourth Assessment Report., 2007. Date of Access: 23 December. http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessmentreport/ar4/wg3/ar4-wg3-chapter9.pdf 433 Russia and the Kyoto Protocol: how to meet the Challenges and not to miss the Chances, M.A. Yulkin, Environmental Investment Centre. Date of Access: 24 December 2007. http://www.eel.nl/documents/cms_eel_105_1_Kyotopercent20Article.pdf 434 Russia and the Kyoto Protocol: how to meet the Challenges and not to miss the Chances, M.A. Yulkin, Environmental Investment Centre. Date of Access: 24 December 2007. http://www.eel.nl/documents/cms_eel_105_1_Kyotopercent20Article.pdf 435 Russia invests 200 mill. rubles in the creation of “Kyoto forests” annually, Press-service of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Moscow, 26 September 2007. Date of Access: 22December 2007. http://les.mnr.gov.ru/part/?act=more&id=4144&pid=252 436 Russia invests 200 mill. rubles in the creation of “Kyoto forests” annually, Press-service of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Moscow, 26 September 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://les.mnr.gov.ru/part/?act=more&id=4144&pid=252 437 Russia invests 200 mill. rubles in the creation of “Kyoto forests” annually, Press-service of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Moscow, 26 September 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://les.mnr.gov.ru/part/?act=more&id=4144&pid=252 438 The Federal Budget will forward 1.5 bill. rubles to the regions for the creation of “Kyoto forests” by 2010, Press-service of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Moscow, 17 December
431
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On 16-19 October 2007, Russia reiterated its adherence to the principles of sustainable forest management during the Megaflorestais conference in St. Petersburg, that gathered the heads of national forest agencies of the major foresting countries (Brazil, India, Indonesia, Russia).439 In addition, Russia has begun implementing these principles. Within the next five years, the FFA is planning to create 31 model forests on the territory of three million hectares, viewed not only as examples of sustainable forest management but as carbon sinks as well. It plans to start the project by establishing two model forests in Siberia and two in the European part of Russia. 440 Russia has continued to enhance domestic protection of its forests by combating illegal logging, expanding its prior initiatives, and proposing new ones. According to the World Institute of Recourses (WRI), the level of illegal logging in Russia comprises up to 15 percent of the overall forest felling.441 The scope of illegal logging in Russia has increased 3.6-fold in the 15-year period from a baseline year 1990.442 Therefore, a great deal of effort is needed to tackle this problem. The system of distant aero cosmic monitoring of forest use, introduced in 2004, covers 113 million hectares of forests443 and, according to the FFA, the current goal is to put the whole territory of Russia under monitoring, which would help not only to combat illegal logging, but to fight fires.444 The creation of a unitary information base about forest felling and its export, as well as enacting stricter penalties for breaking laws in the forestry sector, are declared priorities in the coming years. In addition to these undertakings, a National Plan of Action against illegal logging and timber trade, which is
2007.Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://les.mnr.gov.ru/part/?act=more&id=4493&pid=252 16-19 October 2007, the unofficial meeting of the heads of the national forestry agencies from the major foresting counties within the group “MegaFlorestais” takes place in St. Petersburg, Press-service of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Moscow, 17 October 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://les.mnr.gov.ru/part/?act=more&id=4253&pid=252 440 The Federal Forestry Agency has worked out a Statute about model forests in Russia. According to it, within the next five years thirty one model forest zones will be created on the territory of the country, Press-service of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Moscow, 1 November 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://les.mnr.gov.ru/part/?act=more&id=4311&pid=252 441 The first meeting of the Working Group on the protection of forests in Siberia and Far East which was established within the Russian-Japanese Commission on the environmental protection took place in Tokyo, Press-service of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Moscow, 15 October 2007.Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://les.mnr.gov.ru/part/?act=more&id=4243&pid=252 442 Russia and the Kyoto Protocol: how to meet the Challenges and not to miss the Chances, M.A. Yulkin, Environmental Investment Centre. Date of Access: 24 December 2007. http://www.eel.nl/documents/cms_eel_105_1_Kyotopercent20Article.pdf. 443 Federal Forestry Agency has analysed results of aero cosmic monitoring of forests for 2007, Press-service of the Ministry of Natural Resources, (Moscow), 30 November 2007.Date of Access:22 December 2007. http://les.mnr.gov.ru/part/?act=more&id=4311&pid=252 444 Interview with V. Roschupkin, Russian Service of News, (Moscow), 7 December 2007.Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://www.rusnovosti.ru/program_reports/40901/
439
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expected to decrease the amount of illegal logging by 20-30 percent, is being currently developed.445 Apart from domestic initiatives, Russia has shown a significant amount of activity in the international arena, mainly through participating in a number of conferences and declaring its intention to host such events in the future. On 7 September 2007, President Vladimir Putin and former Prime Minister John Howard issued a joint statement declaring that “curbing deforestation is the key component of global action against climate change.” 446 Russia’s position on that issue is reflected in its support for the proposal at the United Nations Climate Change Conference to include sustainable forest management and land-use in the post-2012 international climate arrangement. Moreover, Russia reiterated all of its commitments undertaken during the Heiligendamm Summit by endorsing the Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration, among them the commitment to “encourage afforestation and reforestation and to reduce deforestation, forest degradation, and forest fires, including by promoting sustainable forest management, combating illegal logging and addressing the underlying economic and social drivers.”447 More specifically, it declared a target to “[increase] forest cover in the APEC region by at least 20 million hectares of all types of forests by 2020.”448 Despite some significant political statements and policy initiatives, a range of indicators demonstrate the limits of Russia’s policy in the forest sector. First, current national plans to develop the forest industry sector means that the expected volume of timber procurement will increase from the current 187 mill m3/yr to 300 mill/yr by 2015.449 Second, the new Forest Code, adopted at the beginning of 2007 which aims to decentralize the forestry sector and improve forest management, has had mixed results, especially with regards to illegal logging and forest fires. According to FFA, illegal logging increased by 40 percent in 2007,450 disclosure of illegal logging has worsened in 30 regions, and liquidation of forest fires on the day of an outbreak has decreased from 62
The first meeting of the Working Group on the protection of forests in Siberia and Far East ,s established within the Russian-Japanese Commission on the environmental protection, took place in Tokyo, Press-service of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Moscow, 15 October 2007.Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://les.mnr.gov.ru/part/?act=more&id=4243&pid=252 446 Joint Statement of President of the Russian Federation and Prime-Minister of Australia on the Problems of Climate Change and Energy Policy, adopted by V.Putin and J.Howard, Sydney, 7 September 2007.Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://www.kremlin.ru/text/docs/2007/09/143358.shtml 447 Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development, Sydney, Australia, 9 September 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://www.kremlin.ru/interdocs/2007/09/07/0811_type72067_143514.shtml 448 Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development, Sydney, Australia, 9 September 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://www.kremlin.ru/interdocs/2007/09/07/0811_type72067_143514.shtml 449 By 2015 all the export of the “round” forest must be ceased, all timber will be processed within the country.The the amount of investments in the forest complex will increase in 50 times and will reach 48 bill. Dollars, Press-service of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Moscow, 10 October 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007http://les.mnr.gov.ru/part/?act=more&id=4217&pid=252. 450 Forest Code is one year old, Press-service of Greenpeace, Moscow, 4 December 2007. Date of Access: 23 december 2007. http://www.greenpeace.org/russia/ru/press/releases/1600214
445
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percent in 2006 to 47 percent in 2007.451 Third, financial flows to the forestry sector are insufficient. According to the estimates of the Accounting Chamber, 42 billion rubles is the amount required to provide efficient forest management, while in the 2007 budget only 7,72 billion rubles were designated for federal forest needs and 7.1 billion in the form of subventions to the regions. Fourth, there is little evidence of the work done to include forests in the global carbon markets.452 As one of the world’s major foresting countries, it is no surprise that Russia seeks to influence and shape international negotiations over deforestation. Since Heiligendamm, it has participated in numerous international forums declaring support for sustainable forest management principles, and endorsing some long-term global policy targets. However, given the forest cover trends in Russia and the inadequacy of its own policies and programmes to prevent deforestation, Russia is only found in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Ina Zharkevich
451 Delegation of powers to the regions has worsened the state of affairs in several spheres of forestry management in the country, Press-service of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Moscow, 9 October 2007.Date of Access:22 December 2007. http://les.mnr.gov.ru/part/?act=more&id=4200&pid=252 452 According to the laws of the Forest, T.Komarova, Supplement to the newspaper Kommersant, 70(3646) , Moscow, 25 April 2007. Date of Access: 23 December 2007. http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=759854
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United Kingdom
Background Since the 2007 Heiligendamm Summit, the UK has taken significant action towards complying with its climate change commitments. Nevertheless, in most compliance areas additional actions are required to achieve full compliance. Although the UK is the first country in the world to pass a national Climate Change Bill, it has been criticised for not committing to sufficient emissions cuts. More importantly, despite significant actions, UK emissions continue to rise, and it seems likely that the 2010 domestic GHG emissions reduction goal will not be achieved. The UK took significant actions to stimulate research and development (R&D) into more efficient and cleaner energy production modalities. In addition, the regulatory framework was amended to create a more conducive environment for more efficient energy production. However, bold and comprehensive actions still lag behind political statements. The UK complied fully with its commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy consumption. Apart from tightening targets to reduce emissions in the transport and housing sector, it advanced legislative change, committed funds for R&D, as well as public information dissemination to create an environment conducive for cleaner energy consumption. The UK’s support to climate adaptation in developing countries is, inter alia, targeting poverty eradication. Its purpose is to increase the capacity of developing countries to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change. Yet, although the UK is one of the largest financial contributors to climate adaptation projects in developing countries, its efforts are still considered insufficient by non-governmental actors such as Oxfam. Last but not least, the UK launched two projects to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG) through curbing deforestation which constitutes a first step towards compliance. In conclusion, the UK is on the right track to meeting its commitments but substantial actions are still required to ensure full compliance. Team Leader and Analyst: Diana Poputoaia United Kingdom 1A. Stabilise GHG Concentrations Score 0
The United Kingdom registered only partial compliance with its commitment to stabilise GHG concentrations in the atmosphere. Although it has set a longterm goal for reducing domestic GHG emissions, critics point out that the proposed cuts are not ambitious enough, and that the initial targets set under
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the Kyoto Protocol are likely to be missed. Consequently, its compliance is judged as “work in progress.” Towards compliance with its commitment, the UK has developed long-term national plans and programmes to reduce GHG emissions. In November 2007, the UK Government published the Climate Change Bill,453 which is expected to receive royal assent by summer 2008.454 The bill sets out a framework of legally-binding targets to reduce CO2 emissions by 60 percent by 2050, with an interim target of 26 to 30 percent by 2020, relative to 1990 levels.455 It works through a system of five-year carbon budgets, which are set fifteen years in advance, and creates a statutory body -the Committee on Climate Change- to advise the Government on achieving its targets, and staying within its carbon budgets. This is a shadow committee until royal assent has been given, and is due to make its first recommendations in September 2008.456 The bill confers powers, which will enable specific sectoral measures to help cut GHG emissions in the areas of domestic waste and recycling, and transport – through the Renewable Fuel Transport Obligation,457 and the Carbon Reduction Commitment.458 Whilst welcoming the Climate Change Bill, the first of its kind in the world,459 environmental groups criticised the Government for not committing to greater emissions cuts.460 Friends of the Earth (FoE) argued that the Bill should commit to an 80 percent cut by 2050,461 a target that has also been recommended by Sir Nicholas Stern, the Government’s adviser on the economics of climate change and development.462 Environmental groups and the media have further criticised the bill for not including international
Climate Change Bill, House of Lords, (London), 15 November 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldbills/009/2008009.pdf. 454 UK Legislation: taking the Climate Change Bill forward, DEFRA, (London), 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/legislation/index.htm. 455 Climate Change Bill, House of Lords, (London), 15 November 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldbills/009/2008009.pdf, p.6. 456 Committee on Climate Change, DEFRA, (London), 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/legislation/committee/index.htm. 457 Climate Change Bill, House of Lords, (London), 15 November 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldbills/009/2008009.pdf, p.73. 458 World first Climate Change Bill published, DEFRA, (London), 15 November 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/071115b.htm. 459 World first Climate Change Bill published, DEFRA, (London), 15 November 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/071115b.htm. 460 Emissions cuts not enough, say campaigners, Guardian Unlimited, (London), 30 October 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/oct/30/climatechange.greenpolitics. 461 Climate Change Bill: Friends of the Earth comment, 29 October 2007. Friends of the Earth, (London). Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/climate_change_bill_friend_29102007.html. 462 Climate chief calls for 80percent cuts in greenhouse gas, Guardian Unlimited, (London), 30 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/nov/30/climatechange.carbonemissions.
453
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aviation or shipping emissions within the targets,463 and for not setting shorter timescale carbon budgets.464 With regards to the target, on 19 November 2007, Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated in a speech on climate change that an 80 percent cut may be necessary,465 which was the first time he had done so. Nevertheless, he has asked the Committee on Climate Change for advice on the actual necessity to increase the target.466 The UK has continued to enhance its overall understanding of the climate problem, and promoted research,467 consultations with industry,468 and public awareness programmes. On October 2007, the Government published a report on the implementation of the Stern Review 469 which outlined a threepronged strategy of carbon pricing, technology policy, and behavioural change. It has continued its public awareness campaign, “Act on CO2”, which includes a £5 million TV campaign,470 the launch of an online CO2 calculator,471 and the “Climate Change Champion” competition.472 At the same time, the first report of the UKCIP08 programme was published in December 2007, and the programme website is due to be launched in 2008.473 This programme provides information to decision makers, academics, and others, on the current climate situation and possible future changes.
463 Back from the Brink, Guardian Unlimited, (London), 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/dec/19/bali.climatechange. 464 Where there’s a Bill there’s a way, WWF-UK, (Surrey), 13 March 2007. Date of Access: 5 January 2008. http://www.wwf.org.uk/news/n_0000003626.asp. 465 Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Speech on Climate Change, 10 Downing Street, (London), 19 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page13791.asp. 466 Brown sets tough targets for reducing carbon, Guardian Unlimited, (London), 20 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/nov/20/carbonemissions.renewableenergy. 467 The MARKAL modelling programme provides an example. This model was originally used for the Government’s Energy White paper, published in May 2007. Defra then commissioned a further study, released in November 2007, to consider the additional economic and technological impacts of reducing UK CO2 emissions by 70 percent and 80 percent by 2050, and assessing the impact of including emissions from international aviation. The Report is available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/research/pdf/markalanalysis-cc-targets.pdf. 468 For example, consultation on the recommendations of the Climate Change Simplification project opened on 18 December 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/cc-instruments/index.htm. Consultation on the implementation proposals of the Carbon Reduction Commitment opened on 26 June 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/carbonreduc/index.htm 469 Moving to a global low carbon economy: implementing the Stern Review, HM Treasury, (London), October 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/media/A/B/pbr_csr07_stern770.pdf. 470 Defra launches carbon-cutting drive, Guardian Unlimited, (London), 9 July 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/jul/09/marketingandpr.advertising. 471 Miliband unveils CO calculator, DEFRA, (London), 20 June 2007. Date of Access: 19 2 December 2007. http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/070620a.htm. 472 National search for England's 'Climate Change Champions' is launched today, DEFRA, (London), 20 September 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/070920a.htm. 473 Climate change initiative welcomed, DEFRA, (London), 7 December 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/071207a.htm.
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However, trends show that UK emissions have risen not only over the last decade,474 but also in the last year,475 and it seems as though the 2010 domestic goal is going to be missed.476 In addition, a report in The Guardian questioned the Government’s financial commitment to climate change.477 The Comprehensive Spending Review highlighted climate change as a key Treasury priority, and announced a 1.4 percent per year budget increase for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).478 Yet, a month later, the Government announced budget cuts at DEFRA. Sources such as The Guardian expect that many schemes intended to deliver the transition to a low-carbon economy will be scaled down or dropped.479 Thus, despite the welcome introduction of the Climate Change Bill, the Government’s 60 percent emissions reduction target is not strong enough. In addition, the Government has not introduced policies that enable it to be on track to meet its initial 2010 GHG emissions targets. Consequently, the UK is demonstrating only partial compliance with its commitment to stabilise GHG concentrations. Analyst: Martha Baxter
United Kingdom 1B. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production
Score 0
The UK registered partial compliance with its commitment to promote less energy-intensive energy production since the G8 Summit at Heiligendamm. The UK Government re-affirmed its commitment to significantly increase the share of renewable sources of energy to constitute 20 percent of UK electricity
Moving targets keep low-carbon economy on the back-burner, Guardian Unlimited, (London), 31 December 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/dec/31/carbonemissions.climatechange. 475 Climate change goal 'unreachable', BBC News online, 10 December 2007. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7135836.stm. 476 As stated in the UKCC Annual Report: ‘The projections show that we expect significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010. However, the projected fall would not be enough to achieve the domestic goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2010, which was always designed to be stretching but now looks increasingly difficult to achieve.’ UK Climate Change Programme Annual Report to Parliament, DEFRA, (London), July 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/ukccp/pdf/ukcc-annrpt-07.pdf, p 20. 477 Climate change department faces £300 million cuts, Guardian Unlimited, (London), 17 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/nov/17/climatechange.carbonemissions1 478 Pre-Budget Report and Comprehensive Spending Review, HM Treasury, (London), 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/pbr_csr/pbr_csr07_index.cfm. 479 Climate change department faces £300 million cuts, Guardian Unlimited, (London), 17 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/nov/17/climatechange.carbonemissions1.
474
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generation, and 20 percent of total European energy by 2020. Yet, significant action towards these goals has lagged behind. It took concrete positive steps in both the development and commercialisation of low-carbon energy production, such as the announcement of a competition for one of the world’s first Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) demonstrations,480 increased funding for the Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF),481 and plans for a major expansion in the offshore wind energy industry.482 Yet, while praised by the International Energy Agency (IEA) for its commitment to liberalise energy markets,483 the UK Government was criticised by a number of environmental NGO’s and political opponents for failing to intervene decisively in sectors which, as the Stern report argues,484 are most distorted by market failures.485 Political commitment that seemed to wane at the outset was reconfirmed in the course of the compliance period. In August 2007, a leaked paper revealing that the UK Government was seeking to dilute its commitment to its renewable energy target by lobbying for “statistical interpretations of the target that would make it easier to achieve the target,486 dealt a blow to the Government’s credibility. This paper appeared to confirm suspicions, that the Government was “speaking with one intent, but acting with another” on climate change.487 Yet, in response, the Government repeatedly argued for the need to move to a low-carbon economy. For instance, on 19 November 2007, Prime Minister Gordon Brown emphasized that the UK was “completely committed to meeting [its] share” of the EU goal, and that the transformation of its energy economy demanded “no less than a fourth technological revolution”.488 The Queen’s Speech confirmed the forthcoming Climate Change, Energy, and Planning Bills as the three pillars of UK climate change
Gordon Brown’s speech on climate change at the Foreign Press Association, 10 Downing Street, (London), 19 November 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page13791.asp. 481 2007 Pre-Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review: Meeting the Aspirations of the British People, HM Treasury, (London), 9 October 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/C/8/pbr_csr07_chapter7_258.pdf. 482 The UK Meeting the Energy Challenge with Europe, BERR, (London), 10 December 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://www.berr.gov.uk/pressroom/Speeches/page42831.html. 483 Energy Policies of IEA Countries: The United Kingdom, International Energy Agency, (Paris), 2006. Date of Access: 7 January 2008. http://www.iea.org/textbase/npsum/UK2006SUM.pdf. 484 Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, HM Treasury, (London), 30 October 2006. Date of Access: 7 January 2008. http://www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/media/5/1/Part_IV_Introduction_group.pdf. 485 Response to the Consultation on the Reform of the Renewables Obligation, WWF-UK, (Surrey), August 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/wwfs_response_to_ro_reform.pdf. 486 Revealed: Cover-up Plan on Energy Target, Guardian Unlimited, (London), 13 August 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/aug/13/renewableenergy.energy. 487 A Joint Response to the Leaked UK Government’s Draft ‘Options Paper’ on the EU’s 2020 20percent Renewable Energy Targets, Friends of the Earth and WWF-UK, (Surrey), 23 October 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/final_foe_wwf_critique.pdf. 488 Gordon Brown Speech on Climate Change at the Foreign Press Association, 10 Downing Street, (London), 19 November 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page13791.asp.
480
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policy.489 The latter two are particularly relevant for the development and deployment of cleaner energy production from 2008 onward, as the Renewables Obligation (RO) is reformed, and the currently slow planning system streamlined, to overcome the extensive delays that impede new renewable energy developments.490 The UK Government also took steps towards promoting research and development (R&D) of cleaner energy production technologies. Most notably, in the speech on 19 November 2007, Gordon Brown officially announced the first CCS demonstration competition.491 This large scale demonstration, called for by the IEA,492 will demonstrate the technical and commercial viability of this controversial technology, which is thought capable of reducing emissions by 90 percent. The Government pledged to provide up to 100 percent of the required capital and operating costs, and expects the plant to be operational by 2014.493 The Technology Strategy Board also launched R&D competitions across various sectors including the development of technologies for energy efficiency, and improvements in low-carbon energy technologies, together representing an investment of £22 million.494 In December 2007, the new Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) launched its first invitation for partners to participate in offshore wind, marine, tidal, and wave energy programmes, after a range of private and public bodies formally signed the Limited Liability Partnership agreement. John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, said the institute represented the UK’s commitment “to set the pace in transforming our energy supply, delivery and consumption through R&D excellence and innovation.”495 The RO remains the main policy instrument for commercialising renewable technologies. Yet, further consultation on its reform drew mixed responses. 496 While the introduction of “banding” in order to diversify the mix of
Transcript of the Queen’s Speech, 10 Downing Street, (London), 6 November 2007. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page13709.asp. 490 ‘Snail’s Pace’ Planning System Producing Millions of Additional Tons of Carbon, BERR, (London), 17 September 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=315057&NewsAreaID=2&Na vigatedFromDepartment=True. 491 Gordon Brown Speech on Climate Change at the Foreign Press Association, 10 Downing Street, (London), 19 November 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page13791.asp. 492 Toward a Clean, Clever and Competitive Energy Future, International Energy Agency Report to the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, (Paris), June 7-9 2007. Date of Access: 7 January 2008. http://www.iea.org/textbase/papers/2007/GermanyG8.pdf. 493 Major Drive to Decarbonise Energy Sources: Prime Minister, BERR, (London), 19 November 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=331669&NewsAreaID=2. 494 Autumn 2007 Competition, Technology Strategy Board, (London), 8 November 2007. Date of Access: 7 January 2008. http://www.technologyprogramme.org.uk/. 495 The Energy Technologies Institute commences operations with the announcement of its first technology programmes, ETI, (Loughborough), 17 December 2007. Date of Access: 7 January 2008. http://www.energytechnologies.co.uk/news/the-energy-technologiesinstitute-commences-operations/. 496 Renewable Energy: Reform of the Renewables Obligation, Department of Trade and Industry, (London), 23 May 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file39497.pdf.
489
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technologies was greeted as an improvement by environmental NGOs, they also argued that the proposed changes fail to tackle the fundamental lack of transparency and uncertain future value of Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) prices.497 Calls for the introduction of a feed-in tariff system, similar to the German model that has seen renewable energy generation leap from 5.4 to 11.8 percent of the energy market between 1999 and 2006, grew louder,498 and in December 2007, the Conservative Party subsequently adopted it as policy.499 The Government announced that tidal lagoons and barrages below 1GW would become eligible for extra support through the RO.500 The Government announced and endorsed a number of further projects for the expansion of existing renewable technologies, and the adaptation of regulatory frameworks. On 10 December 2007, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) John Hutton announced a large-scale expansion of UK offshore wind power in a “third round” of development expected to generate an extra 25 GW of clean energy. Building on the first and second “rounds”, cumulatively expected to generate 8 GW, this “opening up” of the North Sea, pending Strategic Environmental Assessment, is forecast to create 33 Giga watt (GW) of clean electricity altogether by 2020.501 In addition to the launch of a study into the feasibility of an 8640 Megawatt (MW) barrage on the Severn Estuary,502 other innovative new developments that received consent during the compliance period notably include the 1 GW London Array,503 and a 25 MW Wave Hub off the Cornish Coast.504 Further, BERR and the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) launched a joint Transmission Access Review to ensure that the technical, commercial, and regulatory frameworks for managing and
497 Consultation on Reform of the Renewables Obligation, Friends of the Earth, (London), September 2007. Date of Access: 7 January 2008. http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/consultation_responses/renewables_obligation.pdf. 498 Response to the Consultation on the Reform of the Renewables Obligation, WWF-UK, (Surrey), August 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/wwfs_response_to_ro_reform.pdf. 499 David Cameron: Power to the People – the Decentralised Energy Revolution, The Conservative Party, (London), 6 December 2007. Date of Access: 7 January 2008. http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=141055. 500 Major Drive to Decarbonise Energy Sources: Prime Minister, BERR, (London), 19 November 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=331669&NewsAreaID=2. 501 The UK Meeting the Energy Challenge with Europe, BERR, (London), 10 December 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://www.berr.gov.uk/pressroom/Speeches/page42831.html. 502 John Hutton calls for open minds on the future of the Severn barrage, BERR, (London), 25 September 2007. Date of Access: 7 January 2008. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=317256&NewsAreaID=2&Na vigatedFromDepartment=True. 503 Wicks Consents to Walney, BERR, (London), 7 November 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=328771&NewsAreaID=2&Na vigatedFromDepartment=False. 504 ‘Snail’s Pace’ Planning System Producing Millions of Additional Tonnes of Carbon, BERR, (London), 17 September 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=315057&NewsAreaID=2&Na vigatedFromDepartment=True.
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connecting new energy to the grid were “fit for purpose” as the renewables industry grows.505 In contrast, the pre-budget speech and Comprehensive Spending Review did little to contribute towards cleaner energy production506 and NGOs such as Friends of the Earth (FoE) consequently received it with some disappointment. While additional funds to the ETF indicate political commitment to the commercialisation of low-carbon techniques, FoE argued that the allocation was perceived to be insufficient “than that needed to help the UK become a world leader in these technologies.”507 In conclusion, its renewed commitment by the UK Government to ambitious targets reflects a clear acknowledgment of the challenges posed by the transition to a low-carbon economy, and continued moves to stimulate and apply R&D of cleaner modes of energy production, while refining the regulatory framework accordingly, were broadly positive, bold and comprehensive action in support of its Heiligendamm commitment still lag behind rhetoric, and therefore warrant the score “work in progress.” Analyst: Mhairi Guild United Kingdom Score +1
1C. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Consumption
The United Kingdom has acted comprehensively to comply with its commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy consumption. Since the G8 Summit at Heiligendamm in 2007, the Government has set out to tighten its target for vehicle emissions, and to expand the ambit of the target to curb emissions from housing. In order to meet these targets, the Government has advanced various policies, including legislative change, committing funds, promoting research and development, and public information dissemination. Although its actions are not free from criticism, it deserves to be awarded full compliance. In the transport sector, the Government has confirmed its target to adopt Euro V emissions standards, even before they will become mandatory under EU rules.508 On 29 October 2007, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn
505 Transmission Access Review: A Call for Evidence for a Review of Transmission Access, Ofgem/BERR, (London), 16 August 2007. Date of Access: 7 January 2008. http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file41013.pdf. 506 2007 Pre-Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review: Meeting the Aspirations of the British People, HM Treasury, (London), 9 October 2007. Date of Access 17 December 2007. http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/C/8/pbr_csr07_chapter7_258.pdf. 507 Pre-Budget Report Will Be Key Test of Brown’s Green Credentials, Friends of the Earth, (London), 5 October 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/prebudget_report_will_be_k_05102007.htm l. 508 Government extends tax incentives for 'Euro V' low emission buses and lorries, Department for Transport, (London), 6 September 2007. Date of Access: 13 January 2008.
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introduced the amended Climate Change Bill that backs the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation that will come into force in April 2008.509 This obligation requires that 5 percent of all fuels are supplied from biofuels. In September 2007, the Department of Transport announced that low carbon haulers and buses that are registered as Euro V compliant before 1 October 2009 can claim a discount of up to £500 on Vehicle Excise Duty.510 To improve the uptake of alternative and more efficient means of transport, the Technology Strategy Board and the Department of Transport are channelling £20 million into research to develop low carbon vehicles as part of the Low Transport Innovation Strategy.511 To increase awareness of car buyers, Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick, launched the “Best on CO2” car ranking, an online available ranking system providing information on fuel consumption per type of car.512 In addition, Transport Minister, Rosie Winterton, launched the new Essential Guide to Travel Planning after research revealed that personal planning of transport could reduce car use by 10 percent.513 Apart from focusing on ground transport, the pre-budget report announced to replace the present Air Passenger Duty with a per plane tax from 1 November 2009 onwards.514 In addition to transport, the Government has also introduced several initiatives in the building sector. In the first half of 2007, Britain set itself the target to make all new housing carbon neutral by 2016.515 Since the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007, the Government has worked on extending this target to commercial buildings.516 To meet this target, it newly
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=312626&NewsAreaID=2&Na vigatedFromDepartment=True. 509 Benn sets out strengthened Climate Change Bill, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (London), 29 October 2007. Date of Access: 12 January 2008. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=326204&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedF romSearch=True. 510 Government extends tax incentives for 'Euro V' low emission buses and lorries, Department for Transport, (London), 6 September 2007. Date of Access: 13 January 2008. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=312626&NewsAreaID=2&Na vigatedFromDepartment=True. 511 £20 million Government funding for environmentally friendly vehicles, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, (London), 21 September 2007. Date of Access: 12 January 2008. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=316370&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedF romSearch=True. 512 Most carbon-friendly car rankings go live, Directgov, 31 July 2007. Date of Access: 12 January 2008. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_069559. 513 Personal travel planning can cut car use by 10percent, Department for Transport, (London), 11 October 2007. Date of Access: 13 January 2008. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=321685&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedF romSearch=True. 514 Pre-budget report will help fight climate change, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (London), 09 October 2007. Date of Access: 13 January 2008. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=321151&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFr omSearch=True. 515 Guiness, H. (1 June 2007). United Kingdom: Sustainable Use of Energy. In: Governing Global Climate Change: St. Petersburg Compliance Report for the 'G8 Plus Five' Countries. G8 Final Compliance Report 2007. M. Banda and Langille, J. Oxford: G8 Research Group Oxford. http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/oxford/2006compliance-ox.pdf. 516 Boost for local renewable energy from new planning rules, Communities and Local Government, (London), 17 December 2007. Date of Access: 12 January 2008.
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introduced the Planning Bill, the Housing and Regeneration Bill, and the Policy Statement on Climate Change, which together will ensure that 3 million new houses, planned to be built by 2020, will meet the standard of zerocarbon emissions from 2016 onwards.517 In addition, the bills confer powers as well as responsibilities to local governments to provide for on-site renewable energy and local community energy schemes to help cut carbon emissions from new developments.518 As complement to these legislative steps, the Department of Communities and Local Government published guidelines to help the construction industry respond to the challenge to build zero-carbon homes.519 In addition, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform launched the consultation phase to draft the Government and Industry Sustainable Construction Strategy, which aims to reduce the carbon footprint in the construction sector and the built environment.520 With respect to existing buildings and housing, the Government has enhanced its public awareness activities, and strengthened financial support to homeowners to green houses. Since June 2007, it has fully rolled out its Home Information Packs and Energy Performance Certificates,521 which give homeowners a detailed rating on the energy efficiency of their homes. Moreover, buyers whose homes score poorly (currently around one-fifth of all homes) will receive discounted or free support to enhance energy efficiency from the Green Homes Service.522 Free energy ratings are also available for boilers to advance the replacement of the currently 4 million inefficient boilers in use.523 And finally, the Government is devoting £10 million to pilot
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=339180&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedF romSearch=True. 517 Building better homes and empowering communities, Directgov, 7 November 2007. Date of Access: 13 January 2008. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_071327. 518 Boost for local renewable energy from new planning rules, Communities and Local Government, (London), 17 December 2007. Date of Access: 12 January 2008. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=339180&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedF romSearch=True. 519 Guidance to help industry respond to the zero carbon challenge, Communities and Local Government, (London), 1 October 2007. Date of Access: 13 January 2007. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=318777&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFr omSearch=True. 520 Construction industry aims for a sustainable future, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, (London), 30 July 2007. Date of Access: 13 January 2008. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=303746&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedF romSearch=True. 521 Green findings - Energy Performance Certificates and Home Information Packs, Communities and Local Government, (London), 10 September 2007. Date of Access: 13 January 2008. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=313221&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFr omSearch=True. 522 Helping buyers to make their homes greener and the market more efficient, Communities and Local Government, (London), 14 December 2007. Date of Access: 13 January 2008. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=338768&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedF romSearch=True. 523 Homeowners to get green boiler rating, Directgov, 2 October 2007. Date of Access: 14 January 2008. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_070775.
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smart meters and clip on real time display units in households.524 To provide financial incentives, the pre-budget report announced measures to reduce the rate of VAT for the most energy-efficient products.525 The Government is also addressing efficiency of public buildings, and issuing information and guidance on how public agencies can contribute with their share. On 18 September 2007, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) published an online guide to provide information for local authorities how to improve energy efficiency and thus reduce greenhouse gas emissions.526 Further, options for improving energy efficiency across the public sector have been outlined in a consultation document published in December by Minister for the Environment, Woolas, to be acted on in spring 2008.527 The Chief Information Officer's Council will work with the Information Age Partnership to identify options to decrease the carbon footprint of public sector IT.528 Through a new fund worth an initial £20 million from the Department for Transport, the public sector will be able to procure lower carbon vehicles, thereby contributing to kick-start the market for low carbon vehicles.529 Last but not least, the Government continues to collect and disseminate information to raise public awareness, to monitor consumer behaviour, and thus to track actual impacts of its policies. Former Environment Minister Miliband launched a CO2 calculator designed to analyse people’s carbon footprint.530 The Energy Saving Trust organised the Energy Saving Week from 22 to 28 October, to encourage energy saving behaviour.531 In addition, in the past six months the Government published its annual Energy Statistics,532 the
40,000 households in Nationwide energy saving experiment, Directgov, 12 July 2007. Date of Access: 12 January 2008. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_069233. 525 Pre-budget report will help fight climate change, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (London), 09 October 2007. Date of Access: 13 January 2008. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=321151&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFr omSearch=True. 526 Guide for greener councils, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, (London), 18 September 2007. Date of Access: 13 January 2008. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=315769&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedF romSearch=True. 527 Woolas calls for the Public sector to lead in energy efficiency, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (London), 13 December 2007. Date of Access: 12 January 2008. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=338381&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedF romSearch=True. 528 Minister calls for greener Government IT, Cabinet Office, (London), 20 September 2007. Date of Access: 13 January 2008. http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/news_releases/2007/070920_greenerit.aspx. 529 Multi-million fund for low carbon vans, Department for Transport, (London), 7 November 2007. Date of Access: 14 January 2007. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=328626&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedF romSearch=True. 530 ‘Act on CO2’ calculator launched, Directgov, 10 June 2007. Date of Access: 12 January 2008. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_068658. 531 Energy Saving Week, Directgov, 22 October 2007. Date of Access: 12 January 2008. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_071056. 532 Energy Statistics, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, (London), 2008. Date of Access: 12 January 2008.
524
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statistical information booklet “Environment in your Pocket”,533 and the Survey on Public Attitudes.534 Despite these comprehensive actions various non-governmental actors have raised criticism. With respect to aviation policy, Friends of the Earth (FoE) criticised that not only the current level of tax but also Air Passenger Duties have been frozen until the introduction of the per plane tax in 2009.535 In addition, no action has been taken to cut the £9 billion tax break that the aviation industry receives through not paying VAT on tickets and duty on kerosene.536 Regarding transport policy in general, both FoE as well as Green Alliance, an environmental think tank, point to counterproductive policy decisions such as the rise in national rail prices on 1 January 2008,537 and the widening of the M1 and M25 to enhance traffic flow rather than providing real transport alternatives.538 On 20 November 2007, the Green Alliance released a report which stressed that only few people are aware of the benefits of smart meters.539 More generally, a test of environmental leadership jointly released by a number of environmental NGOs judged that the UK’s current ruling party does not provide sufficient clarity with respect to its actions to create the necessary enabling environment for green living.540 In conclusion, the debate over climate policy is increasing in the UK, with the Government’s plans and proposals being subject to major scrutiny among opposition parties and environmental groups. Nevertheless, these criticisms are levied against small sections of an overall comprehensive programme to promote less emission-intensive energy consumption. The UK has not only set certain targets to improve energy efficiency in various demand sectors, but is
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=342163&NewsAreaID=2&Na vigatedFromDepartment=True. 533 The Environment in your Pocket 2007, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (London), 9 November 2007. Date of Access: 12 January 2008. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=329299&NewsAreaID=2. 534 2007 survey of public attitudes and behaviours toward the environment, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (London), 14 August 2007. Date of Access: 12 January 2008. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=307306&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedF romSearch=True. 535 PBR and Climate Change: The Government Fails to Deliver, Friends of the Earth, (London), 9 October 2007. Date of Access: 13 January 2008. http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/pbr_and_climate_change_the_09102007.ht ml. 536 PBR and Climate Change: The Government Fails to Deliver, Friends of the Earth, (London), 9 October 2007. Date of Access: 13 January 2008. http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/pbr_and_climate_change_the_09102007.ht ml. 537 Rail Fare Rises Highlight Labour's Failings on Transport and Climate, Friends of the Earth, (London), 28 November 2007. Date of Access: 13 January 2008. http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/rail_fare_rises_highlight_28112007.html. 538 Green Alliance verdict on the PBR and CSR, Green Alliance, (London), 9 October 2007. Date of Access: 24 January 2008. http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/grea1.aspx?id=2238. 539 For our homes to be greener we have to get smart, Green Alliance, (London), 20 November 2007. Date of Access: 24 January 2008. http://www.greenalliance.org.uk/grea1.aspx?id=2368. 540 The Green Standard. Tests for environmental leadership, Green Alliance, Greenpeace, et al., (London), 12 September 2007. Date of Access: 24 January 2008. http://thegreenstandardlive.lemonpreview.com/gstdDefault.aspx?id=2580.
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also introducing new and strengthening existing policies to implement these targets, thus deserving a score of full compliance. Analyst: Marie Karaisl
United Kingdom 1D. Support for Climate Adaptation/Mitigation in DCs
Score 0
Supporting climate adaptation in developing countries is a stated goal of the UK, and it has become an important element in its development cooperation policies and programmes.541 On 31 July 2007, Prime Minister Brown announced that the UK is offering a new Environmental Transformation Fund worth US$1.6 billion for investment in clean energy, sustainable forestry, adaptation and environmental protection.542 Although the UK is also contributing through the Least Developed Countries Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund, Oxfam considers that the support granted by the UK is insufficient.543 Since the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, the UK has initiated climate adaptation programmes in several African countries. In July 2007, the Department for International Development (DFID) launched a £3 million programme for boosting efforts to avert hunger crises in Niger. The programme will help communities adapt to climate change through the distribution of improved seed varieties, restocking of livestock, and improved access to water and veterinary services.544 In November 2007, DFID launched a Malaria Project in Nigeria, which will provide £50 million to support Nigeria’s National Malaria Programme in the period of 2007-2011.545 In November 2007, a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene project of £75 million was launched in Ethiopia. The project will help 3.2 million people access clean water and basic sanitation.546 It also announced a new ten year development
Tackling Climate Change, Department for International Development, 2007, (London). Date of Access: 9 December 2007. http://www.dfid.gov.uk/howwefightpoverty/climate.asp. 542 Brown’s speech at UN, BBC News, 31 July 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6924570.stm. 543 Financing adaptation: why the UN’s Bali Climate Conference must mandate the search for new funds. Oxfam International, 4 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.oxfam.org/en/files/bn_bali_financing_adaptaion_0712.pdf. 544 DFID boosts efforts to avert hunger crises in Niger. Department for International Development, (London), 11 July 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2007. http://www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/pressreleases/hunger-crises-Niger.asp. 545 DFID Nigeria - CURRENT PROGRAMMES. Department for International Development, (London), 23 October 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.dfid.gov.uk/countries/africa/nigeria-programmes.pdf. 546 UK pumps £75 million into water and sanitation project for Ethiopia. Department for International Development, (London), 21 November 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/pressreleases/Water-and-Sanitation-ethiopia.asp.
541
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partnership with Uganda worth at least £700 million in aid that will help continue the fight against poverty amongst other activities through investments in water, sanitation, and health projects.547 With regards to aiding climate mitigation in developing countries, the Government is investing in initiatives that will stimulate capital flows to climate change mitigation projects in developing countries. In this respect, the UK has pledged an initial US$ 200,000 for the Africa Springboard initiative,548 which will develop Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in sub-Saharan African countries.549 During the Bali Conference in December 2007, the UK reiterated its support for climate adaptation programmes in developing countries. To this end, the UK and the Netherlands, together with the World Bank, announced that they would jointly fund a research study to help developing countries understand the costs of adaptation, and ways to prepare for the impacts of climate change. The UK will contribute a £450,000 for this study, and has committed itself to assisting in generating information and data to assess vulnerability and identify adaptation options. 550 However, the actions taken to support the implementation of adaptation projects have been considered limited by Oxfam, in contrast with the resources actually needed to make a difference to this end.551 As a result, the UK is only found to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Diana Poputoaia United Kingdom 1E. Reducing GHG Emissions by Curbing Deforestation Score 0
The UK Government partially complied with its commitment to reduce GHG emissions by curbing deforestation. Already before the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, Trade and Development Minister Gareth pointed to the significant contribution of deforestation to carbon dioxide
UK announces £700 million aid to Uganda. Department for International Development, (London), 24 November 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/pressreleases/700million-uganda.asp. 548 Speech by Right Honourable Hilary Benn, UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to the Thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, DEFRA, (London), 13 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/ministers/speeches/hilarybenn/hb071212.htm. 549 Springboard initiative for the carbon market in Africa, DEFRA, (London), 12 December 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/071212a.htm. 550 UK Announces New Study on Climate Change Adaptation at Bali. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (London) 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/071211d.htm 551 UK 'must pay more for emissions'. BBC News, 28 May 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6699305.stm
547
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emissions and called on governments to include action on deforestation in a future climate change deal.552 At Bali, the UK pledged US$ 30 million to help launch the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), which aims to be the “first financial mechanism to pay countries for saving their tropical forests”.553 On 18 December 2007, the British Trade and Development Minister Gareth Thomas announced £5 million in funding to help tackle deforestation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He again emphasized that cutting emissions from deforestation forms a major contribution to combat climate change, and called upon all EU countries to adopt timber procurement policies.554 According newspapers555 and government reports,556 Environment Minister Hilary Benn hailed the Bali agreement on deforestation as “groundbreaking.” In conclusion, the UK has been among the most persistent proponents of curbing deforestation at international forums, and has pledged financial support for a variety of multilateral initiatives. In addition, it is increasingly addressing deforestation in its development cooperation programmes, and helping build local capacity for sustainable forest management in developing countries. On the basis of these observations, the UK is assessed to be in full compliance with this commitment. Analyst: C.C. Elia
552 Climate change deal must include action on deforestation, Minister says, UK Department for International Development, (London), 29 November 2007. Date of Access: 18 December 2007. http://www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/pressreleases/deforestation-climate-change.asp 553 Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Takes Aim at Deforestation, World Bank, (Washington D.C.), 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 16 December 2007. http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:21581819~pagePK: 64257043~piPK:437376~theSitePK:4607,00.html 554 EU and UK Local Government must use Legal Sources of Timber, UK Department for International Development, (London), 17 December 2007. Date of Access: 18 December 2007. http://www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/pressreleases/use-legal-timber.asp 555 Deal agreed in Bali climate talks, Guardian Unlimited, (London), 15 December 2007. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/dec/15/bali.climatechange4. 556 Climate change: success at Bali talks, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (London), 15 December 2007.http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2007/climate1215.htm.
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United States
Background The United States has thus far not entirely fulfilled its Heiligendamm commitments on climate change, but has at least partially complied with and addressed all five climate change commitments. The defining moment of the United States’ 2007 energy policy undoubtedly occurred on 19 December with the signing of the Energy Independence and Security Act by President George W. Bush. The act claims “to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes.”557 It has variously been described as “one of the largest single steps on energy that the nation has taken since the Arab oil embargoes of the 1970’s,”558 as “groundbreaking,”559 and as an initiative that will improve the energy efficiency of “almost every significant product and tool and appliance that we use.”560 However, detractors including Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) argue that “it could have been stronger.” 561 This is indicative of the United States’ climate change policy since Heiligendamm: adequate but not complete. Apart from the Act, the United States has also introduced sector-specific initiatives that build on the commitments its made at the Heiligendamm Summit. A new national fuel economy standard of 35 miles per gallon by 2020 can produce dramatic cuts in GHG emissions associated with vehicular transport. In addition, the Government has introduced appliance efficiency standards and expanded the renewable fuels standard to nine billion gallons in 2008 and to 36 billion gallons by 2022. A law phasing out incandescent light bulbs within ten years is predicted to cut electricity usage in light bulbs by 60 percent by 2020. And significantly, the Combat Illegal Logging Act will outlaw the import, sale or trade in illegally-harvested wood and wood
GovTrack.us., H.R. 6--110th Congress (2007): Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Date of Access 2 February 2008. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?tab=summary&bill=h110-6. 558 John M. Broder, Bush Signs Broad Energy Bill, The New York Times, (Washington, DC), 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 21 December 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/washington/19cnd-energy.html?hp. 559 Nancy Pelosi, Pelosi on Energy Bill: ‘This is a Choice Between Yesterday and Tomorrow”, (Washington, DC), 18 December 2007. Date of Access: 18 December 2007. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/12-182007/0004725193&EDATE=. 560 Rep. John Dingell, House OKs energy bill; Bush to sign, Los Angeles Times, (Los Angeles), 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 21 December 2007. http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/printedition/wednesday/chienergy_weddec19,0,1728481.story. 561 Senator Barbara Boxer, in John M. Broder, Bush Signs Broad Energy Bill, The New York Times, (Washington, DC), 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 21 December 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/washington/19cnd-energy.html?hp.
557
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products in the United States. Thus, despite the continued resistance within the Government to binding international emissions reduction targets, these domestic policy initiatives will nevertheless contribute to lowering GHG emissions in a variety of ways. Team Leader and Analyst: Andy Jones United States 1A. Stabilise GHG Concentrations Score 0
Since the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007, U.S policy initiatives aimed at stabilising GHG emissions has reflected a market-based regulatory style based on voluntary rules and focused on developing technology. However, the market incentives for business and public utilities to achieve actual GHG emissions reduction have not been adequate to reverse growing domestic GHG emissions, and climate mitigation continues to be hampered by the Government’s rejection of specific and binding emissions reduction targets, nationally and internationally. The broader policy approach that the U.S takes in reference to stabilising GHG emissions is reflected in the negotiating positions it took at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, 3-14 December 2007. The U.S. had objected to the two main proposals of the Bali negotiations: 1) to include a specific demand for industrialised nations to cut emissions to 25-40percent below 1990 levels by 2020, which scientists have said are necessary to avoid dangerous climate change;562 , and 2) to have no specific commitment from developing nations, including India and China, to make mandatory cuts. During the course of the negotations, the U.S. eventually dropped the demand for a commitment from the developing nations. The U.S. also agreed that rich countries will help poorer nations by sharing “clean” low-carbon technology and by setting up a multi- billion-dollar fund to help them adapt to climate change and to widen a future agreement to cover deforestation, which is blamed for one fifth of the world's rising carbon dioxide, the biggest greenhouse gas. 563 However, the U.S. insisted on excluding the commitment to the 25-40 percent cut from the "Bali Roadmap"564. If US emissions were to remain stable from now until 2012, America would have to cut emissions by
Executive Summary, UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008: Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world. 27 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2007-2008/ 563 "Financing Clean Energy: A Framework for Public Private Partnerships to Adress Climate Change", Speech By Paul Wolfowits, President of World Bank Group's President, EBRD, (London). 13 March 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.ebrd.com/new/calendar/fce/wolf.pdf 564 "US Stalls on Bali Targets", Susan Watts Reports, BBC News, 27 December 2007. Date of Access: 29 January 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7140000/newsid_7145500/7145522.stm?bw=nb& mp=wm&news=1&nol_storyid=7145522&bbcws=1
562
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more than a third: if they continue growing at the recent rate of 1 percent a year, emissions would have to be halved in eight years. 565 Notwithstanding this resistance to internationally-binding emission cuts, the U.S. made significant efforts to encourage technological development and to create incentives for business' voluntary action in order to reduce the dependence of fossil fuels and to reduce GHG emissions. On 5 December 2007, the Chairman of Environmental Quality James Connaughton argued that energy intensive sectors need better economic policy that gives them an incentive to turn over their capital stock into newer, more efficient processes and equipment which many of the mandatory proposals would not be able to achieve.566 On 29 November 2007, the State Department announced that the CCTP's (Climate Change Technology Programme) budget will increase by a quarter in 2008.567 The approach is the same on the international level. On 30 November 2007, the US and EU proposed a new environmental goods and services agreement (EGSA) at the WTO's Doha negotiations.568 The agreement seeks a worldwide elimination of tariffs on a specific list of climate friendly technologies recently identified by the World Bank. Considering the U.S. has yet to agree to any binding emission reduction targets, nationally and internationally, the proved leadership in technological development and fuel economy and the international support for technological transfer to emerging markets are overshadowed. The U.S. thus receives a rating of 0 for partial compliance with the commitment to "take strong and early action to tackle climate change in order to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system". Analyst: Andy Benica United States 1B. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production Score 0
The United States has partially complied with its G8 commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy production. Since the Heiligendamm Summit, the Government passed a far-reaching energy bill, has continued to set aside
565 "Late-night drama pushes US into climate deal", Juliette Jowit, Caroline Davies and David Adam, The Guardian, 16 December 2007. Date of Access: 29 January 2008. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/dec/16/bali.climatechange 566 Press Briefing by Chairman of Environmental Quality James Connaughton and Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky on U.N. Convention on Climate Change, The White House, (Washington) , 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/12/20071205-9.html 567 Fact Sheet on U.S. Global Climate Change Policy, The State Department, (Washington), 29 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/fs/2007/95919.htm 568 U.S., EU Announce New Climate Initiatives for WTO , The United States Mission to the European Union, (Geneva), 30 November 2007. Date of Access: 26 December, 2007. http://useu.usmission.gov/Dossiers/Environment/Nov3007_USTR_Environment.asp
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funds for renewable energy technologies and efficient energy distribution, and has taken steps toward further developing clean coal technologies. At the same time, the energy bill passed was a stripped-down version of earlier proposed legislation and major clean energy initiatives have been slow to start. In terms of promoting less emission-intensive energy production and nonfossil fuel-based energy sources, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, signed into law by President Bush on 19 December 2007569 sets forth to: expand the renewable fuels standard to nine billion gallons in 2008 and progressively increase it to 36 billion gallons by 2022 in addition to making a historic commitment to develop cellulosic ethanol by requiring the US to produce 21 billion gallons of advanced biofuels by 2022. In addition, the Act expands and improves the U.S Department of Energy’s (DOE) existing carbon capture and sequestration research programme, and requires a national assessment of the capacity to sequester carbon in geologic and biological ecosystems. It also increases funding for all projects included in the new carbon capture and storage research, development, and demonstration programme, and requires the Department of the Interior (DOI) to begin development of a regulatory framework for issues associated with geologic storage of CO2 on public lands. And finally, the Act proposes investments in geothermal energy by advancing technologies and expend approximately 5,500 megawatts of geothermal energy.570 While the legislation is the most far-reaching US energy policy since 1975 and will lead to “some of the largest CO2 emissions cuts in [the] nation’s history,”571 it is a stripped-down version of earlier legislation passed by the 110th Congress.572 Due to threat of White House veto and objections from Senators of oil and gas-dependent states,573 key provisions were removed from the Act.: a renewable portfolio standard which would have set a target of obtaining 20percent to 25percent of the nation’s electricity from renewable resources by 2025 and tax incentives including a production tax credit and
569 John M. Broder, Bush Signs Broad Energy Bill, The New York Times, (Washington), 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/washington/19cnd-energy.html?hp 570 H.R. 6, The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 Energy Bill Summary, United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, (Washington), 14 December 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=IssueItems.View&IssueItem_I D=58 571 President Bush Signs H.R.6, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, US Department of Energy, (Washington), 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://whitehouse.gov/news/releases/200712/20071219-6.html 572 Mark Clayton, Senate Rejects Far-Reaching Energy Bill, The Christian Science Monitor, (Boston), 8 December 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1207/p25s09-uspo.html 573 Rockfeller Disappointed that Billions for Clean Coal Set Aside in Energy Bill, States News Services, (Washington), 14 December 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do ?risb=21_T2779854749&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey= 29_T2779854752&cisb=22_T2779854751&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=8058&docNo=1
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investment tax credit for renewable energy industries.574 The lack of tax incentives for renewable energy development is particularly problematic given the strides the renewable energy sector has made using the already-existing production tax credit, for example the American Wind Energy Association, in its fourth quarter market report indicated that the industry is on track to install 4,000 megawatts of wind capacity; nearly doubling capacity from 2006.575 However, without a long-term extension of the production tax credit, due to expire in December 2008, developers may be unsure about the financial viability of such projects.576 Proponents of renewable energy were not pleased with early reports of these provisions being dropped from the energy bill. Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, claimed the bill maintained the status quo,577 meaning continued support for coal, oil, and gas industries. The tax credits for renewable energy industries would have come from repealing tax incentives of between $16 billion and $32 billion that now go to oil companies.578 Also omitted from the new energy bill was $1.5 billion tax credits for coal plants that commit to capturing 65 percent of their CO2 emissions with an additional $550 million available for plants that pursue 75 percent gasification efforts.579 As Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) said of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, “It could have been stronger. It’s really unfortunate that we didn’t have the renewable electricity standard or the incentives for wind and solar. But we’ll fight for those another day.”580 These words do have some resonance perhaps now more than ever, given the current Government, the 110th Congress, has introduced legislation related to global climate change at a faster pace than any previous Congress.581 Following suit, the DOE has been active in funding projects ranging from
574 Stephen Lacey, U.S. Energy Bill—Early Christmas Present or Lump of Coal? Renewable Energy Access, (Washington), 12 November 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50527 575 Stephen Lacey, U.S. Energy Bill—Early Christmas Present or Lump of Coal? Renewable Energy Access, (Washington), 12 November 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50527 576 Stephen Lacey, U.S. Energy Bill—Early Christmas Present or Lump of Coal? Renewable Energy Access, (Washington), 12 November 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50527 577 Stephen Lacey, U.S. Energy Bill—Early Christmas Present or Lump of Coal? Renewable Energy Access, (Washington), 12 November 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50527 578 Mark Clayton, In Big U.S. Energy Bill, Who Will Pay? The Christian Science Monitor, (Boston), 7 November 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1107/p01s01-wogihtml?s=yaho 579 Rockefeller Disappointed that Billions for Clean Coal Set Aside in Energy Bill, States News Services, (Washington), 14 December 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do ?risb=21_T2779854749&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey= 29_T2779854752&cisb=22_T2779854751&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=8058&docNo=1 580 John M. Broder, Bush Signs Broad Energy Bill, The New York Times, (Washington), 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/washington/19cnd-energy.html?hp 581 Legislation in the 110 th Congress Related to Global Climate Change, Pew Centre on Global Climate Change, (Arlington, VA). Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.pewclimate.org/what_s_being_done/in_the_congress/110thcongress.cfm
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$610,000 to support the National Governor’s Association’s Securing a Clean Energy Future Initiative582 to help states increase production of cleaner domestic fuels, promote advanced electricity generation, improve energy efficiency and conservation, and accelerate research and development of clean energy technologies;583 $33.8 million for the support of production cellulosic biofuel;584 and $20 million for next generation solar energy projects.585 On 27 June 2007, the DOE also pledged up to $51.8 million for the purposes of modernizing the US electric grid system.586 The DOE funded electricity projects will help to advance the future generation of power delivery equipment and aid the development of a highly efficient national electricity grid system by increasing the reliability and efficiency of power delivery cables and addressing fault current limiters.587 While the stated intent of the funding of such projects is to “modernize . . . electricity grid; securing a diverse and stable supply of reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible energy; as well as increasing efficiency,”588 no new projects as yet are focused on clean coal technologies or using renewable energy sources for generating electricity on a federal level.589 In this vein, furtive steps have been taken in the FutureGen Alliance project to create the first American utility-scale zero-emissions coal-powered electrical plant since the Heiligendamm Summit. The project, established by the Bush
DOE Counts $610,000 to Support NGA’s Efforts to Further State-Level, Department of Energy, (Washington), 12 September 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://energy.gov/news/5489.htm 583 Incoming NGA Unveils New Incentive, National Governors Association, (Washington), 23 July 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.6c9a8a9ebc6ae07eee28aca9501010a0/?vgne xtoid=074d60ca8c1c3110VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=759b8f200536101 0VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD 584 Department of Energy to Make up to $33.8 Million to Support Commercial Production of Cellulosic Biofuels, Department of Energy, (Washington), 27 August 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://energy.gov/new/5340.htm 585 Department of Energy to Invest More Than $20 Million for Next Generation Solar Energy Projects, Department of Energy, (Washington), 8 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://energy.gov/news/5690.htm 586 DOE Provides up to $51.8 Million to Modernize the US Electric Grid System, National Energy Technology Laboratory, (Washington), 27 June 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/press/2007/5180.html 587 DOE Provides up to $51.8 Million to Modernize the US Electric Grid System, National Energy Technology Laboratory, (Washington), 27 June 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/press/2007/5180.html 588 DOE Provides up to $51.8 Million to Modernize the US Electric Grid System, National Energy Technology Laboratory, (Washington), 27 June 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/press/2007/5180.html 589 Several clean coal technology initiatives have been undertaken at the state level. See Iowans Want Energy Conservation Before New Coal Plants, Environmental News Service, (Des Moines, IA), 21 December 2007. Date of Access: 21 December 2007. http://www.ensnewswire.com/ens/dec2007/2007-12-21-093.asp; Bob Matyi, Duke Gets Go-Ahead for Indiana 630-MW IGCC Plant, Platts Coal Outlook, (Washington), 26 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/us/lnacademic/search/homesubmitForm.do ; Centre for Energy and Economic Development Joins Industry Coalition to Issue Recommendations Ahead of Governor Ritter’s Colorado Climate Action Plan, PR Newswire, (Denver, CO), 18 October 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/us/lnacademic/search/homesubmitForm.do
582
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administration in 2003, has been hampered by an expanding budget, sliding timetable, reduced federal funding, and government calls for a scaling-back of project components.590 On 18 December 2007, FutureGen announced Illinois as the site for the electrical plant.591 The DOE has not yet issued a record of decision that is required to enable the final site determination and has further stated “the public interest mandates that FutureGen deliver the greatest possible technological benefits in the most cost-efficient manner. This will require restructuring FutureGen to maximize the role of private sector innovation, facilitate the most productive public-private partnership, and prevent further cost escalation.”592 Because the cost of implementing clean coal technologies is high, it “will significantly increase the cost of electricity”593 if undertaken at present, as was reported at the 1 August 2007 Senate Energy Committee Hearing.594 Experts at the hearing further stated that unless Congress boosts federal funding and revamps certain emissions regulations—including the New Source Review programme provision of the federal Clean Air Act, which prevents utilities from making basic efficiency improvements that would increase their power output without boosting their emissions—clean coal technologies will remain very expensive and limited in scope.595 At the same time, the US is currently aiding China596 and Uruguay597 in developing cleaner coal technologies.
Andrew C. Revkin, The (Energy) Future is Not Now, Dot Earth, (New York), 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://dotearth.blog.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/the-energy-future-is-not-now/?emc=etal 591 Mark Clayton, FutureGen to Build ‘Clean Coal’ Plant in Illinois, The Christian Science Monitor, (Boston), 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/us/lnacademic/search/homesubmitForm.do 592 Statement from US Department of Energy Acting Principal Deputy, Regulatory Intelligence Data, (Washington), 18 December 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do ?risb=21_T2783476529&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey= 29_T2783476534&cisb=22_T2783476533&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=153938&docNo =1 593 In Clean-Coal Technology Depends on Funding, Govt. Backing, Platts Coal Outlook, (Washington), 6 August 2007. Date of Access: 21 December 2007. http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/us/lnacademic/search/homesubmitForm.do 594 Senate Panel Hears Support for Clean Coal Technologies, CongressNow, (Washington), 3 August 2007. Date of Access: 21 December 2007. http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/us/lnacademic/search/homesubmitForm.do 595 Clean Coal Technologies Need Funding, Regulatory Fixes to Thrive, Experts Say, Inside Energy with Federal Lands, (Washington), 6 August 2007. Date of Access: 21 December 2007. http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/us/lnacademic/search/homesubmitForm.do 596 US and China Companies Sign Historic Venture Agreement Applying Clean Coal Technologies to Become China's ''Pollution Solution.''; Beijing Press Conference on Innovation Set for Tuesday, November 6th, Business Wire, 4 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do ?risb=21_T2783141510&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey= 29_T2783141513&cisb=22_T2783141512&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=7924&docNo=4 597 U.S. Trade and Development Agency Grants Supports Clean Coal Technology in Uruguay, US Federal News, (Washington), 27 September 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do ?risb=21_T2783170724&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey= 29_T2783170729&cisb=22_T2783170728&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=282801&docNo =1
590
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Overall, the U.S has been quite active in working to promote less emissionintensive energy production with several policy initiatives since the Heiligendamm Summit. This is in part surprising given the obstacles put up by US delegates at the Bali Conference on Climate Change regarding pollution and greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.598 Despite opposition from the Bush Administration and its delegates at international climate negotiations., the 110th Congress was resolute in holding panels on clean coal technology and drafting legislation, most importantly the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, aimed at changing energy policy in the U.S. While the recent energy bill does address some aspects of lessemission intensive energy production, it is more oriented toward the transportation sector and lacks any provisions for renewable electricity, incentives for renewable energy production, or repeals of tax incentives for oil, gas, and coal producers. Other clean energy production projects are underway, albeit slowly. Thus, the US is only found to b in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Nadia Siddiqui
United States 1C. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Consumption
Score +1
The United States has an imperfect, yet strong record of compliance with its commitment to improve energy consumption efficiency. While corporate and industrial efficiency has lagged behind household and vehicle efficiency in the domestic econopmy, the net result has been positive with significant progress made in a number of key areas. Undermining these advances is the administration’s insistence on a national energy strategy, blocking moves by states to implement stricter emissions standards.599 In comparison to industrial and vehicle efficiency, household energy utilisation has received the most attention from the Bush administration. In June 2007, the Department of Energy (DOE) launched a national television campaign urging homeowners to switch to compact florescent lighting (CFL)600. A 20-day awareness campaign in October 2007 resulted in
Bali Conference: World Unity Forces US to Back Climate Deal, The Independent, (London), 16 December 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://environment.independent.co.uk/climate_change/article3255688.ece 599 E.P.A. Denies California Emission’s Waiver, NewYorkTimes.com, Micheline Maynard, 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/washington/20epa600 Department of Energy and Disney Join Forces to Promote Energy Savings, Department of Energy, (Washington), 14 June 2007. Date of Access: 6 December 2007. http://www.energy.gov/news/5131.htm
598
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approximately one million Americans pledging to switch to CFL.601 The Energy Independence and Security Act, signed by President Bush on 19 December 2007, calls for phasing out incandescent light bulbs within ten years.602 If accomplished, the switch would cut light bulb electricity usage by 60 percent by 2020.603 On 19 November 2007, the DOE raised efficiency standards for domestic boilers and furnaces. The new regulations enter into force in 2015 and are part of a broader effort by the DOE to update appliance efficiency standards across the board.604 In June 2007, the remaining $88 million of a $200 million DOE campaign to weatherise low-income family homes was authorised and distributed to 20 states. The DOE estimates 70,000 homes will be weatherised during the yearlong programme.605 In addition, several policy actions are advancing energy efficiency in industry. On 30 November 2007, the “Super Boiler”, a product of DOE lab research, finished its one-year test run.606 DOE officials plan to put the boilers, which deliver 94 percent thermal efficiency, through another set of trials to make sure they are ready for widespread commercial use. On 18 September 2007, the DOE signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The Green Grid, a non-profit consortium of technology companies, to cooperate on creating best practices for improving data center efficiency.607 In an effort to improve commercial transport efficiency, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Smartway Transport Partnership along with the Association of Port Authorities introduced a pilot programme to provide low-cost loans for company’s purchasing fuel-efficient diesel trucks.608 If the trial programme in Virginia goes well, it will be expanded nationwide. Consumer vehicle efficiency, often neglected in the United States, has also received significant attention. On 20 September 2007, the DOE signed a fiveyear agreement with China’s Ministry of Science and Technology to cooperate
601 Have You Seen the Light? Nearly 1 Million Take Pledge to Make Energy Efficient Change, Department of Energy, (New York), 23 October 2007. Date of Access: 6 December 2007. http://www.energy.gov/news/5655.htm 602 House, 314-100, Passes Broad Energy Bill; Bush Plans to Sign It, The New York Times, John M. Broder, (Washington), 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/washington/19energy.html 603 Light Bulbs, Gas Changing as U.S. Energy Bill Passes, Bloomberg.com, Daniel Whitten, 18 December 2007. Date of Access 18 December 2007. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aPxA08AwZUfk&refer=home 604 DOE Increases Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential Furnaces & Boilers, Department of Energy, (Washington) 19 November 2007. Date of Access: 5 December 2007. http://www.energy.gov/news/5743.htm 605 Department of Energy Provides Nearly $88 Million to Low-Income Families for Home, Department of Energy, Weatherization, (Washington), 29 June 2007. Date of Access: 7 December 2007. http://www.energy.gov/news/5190.htm 606 New ''Super Boiler'' Technology Tested In Alabama Could Create Billions in Savings for U.S. Companies, Yahoo! Finance, (Birmingham, AL), 30 November 2007. Date of Access: 11 December 2007. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071130/20071130005313.html?.v=1 607 The Green Grid Announces Collaboration Agreement with the Department of Energy, Yahoo! Finance, (New York/San Francisco), 18 September 2007. Date of Access: 8 December 2007. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070918/20070918006249.html?.v=1 608 Loan Program to Help Pay for Cleaner Diesel Trucks in Norfolk, Department of Environmental Protection, (Norfolk, VA), 3 October 2007. Date of Access: 18 December 2007. http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/eebfaebc1afd883d85257355005afd19/ff9377a9ec 8d159185257369004f730b!OpenDocument
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on automobile efficiency. The plan includes cooperation on electric, hybrid, fuel cell and alternative fuel vehicles.609 Most importantly for the United State’s overall compliance, is the Energy Independence and Security Act. The bill includes provisions to raise the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards 40 percent to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 as well as tax incentives on hybrid vehicles.610. However, the Bush administration blocked a move that would allow states to impose even stricter vehicle emissions requirements. On 19 December 2007, the EPA rejected California’s bid for a waiver that would allow the state to independently set emissions standards.611 On 3 January 2008, 15 states joined California in a suit against the EPA seeking to reverse the decision.612 In summary,the United States has made significant progress in improving vehicle and household efficiency, as well as gains in corporate and industrial efficiency. Detracting from these improvements is the U.S Administration’s unwillingness to allow individual states to set even more stringent emissions standards. Yet, overall, the United States was found to be in full compliance with this commitment. Analyst: John Donnelly
United States 1D. Support for Climate Adaptation/Mitigation in DCs
Score 0
Since the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007, the U.S. has not taken many steps towards putting in practice the commitment of supporting climate change adaptation and mitigation in developing countries. The most important action in that direction was a funding announcement of $4.35 million to an initiative which includes measures to achieve adaptation in South East Asian countries. Most other U.S. policies in this area were implemented prior to the Heiligendamm summit.
US signs 5-year cooperation plan with China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, Department of Energy, (Washington), 20 September 2007. Date of Access: 9 December 2007. http://www.energy.gov/news/5518.htm 610 Factbox: Key Provisions of the Energy Bill Passed By The House, Reuters.com, 18 December 2007. Date of Access: 1 February 2008. http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1847716920071218?pageNumber=1&vir tualBrandChannel=0 611 E.P.A. Denies California Emission’s Waiver, NewYorkTimes.com, Micheline Maynard, 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/washington/20epaweb.html?_r=2&bl&ex=1198213200&en=338c282b5b163a39&ei=5087percent0A&oref=slogi n&oref=slogin 612 States Challenge Car Emissions Ruling, Reuters.com, John Crawley, 3 January 2008. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN028730920080103?pageNumber =1&virtualBrandChannel=0
609
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In December 2007, the U.S Administration announced its intention to commit $4.35 million in support of the recently-announced Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI)”, which includes Indonesia (Central and Eastern), Timor-Leste, the Philippines, Malaysia (Sabah), Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Among the activities the U.S Administration pledged to support was “achieving climate change adaptation measures”613. In the current fiscal year, general budgetary allocations towards adaptation and mitigation in developing countries were divided as follows: $115 million for the USAID, $56 million for the Department of the Treasury and $41 for the Department of State. The Department of the Treasury part comprises “Debt Restructuring-Tropical Forest Conservation” and “Global Environment Facility” (GEF). The Department of State’s budget for the FY 2008 includes $5 million for the UNFCCC and the IPCC, under the rubric of “International Organizations and Programs”. It also contains resources for an “Economic Support Fund” ($32 million, of which $30 million to the Asia-Pacific Partnership614 and $4 million to “Diplomatic and Consular Affairs”. At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, the U.S was generally supportive of actions aimed at helping developing countries adapt to climate change. One of its important features was the agreement to launch a fund aimed at helping poor countries cope with the effects of climate change..615 Immediately after the conference, the White House press secretary Dana Perino noted that “assisting countries in adapting to climate change” as one of the “positive” features of the consensus Decision of the Conference of the Parties in Bali”616. The Adaptation Fund now has only about $36 million but might rise to $1-$5 billion a year by 2030 if investments in green technology in developing nations surge.617 The governments represented in Bali invited the GEF, “an operating entity of the financial mechanism under the UNFCCC”618, to provide secretariat services to the Adaptation Fund Board on an interim basis”619. The US budget for FY 2008, as reported to the Congress on May, “requests $108.6 million for the first year of the fourth GEF replenishment based on the policy
613 US Protects Biodiversity in Coral Triangle with $4.35 Million in Funding, Embassy of the United States in Jakarta, (Bahasa, Indonesia), 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 18 December 2007. http://jakarta.usembassy.gov/press_rel/ClimateChange/CoralReef.html 614 This partnership is based around “eight public-private sector task forces”. Source: AsiaPacific Partnership on Clean Development & Climate, 18 December 2007. Date of Access: 18 December 2007. http://www.asiapacificpartnership.org/ 615 Climate Change: Forward, Hopefully, Past the Hurdles, IPS, (Bonn), 17 December 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=40492. 616 Statement by the Press Secretary, The White House, 15 December 2007. Date of Access: 17 December, 2007. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/12/20071215-1.html. 617 FACTBOX-Achievements at Bali climate talks, Reuters, 15 December 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSSP186600 618 U.S Actions to Address Energy Security, Clean Development, and Climate Change, U.S. Department of State, 18 December 2007. Date of Access: 18 December 2007. http://www.state.gov/g/oes/climate/c22820.htm 619 Draft decision -/CMP.3: Adaptation Fund, The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 19 December 2008. Date of Access: 19 December 2008. http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_13/items/4049.php
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commitments anticipated thus far in the negotiations.”620 As governments decided in Bali, the Adaptation Fund will “be financed with a share of proceeds from clean development mechanisms project activities and receive funds from other sources. (The share of proceeds “amounts to 2percent of certified emission reductions issued for a CDM project activity).”621. This could partly exclude the U.S. because the CDM is a feature of the Kyoto Protocol, which the country has not ratified. However, in an interim phase, the governments invited “parties to finance the administrative expenses for operating the Adaptation Fund”622. Therefore, both the U.S position towards a post-2012 treaty and possible financing of the Adaptation Fund will need to be scrutinised going forward. The East Asian Coral Triangle Initiative was the most important concrete measure to promote adaptation and mitigation in developing countries. Despite the relative absence of concrete measures to fulfill this commitment, it could be argued that other policies carried out by the USAID help countries adapt to climate change by reducing their vulnerability and generating economic development. In general though, this fiscal year’s “proposed budget authority” included more resources than in the year before, but less than two years ago. On the basis of these observations, the U.S is only found to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Eduardo Plastino
United States 1E. Reducing GHG Emissions by Curbing Deforestation
Score 0
The United States has performed moderately in complying with the commitment to reduce GHG emissions by curbing deforestation. The commitment required the United States to continue to combat illegal logging and to introduce sustainable forest management. In 2007, forest fires in the U.S. were illustrative of the seriousness of the problem. The fires accounted for between 4 percent and 6 percent of North American greenhouse-gas emissions for the year as carbon dioxide was released back into the atmosphere as the trees burned.623 Yet, despite being hailed by House
Federal Climate Change Expenditures Report to Congress, Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, (Washington, D.C.), 3 May 2007. Date of Access: 18 December 2007. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/legislative/fy08_climate_change.pdf 621 Adaptation Fund , The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 12 December 2007. Date of Access: 19 December 2007. http://unfccc.int/cooperation_and_support/financial_mechanism/items/3659.php 622 Draft decision -/CMP.3: Adaptation Fund, The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 19 December 2008 (Date of Access). http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_13/items/4049.php 623 Deforestation and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions, Council on Foreign Relations, Toni Johnson, (Washington, DC), 7 January 2008. Date of Access: 7 January 2008. http://www.cfr.org/publication/14919/deforestation_and_greenhousegas_emissions.html
620
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Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as a “historic bill,”624 the Energy Independence and Security Act contained no mention of combating illegal logging or sustainable forest management.625 But despite not making a formal connection between deforestation and climate mitigation, the U.S Government introduced some noteworthy policy that addresses the problem. On August 1 2007, the U.S. Senate passed the Combat Illegal Logging Act to outlaw the import, sale or trade in illegally-harvested wood and wood products in the United States.626 According to a study released by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) on 7 November 2007, approximately 10percent of U.S. wood product annual imports, or $3.8 billion dollars, are derived from illegally logged timber.627 Also on 7 November 2007, The House Committee on Natural Resources passed the bipartisan Legal Timber Protection Act (LTPA), H.R. 1497. The LTPA would give the United States some power of enforcement on the illegal logging trade, because it would amend the Lacey Act and prohibit commerce in illegally-harvested wood and wood products.628 A further EIA report on 12 December 2007 warned that Wal-Mart had a high risk of selling products made with illegal timber.629 Currently, the United States lacks an enforcement mechanism to sufficiently curb illegal logging. This could change if the LTPA bill passes through the Senate in 2008. The United States has also sought to expand its commitment to illegal logging by establishing a collaborative framework with China. On 13 December 2007, the United States and China issued a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed after the 3rd Strategic Economic Dialogue. The memorandum encourages the sharing of information on timber shipments and increased law enforcement, as well as advocating private-sector partnerships to assist sustainable forest management. A more detailed bilateral agreement is to be formalised soon,630 in the hope of reducing the high levels of illegally imported Chinese timber.
624 Energy Independence and Security Act, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, (Washington, DC), 10 January 2008 Date of Access: 10 January 2008. http://www.speaker.gov/legislation?id=0131 625 Energy Independence and Security Act, (Washington, DC), 14 December 2007. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://energy.senate.gov/public/_files/getdoc1.pdf 626 S. 1930: Combat Illegal Logging Act of 2007, (Washington, DC), 1 August 2007. Date of Access: 17 October 2007. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s110-1930. 627 No Questions Asked: The Impacts of U.S. Market Demand for Illegal Timber - and the Potential for Change, Environmental Investigation Agency, (Washington, DC), 7 November 2007. Date of Access: 3 December 2007. http://www.eia-international.org/files/reports1541.pdf, p.1. 628 U.S, Timber Law Clears First Hurdle, Environmental Investigation Agency, (Washington, DC), 7 November 2007, (Washington, DC). Date of Access: 23 November 2007. http://www.eia-international.org/cgi/news/news.cgi?t=template&a=422&source= 629 Attention Wal-Mart Shoppers: How Wal-Mart's Sourcing Practices Encourage Illegal Logging and Threaten Endangered Species, Environmental Investigation Agency, (Washington, DC), 12 December 2007. Date of Access: 16 December 2007. http://www.eiaglobal.org/wallmart-report-v9.pdf. 630 China, U.S. sign first MOU addressing illegal logging, timber trade, Xinhua English Edition, (Beijing), 13 December 2007. Date of Access: 16 December 2007. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/13/content_7243480.htm.
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The United States’ action on sustainable forest management is less clear. On October 9 2007, the House of Representatives voted on H.R. 2185 to update the Tropical Forest Conservation Act (TFCA) enacted in 1998 “to offer eligible developing countries options to relieve certain official debt owed the U.S. while at the same time generating funds to support local tropical forest conservation activities.”631 However, the bill which has not yet passed through the Senate, would include congressional authorisation of only $20 million per year, the smallest amount since the TFCA came into being. Previous budgets had approached $100 million.632 On 28 November 2007, the United States and Indonesia concluded a memorandum on a debt-for-nature agreement under the TFCA that could wipe up to $20 million from Indonesia’s debt to the United States. This agreement “will generate funds to conserve ecologically- and economically-important forests” in Indonesia.633 That said, the United States chose not to contribute to the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPT, finalised in Bali in December 2007) that aims to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.634 Domestically, action by the United States to preserve its own forests has been mixed. Data released by the USDA Forest Service on 31 January 2008 shows that the United States maintains 750 millions acres of forest-land, similar to levels from 1907.635 Further, in a 2007 report entitled “The State of America's Forests”, the Society of American Foresters, found that replanting and reforestation efforts have largely offset any loss of forestland owing to urban growth during the twentieth century.636 However, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which regulates advertising claims in the United States, is currently looking into claims that green marketing campaigns by American corporations relating to carbon offset credits that encourage reforestation have not been properly substantiated. Due to inadequate governmental regulation, Deborah Platt Majoras, the FTC’s commission chairwoman has claimed that there is “a heightened potential for deception.”637
Tropical Forest Preservation Act, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of State, (Washington, DC), 28 July 2003. Date of Access: 1 February 2008. http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/fs/2003/22973.htm 632 US Slashes Funding to Save Rainforest During UN Talks, Tropical Forest Group, (Santa Barbara), 6 December 2007. Date of Access: 7 December 2007. http://www.tropicalforestgroup.org/news/6_dec_cop.html. 633 The United States and Indonesia: Partners in Addressing Climate Change, Energy Security, and Clean Development, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, (Washington, DC), 28 November 2007. Date of Access: 29 November 2007. http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/fs/2007/96410.htm 634 World Bank Fund Will Pay to Leave Forests Standing, Environment News Service, (Bali), 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://www.ensnewswire.com/ens/dec2007/2007-12-11-01.asp. 635 New U.S. Forest Service Data Reveals Positive Gains, ForestNewsWire, 31 January 2008. Date of Access: 2 February 2008. http://www.forestnewswire.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=92&Itemid =26. 636 The State of America's Forests 2007, Society of American Foresters. Date of Access: 1 February 2008. http://www.safnet.org/aboutforestry/StateOfAmericasForests.pdf. 637 Louise Story, F.T.C. Asks if Carbon-Offset Money Is Well Spent, New York Times, 9 January 2008. Date of Access: 17 January 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/business/09offsets.html?em&ex=1200027600&en=6 f039bee328853cb&ei=5087.
631
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Since the 2007 Heiligendamm Summit, the United States has actively continued to improve its record in combating illegal logging. Though the U.S. for the moment remains relatively toothless in terms of enforcement, the Combat Illegal Logging Act and the Sino-American memorandum are both positive steps. The United States has not been as active on sustainable forest management. Indeed, the U.S. decision not to financially back the FCPT despite cautiously “welcome[ing]” its arrival comes across as weak. For these reasons, progress on curbing deforestation can only be described as satisfactory, and thus the United States is only found to be in partial compliance with this commitment Analyst: Andy Jones
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The Outreach Five Countries
Source: Xinhua
From left to right: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President Felipe Calderon, Prime Minister President Hu Jintao and President Thabo Mbeki
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Brazil
Background Prior to this compliance cycle, Brazil has demonstrated its commitment to international climate negotiations by hosting the 1992 United Nations meeting at which the UNFCCC was launched, and by actively participating in the talks that resulted in the adoption of the text of the Kyoto Protocol. The negotiating position that Brazil has consistently adopted during international climate change talks has been informed by its developing country status. The country has systematically defended the principle the “shared but differentiated responsibilities” enshrined in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and hence has traditionally been opposed to any measure that may constrain domestic economic development, such as emission caps.638 Brazil has taken action to meet its first commitment to contribute to the stabilisation of GHG concentrations. It established a committee to coordinate national climate policy led by the President, and which is expected to produce a national strategic plan by 30 April 2008. The Government also announced the creation of the Fund for the Protection and Conservation of the Brazilian Amazon Forest (“Fundo de Proteção e Conservação da Amazônia Brasileira”), and potentially significant initiative given that an estimated 75 percent of the country’s global GHG emissions result from deforestation.639 Meanwhile, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, Brazil refused to be subjected to mandatory emission caps, but agreed to take “quantifiable and verifiable measures” to reduce its emissions, in particular those that are the result of the deforestation of the Amazon.640 With regards to its second commitment, Brazil has made considerable progress since Heiligendamm in the field of biofuels (biodiesel and ethanol) by introducing a mandatory share of 2 percent of biodiesel to be mixed in all diesel sold in the country and continues to be among the top three countries hosting CDM projects. On the downside, however, the Brazilian Government has not taken action to promote other alternative renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar energy. Moreover, it is unclear at present if the expansion of the area for cane sugar and soy cultures for the production of ethanol and biodiesel respectively is not, as a consequence, accelerating the
ONGs criticam plano brasileiro contra desmatamento, BBC Brasil, (London), 16 November 2006. Date of Access: 12 January 2008. http://www.bbc.co.uk/portuguese/reporterbbc/story/2006/11/061115_marinasilvaanalise_p u.shtml 639 ONGs cobram do Brasil metas claras para emissões, Folha Online, (Sao Paulo), 4 December 2007. Date of Access: 5 January 2008. http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/bbc/ult272u351146.shtml 640 Brasil diz que vai adotar "medidas verificáveis" para reduzir emissões, Folha Online, (Sao Paulo), 10 December 2007. Date of Access: 04 January 2007. http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/ambiente/ult10007u353317.shtml
638
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destruction of the Amazon Forrest and increase in the country’s GHG emissions.641 Brazil specified a national target for increasing the efficiency of certain economic sectors, and has taken significant steps to strengthen existing policies and programmes that promote more efficient energy use. However, new policies and programmes and capital inflows are needed to promote alternative energy projects. Overall, the country has demonstrated only limited compliance with the three Heiligendamm Summit environmental commitments under analysis. Team Leader and Analyst: Roberto Hanania
Brazil
Score
2A. Stabilise GHG Concentrations
+1
Deforestation is the cause of 75.4 percent of the country’s total GHG emissions. 642 In view of the low contribution of other emission sources (according to the country’s initial communication, the energy sector contributes with 23percent and the industry 1.6 percent of total GHG emissions), Brazil’s major challenge in complying with its commitment to contribute to the stabilisation of GHG concentrations is to reduce GHG emissions related to Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry. In order to address this issue, the Ministry of Environment decided in December 2007 to create the Secretariat of Climate Change and Environmental Quality (“Secretaria de Mudanças Climáticas e Qualidade Ambiental”). Its mandate is to coordinate the creation of a National Plan to Combat Climate Change. The Ministry also began to promote the III National Environment Conference, which will be held from 8 to 11 May 2008.643 And to ensure that public investments in the Amazon prevent deforestation, the Government has also announced that it intends to lay down more stringent criteria for the granting of funds by public financial institutions for projects in
Biofuels may be “dirty”, Folha Online, (Sao Paulo), 7 January 2007. Date of Access: 1 February 2008. http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/ambiente/ult10007u360786.shtml 642 Inventário de Emissões e Remoções Antrópicas de Gases de Efeito Estufa não Controlados pelo Protocolo de Montreal, Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia, (Brasilia), 2004, pp. 85, 86. Date of Access: 08 January 2007. http://www.mct.gov.br/upd_blob/0004/4199.pdf Also in: Contribuição do Brasil para evitar a mudanca de clima, Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia, (Brasilia), September 2007, p. 36. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://www.mct.gov.br/upd_blob/0018/18290.pdf 643 Ações do MMA reforçam combate ao desmatamento e às mudanças climáticas, Ministerio do Meio Ambiente, (Brasilia), 31 December 2007. Date of Access: 07 January 2007. http://www.mma.gov.br/ascom/ultimas/index.cfm?id=3833
641
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the Amazon region in order to avoid funding projects that have not been granted approval by the relevant environmental agencies.644 At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, Brazil announced that it would create a Fund for the Protection and Conservation of the Brazilian Amazon Forest (“Fundo de Proteção e Conservação da Amazônia Brasileira”). The Fund is expected to be supported with one billion Reais of voluntary contributions from governments, companies, and individuals. The money will be invested in projects aimed at the reduction of deforestation of the Amazon. Every $5 donated will represent a reduction of one tonne of CO2 emissions. Pending congressional approval, the Fund will be managed by the National Bank for Economical and Social Development (“Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social - BNDES”) and is still.645 The fund is meant to be a source of financing for projects aiming at the conservation of the forest, and it is separate from the regular Federal Budget. To make use of the Fund’s resources, the Government must cut the amount of devastated areas to under 1.95 million hectares per year.646 This was the average devastated area measured by the Satellite Monitoring Project of the Amazon Forest – Prodes (“Monitoramento do desmatamento em formações florestais na Amazônia Legal”)647 between 1988 and 2006,648 and will provide a target for conservation that will allow the Government to receive money from the Fund. Recent data produced by the Prodes shows that deforestation rates were reduced by 20 percent between 31 July 2006 and 1 August 2007, when the area affected by deforestation observed was of 11.224 km2. This figure is very close to the smallest deforestation rate observed (11.030Km2, in 1991649) since the establishment of Prodes. At Bali, the Government also committed to adopt “quantifiable and verifiable measures” to reduce its GHG emissions, especially those related to the deforestation of the Amazon.650 Combined with the actions described above, the statement reflects the Government’s strong commitment to combat
644 Governo define corte de crédito para desmatamento illegal, Ministério do Meio Ambiente, (Brasília), 31 January 2008. Date of Access: 06 February 2008. http://www.mma.gov.br/ascom/ultimas/index.cfm?id=3884 645 Brasil lança fundo voluntário para preservar Amazônia, Agência Brasil, Radiobrás, (Brasília), 12 December 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2006. http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/12/12/materia.2007-12-12.7515535890/view 646 Brasil lança fundo voluntário para preservar Amazônia, RADIOBRÁS/ Agencia Brasil, 12 December 2007. Date of Access: 07 January 2008. http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/12/12/materia.2007-12-12.7515535890/view 647 Projeto de Monitoramento da Floresta Amazônica Brasileira por Satélite – Prodes, Ministerio da Ciencia e Tecnologia, (Brasilia). Date of Access: 07 January 2008. http://www.obt.inpe.br/prodes/index.html 648 Brasil lança fundo voluntário para preservar Amazônia, RADIOBRÁS/ Agencia Brasil, 12 December 2007. Date of Access: 07 January 2008. http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/12/12/materia.2007-12-12.7515535890/view 649 Ações do MMA reforçam combate ao desmatamento e às mudanças climáticas, Ministerio do Meio Ambiente, (Brasilia) 31 December 2007. Date of Access: 07 January 2007. http://www.mma.gov.br/ascom/ultimas/index.cfm?id=3833 650 Brasil diz que vai adotar "medidas verificáveis" para reduzir emissões, Folha Online, (Sao Paulo), 10 December 2007. Date of Access: 04 January 2007. http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/ambiente/ult10007u353317.shtml
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deforestation in the Amazon as a means to reduce GHG emissions in Brazil. Considerably low levels of GHG emissions had already been achieved in the country, through the substitution of fossil fuels by renewable fuels (see 1B). The adoption of “verifiable and quantifiable measures” to combat the deforestation of the Amazon indicates that the country is committed to the reduction of GHG emissions. In conclusion, since Brazil has taken significant steps to introduce new or strengthen existing policies and measures that significantly limit anthropogenic emissions of GHGs and protect and enhance its GHG sinks and reservoirs, it is found to be in full compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Lorena Fonseca Mariz de Medeiros
Brazil
Score
2B. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production
0
Brazil is a significant producer of both fossil-fuel based and renewable energy. In terms of the latter, it has become a pioneering country in producing and consuming biofuels, and has since the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007 taken several initiatives to expand production from other sources of energy as well. As of January 2008, all diesel sold in Brazil will have to be mixed with 2 percent of biodiesel.651 The biodiesel market demand for the first six months of 2008 (approximately 380 million liters) was already contracted through public auctions held in November 2007. Brazil expects to have other auctions to secure supplies of biodiesel for the second half of 2008, in April and May 2008.652 However, the intensive use of biodiesel and ethanol by the country is not entirely free of criticism. Conservation groups such as the WWF claim that the growing production of sugar cane, the raw material for ethanol, has exacerbated deforestation in the country.653 With regards to CDM projects aimed at developing cleaner energy production, Brazil has improved access to advanced and affordable technologies by facilitating inward capital investment towards new energy technology projects, providing a positive investment environment, supporting CDM projects and the carbon market, encouraging technology transfer, and financing research and development.
651 Gas stations will have to sell diesel mixed with 2percent of biodiesel as from January, Folha Online, (São Paulo), 28 December 2007. Date of Access: 1 February 2008. http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/dinheiro/ult91u358800.shtml 652 Mandatory biodiesel mixture is in force, Ministry of Mines and Energy, 2 January 2008. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.mme.gov.br/ 653 Activists say Brazil must improve G8 climate proposal, Reuters, (Brasilia), 5 June 2007. Date of Access: 9 January 2007. http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKN0526791520070605
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The Brazilian National Development Bank (BNDES) is a major promoter of regional infrastructure development in the country. On 19 September 2007, BNDES approved more than R$3.5 billion for hydroelectric power plant projects in the country654 and R$549.3 million for the electric sector,655 and also financed infrastructure projects in hydroelectric power plants.656 This funding is intended to ensure secure and affordable supplies of energy, as hydroelectric power plants are expected to generate clean and renewable energy.657 BNDES also financed infrastructure projects to secure supplies of electric energy,658 and announced that R$200 million would be used to fund CDM projects in several areas, such as sanitary landfills, hydroelectric power plants, biomass, co-generations, energy efficiency, and alternative transportation.659 The widespread use of biodiesel and ethanol by Brazil constitute an important and positive element in the country’s fight to curb GHG emissions. However, it remains to be seen whether the growing production of sugar cane, the raw material for ethanol, has exacerbated deforestation. However, the lack of federal investment or incentives for the exploitation of other renewable, clean sources of energy, such as wind and solar energy, and the current trend of using fossil and non-fossil fuels to diversify the country’s power generation
BNDES approves R$ 1 billion for Furnas to build hydroelectric power plant in Simplício, Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, National Development Bank (BNDES), 14 November 2007. Date of Access: 1 January 2008. http://www.bndes.gov.br/noticias/2007/not264_07.asp; BNDES approves R$ 2.6 billion for hydroelectric power plant in Estreito, Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, National Development Bank (BNDES), 20 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.bndes.gov.br/noticias/2007/not284_07.asp; BNDES approves R$ 170 million for hydroelectric power plant in Monjolinho (RS), 13 November 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.bndes.gov.br/noticias/2007/not263_07.asp. 655 BNDES approves R$ 549.3 million for Light Group, Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, National Development Bank (BNDES), 16 October 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.bndes.gov.br/noticias/2007/not236_07.asp. 656 BNDES approves infrastructure projects for Eletrosul RS, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Eletrobrás, 3 October 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.eletrobras.gov.br/elb/portal/main.asp?View=percent7BEB7EA1A1percent2D360 Epercent2D40FApercent2D9360percent2D742E53C8C220percent7D&Team=¶ms=item ID=percent7B7226A2BCpercent2DE21Cpercent2D4EC0percent2DAE07percent2D9235958E E414percent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7B9E178D3Bpercent2D9E55percent2D414Bp ercent2DA540percent2DEB790C1DF788percent7D 657 BNDES approves R$ 1 billion for Furnas to build hydroelectric power plant in Simplício, Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, National Development Bank (BNDES), 14 November 2007. Date of Access: 1 January 2008. http://www.bndes.gov.br/noticias/2007/not264_07.asp; BNDES approves R$ 2.6 billion for hydroelectric power plant in Estreito, Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, National Development Bank (BNDES), 20 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.bndes.gov.br/noticias/2007/not284_07.asp; BNDES approves R$ 170 million for hydroelectric power plant in Monjolinho (RS), 13 November 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.bndes.gov.br/noticias/2007/not263_07.asp 658 BNDES approves R$ 549.3 million for Light Group, Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, National Development Bank (BNDES), 16 October 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.bndes.gov.br/noticias/2007/not236_07.asp 659 BNDES plans to grant funds to clean development this year, Agency Brazil, (Rio de Janeiro), 19 September 2007. Date of Access: 1 January 2007. http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/09/19/materia.2007-0919.9934443637/view.
654
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sources, demonstrates a lack of governmental commitment to promoting these energy alternatives. As a result, Brazil is only found to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analysts: Roberto Hanania and Christine Toczeck
Brazil
Score
2C. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Consumption
0
Brazil registered some level of compliance with its commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy consumption through fostering international cooperation in the energy sector. In addition, the Government also implemented several initiatives that contribute to improving energy efficiency, and promoted access to advanced and affordable energy technologies. During the compliance period, Brazil took substantial policy decisions that contributed to improving energy efficiency and access to energy technologies through international cooperation. On 5 July 2007, the Brazilian Minister of External Relations Celso Amorim signed the terms of reference for the ECBrazil Regular Energy Policy Dialogue. The main objective of this new Energy Dialogue is to facilitate the exchange of views between Brazil and the European Union (EU) on all aspects related to energy security and sustainability, to develop bilateral cooperation in areas of common interest, most notably in biofuels, renewable energy sources, and low carbon energy technologies, and to improve energy efficiency.660 On 30 October 2007, the Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy Nelson Hubner, and the Spanish Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism Joan Clos announced the creation of a task group between Brazil and Spain to discuss energy efficiency and savings.661 Brazil also reinforced international cooperation in the energy field with international organizations. The Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy, in partnership with the International Energy Agency (IEA), held a workshop on 19-20 November 2007 to increase awareness of existing research, development, and deployment networks, and to facilitate broader participation where appropriate.662 On 22 November 2007, during the Energy Efficiency Seminar held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian authorities also discussed with other Latin American
European Union deepens energy relations with Brazil, European Union Press Release, (Brussels), 5 July 2007. Date of Access: 14 December 2007. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1025&format=HTML&age d=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en. 661 Brazil and Spain discuss energy efficiency, Estadão, (Brasilia), 30 October 2007. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. http://www.estadao.com.br/economia/not_eco73043,0.htm 662 Stronger IEA links with Brazil, China, India, International Energy Agency, (Brasilia), 17 December 2007. Date of Access: 26 December 2007. http://www.iea.org/impagr/cip/index.htm.
660The
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authorities the creation of the Latin American Forum on Energy Efficiency. Authorities focused on strategies to foster energy efficiency in the region, and other issues relating to energy policy, such as mapping institutional experiences in each country, evaluating prospective partnerships and priorities, exchanging public policy information, and integrating regional, governmental, and international agencies, in particular in relation to electric motors and refrigerators.663 Moreover, on 30 December 2007, during the XXXVIII OLADE Ministerial Meeting in Colombia, Brazilian authorities and authorities from other Latin American and Caribbean countries signed the Medellín Declaration. The Declaration states that the signatories are interested in strengthening and developing regional and sub-regional energy integration to mitigate global warming, and to ensure supplies of energy, energy efficiency, and the protection of the environment.664 Domestically, Brazil introduced a number of policy measures to lessen the carbon intensity of consumption, mainly with the products and services available in domestic markets. Brazil adopted energy efficiency as a government policy strategy and made it a priority to prevent energy waste, minimize the harmful effects of energy generation on the environment, and mitigate global warming.665 Brazil’s domestic initiatives to foster energy efficiency include awarding energy-efficiency certificates to household appliance manufacturers that demonstrate higher levels of energy efficiency; and a National Award for the Conservation and Efficient Use of Energy666
663 Seminar discusses the creation of the Latin American Forum on Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Eletrobrás, 22 November 2007. Date of Access: 1 January 2008. http://www.eletrobras.gov.br/elb/portal/main.asp?View=percent7BEB7EA1A1percent2D360 Epercent2D40FApercent2D9360percent2D742E53C8C220percent7D&Team=¶ms=item ID=percent7B60CF1602percent2DDC81percent2D448Fpercent2DAE69percent2DDDCFFE5 1564Cpercent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7B9E178D3Bpercent2D9E55percent2D414B percent2DA540percent2DEB790C1DF788percent7D 664 Ministerial authorities in the energy field of 21 Latin American and Caribbean countries signed the Medellín Declaration, Latin American Energy Organization, News, 30 December 2007. Date of Access: 1 January 2008. http://www.olade.org.ec/noticia8.html 665 Energy efficiency and less energy waste will be prioritized by Latin American countries, Radiobrás, Agency Brazil, (Rio de Janeiro), 22 November 2007. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/11/22/materia.2007-1122.2640671952/view 666 PROCEL Award will be granted today at the Marina da Glória, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Eletrobrás, 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.eletrobras.com/elb/portal/main.asp?View=percent7BEB7EA1A1percent2D360E percent2D40FApercent2D9360percent2D742E53C8C220percent7D&Team=¶ms=itemI D=percent7B9CB89171percent2D3F80percent2D4453percent2DBE4Fpercent2D52A4C4DD BD0Bpercent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7B9E178D3Bpercent2D9E55percent2D414B percent2DA540percent2DEB790C1DF788percent7D
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given within certain categories,667 such as media, industry, public institutions, enterprises, transport, and energy and building sector companies.668 Brazil has long had government programmes to promote energy efficiency, managed by Eletrobrás (electricity) and Petrobrás (fuels). The PROCEL Programme, established in 1985 and managed by Eletrobrás, finances energy efficiency projects to reduce energy consumption, focusing on public lighting (PROCEL Reluz), and capacity building in the industry sector (PROCEL Industry).669 The CONPET Programme for efficiency in the consumption of oil and gas was established in 1991 and is managed by Petrobrás. CONPET is mostly focused on initiatives to promote the efficient use of nonrenewable energy in transportation, households, commerce, industry, agricultural, and livestock sectors.670 The Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, and other governmental agencies have been working on regulations to standardize the evaluation and performance of urban lighting and household appliances. Currently, urban lighting is responsible for 3-5 percent of the energy consumption in the country. Regulations for the evaluation of compliance of urban lighting, including mandatory labeling, are expected to be in force in 2008.671 On 20 July 2007, PROCEL Reluz announced it would finance urban lighting projects to replace mercury vapor lamps with sodium vapor lamps, which are significantly more energy efficient.672 In addition, Brazil introduced regulations to establish maximum levels of energy consumption for
667 National Award for the Conservation and Efficient Use of Energy, PROCEL, Eletrobrás, Ministry of Mines and Energy, 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.eletrobras.com/elb/procel/main.asp?TeamID={811C478E-12F3-4D55-95D2415B9273FD83} 668 Energy efficiency award is granted to companies, Radiobrás, Agency Brazil, 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/12/11/materia.2007-12-11.6804253244/view 669 De Tarso de Alexandria Cruz, Paulo. Energy Efficiency in Brazil, Ministry of Mines and Energy, 27 November 2006. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.efficientlighting.net/doc/20070105(4).pdf 670 CONPET: National Program for the rationalization of the use of oil and natural gas derivatives, 3 January 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2007. http://www.conpet.gov.br/eng/home.php 671 Urban lighting will be classified according to energy efficiency levels, Radiobrás, Agency Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), 22 July 2007. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/07/22/materia.2007-0722.0552137251/view 672 RELUZ brings efficient urban lighting to Aparecida (SP), Ministry of Mines and Energy, Eletrobrás, 20 July 2007. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. http://www.eletrobras.gov.br/elb/portal/main.asp?View=percent7BEB7EA1A1percent2D360 Epercent2D40FApercent2D9360percent2D742E53C8C220percent7D&Team=¶ms=item ID=percent7BBA34223Dpercent2D64D2percent2D4D60percent2D9BAEpercent2D01DDEB 8AD183percent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7B9E178D3Bpercent2D9E55percent2D414 Bpercent2DA540percent2DEB790C1DF788percent7D; RELUZ in Porto Alegre, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Eletrobrás, 10 July 2007. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. http://www.eletrobras.gov.br/elb/portal/main.asp?View=percent7BEB7EA1A1percent2D360 Epercent2D40FApercent2D9360percent2D742E53C8C220percent7D&Team=¶ms=item ID=percent7BBE945AC7percent2D4678percent2D4825percent2D8276percent2D1D4A55E4 C132percent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7B9E178D3Bpercent2D9E55percent2D414Bp ercent2DA540percent2DEB790C1DF788percent7D
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refrigerators (Interministerial Act 362/2007), air conditioning (Interministerial Act 364/2007), and natural gas stoves and ovens.673 Through energy conservation programmes and labeling policies, Brazil also informs consumers about the energy efficiency of certain products sold in the country.674 Other government programmes have also pushed energy efficiency initiatives, particularly in the industrial and building sectors. PROCEL Industry financed scholarships for research and development in the context of energy efficiency of the industrial sector. The Brazilian Government, through Eletrobrás/PROCEL, signed agreements with the industrial sector, and universities aimed to reduce energy waste during industrial processes, to promote research, and to grant scholarships for research and development in the context of industrial energy efficiency and conservation.675 In the building
673 MME regulates energy efficiency of refrigerators and air conditioning, Eletrobrás, PROCEL, 1 January 2008. Date of Access: 1 January 2008. http://www.eletrobras.com/elb/procel/main.asp?View=percent7BEA5783EBpercent2D3CC4 percent2D4255percent2D995Epercent2D98B9D1391764percent7D&Team=¶ms=itemID =percent7BFCF0B1D8percent2D16D0percent2D4B3Bpercent2D905Dpercent2DBFFB9BB0C EF2percent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7BD90F22DBpercent2D05D4percent2D4644p ercent2DA8F2percent2DFAD4803C8898percent7D. 674 CONPET: National Program for the rationalization of the use of oil and natural gas derivatives, 3 January 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2007. http://www.conpet.gov.br/eng/proj_pbe.php#; Inmetro will classify consumption capacity of appliances, Eletrobrás, PROCEL, 1 January 2008. Date of Access: 1 January 2008. http://www.eletrobras.com/elb/procel/main.asp?View=percent7BEA5783EBpercent2D3CC4 percent2D4255percent2D995Epercent2D98B9D1391764percent7D&Team=¶ms=itemID =percent7BE1FFED4Apercent2D31BEpercent2D4EB0percent2DA490percent2DE436CE7791 06percent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7BD90F22DBpercent2D05D4percent2D4644pe rcent2DA8F2percent2DFAD4803C8898percent7D 675 Learn more about PROCEL actions in the industry sector, Eletrobrás, PROCEL, 20 December 2007. Date of Access: 1 January 2008. http://www.eletrobras.com/elb/procel/main.asp?View=percent7BEA5783EBpercent2D3CC4 percent2D4255percent2D995Epercent2D98B9D1391764percent7D&Team=¶ms=itemID =percent7B2EEACAE5percent2D9E29percent2D44BBpercent2DB8D6percent2D2F5F86B87 612percent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7BD90F22DBpercent2D05D4percent2D4644p ercent2DA8F2percent2DFAD4803C8898percent7D; Eletrobrás/PROCEL and Caxias do Sul University signed Financial and Technical Cooperation Agreement, Eletrobrás, 27 July 2007. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. http://www.eletrobras.gov.br/elb/portal/main.asp?View=percent7BEB7EA1A1percent2D360 Epercent2D40FApercent2D9360percent2D742E53C8C220percent7D&Team=¶ms=item ID=percent7B3762F292percent2D2221percent2D4CB7percent2DBCEEpercent2DAC7172E2 003Epercent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7B9E178D3Bpercent2D9E55percent2D414Bp ercent2DA540percent2DEB790C1DF788percent7D; Eletrobrás releases funds for universities of PB, Eletrobrás, PROCEL, 1 January 2008. Date of Access: 1 January 2008. http://www.eletrobras.com/elb/procel/main.asp?View=percent7BEA5783EBpercent2D3CC4 percent2D4255percent2D995Epercent2D98B9D1391764percent7D&Team=¶ms=itemID =percent7B6A1C4BA3percent2D0960percent2D4920percent2D9460percent2D523A9BE04F 8Dpercent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7BD90F22DBpercent2D05D4percent2D4644pe rcent2DA8F2percent2DFAD4803C8898percent7D; Ministry of Education signed agreement with Eletrobrás/PROCEL, Eletrobrás, PROCEL, 13 December 2007. Date of Access: 1 January 2008. http://www.eletrobras.com/elb/procel/main.asp?View=percent7BEA5783EBpercent2D3CC4 percent2D4255percent2D995Epercent2D98B9D1391764percent7D&Team=¶ms=itemID =percent7B440957BEpercent2D22E2percent2D4B85percent2DBDE9percent2D20AF7412B7 D5percent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7BD90F22DBpercent2D05D4percent2D4644pe rcent2DA8F2percent2DFAD4803C8898percent7D
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sector, Eletrobrás launched the Energy Efficiency Network, which aims to collaborate in the development of laboratories, promote an exchange of scientific production and education among academic institutions, foster the development of new technologies in building projects, and encourage partnerships in educational activities and research among its participants.676 Brazil also financed research and development projects to improve access to new technologies by establishing laboratories to promote capacity building in energy efficiency, by developing projects in the building sector aimed at energy consumption, and by minimizing the sector’s environmental impact.677 Brazil also made progress in reducing carbon-intensity of domestic transport, by implementing the biodiesel mixture. Since 1 January 2008, it is mandatory that diesel commercialized in Brazil must contain a minimum of 2 percent of biodiesel. Buses, trucks, tractors, agricultural machinery, trains, boats, vessels, and thermoelectric industries must use the renewable fuel mixture.678 CONPET and local authorities also implemented the “B5 in Public Transport” Programme in Rio de Janeiro State. The programme promotes the use of 5percent of biofuels in the diesel mixture used in public transit.679 However, no priority measures were taken at broader national level to enhance the fuel efficiency of cars and motorcycles, to encourage taxes on carbon-intensive energy consumption, or to establish governmental programmes to promote other types of alternative energies, such as solar and wind energy. Brazil also adopted measures to increase public awareness of carbon emissions associated with products and services and the carbon market itself. On 18 July 2007, the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and industry representatives signed a protocol regarding the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The Protocol aims to improve civil society’s public awareness concerning to the importance of the CDM and the carbon market in mitigating global warming.680 On 17 July 2007, the Brazilian
Eletrobrás launches the Energy Efficiency Network in the building sector, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Eletrobrás, 9 October 2007. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. http://www.eletrobras.gov.br/elb/portal/main.asp?View=percent7BEB7EA1A1percent2D360 Epercent2D40FApercent2D9360percent2D742E53C8C220percent7D&Team=¶ms=item ID=percent7BEBCC062Fpercent2DC651percent2D44C2percent2D9D5Dpercent2D1420E170 306Apercent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7B9E178D3Bpercent2D9E55percent2D414Bp ercent2DA540percent2DEB790C1DF788percent7D. 677 PTI opens PROCEL Energy Efficiency Laboratory, Eletrobrás, PROCEL, 30 November 2007. Date of Access: 1 January 2008. http://www.eletrobras.com/elb/procel/main.asp?View=percent7BEA5783EBpercent2D3CC4 percent2D4255percent2D995Epercent2D98B9D1391764percent7D&Team=¶ms=itemID =percent7BD365A930percent2D889Epercent2D41A7percent2D865Dpercent2DECF5AB19C 87Dpercent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7BD90F22DBpercent2D05D4percent2D4644p ercent2DA8F2percent2DFAD4803C8898percent7D 678 Mandatory biodiesel mixture is in force, Ministry of Mines and Energy, 2 January 2008. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.mme.gov.br/site/news/detail.do?newsId=14730 679 Buses in Rio will use biodiesel, Ministry of Mines and Energy, CONPET, 28 June 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2008. http://www.conpet.gov.br/noticias/noticia.php?segmento=consumidor&id_noticia=1144 680 Industry and government signed protocol of intentions on the clean development mechanism, Agency Brazil, (Brasília), 18 July 2007. Date of Access: 1 January 2008. http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/07/18/materia.2007-0718.1944245567/view.
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Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Commerce also launched the Protocol of Intentions for “The Year of the Clean Development Mechanism”. 681 The Protocol aims to encourage Brazilian citizens to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, and emphasize actions for a clean development, and less carbon emissions.682 Additionally, in terms of public participation, the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy carried out public consultations on regulations for the minimum levels of energy efficiency for water and gas heaters to be commercialized in Brazil. The Ministry of Mines and Energy also opened public consultations on the Regulation for Energy Efficiency Voluntary Labeling for Commercial, Services, and Public Buildings.683 Among other energy efficiency initiatives,684 Eletrobrás also managed educational programmes to guide school directors, teachers, and students and their families to deal with environmental conservation and energy efficiency.685 Brazil specified a national target for increasing the efficiency of certain economic sectors, and has taken significant steps to strengthen existing policies and programmes that promote more efficient energy use; however, new policies, programmes, and funding are needed to promote alternative energy projects. Brazil is therefore only assessed to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Christine Toczeck
681 Miguel Jorge launches the Year of the Clean Development, Brazilian Ministry of Development, Commerce and Foreign Trade, 19 July 2007. Date of Access: 1 January 2007. http://www.mdic.gov.br/sitio/interna/noticia.php?area=2¬icia=7599 682 Year of Clean Development will foster actions to reduce carbon emissions, Agency Brazil, (Brasília), 17 July 2007. Date of Access: 1 January 2008. , http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/07/17/materia.2007-07-17.4139491859/view 683 Consultations and awards granted on energy efficiency, Ministry of Mines and Energy, (Brasilia), 25 July 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.mme.gov.br/site/news/detail.do?newsId=13327¤tArea= 684 Eletrobrás/PROCEL launches book on energy efficiency, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Eletrobrás, 26 November 2007. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. http://www.eletrobras.gov.br/elb/portal/main.asp?View=percent7BEB7EA1A1percent2D360 Epercent2D40FApercent2D9360percent2D742E53C8C220percent7D&Team=¶ms=item ID=percent7B45234CD0percent2D4BE8percent2D49C0percent2DB55Cpercent2D63200E0 8AA9Fpercent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7B9E178D3Bpercent2D9E55percent2D414B percent2DA540percent2DEB790C1DF788percent7D; PROCEL Education prepares professionals in INPA, Belém (PA), Eletrobrás, PROCEL, 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 1 January 2008. http://www.eletrobras.gov.br/ELB/procel/main.asp?View=percent7BEA5783EBpercent2D3 CC4percent2D4255percent2D995Epercent2D98B9D1391764percent7D&Team=¶ms=ite mID=percent7BC48DFD0Apercent2D9780percent2D481Bpercent2DB855percent2D68BF3B 7785BEpercent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7BD90F22DBpercent2D05D4percent2D46 44percent2DA8F2percent2DFAD4803C8898percent7D 685 Eletrobrás and Eletronorte promote seminar on the Eletronorte Program on Energy Efficiency and Education in Pará, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Eletrobrás, 16 August 2007. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. http://www.eletrobras.gov.br/elb/portal/main.asp?View=percent7BEB7EA1A1percent2D360 Epercent2D40FApercent2D9360percent2D742E53C8C220percent7D&Team=¶ms=item ID=percent7B7885307Dpercent2D3E27percent2D40B8percent2DA2A1percent2DBCFB9921 8A3Bpercent7Dpercent3B&UIPartUID=percent7B9E178D3Bpercent2D9E55percent2D414Bp ercent2DA540percent2DEB790C1DF788percent7D
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China
Background China is the second largest consumer of primary energy in the world, with 70 percent based on coal, and the third largest energy producer.686 By extension, success in reducing global GHG emissions will to some extent depend on positive policy developments in China. In the past year, the Government has introduced numerous regulatory initiatives that address energy security and climate change, adding to an ongoing trend. With electricity demand expected to grow by 4 percent a year through 2030, the Government has an interest in promoting cheap and renewable energy alternatives and domestic energyefficiency measures. Climate change is increasingly becoming a priority area for the Chinese Government, for reasons of economic development, public health, and energy security. In 2005, China announced its 11th Five Year Plan, which included greater energy conservation and development of renewable energy. In 2006, China implemented its renewable energy law, which calls for 10 percent of China’s energy to come from renewable sources, by 2020.687 In June 2007, the Government released a National Climate Change Programme, which identified some policy goals and measures to reduce GHG emissions and adapt to climate change. For example, it outlines a plan to raise the proportion of renewable energy in primary energy supply by 10 percent, by 2010, and includes specific recommendations for reducing emissions in key industrial sectors, such as iron and steel, nonferrous metal, oil and petrochemicals, building material, transportation, agricultural machinery, building, and commercial and residential energy consumption.688 Having taken its own steps toward reducing emissions levels and promoting renewable energy, China seems well-placed to comply with climate-related commitments set forth at the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm. Although binding emissions targets have not been set, China has upheld its commitments in terms of stabilising GHG concentrations by creating its own domestic plan, and signing further multilateral agreements (most notably, the 13th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change starts in Bali, Indonesia) to voluntarily undertake sustainable development policies and measures. In terms of promoting less emission-intensive energy production and consumption, China has honoured its commitments by investing heavily in renewable technologies, and entering into international cooperative agreements. Team Leader and Analyst: Karlin Younger
Background Note: China, US Department of State, October 2007. Date of Access 21 January 2007. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/18902.htm 687 Background Note: China, US Department of State, October 2007. Date of Access 21 January 2007. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/18902.htm 688 China’s National Climate Change Programme, prepared under auspices of National Development and Reform Commission, People’s Republic of China, June 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://en.ndrc.gov.cn/newsrelease/P020070604561191006823.pdf.
686
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China
Score
2A. Stabilise GHG Concentrations
+1
Since the 2005 Climate Change Conference in Montreal, a post-Kyoto framework has been the primary agenda item in the negotiations, which has put pressure on big developing countries to accept binding reduction commitments in a new climate regime. In terms of China, these pressures have only increased as various new findings on China’s growing emissions have become publicly known. In November 2006, IEA released an analysis indicating that Chinese CO2 emissions will surpass those of the U.S and will be the world number one emitter in 2007-2009.689 Subsequently, in June 2007, a Dutch organization released a report saying that China’s emission in 2006 has already surpassed that of U.S 690 Internally, these pressures were reflected by the fact that a series of policies have come out since China released its National Climate Change Programme in early June 2007.691 China’s National Climate Change Programme is the first national law in China for climate change.692 It emphasizes the importance and emergency of climate change especially its impact on China’s economic development and ecosystem security. It also adopted the target of cutting 20 percent energy consumption per unit of GDP between 2006-2010, and reduce GHG emissions by 10 percent. It identified adaptation strategies for four major sectors - agriculture, forestry, fresh water sector and coastal management – and put an emphasis on developing monitor systems and strategic responses to extreme weather events. And finally, it stressed the importance of technology innovation in combating climate change. Most notably, the programme reflects China’s continued preference for emission-intensity targets, rather than emissions reduction cuts irrespective of economic growth rates. Prior to the release of the National Climate Change Programme, a draft version was released which included an ambitious goal of cutting energy intensity by 40 percent by 2020, and 80 percent by 2050, from 2000 levels. However, the “National Climate Change Assessment”, separate from the “National Climate Change Programme”, never got officially released,
Medium-Term Oil Market Report: A Focus on the Asia-Pacific Region, International Energy Association (IEA), 5 November 2006. Date of Access: 3 February 2008. http://www.iea.org/sydney/regional_information/mt_omr.pdf 690 Chinese CO2 emissions in perspective - Country intercomparison of CO2 emissions. Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (MNP), 22 June 2007. Date of Access: 21 February 2008. http://www.mnp.nl/en/service/Newsitems/20070622ChineseCO2emissionsinperspective.ht ml 691 China Addresses Challenge of Climate Change, Xinhua News Agency, 22 December 2007. Date of Access: 24 January 2008. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/22/content_7293657.htm 692 China’s National Climate Change Program, People’s Republic of China, June 2007. Date of Access: 3 February 2008. http://www.ccchina.gov.cn/WebSite/CCChina/UpFile/File188.pdf
689
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possibly due to the stringency of the target.693 Nevertheless, even with the 40 percent energy intensity improvement by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, some experts still argue that the target is not enough to adequately respond to climate change. 694 Following the release of China’s National Climate Change Programme, a series of other policies were issued. On 3 June 2007, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued the “General Work Plan for Energy Conservation and Pollutant Discharge Reduction.” The Ministry of Science and Technology launched “China’s Scientific & Technological Actions on Climate Change and National Financial and Research Initiatives on Climate Change”, which emphasized scientific research on climate change, including mitigation and adaptation. It also ensured funding to these prioritized areas.695 In September 2007, China’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) launched a new energy conservation guide for citizens for energy saving and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. This is the first time that the Government attempted to induce the public to engage in behavioral changes that promote energy conservation.696 In November 2007, China created a National CDM Fund, funded through the tax of each CDM project in China. Revenues will be used to support domestic mitigation and adaptation projects.697 The original purpose of CDM included the need to support sustainable development of the host countries, in addition to providing incentives for investors to finance clean energy projects. The purpose of the CDM fund in China is to try to find a way to make the CDM mechanism promote sustainable development while reducing GHG emissions. International cooperation is another crucial aspect for China to achieve sustainable energy development. China made two joint statements on climate change cooperative strategies with Australia, and France, in September and November 2007, respectively.698 These bilateral partnerships will bring more opportunities to China to improve domestic energy efficiency, and develop low-carbon technologies.
693 China rejects caps, aims to cut "carbon intensity”, Reuters, 17th April. 2007. Date of Access: 3rd. February 2008. http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKSP22307820070417 694 China's Carbon Intensity Target, World Resources Institute (WRI), April 2007. Date of Access: 3 February 2008. http://www.wri.org/stories/2007/04/chinas-carbon-intensitytarget 695 China’s Scientific & Technological Actions on Climate Change, People’s Republic of China, June 2007. Date of Access: 3 February 2008. http://www.ccchina.gov.cn/WebSite/CCChina/UpFile/File199.pdf 696 China Launches Energy Conservation Guide for Citizens, Worldwatch Institute, 13 September 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5346 697 Beijing Sets up Green Fund, FT.com, 9 November 2007. Date of Access: 23 January 2008. http://search.ft.com/ftArticle?queryText=green+fund+&y=0&aje=true&x=0&id=071109000 703&ct=0 698 China, Australia issue joint statement on climate change, energy. Chinaview. 7 September 2007. Date of Access: 23 January 2008. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/200709/06/content_6673497.htm; China, France sign joint statement on Climate Change cooperation, Chinaview. 6 November 2007. Date of Access: 22 January 2008. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-11/26/content_7149166.htm
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At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali 3-14 December 2007, the Chinese delegation submitted a position paper to the UNFCCC secretariat which included a ground-breaking proposal to voluntarily take Sustainable Development Policies and Measures (SD-PAMs) into the second commitment period. In this context, SD-PAMs refer to a type of voluntary commitment taken by a country in pursuit of its domestic policy objectives, such as energy security or provision of electricity, which is shaped so as to take a lower-emission path than may have otherwise been the case.699 This compromise, while placing its own domestic economic and energy objectives first, still reflects the first time the Chinese Government has taken a proactive attitude to include itself in a solution reverse climate change. As a result, China is found to be in full compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Zhao Ang
China
Score
2B. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production
+1
Since the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm in June 2007, China has taken measures to reduce the emission-intensity of domestic energy production by increasing the efficiency of fossil-fuel based plants, and expanding renewable energy. In the past year, Government support for less emission-intensive energy production has ranged from vocal reaffirmations of policy commitments to the announcement of plans and projects. Top Chinese officials have publicly reaffirmed China’s climate-related commitments in press releases and official statements at several international conferences. On 9 September 2007, at the 15th Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), President Hu Jintao called on governments in the region to address the root causes of climate change, and strive towards realizing a low-carbon economy.700 As part of this call for action, President Hu put forward a four-point proposal on climate change that, inter alia, encouraged increased capital investment and international cooperation in researching and developing energy efficient technologies.701 Furthermore, on 21 September 2007, Yu Qingtai, China's special representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for climate change
Growing in the Greenhouse: Protecting the Climate by Putting Development First, World Resources Institute (WRI), December 2005. Date of Access: 20 February 2008. http://www.wri.org/publication/growing-in-the-greenhouse 700 Hu Jintao puts forward 4-point proposal on climate change, Xinhua Net, 8 September 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/200709/08/content_6687152.htm 701 Hu Jintao puts forward 4-point proposal on climate change, Xinhua Net, 8 September 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/200709/08/content_6687152.htm
699
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negotiations, reaffirmed China’s commitment to battling climate change, mentioning specifically the development of renewable energy technology.702 Apart from such supportive statements, China is implementing programmes that are reducing the emission-intensity of domestic energy production. According to WorldWatch, “a combination of policy leadership and entrepreneurial savvy is leading to spectacular growth in renewable energy” in China with investments exceeding $10 billion in 2007, second only to Germany.703 In June 2007, the Government released a National Climate Change Programme which identified some policy goals and measures to reduce GHG emissions, and adapt to climate change. In terms of reducing the emission-intensity of domestic energy production, the programme outlined a goal to raise the proportion of renewable energy in primary energy supply, by 10 percent by 2010. The programme includes details of expected CO2 reductions provided by increasing renewable energy in a variety of sectors, including hydropower, bio-energy, nuclear power, and wind, solar, and tidal energy. “Properly developed” hydropower under the programme is expected to reduce GHG emissions by 500Mt of C02, by 2010.704 Mechanisms proposed to increase renewable energy included a renewed commitment to enforcing and strengthening existing legislation, including the Renewable Energy Law. It also contained resource-specific development plans, including tidal energy stations in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong province. And finally, it increased financial support for research, in part drawing on bilateral and multilateral funding to assist in science and technology development.705 Allocation of funds to support the projects proposed in China’s National Climate Change Programme is good evidence that the programme is more than just talk. On September 4, 2007, Chen Deming, Vice-Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, announced the government’s plan to invest 2 trillion yuan ($265 billion) in renewable energy, by 2020.706 Over half of the proposed investment will go to dams, but biomass and wind energy also play important roles, and are expected to generate 30 gigawatts of energy each by 2020.707 On 27 November 2007, China’s State Council issued a
China vows to continue efforts to tackle climate change, Xinhua Net, 21 September 2007. Date of Access 8 January 2008. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/200709/21/content_6766062.htm 703 Powering China's Development: The Role of Renewable Energy, WorldWatch Institute, November 2007. ISBN 13: 978-1-878071-83-5 704 China’s National Climate Change Programme, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), June 2007. Date of Access: 30 January 2008. http://en.ndrc.gov.cn/newsrelease/P020070604561191006823.pdf 705 China’s National Climate Change Programme, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), June 2007. Date of Access: 30 January 2008. http://en.ndrc.gov.cn/newsrelease/P020070604561191006823.pdf 706 China plans $265 billion renewables spending, Reuters, 4 September 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSPEK32556820070904?sp=true 707 China plans $265 billion renewables spending, Reuters, 4 September 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSPEK32556820070904?sp=true
702
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report which estimates that an investment equivalent to 1.35 percent of the country’s GDP will be required to achieve the 2010 target.708 In addition, on 24 September 2007, the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced a three-step plan for the development of the energy industry in China until 2050. Arranged by time periods, the plan proposes three stages: first, until 2020, the focus will be on developing energy efficient technology and collecting, storing, and utilizing carbon dioxide; from 2020-2031, the focus will shift to nuclear energy, maximizing solar energy, and promoting renewable resources as main resources; and from 2031-2050, the goal will be to reduce fossil energy use to less than 60 percent of total energy consumption.709 Lu Yongxiang, the President of the CAS, called the plan a “significant guarantee” of China’s commitment to developing a sustainable energy development system, and stated the general goal that renewable energy should meet the general domestic demand by 2050.710 Beyond these proposed plans, the Ministry of Science and Technology officially launched two research projects in China dedicated to renewable energy technology. On 12 November, 2007, Shang Yong, Vice Minister of Science and Technology, announced the launch of a new science and technology research project to promote international cooperation on new and renewable energy.711 The project, jointly conducted by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Development and Reform Commission, will prioritize support for research of renewable energy, including biomass fuels and biomass power, solar and wind power, and hydrogen energy.712 Shortly after this, Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang launched a project jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to research and develop clean energy cars.713 In addition, on 7 January 2008, the Government announced it will take on nearly 10 percent stake of ITER, an international fusion research project, by injecting one billion yuan (approximately US $137.5 million) into the
708 Chinese government says 1.35 pct of GDP needed to achieve environment targets, Terry Wang and Goffy Zhao, InterfaxChina, 27 November 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://www.interfax.cn/displayarticle.asp?aid=30022&slug=CHINA-ENERGYENVIRONMENT. 709 CAS outlines strategic plan for China's energy development over next 40 years, Xinhua Net, 24 September 2007. Date of Access: 12 January 2008. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-09/24/content_6783535.htm 710 CAS outlines strategic plan for China's energy development over next 40 years, Xinhua Net, 24 September 2007. Date of Access: 12 January 2008. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-09/24/content_6783535.htm 711 China launches project to enhance co-op on new and renewable energy, Xinhua Net, 12 November 2007. Date of Access: 5 January 2008. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/200711/12/content_7059675.htm 712 China launches project to enhance co-op on new and renewable energy, Xinhua Net, 12 November 2007. Date of Access: 5 January 2008. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-11/12/content_7059675.htm 713 Clean energy cars: road for development has "Chinese characteristics", Xinhua Net, 19 November 2007. Date of Access: 5 January 2008. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/200711/19/content_7107219.htm
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project.714 At the Oriental Science and Technology Forum held in Shanghai, deputy director of the ITER China Office Luo Delong stated that the aim of the project was to solve China’s energy shortage.715 Various governmental agencies have announced specific plans and agreements to promote renewable resources such as nuclear energy and biomass. On 15 November 2007 at the World Energy Congress in Rome, Kang Rixin, the general manager of China National Nuclear Corporation, stated that China is expected to double its nuclear power capacity--from 2 percent to 4 percent—by 2020.716 Kang also said that China will invest 400 billion RMB in 16 nuclear units, 8 of which are under construction, with the remaining 8 in the preparation phase. China also upheld commitments to the use of biomass as a source of energy. On 5 November 2007, a biomass-fired power plant with an installed capacity of 30,000 kilowatts, and expected to generate 175 million kwh of electricity went into production in the north-eastern Chinese province of Heilongjiang.717 The plant is one of eight to be opened in 2007 by the National Bio Energy Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of the State Grid Corporation of China, and is part of the 11th Five Year Plan, which forecasts bio-energy electricity to reach 5.5 million kilowatts by 2010.718 In addition to investment in specific projects, China has implemented training workshops on biomass projects. On 12 November 2007, the Chinese Office of National Coordination Committee on Climate Change (NCCCC) and the National Development Reform Commission (NDRC) sponsored the “Related Training Workshop of Sino-Danish CDM Capacity Building Focusing on Biomass Projects in Local Provinces in China” in Beijing.719 The workshop was aimed at consulting firms, domestic research institutions, and potential Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project managers. Finally, China has promoted the use of renewable sources of electricity by enforcing previous legislation. On 25 July 2007, the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) released a new regulation giving it oversight over power companies, and encouraging those companies to prioritize purchases of the maximum amount of “green” electricity (including energy
China joins a powerful push for fusion future, Shanghai Daily, 7 January 2008. Date of Access:15 January 2008. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/200801/07/content_7378662.htm 715 China joins a powerful push for fusion future, Shanghai Daily, 7 January 2008. Date of Access: 15 January 2008. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/200801/07/content_7378662.htm 716 China to double nuclear power capacity by 2020, Xinhua Net, 15 November 2007. Date of Access: 12 January 2008. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/200711/15/content_7084258.htm 717 Biomass-fired power plant starts operation in NE China, Xinhua Net, 5 November 2007. Date of Access: 15 January 2008. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/200711/05/content_7014381.htm 718 China turns to clean biomass solution for emission cuts, Xinhua, 5 November 2007. Date of Access: 15 January 2008. http://cdm.ccchina.gov.cn/english/NewsInfo.asp?NewsId=2170 719 Training Workshop of Sino-Danish CDM Capacity Building Focusing on Biomass Projects Held in Beijing, China Web, 12 November 2007. Date of Access: 15 January 2008. http://cdm.ccchina.gov.cn/english/NewsInfo.asp?NewsId=2104
714
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generated from hydropower, wind power, biomass, etc) available in their coverage areas, as required under China’s renewable energy law.720 Despite all of these commitments and projects, China still relies very heavily on coal to meet growing energy demand. According to an article in The New York Times, the most-talked-about solution to coal is nuclear power, yet even quadrupling the current share of nuclear power will generate about 31,000 megawatts of energy over the next twelve years-- the same amount of energy capacity generated by newly-built coal plants every four months.721 Infrastructure is also a problem, with green energy companies facing manufacturing and bureaucratic bottlenecks while coal-fired plants remain the cheapest and easiest way to meet demand.722 However, it is important to note that the Chinese Government continues to take steps to improve the situation. For example, before new coal plants are built, the Government requires smaller, inefficient, outdated plants to shut down.723 Government targets remain enforced despite the higher cost to companies and the resultant delay in construction. While gaps in infrastructure are problematic to policy implementation, the Chinese Government continues to promote and mandate more costly solutions to energy demand. This sustained commitment is encouraging, but problems of implementation may make the target of 10 percent renewable energy by 2010 an unrealistic goal. In sum, China has taken steps to research, develop, and increase the use of renewable energy sources, as shown through plans and projects announced since the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007. In this regard, its renewable energy targets won the praise of Khalid Malik, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative in China, arguing that the country’s “goals to radically increase its energy efficiency and use renewable energy are very ambitious”, and shared by few other countries. 724 On the basis of the scope and depth of its policies and targets, China is judged to be in full compliance with its commitments to promote less emission-intensive energy production.
720 China Urges Electricity Suppliers to Buy ‘Green’ Power’, World Watch, 30 August 2007. Date of Access: 5 January 2008. http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5330 721 China’s Green Energy Gap, Keith Bradsher, The New York Times, 24 October 2007. Date of Access: 30 January 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/business/worldbusiness/24power.html?ei=5090&en =7b2894857eae004d&ex=1350878400&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx= 1201727187-+rCN19sMpGu+YoWxvtBb6A 722 China’s Green Energy Gap, Keith Bradsher, The New York Times, 24 October 2007. Date of Access: 30 January 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/business/worldbusiness/24power.html?ei=5090&en =7b2894857eae004d&ex=1350878400&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx= 1201727187-+rCN19sMpGu+YoWxvtBb6A 723 China’s Green Energy Gap, Keith Bradsher, The New York Times, 24 October 2007. Date of Access: 30 January 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/business/worldbusiness/24power.html?ei=5090&en =7b2894857eae004d&ex=1350878400&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx= 1201727187-+rCN19sMpGu+YoWxvtBb6A 724 Climate of Cooperation, Sun Xiaohua, China Daily, 3 December 2007. Date of Access: 29 January 2008. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bw/2007-12/03/content_6293701.htm
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Analyst: Karlin Younger
China Score
2C. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Consumption
0
Since the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007, the Chinese Government’s approach to lowering the emission-intensity of energy consumption has placed heavy emphasis on promoting new technologies and energy efficiency measures as a means to decouple its rapid economic growth from GHG emissions. Importantly, China has actively sought international cooperative arrangements for technology-sharing. With regard to internal policy actions geared specifically toward improving fuel efficiency standards, creating stricter building codes, and raising consumer awareness, however, the Chinese government’s plans, as outlined in its National Climate Change Programme, are painted with broad brush strokes. Those measures announced in the programme are, for the most part, old commitments repackaged, without the addition of new quantifiable goals. Because the country has arrived at a comprehensive plan toward controlling climate change, albeit one which lacks new teeth, and because of its bilateral and multilateral actions launched this cycle, China receives a tentative score of +1 for its policy actions relative to this commitment. On 26 November 2007, the Ministry of Finance announced that it had earmarked 23.5 billion Yuan (3.2 billion USD) to improve energy efficiency and cut pollutant emission725. Subsequently on 28 November 2007, Premier Wen Jiabao declared at the China-EU Business Summit that China will invest 300 billion USD on environmental protection in the next five years, 30 percent of total on the world market726. In 2007 alone, China invested 10 billion USD in renewable energy, second only to Germany727. In terms of specific commitments, China has tougher standards for fuel efficiency than the U.S., with its cars using 6.9 litres per 100 km travel – a standard that will rise to 6.5 litres by next year – compared with 9.8 litres in the U.S.728 The Programme also commits the Chinese Government to accelerate the formulation and implementation of laws in electricity-saving,
725 Long-term European loan to invest in China environmental projects, People’s Daily Online, 30 November 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6312474.html 726 ‘Long-term European loan to invest in China environmental projects’, People’s Daily Online, 30 November 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6312474.html 727 ‘Translate climate talk into action’, Khalid Malik, China Daily, 20 December 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/200712/20/content_6335032.htm. 728 ‘China and Australia unveil new policies on global warming’, The Economist, 7 June 2007. Date of Access: 5 February 2007, http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9302917
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petroleum-saving and building energy-saving.729 Furthermore, it contains specific recommendations regarding energy conservation technologies in key sectors. For instance, it recommends that in the cement industry, new dry process kiln with pre-calcinator technology should be developed, and energy efficient grinding equipment should be promoted.730 Similar policy recommendations are made for the iron and steel, nonferrous metal industry, and other industries, although no specific regulations are proposed. Otherwise, the programme reiterated many of China’s previous environmental plans and policies. Aside from the creation of a national plan and budgetary commitments, China has also actively sought and become involved in a number of international cooperative arrangements. According to Gao Guangsheng, the DirectorGeneral of China's National Development Reform Commission, the country is eager to learn about and implement new technologies, but access to advanced know-how has been blocked by other countries. He cited an agreement to transfer clean power-generation technology from the USA to China that has been blocked by the U.S. Congress, as well as the Danish environment minister’s remark that transfers of advanced wind power technology would be matter for companies rather than the Government.731 On 5 September 2007, China and the United Kingdom signed the Near Zero Emissions Coal (NZEC) initiative as part of the EU-China Partnership. Launched on 20 November 2007, the purpose of the project is to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions from China’s increasing use of coal, which is projected to reach more than 5 billion tons annually by 2030732. As part of the agreement, the United Kingdom will provide $7 million in funding and technical expertise over a period of 18 months for the first phase of NZEC, during which China will develop its carbon capture and storage technology. Sponsors for subsequent phases, during which demonstration plants will be planned and constructed, are yet to be identified. On 29 November 2007, a new UN-China Climate Change Partnership Framework (CCPF) was also announced, to be launched in 2008. The partnership will bring together the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Commerce, other supportive ministries and nine UN agencies733. According to UNDP, the partnership will attract $19
729 China’s national Climate Change Programme, prepared under the auspices of the National Development and Reform Commission, People’s Republic of China, June 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://en.ndrc.gov.cn/newsrelease/P020080604561191006823.pdf. 730 China’s national Climate Change Programme, prepared under the auspices of the National Development and Reform Commission, People’s Republic of China, June 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://en.ndrc.gov.cn/newsrelease/P020080604561191006823.pdf. 731 ‘China wary on international climate goals-official’, Reuters, 29 November 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL29480066. 732 ‘China and United Kingdom launch CO2 capture and storage initiative’, Xiaoyuan Wang, Interfax China, 21 November 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://www.interfax.cn/displayarticle.asp?aid=29860&slug=CHINA-ENERGYENVIRONMENT. 733 ‘Put the poorest at the centre of the fight against climate change’, United Nations Development Programme Press Release, 28 November 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. www.china.org.cn/english/environment/233501.htm.
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million in financing, with the UN contributing $12 million, the Chinese Government $2 million, and the rest to be raised from the private sector globally734. The purpose of the partnership is to support the transfer of new technology and green investment mechanisms, pilot new projects for clean coal, and mainstream climate change adaptation in future development. Additionally, China is also forging strategic partnerships on climate change with France,735 Japan, India and Australia. Climate change has been high on the agenda in regional ASEAN meetings this year,736 and has also been a topic of bilateral discussion with foreign governments. In addition, on 20 September 2007, the China’s Ministry of Science and Technology signed a five-year agreement with the U.S Department of Energy to cooperate on automobile efficiency. The plan includes cooperation on electric, hybrid, fuel cell, and alternative fuel vehicles.737 With regards to consumer awareness and education, the National Climate Change Programme contains a commitment to launch a publicity campaign targeting all levels of government and society. The programme provides broad guidelines regarding the full use of mass media and the creation of incentive mechanisms to encourage public participation and enterprise.738 On 13 September 2007, China’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) launched a new energy conservation guide for citizens for energy saving and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The guide includes 36 categories of products, from housing and eating to commuting and laundry.739 As of June 2006, only Beijing and five other provinces or municipalities improved their emission efficiency by 4 percent (one fifth of the 5-year goal of 20 percent).740 Figures for the second half of 2006 are not yet available, but according to National Development and Reform Commission Minister Ma Kai in December, “it is extremely hard to achieve this year’s goal” 741. In conclusion, China has initiated numerous policy initiatives to increase the efficiency of domestic energy consumption. China faces significant challenges
734 ‘UN to help nation fight global warming’, People’s Daily Online, 29 November 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6311623.html. 735 ‘Sarkozy acknowledges China’s efforts in fighting climate change’, CCTV International, 28 November 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://www.cctv.com/english/20071128/100972.shtml 736 ‘China makes proposals on climate change’, CCTV International, 22 November 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://www.cctv.com/english/20071122/101235.shtml. 737 US signs 5-year cooperation plan with China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, Department of Energy, (Washington), 20 September 2007. Date of Access: 9 December 2007. http://www.energy.gov/news/5518.htm 738 China’s national Climate Change Programme, prepared under the auspices of the National Development and Reform Commission, People’s Republic of China, June 2007. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://en.ndrc.gov.cn/newsrelease/P020080604561191006823.pdf. 739 ‘China Launches Energy Conservation guide for Citizens’, World Watch Institute, 13 September 2007. Date of Access: 5 February 2007. www.worldwatch.org/node/5346. 740 ‘China fails environmental targets’, BBC News, 10 January 2006. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6247119.stm. 741 ‘China fails environmental targets’, BBC News, 10 January 2006. Date of Access: 8 January 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6247119.stm.
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in implementation, including the fact that many factories and individuals ignore the law. Yet, the country’s overall performance in the run-up to the G8 Summit in July 2008 has been broadly positive, particularly its willingness to engage in bilateral cooperation with other countries to reduce its own GHG emissions. While the effectiveness of these measures taken by the Government will depend on whether public agencies at all levels implement them according to plan, they nevertheless suffice to warrant full compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Y. Andrea Wang
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India
Background Both scientifically and politically, India is a central player for climate change. With a population of 1.03 billion,742 and a situation on the Himalayan-fed South-Asian mega-deltas, India is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.743 Scientific prediction suggests India is likely to be one of the worst affected countries in the world,744 with major sensitivities to monsoonal changes, Himalayan glacier retreat, and sea level rise around its low-lying coastal metropolises of Mumbai and Chennai and dependency on Himalayan melt waters.745 In parallel, India occupies a key political position. As the second-fastest growing economy in the world, with an annual economic growth of 8.7 percent between 2001 and 2006, India’s energy consumption has risen by 3.7 percent over the same period.746 This largely fossil-fuel based growth has contributed to rising greenhouse gas emissions—rising from 682MtCO2 in 1990 to 1,342MtCO2 in 2004.747 Currently, India remains the fourth largest GHG emitter in the world,748 although the Indian press reports that India is actually the sixth largest.749 This growth is not projected to plateau; the Indian Planning Commission projects 8 percent GDP growth during 20012036.750 Despite this growth, however, India remains a country with severe poverty; its own estimates suggest that around 55p ercent of households remain cut-off from the electricity grid, largely in rural areas.751 Indeed, India’s position in the Human Development Index (HDI) slipped by two
742 India Census 2001, Government of India. Date of Access: 20 December 2007 http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/India_at_glance/popu1.aspx 743 Stern Review 2006, HM Treasury. 30 October 2006. Date of Access: 20 December 2007 http://www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/stern_review_economics_climate_change/sternrevie w_summary.cfm 744 UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008: Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world. 27 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2007-2008/ 745Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, IPCC. 6 April 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2007. http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/ar4-wg2.htm 746 Tough Indian line on greenhouse norms, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 31 October 2007. 747 UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008: Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world, 27 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2007-2008/ 748 UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008: Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world, 27 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2007-2008/ 749 Tough Indian line on greenhouse norms, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 31 October 2007. 750 Presentation during the 4th Dialogue Workshop to UNFCCC at Vienna, 28 August 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. www.unfccc.int/files/meetings/dialogue/application/pdf/070828_ray.pdf 751 Presentation during the 4th Dialogue Workshop to UNFCCC at Vienna, 28 August 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. www.unfccc.int/files/meetings/dialogue/application/pdf/070828_ray.pdf
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places to 128th in 2007, reflecting the difficulties of distributing this new economic growth across the country.752 In per capita terms, Indian emissions total 1.2 tCO2 compared to 20.6 tCO2 in the United States,753 and CO2 emissions per kcal food energy produced are around one-seventeenth of the United Kingdom.754 Against this background, India’s political position on climate change has been one of principled cooperation. India signed up to the UNFCCC in 1993 as a “non-Annex I” state, and so has to date not taken on binding emissionsreduction targets.755 It is, nevertheless, a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, and has—recently through the G8—expressed a desire to “cooperate” internationally.756 India’s position within these negotiations follows the “common but differentiated” policy, arguing that it is not historically responsible for today’s greenhouse gas stock, and so should not be the “primary actor” in mitigation of the problem;757 it maintains that while its country-scale emissions are high, its per capita emissions are far below the global average.758 India also stresses its primary poverty reduction commitments under the Millennium Development Goals.759 Indeed, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reaffirmed before the Heiligendamm summit that “due care must be taken” to ensure that climate change policy does not mean development in India will be “constrained.”760 The first half of the 2007-8 commitment period largely represents a continuation of this situation. Commitment to stabilise GHG emissions has not followed the path espoused by the developed countries or the Human Development Report 2007. Instead, India maintains that it will “address the global issue of climate change without compromising on the imperatives of poverty alleviation”,761 and so is pursuing a foundation-building process of putting together proposals for action, and expanding existing projects, such as
752 UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008: Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world, 27 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2007-2008/ 753 UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008: Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world, 27 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2007-2008/ 754 India: Addressing Energy Security and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Forests, (New Delhi), October 2007. Date of Access: 1 December 2007. http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/ccd/Addressing_CC_09-10-07.pdf 755 UNFCCC, UNFCCC. Date of Access: 5 December 2007. http://unfccc.int/essential_background/convention/items/2627.php 756 Statement by Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. Printed in The Challenge of Climate Change, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 1 October 2007 757 UN targets are flawed, says India, Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 27 November 2007 758 India: Addressing Energy Security and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Forests, (New Delhi), October 2007. Date of Access: 1 December 2007. http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/ccd/Addressing_CC_09-10-07.pdf 759 Presentation during the 4th Dialogue Workshop to UNFCCC at Vienna, 28 August 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. www.unfccc.int/files/meetings/dialogue/application/pdf/070828_ray.pdf 760 Statement by Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. Printed in The Challenge of Climate Change, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 1 October 2007 761 Speech by Prime Minister at the second meeting of the National Committee on Climate Change http://pmindia.nic.in/speech/content.asp?id=561 Date of Access: 20 December.
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the CDM. Much of its action to reduce emissions from energy production and consumption also remains in the preliminary stages, and appears more rhetorical than actual. Overall the interim assessment of India’s compliance with its climate-related commitments from the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007 is that India has laid a foundation for complying with its three commitments but has not yet translated policy statements and aspirational goals into much action. Instead, India has juxtaposed its work so far with its contradictory commitments to reduced poverty and position on historic responsibility of emissions. Analysts: Simon Billett (Team Leader), Jodi Young, Aparna Sridhar
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India’s efforts to mitigate dangerous climate change are embryonic at this interim stage. As in 2006, the majority of the action has been planning rather than implementing, with several of these plans running behind schedule. In terms of emissions targets, The Human Development Report 2007’s suggestive figures for the Outreach 5 countries were rejected by India. The Planning Commission's Deputy Chairperson, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, suggested that the proposed 20 percent GHG reduction by 2050 for India was “fundamentally misconceived” because it was based on country-wide development and emissions, rather than the per capita emissions approach that India has adopted.762 Instead, during the Heiligendamm Summit, Prime Minister Singh espoused an upper limit above which emissions will not increase; this proposal caps emissions growth at the per capita levels of “industrialised countries”.763 Since the summit, this approach has been adopted across the Government.764 Rather than a reduction on current emissions, this ceiling gives room for a potential twelve-fold increase in per capita emissions over the next UNFCCC commitment periods.765 Dr. Singh has argued that development in India will increase “adaptive capacity”—a more important goal for a country with 70 percent rural population.766 In the
762 UN targets are flawed, says India, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 27 November 2007 763 India: Addressing Energy Security and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Forests, (New Delhi), October 2007. http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/ccd/Addressing_CC_0910-07.pdf Date of Access: 1 December 2007. 764 India's per capita GHGs emission not to increase beyond developed nations, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 11 December 2007 765 Based on per capita emissions of 1.2 tCo2 for India and 13.3 for high income countries (Annex Table 1, page 69). UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008: Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world. 27 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2007-2008/ 766 Indian Census 2001. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. www.censusindia.net/
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budgetary year 2006-7, 2.5 percent of GDP was spent on climate adaptation, mostly in the form of disaster relief.767 Alternatives to this upper limit have been discussed by the Government at the UNFCCC.768 In August 2007, a presentation by the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forests argued that investment of US$153 billion would be required to reduce India’s 2001 CO2 emissions by 2.5 percent by 2016; in the longer term this figure climbs to US$2.5 trillion for a 9.7 percent CO2 emissions reduction by 2036.769 In line with its broader stance, India remains adamant that CO2 emissions can only be reduced if such costs are met by wealthier countries.770 Within this framework of acceptable emissions, the major outcome of the interim commitment period is formation of a policy structure within India to handle climate change; indeed, the Government plans to make climate change a “central parameter” to its planning decisions.771 Immediately following the Heiligendamm Summit, the second meeting of the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change—a body set up in early 2007 to manage India’s position—was convened. The meeting commissioned two major reports on climate change in India; firstly, a “National Strategy” to review policy progress to date and formulate a roadmap for the future,772 and, secondly, a “National Impacts Report” to review the key threats India faces in the short and long terms.773 At present, the National Strategy lays out a continuation of India’s opposition to binding emissions reduction commitments, and instead advocates technology transfer from developed countries.774 Yet, the document does not detail any policies the Government is likely to pursue within these parameters; indeed, the report—due to be complete by the end of November 2007—has still not been published to date.775 While the National Strategy does represent an important public commitment to the importance of climate change by the Indian Government,
767 India: Addressing Energy Security and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Forests, (New Delhi), October 2007. Date of Access: 1 December 2007. http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/ccd/Addressing_CC_09-10-07.pdf 768 Presentation during the 4th Dialogue Workshop to UNFCCC at Vienna, 28 August 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. www.unfccc.int/files/meetings/dialogue/application/pdf/070828_ray.pdf 769 Presentation during the 4th Dialogue Workshop to UNFCCC at Vienna, 28 August 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. www.unfccc.int/files/meetings/dialogue/application/pdf/070828_ray.pdf 770 Presentation during the 4th Dialogue Workshop to UNFCCC at Vienna, 28 August 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. www.unfccc.int/files/meetings/dialogue/application/pdf/070828_ray.pdf 771 Prime Minister’s Statement following second meeting of the PM’s Committee. Published in Green India Project aims at Greening Six Million hectares of Degraded Forestland, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 13 July 2007 772 Prime Minister’s Statement following second meeting of the PM’s Committee. Published in Green India Project aims at Greening Six Million hectares of Degraded Forestland, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 13 July 2007 773 Prime Minister’s Statement following second meeting of the PM’s Committee. Published in Green India Project aims at Greening Six Million hectares of Degraded Forestland, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 13 July 2007 774 Tough Indian lines on greenhouse norms, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 31 October 2007 775 Plan on climate behind schedule, Times of India, New Delhi Edition, 30 November 2007
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its draft focus on “existing programmes of the Government”776 and delayed status means that actual action to comply with its G8 and UNFCCC commitments has not occurred. The National Impact Assessment is also now expected in early 2008. The only major Government document produced to address domestic GHG emissions is India: Addressing Energy Security and Climate Change.777 The document details how India’s “prime objectives” of poverty reduction and economic growth can be dealt with in the context of climate change; indeed, it reaffirms the Government’s view that climate change is a threat “that could still be prevented”.778 However, while once again claiming to outline plans for mitigation in an expanding economy, in reality this report outlines India’s current position in terms of emissions—for example, the decline in energy consumption of the cement sector between 1995-2005.779 Ultimately, India’s policy rhetoric to date has been concerned with reinforcing its stance of differentiated global responsibility rather than implementing concrete mitigation policy. Nevertheless, this institutionalisation of the issue fulfils India’s UNFCCC commitments—reaffirmed in Heiligendamm—to “formulate and publish” components of its plans to stabilise GHG emissions.780 In terms of mitigation through sinks, India is also pressing carbon sequestration policy in the form of forestation. Presently, 25 percent of its land surface is covered by forest, but the “Green India” scheme—announced by the Prime Minister in August 2007—plans to increase this by 31 million hectares.781 Of this, 6 million hectares will be replenishing degraded forest lands.782 India sought funding to support the project from developed countries at the 13th Conference of Parties in December 2007 in line with its wider stance on the need for financial and technological transfer. The Government argues that without an “international climate change mitigation fund” “Green India” will not be possible.783 Internationally, India has been a central figure in planning. Among the AsiaPacific nations, it has pushed for collaboration among the ASEAN members, as well as the U.S. At the ASEAN summit in Singapore on 18 November 2007, Manmohan Singh argued for the creation of an India-ASEAN Network on
Plan on climate behind schedule, Times of India, New Delhi Edition, 30 November 2007 India: Addressing Energy Security and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Forests, (New Delhi), October 2007. Date of Access: 1 December 2007. http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/ccd/Addressing_CC_09-10-07.pdf 778 Terrorism man-made disaster, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 7 November 2007 779 India: Addressing Energy Security and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Forests, (New Delhi), October 2007. Date of Access: 1 December 2007. http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/ccd/Addressing_CC_09-10-07.pdf 780 UNFCCC, UNFCCC. Date of Access: 5 December 2007. http://unfccc.int/essential_background/convention/items/2627.php 781 Debate on green funds in Bali, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 7 December 2007 782 Prime Minister’s Statement following second meeting of the PM’s Committee. Published in Green India Project aims at Greening Six Million hectares of Degraded Forestland, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 13 July 2007 783 Debate on green funds in Bali, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 7 December 2007
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Climate Change that could act as a forum for expertise.784 This was followed by an Indian-hosted Asia-Pacific summit on technology cooperation in the CDM in the region.785 The Indian Government gave presentations to delegates at the Indo-EU Summit in Delhi on 30 November 2007, and also at the Commonwealth Heads of Nations Summit in Uganda on 23 November 2007.786 India also acted as host and chair for the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, beginning on the 25 September 2007. At the conference, the Prime Minister Singh and Indian President Pratibha Patil, reinforced the need for “urgent action” on climate change.787 In addition, there have also been talks to establish a UK-India research centre as part of the Prime Minister-commissioned impact assessment.788 Such collaboration does put India in compliance with its UNFCCC commitment to share information on “best practice”, and to facilitate regional cooperation.789 However, as with domestic action, this public and proactive rhetoric from India has amounted to very little policy. While in the longer-term much of this discussion has established a foundation, in the short term—and during this interim commitment period—there has been little new action to reduce domestic GHG emissions. Before the Heiligendamm Summit, the CDM had resulted in an emissions reduction of 27mtCO2790 from its 667 projects.791 Since July 2007, India has continued its joint lead with China in terms of number of CDM projects, notably with the announcement of an Indian Railways CDM project in November 2007.792 The success of the CDM in India is a major achievement, and goes some way to fulfilling its commitment to take action to stabilise its emissions. Indeed, in previous UNFCCC commitment periods, India has been keen to expand its CDM participation, and set up a National CDM Authority after COP-7.793 The success results from direct compatibility of the CDM with India’s favoured technology transfer policy as the primary mode of climate
PM favours integrated Asian Market, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 21 November 2007 785 New Delhi to host six-nation climate meet, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 11 October 2007 786 PM to focus on Pak crisis, climate change and trade at CHOGM summit, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 23 November 2007 787 Global Warming to top agenda, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 24 September 2007. Terrorism, climate change need urgent attention: Manmohan, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 25 September 2007 788 UK ready to collaborate on green research centre: King, , The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 21 November 2007 789 UNFCCC, UNFCCC. Date of Access: 5 December 2007. http://unfccc.int/essential_background/convention/items/2627.php 790 PM’s opening remarks at the meeting of the Council on Climate Change, 13 July 2007. Date of Access: 20 December. http://pmindia.nic.in/speech/content.asp?id=561 791 India: Addressing Energy Security and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Forests, (New Delhi), October 2007. Date of Access: 1 December 2007. http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/ccd/Addressing_CC_09-10-07.pdf 792 Rlys send out green signal, set to join climate warriors, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 7 November 2007 793 National CDM Authority, Ministry of Environment and Forests. Date of Access: 2 January 2007. http://cdmindia.nic.in/cdm_india.htm
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change mitigation.794 Currently, other international mitigation mechanisms remain underdeveloped in India, although this may be changing. To date, the international carbon markets in operation have largely bypassed India; however, the creation of a domestic trading infrastructure by the State Bank of India—announced on 7 August 2007—may go some way to allowing India to reduce the rate of increase of emissions.795 Ultimately, India believes that it presently should not have to reduce its GHG emissions, and, instead, has adopted an emissions ceiling above which it will not rise. Practically, it has begun to lay the foundation for an effective mitigation and adaptation strategy, and the success of the CDM also provides some evidence of action to fulfill this commitment. Yet, this action does not outweigh India’s rejection of emissions stabilisation as a target, and— combined with the limited policy output from these foundations—means India is only found to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Simon Billett
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2B. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production
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Since the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007, the Indian Government has continued to advocate more support renewable energy for the next five years (as outlined in the Government’s 11th Five Year Plan796), though little has been finalised as yet. India’s commitment to increasing energy efficiency is comprised of setting up international cooperation, although actual improvements of efficiencies appear to be the responsibility of private industry. India is continuing to increase the amount of renewable power supplied to the grid. Grid-interactive renewable power plants reached an installed capacity of about 10,985MW as of 30 September 2007, with over half of this coming from wind power (7,660MW). The Ministry for New and Renewable Energy has envisioned an additional 14,500MW by 2012.797 This is not taking into account large hydro-electric power which contributes an additional 34,000MW, bringing the contribution of total renewable energy to about 15 percent of India’s electricity needs, according to the Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Shri Vilas Muttamvar, when he addressed the
PM’s opening remarks at the meeting of the Council on Climate Change, 13 July 2007. Date of Access: 20 December. http://pmindia.nic.in/speech/content.asp?id=561 795 SBI goes green, to securitise, aid carbon credits, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi Edition, 7 August 2007 796 Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012), Planning Commission, Government of India (India). Date of Access: 16 January 2008. http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/11thf.htm 797 Grid Power Plants Generating Power from Renewables, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (India), 19 November 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://mnes.nic.in/press-releases/press-release-19112007-2.pdf
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International Bio-Fuels Conference, Brussels, on 5 July 2007.798 Apart from electricity, renewable energy only contributes very little to the total energy requirements of India. The Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) prepared by the Planning Commission projected that renewable energy may account for 5-6 percent of India’s total energy mix by 2031-32.799 The Ministry for New and Renewable Energy has proposed Rs. 104,600 million for the development of renewable energy during the period 20072012, of which Rs. 15,000 million is for research and design.800 This is greater than the expenditure of Rs. 726 million during the period from 2002-07.801 India has done a great deal to set up bilateral cooperation with donor countries on climate projects. On 28 June 2007, India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan to increase efficiency in energy intensive industries in return for a $10 billion investment by Japan into the DelhiMumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) by 2012.802 In addition, on 9 October 2007, India signed a second MoU with Iceland for the development of geothermal and hydrogen fuel cells and wind energy technologies.803 On 15 October 2007, at the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APPCDC) conference in New Delhi, India joined about 20 projects under the Renewable Energy and Distribution Generation Task Force.804 In addition, Dr Suraj Seth, Minister of Coal, gave a presentation on the Coal Mining Task Force Flagship Project, which outlined the Information Sharing on Coal Processing Technologies between India and the United States. The US State Department has given a grant of $1 million to increase energy utilisation of coal and reduce pollutants with final results expected in 2009.805
798 India’s Bio-Fuel Programme to be Developed on Public Private Partnerships, Shri Vilas Muttemvar Addresses International Bio-Fuels Conference at Brussels, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (India), 6 July 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://mnes.nic.in/press-releases/press-release-06072007.pdf 799 Development of New & Renewable Energy to Get Rs. 10,460 Crore for Eleventh Plan Period, Ministry for New and Renewable Energy (India), 24 November 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://mnes.nic.in/press-releases/press-release-24112007.pdf 800 India Mulls Rs 1,500 Crore R&D in Renewable Energy, iGovernment (India) 10 December 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.igovernment.in/site/india-mulls-rs1500-crore-rd-in-renewable-energy/ 801 More Than Rs.72 Crores on R&D in New Renewable Energy, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (India), 7 December 2007. Date of Access:28 December 2007. http://mnes.nic.in/press-releases/press-release-07122007-1.pdf 802 India, Japan Sign Pact on Energy Conservation , Domain-b.com, The Information Company Pvt. Ltd. (India), 2 July 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.domainb.com/economy/trade/20070702_conservation.html 803 India, Iceland sign MoU for Renewable Energy Cooperation, The Economic Times (India), 9 October 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/India_Iceland_sign_MoU_for_re newable_energy_cooperation/articleshow/2443454.cms 804 India’s Participation in Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APPCDC), Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, 11 November 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://mnes.nic.in/press-releases/press-release-11112007.pdf 805 Presentation by Coal Mining Task Force, by Dr. Suraj Seth, Ministry of Coal, India at the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, Second Minsterial Meeting (New Delhi, India), 15 October 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.asiapacificpartnership.org/2ndministerialpresentations.htm
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However, India recently came under criticism at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali 3-14 December 2007 due to its lack of commitment to discussions. Prodipto Ghosh, senior member of the Indian Government delegation, responded by referring to the FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) Task Force, which outlines around 40 acts and polices and 60 schemes for reduction of greenhouse gases, increasing energy efficiency, renewable energy and afforestation.806 India has given, and appears to be continuing to give, financial incentives for the establishment of renewable energy to provide power to remote villages under the schemes “Village Energy Security Programme”, “Remote Village Electrification Programme”, and “Biomass Gasifier Programme.”807 This comes in the form of biopower, small hydro and solar power. In April 2007 The Ministry for New and Renewable Energy commissioned the programme “Biomass Energy and Co-generations (non-bagasse) in Industry” to continue into 2008808,809 and proposed an additional 2,100MW from biopower up to 2012.810 The Ministry has also proposed a target of 1,400MW from small hydro power projects,811 and has agreed, in principle, to a 3.75MW Mini Tidal Power Project in Sunderbans Island, West Bengal—currently, awaiting approval of investment.812 The Government is also planning to add another 10million m2 of solar collector areas for hot water on top of the current 2 million m2 by the next 5 years. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy also provides Central Financial Assistance of up to 90 percent of the cost of solar lighting systems and has already provided support to 190 villages in the
http://www.asiapacificpartnership.org/2ndMinisterial/clmpercent20Flagshippercent20Proje ctspercent20Presentation.pdf 806 India not in forefront at Bali: UN body chief, Yahoo India News (India), 7 December 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2007. http://in.news.yahoo.com/071207/43/6o63b.html 807 Remote Village Electrification Programme, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (India), 11 October 2007. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. http://mnes.nic.in/pressreleases/press-release-11102007.pdf 808 F. No. 2/2/2007-BM-UICA, Sub:-Sanction of Continuation of the Programme on “Biomass Energy and Co-generating (non-bagasse) in Industry” during 2007-2008, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (India), 24 April 2007. Date of Access: 28 April 2007. http://mnes.nic.in/adm-approvals/aa-biomass-energycogen.pdf 809 Bio-Mass Projects, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (India), 3 December 2007: Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://mnes.nic.in/press-releases/press-release0312007-2.pdf 810 About 17 Million Mandays Per Annum to be Generated During Eleventh Plan Period Through Bio-Mass Projects, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (India), 7 September 2007. Date of Access: 30 December 2007. http://mnes.nic.in/press-releases/press-release07092007-5.pdf 811 893 Small Hydro Power Projects Completed In Jammu and Kashmir, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (India), 7 September 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://mnes.nic.in/press-releases/press-release-07092007-4.pdf 812 Durgaduani Tidal Power Project in West Bengal, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (India), 7 December 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://mnes.nic.in/pressreleases/press-release-07122007-3.pdf
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region of Maharashtra.813 India is also committed to increasing wind power and is currently the third top producer of wind energy in the world.814 In contrast to these supportive schemes for alternative energies, there has been minimal effort to improve coal efficiency. India currently operates coal plants under sub-critical steam conditions and needs to move to supercritical conditions to raise efficiency.815 The Government’s focus is for private industry to develop new power stations to meet the ever increasing energy demands.816 A supercritical station at Seepat (2x660MWe) is under construction and is due to be completed in early 2009. A further 36,800MW supercritical plant is to be commissioned during the 11th (2007-2011) and 12th five year plans (2012-2016). These observations demonstrate that India is committed to increasing efficiency of energy production and developing renewable energy, despite its resistance to binding GHG emission targets. India has attended numerous international meetings and formed international collaborations to discuss cleaner energy solutions. The Government has proposed a great deal of financial aid towards renewable energy development, with a focus on supporting remote villages without current access to power as opposed to replacing existing sources of energy. Yet, due to India’s dependence on coal as an energy source, little has been done to encourage clean coal technologies and seems to be mainly in the hands of private developers. As a result, India is only found to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Jodi Young
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India’s national goal to promote continued economic growth and developmental goals, including achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), prioritizes poverty reduction as a key issue in India’s climate change discussion.817 At the international level, India has noted that any efforts it
813 Beneficiary Villages and Hamlets Where Solar Light Systems, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (India), 26 November 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://mnes.nic.in/press-releases/press-release-26112007-1.pdf 814 India’s wind power increase world’s third largest, Daily News and Analysis (India), 9 November 2007. Date of Access: 3 January 2007. http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1138185 815India, World Coal Institute (London), July 2006. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.worldcoal.org/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=402 816 Private Power Programme for India Gets Promising Start, T.C. Malhotra, Engineering News-Record (New York), 13 April 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://enr.construction.com/news/powerIndus/archives/070413.asp 817 India: Addressing Energy Security and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Forests, (New Delhi), October 2007. Date of Access: 1 December 2007. http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/ccd/Addressing_CC_09-10-07.pdf
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makes in emissions reductions and promoting less intensive energy use is dependent on how developed countries facilitate technology transfers and financing.818 Demand for energy is expected to rise as India’s economic growth continues to facilitate rising consumption of energy-intensive goods and services.819 In anticipation of such projections, the Government of India continues to stress the need for a diverse energy mix as well as improved energy efficiency that will complement rising consumption demands with concerns over climate change consequences.820 A recent joint report by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Power, and Bureau of Energy Efficiency highlights India’s efforts to promote energy efficient lifestyles to its growing population with projects such as energy labeling, educational outreach, and continued engagement in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).821 India has viewed the Clean Development Mechanism as a chance to partner with the international scientific community to promote “affordable and sustainable domestic solutions” in energy efficiency and alternative energy systems.822 Key Ministries such as the Ministry of Power and its Bureau of Energy Efficiency note demand side management and energy efficiency as strategies to support expanding energy requirements as seen in efforts for rural electrification and increasing energy production levels for urban areas.823 The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) continues to implement its appliance energy labels scheme for refrigerators, air conditioners, and fluorescent lamps launched in 2006 with about two thirds of such appliances covered under the labeling programme.824 An Energy Conservation Building Code was also launched in 2007 establishing a national rating system for green buildings with a primary focus on incorporating renewable energy and less intensive
818 Roadmap to fight climate change, The Hindu (Bali), 16 December 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/16/stories/2007121650670100.htm Prime Minister Addresses 95th Science Congress, (New Delhi), 3 January 2008. Date of Access: 19 January 2008. http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=34357 819 IEA raises India’s 2008 oil demand outlook on transport needs, The Economic Times, (Singapore), 16 January 2008. Date of Access: 19 January 2008. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Economy/IEA_raises_Indias_2008_oil_demand/arti cleshow/2705929.cms 820 India sets year-end deadline for blueprint on tackling global warming, The International Herald Tribune (New Delhi), 13 July 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/13/asia/AS-GEN-India-Global-Warming.php Prime Minister’s Opening Remarks at the meeting of the Council on Climate Change, (New Delhi), 13 July 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://pmindia.nic.in/speech/content.asp?id=561. 821 India: Addressing Energy Security and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Forests, (New Delhi), October 2007. Date of Access: 1 December 2007. http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/ccd/Addressing_CC_09-10-07.pdf 822 Keynote Address of Shri Kapil Sibal at 95th Indian Science Congress, 5 January 2008. Date of Access: 19 January 2008. http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=34400 823 Distribution, Demand Side Management, Ministry of Power (New Delhi). Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.powermin.nic.in/JSP_SERVLETS/internal.jsp# 824 India: Addressing Energy Security and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Forests, (New Delhi), October 2007. Date of Access: 1 December 2007. http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/ccd/Addressing_CC_09-10-07.pdf
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energy use in building design.825 Both programmes were highlighted during India’s National Energy Conservation Day by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, emphasizing that “efficient use of energy is itself a mechanism for reducing global warming.” 826 In addition, programmes such as the “Bachat Lamp Yojana” campaign providing compact fluorescent lamps at the price of normal bulbs, and rural electrification initiatives that utilize energy efficient technology and renewable energy have been promoted by BEE to tackle energy security, climate change, and poverty reduction goals.827 The labeling programme, however, has yet to impact consumer changes with owners and BEE suggesting that awareness of labels and their purpose needs more work.828 Additionally, such energy initiatives face financial constraints for India’s 4.5 million medium and small business enterprises to adopt and promote energy efficient businesses and lifestyles limiting India’s progress in promoting less intensive energy usage at the industrial and household level.829 The Indian Government has attempted to challenge the private transport sector in promoting less intensive energy consumption mainly through proposing mandatory fuel efficient standards for cars and advocating expansion for research and development in alternative energy fuel.830 In anticipation of a seven-fold increase in the number of vehicles, the Government has granted the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) the task of setting mandatory fuel efficiency targets within two years.831 BEE and PCRA have noted their intention to work the industry to formulate gradual increases in standards to perhaps reach a desired 45 percent improvement in average fuel
825 India: Addressing Energy Security and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Forests, (New Delhi), October 2007. Date of Access: 1 December 2007. http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/ccd/Addressing_CC_09-10-07.pdf National Rating System for Green Buildings, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (New Delhi), 19 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://mnes.nic.in/pressreleases/press-release-19112007-3.pdf 826 National Energy Conservation Day, Ministry of Power, (New Delhi), 14 December 2007. Date of Access: 15 December 2007. http://powermin.nic.in/JSP_SERVLETS/jsp/newsdis.jsp?id=358 President Speech on National Energy Conservation Day, (New Delhi), 14 December 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://presidentofindia.nic.in/sp141207.html 827 Prime Minister’s Opening Remarks at the meeting of the Council on Climate Change, (New Delhi), 13 July 2007. Date of Access: 17 December 2007. http://pmindia.nic.in/speech/content.asp?id=561 828 Small Scale Businesses Forestall a Green India, The Washington Post, (Faridabad), 27 December 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2007/12/26/AR2007122602004.html?nav=rss_business 829 Small Scale Businesses Forestall a Green India, The Washington Post, (Faridabad), 27 December 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2007/12/26/AR2007122602004.html?nav=rss_business 830 Government moves to set strict fuel efficiency norms, The Times of India, (New Delhi), 20 October 2007. Date of Access: 19 January 2008. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Govt_moves_to_set_strict_fuel_efficiency_norm s/articleshow/2475532.cms 831 Cars face fuel efficiency test, The Times of India, (New Delhi), 16 August 2007. Date of Access: 19 January 2008. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Cars_face_fuelefficiency_test/articleshow/2283767.cms
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efficiency by 2012 and incentivize such a move.832 The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers have also advocated their role in promoting less intensive energy consumption in the transport sector through fuel efficiency labels on cars for consumers and fleet modernization programmes, emphasizing the need for the Government to incentivize such changes.833 In addition, New Delhi has initiated studies and ad hoc assessments to develop a “public transport sensitive to climate change” plan, investigating strategies including route restrictions and congestion taxes.834 These government initiatives are challenged by critics who note that India’s rising ownership of private vehicles may counter efforts just by the sheer scale of increase in numbers.835 The unveiling of the Tata Nano “cheap” car has been met with growing concerns and criticisms aimed at the Government’s lack of efforts in promoting efficient and reliable public transport as an alternative to increasingly affordable private transport.836 Studies have noted that the taxes imposed on public transport vehicles are higher than private vehicles, suggesting a counter effect to the Government’s promotion of less intensive energy usage.837 Other Government efforts such as the ethanolblended petrol mandate in an earlier law has had limited impacts due to poor coordination of state taxes that have made it more costly to implement.838 A continued debate between the implications of increasing private transport, the role and reliability of public transport systems, and future in alternative energy fuels and implementation of efforts has made the Government’s efforts in transportation sector notable but constrained. The financial and social constraints limiting India’s actions in promoting less intensive energy consumption have also been highlighted in terms of intra832 Petroleum Conservation Research Association Seminar, (Chennai), 6 December 2007. Date of Access: 19 January 2008. http://www.pcra.org/English/transport/chennaitransprot_sem.htm Stress on improving energy efficiency on transport sector, The Hindu (Chennai), 7 December 2007. Date of Access: 19 January 2008. http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/07/stories/2007120758991000.htm 833 Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers Pre Budget Memorandum (Annexure II). Date of Access: 19 January 2008. http://www.siamindia.com/scripts/pre-budgetmemorandum4.aspx 834 Restrict use of cars to cut pollution: Panel, Times of India (New Delhi), 20 December 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Restrict_use_of_cars_to_cut_pollution_Panel/ar ticleshow/2636057.cms 835 New CSE study puts a speed breaker on low-cost small cars, (New Delhi), 3 October 2007. Date of Access: 19 January 2008. http://www.cseindia.org/aboutus/press_releases/press_20071003.htm 836 ‘Flawed transport policy at fault,’ Hindustan Times, (New Delhi), 11 January 2008. Date of Access: 19 January 2008. http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=236e546f-d785-4e35-90046a38102e32b2&ParentID=c3af01f6-97f3-446a-a2aa26e70d476815&&Headline='Flawed+transport+policy+at+fault 837 New CSE study puts a speed breaker on low-cost small cars, (New Delhi), 3 October 2007. Date of Access: 19 January 2008. http://www.cseindia.org/aboutus/press_releases/press_20071003.htm 838 Indian taxes a roadblock to biofuel drive, Reuters, (New Delhi), 14 January 2008. Date of Access: 19 January 2008. http://www.reuters.com/article/GlobalAgricultureandBiofuels08/idUSL1463347120080114
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national equity concerns over the impacts on climate change—with India’s poor bearing a large burden of the proposed impacts and regional conflicts over energy security.839 It is argued that little has been done to educate the rural population in terms of agricultural impacts and urban consumers about energy labeling schemes and incentives to promote less intensive energy products/activities.840 Industries have recognized the possible competitive advantage in the international market in pursuing less energy intensive technologies but have noted their difficulty in attaining such technologies cost effectively and thus support Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal’s statement in giving “more time to industr[ies] to shift to a low carbon economy”.841 Thus, for India, there is a definite desire for reducing energy intensity of both production and consumption, which could also promote India’s economic competitiveness and protect its energy security. However, economic, political, and social constraints have limited execution of such efforts, and the paradoxical desire for India to gradually shift into a less carbon intensive society, while sustaining economic growth and reducing poverty is evident in the national and international level concerns over equity and practical solutions. At the interim phase leading to the G8 Summit in July 2008, India has initiated national level programmes and there is a proposal to develop an action-oriented plan to address climate change in 2008. Yet, there are lingering concerns that the Government has not done enough to ensure that scale of growth does not outweigh energy-efficiency measures. As a result, it is only found to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Aparna Sridhar
Hiding behind the poor, Green Peace India, 13 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.greenpeace.org/india/press/reports/hiding-behind-the-poor 840 Small Scale Businesses Forestall a Green India, The Washington Post, (Faridabad), 27 December 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2007/12/26/AR2007122602004.html?nav=rss_business Govt. must educate farmers about climate change: Pachauri, The Hindu, (New Delhi), 18 December 2007. Date of Access: 22 December 2007. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200712181430.htm 841 Action plan on climate change by 2008: Sibal, The Hindu, (New Delhi), 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/19/stories/2007121956541400.htm
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Mexico
Background Mexico is currently the world’s twelfth largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG), with annual emissions of 525.8 million tonnes per year of CO2 equivalent.842 Long a significant petroleum-exporting country, “soaring internal rates of oil consumption” have led some analysts to project that Mexico could become a net importer of oil within the next five years.843 With this as a backdrop, the current Mexican President Felipe Calderón has made environmental initiatives—with a particular focus on climate change—central to his administration’s mandate.844 On 10 September 2007, President Calderón and the President of India released a joint statement in which they stressed their commitment to working within the sphere of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto protocol. In doing so, the statement highlighted their conviction that the solution to the climate change problem “should not prevent the right to economic and social development.”845 This concern is evident in Mexico’s approach to biofuels, whereby the Calderón administration opposes fuels made from crops otherwise used for food products.846 Nevertheless, since the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm in June 2007, Mexico has undertaken an ambitious programme of climate change-related initiatives, while frequently expressing the urgent requirement to act in order to combat climate change, both domestically and internationally. Indeed, in December 2007, Mexico was praised by GermanWatch in its Climate-Change Performance Index, rising twelve spots from the previous year to a fourth place ranking out of the 56 countries included in the survey.847 Mexico received similar praise for its “more cooperative posture” and “constructive
“Latin America special report: Mexico’s flimsy raft of climate change measures”, ClimateChangeCorp, 16 August 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.climatechangecorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=4897. 843 Clifford Krauss, “Oil-rich nations tapping more of their own resources”, International Herald Tribune, (Paris), 9 December 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=8658965. 844 Alexis Madrigal, “Bali Meeting Ends; Mexico Emerges as a Leader on Climate Change”, Wired News, 14 December 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.wired.com/print/science/planetearth/news/2007/12/mexico_climate. 845 Joint India-Mexico Statement, Office of the President of Mexico, (Mexico), 10 September 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/en/press/?contenido=31729. 846 La Producción De Biocombustibles No Debe Poner En Riesgo El Suministro De Alimentos: Elvira Quesada [Press Release 146/07], SEMARNAT, (Mexico), 27 September 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.SEMARNAT.gob.mx/saladeprensa/boletindeprensa/Pages/bol07-146.aspx. 847 Alexis Madrigal, “Bali Meeting Ends; Mexico Emerges as a Leader on Climate Change”, Wired News, 14 December 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.wired.com/print/science/planetearth/news/2007/12/mexico_climate.
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spirit” displayed at the December 2007 United Nations conference on climate change in Bali.848,849 Among its praised initiatives, Mexico made headlines for its tree-planting campaign designed to combat deforestation and stabilise GHG concentrations.850 In addition, Mexico has been a strong promoter of marketbased approaches to fighting climate change, particularly in the energy sector.851 However, while the Mexican Government has stressed the importance of promoting less emission-intensive energy consumption, few major initiatives have been unveiled since the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007. On balance, the Calderón administration has made noteworthy strides toward meeting the climate change commitments made by the Outreach Five countries at the Heiligendamm Summit. However, as Mexico has yet to establish firm or binding targets for emissions reductions, clean energy production, or increases in energy efficiency, Mexico is designated as having achieved partial compliance with most of its climate change commitments. Team Leader and Analyst: Stephen Brosha
Mexico
Score
2A. Stabilise GHG Concentrations
o
The Calderón administration, while planning to unveil a number of initiatives in its new climate change plan in early 2008, has made noteworthy steps to introduce new and innovative programmes to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations. In addition, the Mexican Government has frequently reiterated its acceptance of the notion made clear in Article 2 of the UNFCCC— that urgent action is necessary “to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.”852
Kateri Jochum, “Bali Talks Must End with Clear Mandate, says Climate Expert”, Deutsche Welle World, (Bonn), 10 December 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2996097,00.html. 849 Fabio Scarpella, “Some Progress, but a Tough Week Remains at Bali Climate Conference”, World Politics Review, 10 December 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articlePrint.aspx?ID=1424. 850 President Calderón at 250 Millionth Tree Planting Event [Speech], Office of the President of Mexico, (Mexico), 23 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/en/press/?contenido=33132. 851 Buscan Países Mesoamericanos Consolidar Un Proceso Fuerte Y Efectivo, A Nivel Mundial, Contra El Cambio Climático [Press Release 193/07], SEMARNAT, (Mexico), 13 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.SEMARNAT.gob.mx/saladeprensa/boletindeprensa/Pages/bol-193.aspx. 852 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Article 2. 1992. Date of Access : 21 January 2008. http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/conveng.pdf.
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In several speeches and press releases since June 2007, both Mexican President Felipe Calderón and Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, Minister of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), have reaffirmed the Government’s position on the urgency of climate change. On 8 June 2007 at the G8 Summit, Calderón stated that “the basic scientific debate appears to have ended: climate change is real, measurable and constitutes one of the greatest challenges facing mankind.”853 Minister Quesada, on 6 November 2007, similarly framed the issue of fighting climate change as a question of “how we can save the human species and the planet”,854 and linked climate change to Mexico’s national security.855 Further, the Mexican Government has continually reaffirmed its commitment to follow the principles of the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol, to which it was a non-Annex 1 party.856 While Mexico has yet to tie itself to binding targets for emissions reductions, the Mexican Government aspires to reduce Mexico’s overall carbon emissions equivalent by 126 million tonnes (24 percent of total emissions) by 2014.857 While Ned Hulme of the Centre for Clean Air Policy believes that Mexico’s climate change initiatives will likely reach a more modest emissions reduction of 110 million tonnes by 2020,858 such a reduction would, by either estimate, far exceed that asked of developing countries by the 2007 Human Development Report, in which the UNDP suggested a target of 20 percent by 2050.859 In combating climate change, the Calderón administration has chosen to focus particularly on market-driven solutions, working through international frameworks. 860 In particular, as of 13 December 2007, Mexico had 99 projects—up from 91 in July 2007—registered through the United Nations
853 President Calderón’s Intervention at Group of 8 Summit [Speech], Office of the President of Mexico, 8 June 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/en/press/?contenido=30551. 854 Palabras del Secretario de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Ing. Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, durante la entrega de reconocimientos del programa voluntario fe contabilidad y reporte de gases de efecto invernadero en México [Speech], SEMARNAT, (Mexico), 6 November 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.SEMARNAT.gob.mx/saladeprensa/discursoyentrevistas/Pages/plt071106.aspx. 855 El medio ambiente, asunto de seguridad nacional: Elvira Quesada [Press Release 129/07], SEMARNAT, (Mexico), 4 September 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.SEMARNAT.gob.mx/saladeprensa/boletindeprensa/Pages/bol07-131.aspx. 856 Joint India-Mexico Statement, Office of the President of Mexico, (Mexico), 10 September 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/en/press/?contenido=31729. 857 “Latin America special report: Mexico’s flimsy raft of climate change measures”, ClimateChangeCorp, 16 August 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.climatechangecorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=4897. 858 Alexis Madrigal, “Bali Meeting Ends; Mexico Emerges as a Leader on Climate Change”, Wired News, 14 December 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.wired.com/print/science/planetearth/news/2007/12/mexico_climate. 859 United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2007, (New York), p. 15. 860 Buscan Países Mesoamericanos Consolidar Un Proceso Fuerte Y Efectivo, A Nivel Mundial, Contra El Cambio Climático [Press Release 193/07], SEMARNAT, (Mexico), 13 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.SEMARNAT.gob.mx/saladeprensa/boletindeprensa/Pages/bol-193.aspx.
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Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), ranking Mexico fourth globally in terms of the number of such projects.861 Environment Minister Quesada has stressed the importance of the private sector in Mexico’s plans to combat climate change, particularly in areas of innovative technology.862 With regard to the notion that developing and developed countries have “common but differentiated responsibilities” in the fight against climate change, Environment Minister Quesada stated in a speech on 6 November 2007, that “the inactions of other countries will not be a brake” to Mexico’s actions.863 Rather, the Mexican Government is taking the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities primarily to create international mechanisms to facilitate financial and technological assistance to developing countries in order to improve climate change initiatives. To that effect, Mexico called for the creation of an international fund which would allow developing countries increased access to technology and research tools related to climate change mitigation and adaptation in November 2007.864 However, aside from calling upon developed countries to contribute, Mexico itself has not committed any funds or other support for the creation of such a fund. As part of its efforts to help stabilise GHG concentrations, Mexico (working within a broader campaign coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme) embarked on a well-publicized campaign to plant 250 million trees in the country by the end of the year, a target that was achieved in midDecember.865 The purpose behind this reforestation campaign was twofold: to contribute to the stabilisation of GHG concentrations by creating more carbon sinks, and to mitigate and adapt to impacts of climate change by offering protection against flooding and drought.866 While the Mexican Government’s new “Pro-Tree Program” is designed to fund environmental services for forest
Buscan Países Mesoamericanos Consolidar Un Proceso Fuerte Y Efectivo, A Nivel Mundial, Contra El Cambio Climático [Press Release 193/07], SEMARNAT, (Mexico), 13 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.SEMARNAT.gob.mx/saladeprensa/boletindeprensa/Pages/bol-193.aspx. 862 Palabras del Secretario de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Ing. Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, durante la inauguración del XV Congreso Internacional Ambiental de ConiecoEnviro-Pro “Cambio Climático-Vicsón Empresarial [Speech], SEMARNAT, (Mexico), 16 October 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.SEMARNAT.gob.mx/saladeprensa/discursoyentrevistas/Pages/plt071016.aspx. 863 Palabras del Secretario de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Ing. Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, durante la entrega de reconocimientos del programa voluntario fe contabilidad y reporte de gases de efecto invernadero en México [Speech], SEMARNAT, (Mexico), 6 November 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.SEMARNAT.gob.mx/saladeprensa/discursoyentrevistas/Pages/plt071106.aspx. 864 Palabras del Secretario de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Ing. Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, durante la entrega de reconocimientos del programa voluntario fe contabilidad y reporte de gases de efecto invernadero en México [Speech], SEMARNAT, (Mexico), 6 November 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.SEMARNAT.gob.mx/saladeprensa/discursoyentrevistas/Pages/plt071106.aspx. 865 President Calderón at 250 Millionth Tree Planting Event [Speech], Office of the President of Mexico, (Mexico), 23 December 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/en/press/?contenido=33132. 866 Marla Dickerson, “Seeds of a dream yield holiday cheer,” Los Angeles Times, 22 December 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fimextrees22dec22,1,4482943.story?coll=la-headlines-business.
861
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and woodland management,867 Cecilia Navarro, spokesperson for Greenpeace in Mexico, criticized the reforestation programme for being carried out “helter skelter” with trees “being planted anywhere” without due planning or longterm monitoring mechanisms in place.868 In addition to the tree-planting campaign, the Mexican Government, on 30 August 2007, committed nearly 500 million pesos (US$ 45 million) to bolster natural resources management in the state of Nayarit, including over 80 million pesos directed toward sustainable forestry.869 Along with initiatives in the forestry sector, Mexico has demonstrated a commitment to improving the country’s ability to adapt to climate change through the protection and rehabilitation of at-risk ecosystems. After a meeting with former US Vice-President Al Gore, President Calderón announced on 31 July 2007 that his Government would create an additional 3 million hectares of nature reserves in Mexico, an increase of almost 14 percent.870 Additionally, SEMARNAT and other Mexican Government ministries, including the Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaría de Marina; SEMAR), started negotiations in July 2007 to design a national programme to protect reefs.871 On the political front, Mexican representatives to the December 2007 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali voiced requests to have references to adaptation included in the preamble to joint conference statements.872 On the whole, Mexico has clearly demonstrated a commitment to stabilise GHG concentrations through an array of initiatives. However, in working toward the stated goals of the Outreach Five, Mexico’s climate change plans have been somewhat lacking in focus. Nevertheless, the country’s recent political and practical initiatives geared toward mitigation and adaptation, though far from complete, are a positive indication of Mexico’s commitment to preventing dangerous consequences of anthropogenic climate change. This being said, Mexico has not set, or become subject to, binding targets on the reduction of GHG emissions. While it has recognized and reiterated the
867 Message from President Calderón at the End of the Private Meeting he Held with Mr. Albert Gore, Former Vice-President of the United States of America [Press Release], Office of the President of Mexico, 31 July 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/en/press/?contenido=31224. 868 “Mexico leads the ‘green’ charge,” World News Australia, 24 December 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://news.sbs.com.au/worldnewsaustralia/mexico_leads_the_39green39_charge_536793. 869 Firman SEMARNAT y el Gobierno de Nayarit convenio por más de 489 millones de pesos [Press Release 129/07], SEMARNAT, (Mexico), 30 August 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.SEMARNAT.gob.mx/saladeprensa/boletindeprensa/Pages/bol07129.aspx. 870 Message from President Calderón at the End of the Private Meeting he Held with Mr. Albert Gore, Former Vice-President of the United States of America [Press Release], Office of the President of Mexico, (Mexico), 31 July 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/en/press/?contenido=31224. 871 Diseñan Plan Nacional de Protección a los Arrecifes [Press Release 097/07], SEMARNAT, (Mexico), 11 July 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.SEMARNAT.gob.mx/saladeprensa/boletindeprensa/Pages/bol07-097.aspx. 872 “COP 13 and COP/MOP 3 Highlights: Saturday, 8 December 2007”, Earth Negotiations Bulletin, International Institute for Sustainable Development, 10 December 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12349e.html.
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urgent requirement for action on behalf of developed and developing countries, Mexico has implemented few major policies and has not allocated significant funding to reducing GHG concentrations since July 2007. As a result, it is only found to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Stephen Brosha
Mexico
Score
2B. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production
0
Mexico approach to energy production is broadly laid out in its Programa Sectorial de Energía 2007-2012 and its Programa Nacional de Infraestructura 2007-2012 presented in November and July 2007, respectively. The Programa Sectorial de Energía focuses on introducing policies to continue the search for and use of a supply of energy that reduces its environmental impact and operates within international standards of quality; in addition the programme aims to diversify primary sources of energy in Mexico (see Objetivo II.2).873 A major component of these initiatives is to increase the use of natural gas, renewable energy sources and bio fuels.874 As Georgina Kessel Martínez, Mexico’s Secretary of Energy, states, the document’s aim is “to intensely promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in order to reduce the environmental impact that the use of fossil fuels creates.”875 Due to Mexico’s economic and energy dependence on its petroleum industry, government initiatives must not only focus on renewable sources of energy, but also on lowering the emissions intensity of fossil fuel-based energy production. In August 2007, President Calderón admitted that the biggest challenge to developing a strategy for energy efficiency was reducing the carbon emissions associated with state-owned companies. 876 In fact, the Government has set PEMEX, the Mexican state’s petroleum and gas extraction and production company, five percent efficiency improvement
“Resumen Ejecutivo” Programa Sectorial de Energía 2007-2012. SENER, (Mexico). Date of Access: 12 December 2007. http://www.sener.gob.mx/webSener/res/0/Programapercent20Sectorialpercent20depercent 20Energiapercent202007-2012.pdf p. 5. 874 Programa Sectorial de Energía 2007-2012. SENER, (Mexico). Date of Access: 20 January 2008. http://www.sener.gob.mx/webSener/res/0/Programapercent20Sectorialpercent20depercent 20Energiapercent202007-2012.pdf 875 Statement by Georgina Kessel Martínez, Secretaria de Energía, 28 November 2007. Programa Sectorial de Energía 2007-2012, p. 4. SENER, (Mexico). Date of Access: 12 December 2007. http://www.sener.gob.mx/webSener/res/0/Programapercent20Sectorialpercent20depercent 20Energiapercent202007-2012.pdf 876 “Latin America special report: Mexico’s flimsy raft of climate change measures”, ClimateChangeCorp, 16 August 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.climatechangecorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=4897.
873
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targets for its refineries and committed to providing CHP facilities. 877 While progress on this target is unclear, Estrategía IV 1.5 of the Programa Sectoral de Energía aims to increase the availability of PEMEX-produced ultralowsulfur combustible fuels through the construction of new treatment plants, the modernization and incorporation of existing refineries into the existing National System of Refineries.878 This commitment is reiterated in the Programa Nacional de Infraestructura 2007-2012.879 In addition, in an effort to reduce fugitive emissions, PEMEX has undertaken capacity building designed to train a technical team from July to December with the capacity to keep methane and CH4 levels low on PEMEX’s main sites.880 Progress on this project is unknown. In addition to targeting PEMEX, the Mexican Government is actively seeking to diversify sources of primary energy. 881 As a result of Mexico’s declining oil production and increased environmental initiatives of the Government, crude oil’s share of energy production and usage in absolute numbers will be reduced and replaced mainly with natural gas.882 According to the Balance Nacional de Energía 2006, crude oils contribution to primary energy production decreased 2percent from 2005-06 and natural gas’ proportion increased 2.2percent.883 This trend is expected to continue into 2008.884 The provision of natural gas in Mexico will grow at a rate of 3.3 per cent for the next 10 years that will allow it to cover 85percent of national demand for electricity.885 Mexico has also formed an agreement with Qatar for the provision of 70,000 tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year from 2009
877 “Latin America special report: Mexico’s flimsy raft of climate change measures”, ClimateChangeCorp, 16 August 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.climatechangecorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=4897. 878 Programa Sectorial de Energía 2007-2012. SENER, (Mexico). p.44. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.sener.gob.mx/webSener/res/0/Programapercent20Sectorialpercent20depercent 20Energiapercent202007-2012.pdf 879 “Visión Sectorial: Infraestructura de Refinación, Gas y Petroquimica” Programa Naciónal de Infraestructura, (Mexico). Date of Access : 27 December 2007. http://www.infraestructura.gob.mx/index.php?page=estrategias-y-metas-10 880 Methane to Markets Partnership (M2M): PEMEX Working Plan, 2007, M2M, (Aberdeen), Oil and gas subcommittee meeting, 1 May 2007. Date of Access : 22 January 2008. http://www.methanetomarkets.org/events/2007/oil-gas/docs/mexico_statement.pdf 881 Programa Sectorial de Energía 2007-2012. SENER, (Mexico). Date of Access : 27 December 2007. http://www.sener.gob.mx/webSener/res/0/Programapercent20Sectorialpercent20depercent 20Energiapercent202007-2012.pdf 882 Discurso pronunciado por la Dra. Georgina Kessel Martínez, secretaría de Energía, Durante “Presentación de la Información Oficial del Sector Energético: una visión de futuro”, en el Museo Tecnológico de la CFE, 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 13 December 2007. http://www.sener.gob.mx/webSener/portal/index.jsp?id=285 883 Balance Nacional de Energía 2006, SENER, (Mexico). Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.sener.gob.mx/webServer/res/PR_y_DT/Balancepercent20Nacionalpercent20de percent20Energiapercent202006.pdf. 884 Balance Nacional de Energía 2006, SENER, (Mexico). Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.sener.gob.mx/webServer/res/PR_y_DT/Balancepercent20Nacionalpercent20de percent20Energiapercent202006.pdf. 885 Discurso pronunciado por la Dra. Georgina Kessel Martínez, secretaría de Energía, Durante “Presentación de la Información Oficial del Sector Energético: una visión de futuro”, en el Museo Tecnológico de la CFE, (Mexico), 11 December 2007. Date of Access : 13 December 2007. http://www.sener.gob.mx/webSener/portal/index.jsp?id=285.
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onwards. Under the agreement, Qatargas will ship the LNG into the Altamira Terminal located in Gulf of Mexico to be used in national power generation.886 Diversifying the sources of primary energy also relies on the increased use of renewable forms of energy. While hydrocarbons remain the principle source of primary energy production in Mexico, the uncertain future of its oil industry has lead to increased interest in renewables by policymaker.887 Within the next eight years Kessel has stated that the 33 percent expected increase in electricity generating capacity would be realised by the opening of new electricity generating plants that consider more intensive use of renewable energies.888 Wind energy factors highly into Mexico’s initiatives to utilize more renewable sources of energy. According to Jordy Herrera Flores, Sub-secretary of Energy Planning and Technology Development speaking at the opening of Mexico’s first wind turbine production factory, Mexico’s wind energy generating capacity currently exceeds 10,000MW.889 The Mexican Government, in conjunction with the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank, have undertaken the construction of 3000 wind turbines across seven wind farms in and around La Venta and La Ventosa. As of early November 2007, the plan was 80 percent complete.890 Hydroelectricity is also a source of energy being exploited by the Mexican Government. Hydroelectric dams figure highly into Mexico’s involvement in the Plan Puebla Panama. Currently, more than seventy dams are being explored in the Chiapas regions and a project is underway to dam the Usumacinta River between Mexico and Guatemala to provide electricity to much of the surrounding area. 891 In addition a hydroelectric centre in La Yesca has just been opened and was lauded by Secretary of Energy Kessel for its complementary investment scheme of both public and private funds. 892 The Mexican Government has also demonstrated a commitment to promoting research and development for the technology necessary in mitigating
Dylan Bowman, “Qatar to supply Mexico with gas,” Arabianbusiness.com. 23 December 2007. Date of Access : 4 January 2008. http://www.arabianbusiness.com/506727-qatar-tosupply-mexico-with-gas?ln=en. 887 “Mexico Lower House Approves Biofuel Bill,” Global Insight, 27 December 2007. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. http://www.globalinsight.com/SDA/SDADetail9105.htm 27/12/07. 888 Discurso pronunciado por la Dra. Georgina Kessel Martínez, secretaría de Energía, Durante “Presentación de la Información Oficial del Sector Energético: una visión de futuro”, en el Museo Tecnológico de la CFE, (Mexico), 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 13 December 2007. http://www.sener.gob.mx/webSener/portal/index.jsp?id=285. 889 Communication Social Boletín de Prensa, SENER, (Mexico), 10 January 2008. Date of Access: 20 January 2008. www.sener.gob.mx/webSener/portal.index.jsp?id=307. 890 Sylvia Sanchez, “Grassroots Resistance: Contesting Windmill Construction in Oaxaca,” National Wind Watch, 8 November 2007. Date of Access : 22 January 2008. http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/11/08/grassroots-resistance-contesting-wind-millconstruction-in-oaxaca/. 891 Sylvia Sanchez, “Grassroots Resistance: Contesting Windmill Construction in Oaxaca,” National Wind Watch, 8 November 2007. Date of Access : 22 January 2008. http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/11/08/grassroots-resistance-contesting-wind-millconstruction-in-oaxaca/. 892 Discurso de la Dra. Georgina Kessel, secretaria de Energía, durante el inicio de obras de la presa “La Yesca”, en Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco, SENER, (Mexico), 22 January 2008. Date of Access: 23 January 2008. http://www.sener.gob.mx/webSener/portal/index.jsp?id=309.
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environmental damage in the energy sector, improving emissions monitoring, and a commitment to deepening the sensitisation of the population as a whole to environmental issues (stated in Estrategia IV 1.4 of the Programa Sectoral de Energía).893 President Calderón committed to lobbying Congress for an increase of 5,500 million pesos for research and development in 2008 in addition to the creation of two funds for petroleum research and the search for new sources of clean energy. 894 Another measure expected in 2008 is the completion of the Programa Especial de Cambio Climatico, and its integration into the Programa Nacional de Desarrollo 2007-2012.895 Not all progress is in the areas of renewable energy are as positive. In September 2007, President Calderón vetoed the Bioenergy Law (Ley de Promoción y Desarrollo de los Bioenergéticos) passed by Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies in April 2007 that encouraged production and use of bio fuels. While Article 4 of the law was concerned with environmental quality in the production and use of bio fuels and compliance with Mexico’s international environmental commitments896, the law only signals the approval of a basic regulatory framework for bio fuels as a new stimulus for the sector. More specific regulations may still be needed to establish a structure of fiscal incentives to encourage bio fuel production.897 President Calderón also argued that the law focused too intently on the use of corn and ethanol without concurrent promotion of new production technologies for “secondgeneration” biofuels. 898 The Mexican Government has taken steps to complying with its commitment to promoting less emission-intensive energy production both in reducing the balance of hydrocarbons and by increasing the efficiency of their power stations, and have expressed a concern for the environment in all of their energy reforms and policy initiatives. Kessel’s statements show a consistent concern for the environment and objectives for pursuing the use of more clean
Programa Sectorial de Energía 2007-2016, SENER, (Mexico). Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.sener.gob.mx/webSener/res/0/Programapercent20Sectorialpercent20depercent 20Energiapercent202007-2012.pdf p.44. 894 Antimio Cruz, “Calderón apostará por ciencia y tecnología,” 23 October 2007. Date of Access : 22 January 2008. http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/prensa/ultimasnoticias/?contenido=32304&imprimir=true. 895 Karla Maria Sosa, “El Programa Especial de Cambio Climatico completa la participación de toda la sociedad: Elvira Quesada,” Planeta Azul: periodismo ambiental, (Mexico), 26 December 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007.http://www.planetaazul.com.mx/www/2007/12/26/el-programa-especial-de-cambioclimatico-contempla-la-participacion-de-toda-la-sociedad-elvira-quesada/. 896 La Ley de Promoción y Desarrollo de los Bioenergéticos a cargo del Diputado Cruz López Aguilar, del Grupo Parlamentario del PRI, (Mexico). Date of Access: 4 January 2008.http://www.conae.gob.mx/work/sites/CONAE/resources/LocalContent/4506/2/leybio energeticos.pdf. 897 “Mexico Lower House Approves Biofuel Bill,” Global Insight, 27 December 2007. http://www.globalinsight.com/SDA/SDADetail9105.htm 27/12/07. Date of Access: 31 December 2007. 898 B. Ulloa, “Calderón veta proyecto ley de bioenergéticas,” Olganza Weblog Business, 3 September 2007. Date of Access: 23 January 2008. http://olganza.com/2007/09/03/calderon-veta-proyecto-ley-de-bioenergeticos/
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and environmentally friendly fuels. 899 In addition President Calderón is at the forefront of encouraging investment in new technologies for clean energy production. 900 However, Mexico has not complied fully with this commitment. Some concerns include a lack of recognisable efforts to include carbon capture and storage into their environmental initiatives and very little initiative towards solar energy, arguably a huge potential for Mexico; while still a miniscule percent of total primary energy production, the use of coal in energy production continues to increase.901 Mexico’s efforts to reduced emissions intensity in the energy sector may also be hindered by economics; especially in the electrical sector the Government is committed to producing energy at the lowest cost under the Law of the Public Service of Electrical Energy (Ley del Servicio Público de Energía Eléctrica).902 This may not ensure the use of renewable or clean energy. It is yet to be seen whether Mexico’s initiatives with regard to this commitment, and as a result, it was only found to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Jessica Toale
Mexico
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2C. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Consumption 0 During the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007, Mexico recognized the need to not only curb the carbon footprint of its country through supply-side measures but also the need to address emissions associated with energy use. By creating incentives for the energy and housing industry, new transport expansion measures, and a new energy plan that is part of the national development plan, Mexico is on the way to reaching its commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy consumption. On 24 August 2007, at the Foro Sociedad y Cambio Climático organized by the Ministries of Environment and External Affairs, the under-secretary of planning and political environment, Fernando Tudela Abad, said that the present administration was studying plans to instigate fiscal incentives for projects using sustainable forms of energy, allow Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) to have the means to improve its energy efficiency, and to reduce
Discurso pronunciado por la Dra. Georgina Kessel Martínez, secretaría de Energía, Durante “Presentación de la Información Oficial del Sector Energético: una visión de futuro”, en el Museo Tecnológico de la CFE, (Mexico), 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 13 December 2007. http://www.sener.gob.mx/webSener/portal/index.jsp?id=285. 900 Communication Social Boletín de Prensa, SENER, (Mexico), 10 January 2008. Date of Access: 20 January 2008. www.sener.gob.mx/webSener/portal.index.jsp?id=307. 901 Balance Nacional de Energía 2006, SENER, (Mexico). http://www.sener.gob.mx/webServer/res/PR_y_DT/Balancepercent20Nacionalpercent20de percent20Energiapercent202006.pdf. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. 902 Discurso de la Doctora Georgina Kessel, Sectretaria de Energía, durante su comparencia ante la Comoisión de Recursos Hidraúlicos en el Senado, SENER, (Mexico), 5 December 2007. Date of Access: 23 January 2008. http://www.sener.gob.mx/webSener/portal/index.jsp?id=284.
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the use of combustibles. Going along with these measures, Mexico would support the use of thermoelectricity with renewable sources, cancel subsidies for the consumption of energy, and promote the production of low-carbon energy aimed to promote public transportation.903 Mexico has been keen on investing in public transportation in what is seen as the “rebirth” of the railroad system. According to the Ministry of Transportation, this initiative will avoid the emission of 57 000 tons of contaminants as well as serve 145 millions passengers a year. New suburban railroads should be functioning by the year 2010-2011.904 In addition, on 4 January 2008, President Calderon announced that from the eight railroads currently in operation the system would grow to 18 routes by 2012.905 The expansion of the railroad system is a significant measure in attempting to address the climate impact of domestic transport while being supportive of the Mexican economy and the livelihoods of its citizens. On 28 November 2007, Mexico released its Energy plan 2007-2012. In this plan, Mexico puts forward different strategies to be adopted by the Government over this five year period. These include working with commercial and development banks in order to provide financing for programmes that are energy efficient and contribute to the decrease of the effects of climate change, increasing the financing for the replacement of light bulbs in residential housing, refrigerators, air conditioning systems, and heating systems with substitutes that are more energy efficient. According to the plan, the energy consumption of federal offices and buildings will also be addressed and made to comply with existing environmental regulations. Education programmes and the standardization of the labelling of energy efficient products are also measures intended to help the consumer more climate-friendly choices. The report stresses an inter-institutional approach in order to maximize the results of these programmes.906 Notwithstanding these concrete measures, the report fails to offer precise timelines or dates by which these ideas will be put in place. The announcement of the new railroad system is a positive contribution to less emission-intensive transportation. Although many announcements on Government plans for improving consumption have been made, there remains little evidence that actual measures have been put in place. This lack of concrete action has brought criticism from Greenpeace demanding that there
Motivar la Participacion social en las Estrategias de Cambio Climatico, Objecto Del Gobierno Federal, SEMARNAT, (Mexico), 24 August 2007. Date of Access: 11 December 2007. http://www.SEMARNAT.gob.mx/saladeprensa/boletindeprensa/Pages/bol07126.aspx. 904 Impulsa sct el transporte masivo de pasajeros por ferrocarril, SCT, (Mexico), 11 July 2007. Date of Access: 23 January 2008. http://www.sct.gob.mx/index.php?id=24&tx_ttnews[pointer]=35&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=219 &tx_ttnews[backPid]=20&cHash=583702722f. 905 El futuro del transporte en México tendrá que ser multimodal: Luis Téllez, SCT, (Mexico), 4 January 2008. Date of Access: 23 January 2008. http://www.sct.gob.mx/index.php?id=13&tx_ttnews[pointer]=11&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=313& tx_ttnews[backPid]=35&cHash=575b287075. 906 Programa Sectorial de Energia, SENER, (Mexico), 28 November 2007. Date of Access: 2 January 2008. http://www.sener.gob.mx/webSener/portal/index.jsp?id=57
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be more action and less talk.907 Mexico’s Green Party has given a positive account of the first year of this Government’s administration, but also wishes to see more concrete action in 2008.908 Considering that the Government’s plan is over the next five years, such measures could be implemented prior to the next summit. For now, Mexico is only found to be in partial compliance with this commitment.
907 Greenpeace exige más acciones y menos discursos para combatir el cambio climático, Greenpeace, (Mexico), 19 December 2007. Date of Access: 25 January 2008. http://www.greenpeace.org/mexico/news/greenpeace-exige-mas-acciones-2. 908 Como positiva califica pvem la gestión del primer año de gobierno de Felipe Calderón, Partido Verde Ecologista de Mexico, 30 November 2007. Date of Access: 26 January 2008. http://www.pvem.org.mx/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1288&Itemi d=43
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South Africa
Background While the African National Congress (ANC), South Africa’s ruling party has announced plans to reduce GHG emissions, adopt clean technologies and support climate adaptation, different levels of commitment and interest across ministries leaves many questions about implementation unanswered. In December 2007, it passed a resolution on climate change at its national conference in Polokwane. In the resolution, the ANC announced that, for the first time, South Africa will develop specific emission reduction targets in order to “participate in sharing the burden with the global community”.909 The resolution gave several recommendations on how to achieve these reductions, including calls for improved energy efficiency in all sectors, the diversification of energy sources and the exploration of carbon capture and storage methods and other innovative clean technologies.910 It further mentions the importance of building capacity to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change. By extension, the resolution gave positive signals with respect to all three G8 commitments analyzed in this report. This move follows on to the Government’s commitments at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali 3-14 December 2007, where it announced that, together with other large developing countries, it is ready to take “measurable, reportable and verifiable mitigation action” in order to combat climate change.911 It therefore seems that South Africa has now committed to farreaching, decisive and factual policy responses to the threats posed by climate change.912 Yet, it remains to be seen, whether and how these major developments of late 2007 are transformed into Government policy. This is critical, particularly as South Africa’s efforts to deal with climate change to date have been humbled by inconsistencies across issue areas and government ministries. While, for instance, an Industrial Biofuels Strategy has been drafted with targets for an appropriate biofuels share of all liquid fuels supply, this has not been integrated into the national planning of the Master Plan for Liquid Fuels that
Climate change policy should be applauded, Independent Online, 23 December 2007. Date of Access: 08 January 2008. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3054&art_id=nw20071223103744686C 282357 910 Statement by Marthinus van Schalkwyk in response to media enquiries regarding the governing parties Polokwane resolution on climate change, DEAT, 23 December 2007. Date of Access: 02 January 2008. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07122410451001.htm 911 SA ‘stands ready’ to deliver on climate change, Mail & Guardian Online, (Johannesburg). 12 December 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/&a rticleid=327554&referrer=RSS 912 ANC resolution will allow government to set policy, Legalbrief Environmental, 08 January 2008. Date of Access: 08 January 2008. http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=2008010808274088
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has been developed at the same time.913 And, while the Minister for the Environment Marthinus van Schalkwyk has played a successful role in giving positive signals about South Africa’s willingness to address climate change, particularly in international fora, he struggled to get his own fellow Cabinet members “to take the issue seriously”.914 Overall, the analysis finds that the Government has introduced many positive climate initiatives, but questions remain about how and whether they will be implemented to achieve the desired result. Team Leader and Analyst: Miriam Prys
South Africa
Score
2A. Stabilise GHG Concentrations
o
Until very recently, South Africa had avoided formulating both concrete reduction targets for domestic and global GHG concentrations and the level of global temperature rise it deemed acceptable. Climate change was not considered a policy area of high importance in most Government departments.915 However, in the run-up to the Bali conference, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, South Africa’s Minister for the Environment, endorsed the view that emissions have to peak in the next 10 to 15 years, and then be reduced by half of the 2000 levels by 2050.916 Nevertheless, he stated that the majority of these reductions would have to come from developed countries, by at least 25 percent to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 or 60 percent to 80 percent by 2050.917 In terms of tolerable warming, the Government has affirmed that an increase of 1 to 2 degrees Celsius in global temperature above 1990 levels would pose a significant risk to many unique and threatened systems, including biodiversity hotspots in South Africa.918 Subsequently, these statements recognizing the urgency of the climate problem and the need for global action were followed by commitments to
913 Energy Security Master Plan - Liquid Fuels, Department of Minerals and Energy, (Pretoria), 12 September 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.info.gov.za/gazette/notices/2007/30285.pdf 914 Report card: Cabinet ministers from A to G, Mail and Guardian (Johannesburg), 21 December 2007. Date of Access: 08 January 2008. http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=328230&area=/insight/insight__national/ 915 Climate action is affordable, DEAT, 06 November 2007. Date of Access: 29 December 2007. http://www.deat.gov.za/NewsMedia/MedStat/2007Nov6_1/06112007.html 916 Climate action is affordable, Speech by Marthinus von Schalkwyk, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, at the Cape Times Environmental Awards, 06 November 2007. Date of Access: 21 February 2007. http://www.deat.gov.za/NewsMedia/MedStat/2007Nov6_1/06112007.html 917 Climate action is affordable, Speech by Marthinus von Schalkwyk, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, at the Cape Times Environmental Awards, 06 November 2007 http://www.deat.gov.za/NewsMedia/MedStat/2007Nov6_1/06112007.html 918 Statement by Marthinus van Schalkwyk in response to the release of the IPCC’S Fourth Assessment Report, DEAT, 18 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07111911151001.htm
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national action. On 12 December 2007 at the Bali conference, the Government committed to take a “pro-active approach” towards addressing climate change.919 As a signatory of the Bali Action Plan, South Africa committed “to doing more to combat climate change and to taking measurable, reportable and verifiable mitigation action”.920 On 19 December, the ANC, South Africa’s governing party, adopted the Polokwane Resolution on Climate Change at its annual conference which reiterated this commitment to combating climate change. The resolution specified some elements of a future climate change policy, such as integrating climate change considerations into sustainable development strategies, integrated energy planning, transport policy and industrial policy, the goal of zero waste production, energy efficiency improvements, the diversification of energy sources, the introduction of a carbon dioxide price, and the allocation of additional resources to research and development. This document includes (comparatively) far-reaching statements, obliging South Africa to set a specific reduction target for its domestic emissions in the near future.921 However, while the resolution suggests a major attitudinal shift within the ANC and has considerable symbolic importance, these policy suggestions have yet to be converted into actual government plans or programmes aimed at cutting domestic GHG emissions.922 Apart from the Polokwane Resolution, South Africa also developed and implemented various climate-change related projects, whose final reports are expected to be published in either 2008 or 2009.923 Among the key initiatives is the refinement of department sector plans within the National Climate Change Response Strategy. The Departments of Water Affairs and Forestry, Agriculture, and Science and Technology have, for instance, integrated strategies to adapt to climate change with their research, development and implementation frameworks.924 Further, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) has allocated funds to the further development of the National Climate Change Policy and, for instance, the South African Climate Action Network’s (SACAN) Climate Change Civil Society Capacity Development Project whose aim is to raise public awareness about climate
919 Speech by Marthinus van Schalkwyk during the Opening Ceremony of Wild Talk Africa 2007, DEAT, 27 August 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.polity.org.za/article.php?a_id=115626. 920 SA 'stands ready' to deliver on climate change, Mail & Guardian Online, (Johannesburg). 12 December 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/&a rticleid=327554&referrer=RSS 921 Statement by Marthinus van Schalkwyk in response to media enquiries regarding the governing parties Polokwane resolution on climate change, DEAT, 23 December 2007. Date of Access: 05 January 2008. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07122410451001.htm 922 Statement by Marthinus van Schalkwyk in response to media enquiries regarding the governing parties Polokwane resolution on climate change, DEAT, 23 December 2007. Date of Access: 02 January 2008. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07122410451001.htm 923 Dept to Finalise National Climate Policy, BuaNews (Tshwane), 6 June 2007. Date of Access: 02 January 2008. http://allafrica.com/stories/200706060828.html 924 Roadmap for National Climate Policy, DEAT, 5 June 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2008. http://www.environment.gov.za/HotIssues/2007/nationalenvironmentweek/Roadmapperce nt20forpercent20Nationalpercent percent20Climatepercent20Policy.doc.
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change and the actions that can be taken by individuals, institutions and authorities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.925 Again, however, none of these initiatives have been completed as final results are only to be expected in the next few months. In addition, DEAT launched the first ever South African carbon disclosure project report on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) top 40 listed companies in November 2007.926 As part of an effort to further increase carbon disclosures, it is currently working on the South African GHG Inventory, expected to be completed in November 2008. This project, which is carried out by the Energy Research Centre at the University of Cape Town, has the aim to create an emission inventory system that uses broadly agreed data collection and generation methodologies to provide emission information of a quality that complies with both UNFCCC and local requirements.927 And significantly, Business Unity South Africa, a national business association, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the DEAT that it will work with the department and encourage its affiliates to provide GHG emission data voluntarily for the establishment of a national inventory.928 The inventory supplements ongoing efforts by the DEAT to improve the exchange of information and cooperation on air quality between government at the municipal, provincial and national level.929 The Government has also placed emphasis on climate adaptation in its policy responses to climate change. The Polokwane Resolution proposed building capacity “to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change, most importantly in the roll-out of basic services, infrastructure planning, agriculture, biodiversity, water resource management, and in the health sector”.930 Three areas have received attention, conservation of biodiversity, improving the management of coastal areas, and combating deforestation. On 5 June 2007, the Government announced in its Roadmap for a National Climate Change Policy the development of a National Adaptation Plan.931
National Assembly, Question No. 1486, Internal Question Paper No. 33 of 2007, 14 September 2007. Date of Access: 02 January 2008. http://www.environment.gov.za/ParliamentUpdate/2007/aug/NW2247E-04102007.doc 926 Media Alert, DEAT, 22 November 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007.http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07112208451001.htm 927 National Assembly, Question No. 1312, Internal Question Paper No. 27 of 2007, 17 August 2007. Date of Access: 02 January 2008. http://www.environment.gov.za/ParliamentUpdate/2007/aug/NW1872E-19092007.doc 928 National Assembly, Question No. 1312, Internal Question Paper No. 27 of 2007, 17 August 2007. Date of Access: 02 January 2008. http://www.environment.gov.za/ParliamentUpdate/2007/aug/NW1872E-19092007.doc 929 Second Air Quality Governance Lekgotla to Commence on 8 October 2007 DEAT, 02 October 2007. Date of Access: 02 January 2008. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07100310451001.htm 930 Statement by Marthinus van Schalkwyk in response to media enquiries regarding the governing parties Polokwane resolution on climate change, DEAT, 23 December 2007. Date of Access: 02 January 2008. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07122410451001.htm 931 Roadmap for National Climate Policy, DEAT, 5 June 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2008. http://www.environment.gov.za/HotIssues/2007/nationalenvironmentweek/Roadmap percent20for percent20National percent20Climate percent20Policy.doc.
925
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While no specific details of the plan have been released, it has become clear that the key concern of the South African Government so far has been the potential impact of a destruction of ecosystems and biodiversity on South Africa’s tourist industry, which accounts for approximately 8 per cent of its GDP.932 Thus, conservation management has been the main leg to South Africa’s adaptation measures. As an example, SANParks, the national park service, has taken on the management of 100,000 hectares of indigenous forests in the Garden Route in 2007.933 Secondly, on 31 July 2007, the Government cabinet approved the Integrated Coastal Management Bill, aimed at improving the management of coastal resources by promoting social equity and the protection of the natural environment.934 In addition, the DEAT has announced increased investments into the South African Weather Service (SAWS) to improve weather forecasts, and prevent natural disasters, particularly in the more rural areas in its Climate Change Policy Roadmap.935 Desertification is the third key aspect of South Africa’s adaptation concerns.936 On 3 September 2007, the Government organized a conference on combating desertification, gathering environment officials from government departments, private sector, and national research institutions. The objective was to get participants involved in “multi-pronged programmes to identify vulnerable regions, and mitigation actions to alleviate the threat posed by desertification and climate change”.937 Projects to date include the Machubeni Catchment Management project in Emalahleni Municipality, which aimed at raising awareness while showcasing initiatives contributing to combating desertification and climate change. By the end of 2007, the DEAT had introduced an additional eight pilot projects totaling R40 million to rehabilitate land, and fight land degradation.938 Internationally, South Africa was one of the key supporters of the establishment of an international Adaptation Fund at the United Nations
932 Dept to Finalise National Climate Policy, BuaNews, (Tshwane), 6 June 2007. Date of Access: 02 January 2008. http://allafrica.com/stories/200706060828.html 933 Speech by Marthinus van Schalkwyk during the Opening Ceremony of Wild Talk Africa 2007, DEAT, 27 August 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.polity.org.za/article.php?a_id=115626 934 Final text of Integrated Coastal Management Bill Approved by Cabinet, to be tabled in Parliament, DEAT, 31 July 2007, Date of Access 02 January 2008. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07073116451001.htm 935 Speech by Marthinus Van Schalkwyk during the National Assembly debate on the Budget Vote, DEAT, 5 June 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07060517151001.htm 936 Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi's speech for the Celebration of the World Day to Combat Desertification at Machubeni, Eastern Cape, 20 June 2007. Date of Access: 20 December 2007. http://www.aridareas.co.za/documents/documents12.htm 937 Environment officials attend convention to combat desertification, DEAT, 03 September 2007. Date of Access: 02 January 2008. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07090410151001.htm 938 World Day to Combat Desertification celebrations focus on link between desertification and climate change, DEAT, 19 June 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07061914151001.htm
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Climate Change Conference in Bali 3-14 December 2007.939 In terms of regional efforts, South Africa is currently co-chairing the Abidjan and Nairobi Conventions, and hosted the Joint Conference of Parties (COP) on 17 October 2007. The purpose of the Nairobi Convention is the protection and development of the Marine and Coastal Management of the Eastern African region.940 In conclusion, new policies, in particular with respect to adaptation, have in fact been introduced and some advances have been made in the field of gathering and sharing of GHG emissions. But while there is a clear movement to a more active and committed approach to implementing both emission reductions and adaptation, no specified domestic targets have been set as of yet. However, it is premature to determine whether these initiatives will achieve their objectives. Therefore, based on the assessment above, South Africa is only found to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Miriam Prys
South Africa
Score
2B. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Production
0
South Africa’s compliance towards meeting its commitment to promote less emission-intensive energy production has been mixed. On the one hand, various designated government institutions have promoted national policies, research and development, and spearheaded the actual implementation of clean and renewable energy generation projects since the G8 summit at Heiligendamm. On the other hand, the planning and policy environment at national level is not entirely conducive to clean and renewable energy generation, with the result that several opportunities are not fully taken advantage of. In summary, although great strides have been made in the renewable and clean energy sector, barriers still exist that hinder the full integration of renewable and clean energy into national planning. South Africa has not set an explicit target to lower the carbon content of its domestic energy production since the publication of its Renewable Energy White Paper of 2003.941 Nevertheless, on 6 December 2007, the Cabinet approved the Industrial Biofuels Strategy, which sets the target to raise the
Statement by Marthinus van Schalkwyk on Climate Change: Bali Roadmap, DEAT, 15 December 2007. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07122814151004.htm 940South Africa to host Joint Conference of Parties for Abidjan and Nairobi Conventions, DEAT, 17 October 2007. Date of Access 04 January 2008. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07101809451004.htm 941 Policies and Measures (PAMs) for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Earthlife, Sustainable Energy Briefing 6, Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Project, (Cape Town), June 2005. Date of Access: 03 December 2007. http://www.earthlifect.org.za/PopUpDisplay.php?ObjectID={C665B693-E50E-4B3A-8D18-BE50FE5BD94F}.
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share of biofuels in the total liquid fuel supply to 2 percent.942 Compared to the initial draft, the final strategy is strongly watered down, having halved the original target of 4.5 percent penetration and excluded maize as a possible input.943 Buyelwa Sonjica, Minister of Minerals and Energy, claimed the concern of food security warrants these reductions,944 while some media sources speculated that they were politically motivated with an eye on upcoming elections.945 According to Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Ms Lulu Xingwana, the provision of maize for biofuels could be discussed if the grain is produced in surplus.946 South Africa’s record at the level of specific projects and policies is encouraging. In the past, while South Africa’s immersion in coal fired power has made it a current world leader in carbon sequestration, this positive development has often been at the expense of focusing on renewable and alternative energy production.947 However, several activities since the Heiligendamm Summit in June 2007 show that the sub-sector of renewable and clean energy generation is taking shape. At a regional level, South Africa has taken various steps to strengthen its political commitment for renewable energies, and to introduce standards with respect to clean and renewable energy generation. At the last India-BrazilSouth Africa (IBSA) Dialogue meeting on 17 July 2007, the three countries expressed their commitment to advance trilateral work on biofuels, and urged the Trilateral Task Team on Biofuels to deepen the discussions aimed at expanding the cooperation of partners in this field.948 At the Tshwane IBSA declaration of 17 October 2007, the three leaders urged the international community to work in a collaborative manner for the development and deployment of renewables, biofuels and biomass, and advanced clean technologies, welcomed the work done by the International Forum on Biofuels, and underlined the importance of the International Conference on
942 Transcript of Post-Cabinet briefing, Government Communications, (Pretoria), 06 December 2007. Date of Access: 03 December 2008. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07120616151003.htm. 943 Biofuels Industrial Strategy of the Republic of South Africa, Department of Minerals and Energy, (Pretoria), December 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.dme.gov.za/pdfs/energy/biofuels_indus_strat.pdf. 944 Transcript: Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica at Post-Cabinet media briefing on Electricity Master Plan and Biofuels Strategy, Government Communications, (Pretoria), 06 December 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07120713151002.htm. 945 Food security hobbles SA biofuel strategy, Mail & Guardian Online, (Johannesburg), 30 December 2007. Date of Access: 03 January 2008. http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=328527&area=/insight/insight__economy_ _business. 946 Door not closed for the production of bio-ethanol from maize, Department of Agriculture, (Pretoria), 14 December 2007. Date of Access: 03 December 2008. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07122010151001.htm. 947 McDermott, G., Morrissey, M. Banda and Langille, J. Governing Global Climate Change: St. Petersburg Compliance Report for the 'G8 Plus Five' Countries. G8 Final Compliance Report 2007, p. 147. G8 Research Group Oxford, 6 June 2007. Date of Access: 21 January 2008. http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/oxford/2006compliance-ox.pdf 948 New Delhi Ministerial Communiqué 2007 of India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum, Department of Foreign Affairs, (Pretoria), 17 July 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07071715451001.htm.
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Biofuels, to be held in 2008.949 And on 21 November 2007, Cabinet decided that South Africa should ratify the African Energy Convention (AFREC), which sets and monitors standards in energy production and assists in developing renewable energy technologies.950 At the same time the various institutions designated to work towards a clean, sustainable, and secure energy supply, such as the South African National Energy Research Institute (SANERI), the Central Energy Fund, and Eskom, are investing resources into clean and renewable energy generation, including plans to compile a bona fide wind atlas to guide investment into wind farms. Having completed the atlas, SANERI will do further research into locally suitable wind turbines.951 At a more advanced stage, Eskom approved plans for a 100 MW Wind power farm, whose construction is expected to start in 2009 in the Western Cape Province952 and a further site is proposed for an Environmental Assessment.953 South Africa's coal-bed methane firm GascoSA, which is partly owned by South Africa’s Central Energy Fund, is planning to spend R1.1 billion for coal-bed methane extraction, as part of a project to enhance energy security, improve the efficiency and reduce emissions of energy production.954 Last but not least, the launch of a biogas project implemented by METHCAP on 27 December 2007 has been referred to as sign of success of South Africa’s renewable energy subsidisation project.955 Yet, despite this success, the reading of the Annual Report of the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) indicates some problems with the subsidisation scheme. According to the report, an under-spending of 1 percent of the department’s budget is mainly due to the unspent amount from vacancies and delays experienced in the payment of renewable energy subsidies, as a result of applicants not
949 Tshwane India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Summit declaration, Department of Foreign Affairs, (Pretoria), 17 October 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07101810151001.htm. 950 Statement on Cabinet meeting 21 November 2007, Government Communications, (Pretoria), 22 November 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07112210451001.htm. 951 Eskom blowing hotter on large-scale wind-energy prospects, Engineering News, 13 December 2007. Date of Access: 29 December 2007. http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=123647. 952 Eskom blowing hotter on large-scale wind-energy prospects, Engineering News, 13 December 2007. Date of Access: 29 December 2007. http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=123647. 953 Eskom blowing hotter on large-scale wind-energy prospects, Engineering News, 13 December 2007. Date of Access: 29 December 2007. http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=123647. 954 Methane explorer to spend R1.1bn in next 18 months, Mining Weekly, (Johannesburg), 13 December 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.miningweekly.co.za/article.php?a_id=123542. 955Speech by Ms BP Sonjica, Minister of Minerals and Energy at PetroSA biogas to Electricity Project launch, Department of Minerals and Energy, (Pretoria), 28 September 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07101016151003.htm.
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concluding their applications on time.956 Nevertheless, no Government action has been taken so far to identify the problem, and remedy the situation.957 At the policy level, a recent Government move to enhance security for independent power producers (IPP) is reshaping South Africa’s electricity market, which previously was in the tight grip of Eskom. As Government spokesman Themba Maseko announced on 7 September 2007, Eskom will be responsible to ensure that Government sources about 30 percent of its electricity from IPPs, to provide certainty to investors.958 More specifically, in the field of renewables, the DME is currently developing the Tradable Renewable Energy Certificates System.959 Both moves have been welcomed by analysts, as providing an unprecedented opportunity for the growth of the renewable-energy industry in South Africa.960 Nevertheless, even though great strides have been made to open South Africa’s energy generation for renewable energy providers, certain opportunities are still missed, or not fully taken advantage of. First, Government rejected the possibility to levy windfall taxes on windfall profits from the liquid fuel sector,961 which was welcomed by environmental groups as possible source of funding for climate change mitigation projects, and a potential starting point for a green tax.962 Further, according to Dr Mali, senior manager of SANERI, the current lack of a feed-in tariff structure prevents a number of smaller scale producers of renewable energy to actually feed their energy supplies into the grid.963 The energy market is still firmly in the hands of Government, and, at least according to the Energy Master Plan, there are no plans to open it to full competition.964
Annual Report 2006/07, Department of Minerals and Energy, (Pretoria), 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.info.gov.za/annualreport/2006/dme_annual_rpt_06-07.pdf. 957 Finance for renewable energy projects, Department of Minerals and Energy, (Pretoria), 2006. Date of Access: 03 January 2008. http://www.dme.gov.za/energy/renew_finnace.stm. 958 SA reassures energy investors, SouthAfrica.Info, (Houghton), 7 September 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.southafrica.info/doing_business/investment/incentives/electricity-070907.htm. 959 Speech by Ms BP Sonjica, Minister of Minerals and Energy at PetroSA biogas to Electricity Project launch, Department of Minerals and Energy, (Pretoria), 28 September 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07101016151003.htm 960 Eskom blowing hotter on large-scale wind-energy prospects, Engineering News, 13 December 2007. Date of Access: 29 December 2007. http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=123647. 961 Windfall Taxes on the Liquid Fuels Industry. Response to the task team report on windfall profits in the liquid fuels industry, National Treasury, (Pretoria), 06 August 2007. Date of Access: 28 December 2007. http://www.treasury.gov.za/comm_media/press/2007/2007080602.pdf 962 Fuel Producer Levy May Pass as SA's First Green Tax, Business Day, (Johannesburg), 6 March 2007. Date of Access: 03 January 2008. http://allafrica.com/stories/200703060241.html. 963 Eskom blowing hotter on large-scale wind-energy prospects, Engineering News, 13 December 2007. Date of Access: 29 December 2007. http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=123647. 964 Energy Security Master Plan - Electricity, Department of Minerals and Energy, (Pretoria), 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.dme.gov.za/pdfs/energy/energy_sec_master_plan.pdf.
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Last but not least, this same Energy Master Plan demonstrates that renewable and clean energy generation remain somewhat isolated from national planning. The Master Plan for Liquid Fuels, although drafted in parallel to the Industrial Biofuels Strategy, makes no reference to the latter, and fails to elaborate on options for making fuel supply sustainable or clean.965 The Master Plan for Electricity Generation does not explicitly elaborate on how to integrate renewable energy generation, but leaves it up to direct policy intervention to cater for renewable energy targets.966 On the positive side, Cabinet seems to have recognised this shortcoming, as it tasked various departments to develop a comprehensive Master Plan that, among other objectives, would meet South Africa’s renewable energy targets.967 In summary, even though the sub-sector is prospering, the South African Government fails to fully integrate the generation of renewable and clean energy generation into its national planning and policies, thus loosing out on valuable opportunities to solve its significant shortfall in energy supply on a clean and environmentally sustainable basis. As a result, South Africa is only found to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Marie Karaisl
South Africa
Score
2C. Promote Less Emission-Intensive Energy Consumption 0 The South African Government has taken substantive steps towards promoting less emission intensive energy consumption. These steps have been coordinated by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME), particularly the Energy Efficiency division, the National Energy Efficiency agency (part of the Central Energy Fund), and the public power utility Eskom. Measures have included facilitating cooperation with business in order to reduce energy consumption, promoting “green building” projects, steps to reduce car usage and improve public transportation, and initiatives aimed at increasing consumer awareness of energy efficient practices. However, it remains too early to tell whether the South African Government will succeed in decoupling developmental priorities and universal electrification plans from increasing emission intensive energy demands.
Energy Security Master Plan - Liquid Fuels, Department of Minerals and Energy, (Pretoria), 12 September 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.info.gov.za/gazette/notices/2007/30285.pdf 966 Energy Security Master Plan - Electricity, Department of Minerals and Energy, (Pretoria), 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.dme.gov.za/pdfs/energy/energy_sec_master_plan.pdf. 967 Statement on Cabinet meeting 21 November 2007, Government Communications, (Pretoria), 22 November 2007. Date of Access: 27 December 2007. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07112210451001.htm.
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On 6 December 2007, the Cabinet approved a three year “energy master plan for electricity”,968 which includes an agreement with businesses to reduce energy consumption969, in part to address continuing chronic electricity supply shortages. 970 Buyelwa Sonjica, South Africa’s Mineral and Energy Minister, described the plan as part of a wider “acceleration of demand side management and energy efficiency interventions”.971 In this context, Eskom has stepped up its demand side management programme.972 Recent additions to power utility Eskom’s R10 billion973 demand side management programme include a R2 billion project to subsidise the installation of solar water heaters in residential homes and an expansion of their compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) exchange programme with the distribution of 4.1 million energy saving light-bulbs in the KwaZulu-Natal region.974 Eskom, the DME and the National Energy Efficiency Agency have continued to coordinate a high profile energy efficiency awareness campaign to encourage consumers to minimise energy consumption, particularly during peak periods.975 The campaign involves community radio stations in all South African languages, TV and printed media.976 These measures are largely motivated by critical power shortages and are part of Eskom's drive to reduce consumption by 3 000 MW by 2012 and 8 000 MW, or 10 percent, by 2025.977 However, they are also accompanied by a capacity expansion programme to supply South Africa’s growing electricity needs triggered by rapid economic development and a programme to increase electrification. In the building sector, the green-building convention on 8-10 November 2007 in Pretoria was the first of its kind in ten years and brought together various
Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica at Post-Cabinet media briefing on Electricity Master Plan and Biofuels Strategy, Department of Minerals and Energy, 6 December 2007. Date of Access: 20 January 2008 http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2007/07120713151002.htm 969 Power plan approved amid energy concerns, Daily News (Durban). 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://www.dailynews.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=2947&fSearch=1&fQuery=Power+plan+a pproved+amid+energy+concerns. 970 Private Sector Gets Lead Role in R5bn Power Plan, Business Day (Johannesburg), 28 August 2007. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A549419 971 Power plan approved amid energy concerns. Daily News (Durban). 11 December 2007. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://www.dailynews.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=2947&fSearch=1&fQuery=Power+plan+a pproved+amid+energy+concerns. 972 Free Energy Savers are Coming to KwaZulu-Natal, CFL Exchange Programme, Eskom. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://www.eskomdsm.co.za/cfl.htm 973 Eskom puts R2bn into solar project. The Star, (Johannesburg), 02 October 2007. 974 Eskom Distributes Energy-Saving Light Bulbs, Biz Community, 01 November 2007. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/179/19354.html. 975 Govt, Eskom Urges, Public to Save Energy, BuaNews, 11 October 2007. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://www.buanews.gov.za/rss/07/07101116151008. 976 Presentation by Elsa du Toit at the South African Green Building Conference, Department of Minerals and Energy, 8-10 of November 2007. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://www.greenbuilding.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=162&Itemi d=142. 977 Eskom puts R2bn into solar project. The Star, (Johannesburg), 02 October 2007.
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professionals, international experts and governmental representatives to deliberate on how to make the South African construction industry more aware of energy efficient practices. 978 The focus was primarily on industrial and commercial buildings, which significantly lag behind the residential sector in proposals for energy efficient conversions.979 At the convention Elsa Du Toit, director of energy efficiency at the Department of Minerals and Energy, reiterated the broad aim of the 2005 Energy Efficiency Strategy for South Africa, which takes its mandate from the 1998 White Paper on Energy Efficency, of reducing overall domestic energy consumption by 12 percent by 2015 (expressed as a percentage reduction against the projected energy usage in 2015).980 Du Toit noted progress on phase one of the Energy Efficiency strategy, which was due to be completed and reviewed by February 2008. Specifically, Du Toit unveiled the new South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) energy efficient buildings standards, a work ten years in the making. This is fitting with the Energy Efficiency Strategy’s “phase one” aim of formulating and adopting energy efficiency standards.981 As these standards are to become part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s national building regulations, this marks a significant step towards increasing the energy efficiency of new buildings in South Africa. Du Toit also noted continued progress on the proposed “greening” of all government buildings and appliance labelling initiatives.982 In the transport sector, the DME and the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) will introduce a fuel economy vehicle label from January 2008,983 which will become compulsory from July 2008.984 Meanwhile, pilot schemes aimed at reducing car usage and traffic congestion though promoting car-pooling and public transport usage are
978 Green Building Conference and Exhibition Report, Green Building Resources Centre, Cape Town. Date of Access: 4 January 2008. http://www.greenbuilding.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6&Itemid= 44 979 Builders Chart Green Path, Business Day (Johannesburg), 16 November 2007. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://allafrica.com/stories/200711160754.html. 980 Presentation by Elsa du Toit at the South African Green Building Conference, Department of Minerals and Energy, 08-10 November 2007. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://www.greenbuilding.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=162&Itemi d=142. 981 Energy Efficiency Strategy of the Republic of South Africa, Department of Minerals and Energy, March 2005. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://www.dme.gov.za/pdfs/energy/efficiency/ee_strategy_05.pdf. 982 Presentation by Elsa du Toit at the South African Green Building Conference, Department of Minerals and Energy, 08-10 November 2007. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://www.greenbuilding.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=162&Itemi d=142. 983 Keynote Address by Buyelwa Sonjica, Minister of Minerals and Energy, Department of Minerals and Energy, Energy Efficiency Campaign Launch, Presidential Guest House, Pretoria, 07 March 2006. Date of Access: 20 January 2008 http://www.dme.gov.za/pdfs/speeches/ee_launch_march06.pdf 984 Department of Trade and Industry, Proposed Amendment of the Compulsory Specification for Motor Vehicles of Category M1, Government Gazette, 09 November 2007, Date of Access: 20 January 2008 http://www.puntofocal.gov.ar/notific_otros_miembros/zaf71_t.pdf
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underway such as the recently opened public transport and high occupancy vehicle lane between Pretoria and Johannesburg.985 Alongside these domestic initiatives, the Government has shown a willingness to engage in international cooperation in order to achieve domestic energy consumption goals. On 23-25 October 2007, it hosted a conference as part of the Danish-South African Sustainable Energy Exchange programme. The programme, jointly organised by the Central Energy Fund (CEF) and the Royal Danish Embassy (RDA) in South Africa brought Eskom and CEF representatives, energy companies and some of the larger municipalities together with Danish experts in industrial and residential energy efficiency technologies and technologies for optimising energy use in existing industrial plants.986 The stated purpose of the conference was to facilitate a “technology exchange” between the two countries. South African representatives introduced their Danish counterparts to the South African energy agenda and the Danish attendees presented technical solutions and examples of how specific energy problems have been successfully resolved in other parts of the world.987 South Africa is one of the only developing countries with a clear public energy efficiency strategy.988 Notwithstanding this fact, its strategies to efficiency of domestic energy consumption have been almost entirely focussed on dealing with short-term concerns about chronic energy shortages in the run-up to the World Cup in 2010. As a result, they do not address the gap between rapidly increasing South African energy demands and supply growth.989 If South Africa is to meaningfully embrace developmental challenges and universal electrification plans by 2012990 alongside less emission intensive energy consumption strategies, more is necessary. The three year review of its energy efficiency strategy, due after the projected completion of phase one in
985 HOV project ‘running smoothly’, Pretoria News (Pretoria), 15 October, 2007. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://www.pretorianews.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=1702&fRequestedUrl=percent2Findex .phppercent3FfArticleIdpercent3D4081395. 986 Sustainable Energy exchange: South Africa – Denmark, Conference Brief, Royal Danish Embassy in South Africa. Date of Access: 05 January 2008. http://www.di.dk/NR/rdonlyres/71130389-346D-434A-805C7262B0B92DEA/0/SustainableEnergyExchangeProgramme.pdf. 987 Sustainable Energy Conference Held by the Embassy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Embassy of Pretoria, South Africa, News. Date of Access: 20 January 2008 http://www.ambpretoria.um.dk/en/menu/AboutUs/News/SustainableEnergyConferenceHos tedByTheEmbassy2325October2007.htm 988 Energy Efficiency Strategy of the Republic of South Africa, Department of Minerals and Energy, March 2005. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://www.dme.gov.za/pdfs/energy/efficiency/ee_strategy_05.pdf. 989 Electricity Demand Rose by 3.8percent in Nov quarter, Engineering News, 08 January 2008. Date of Access: 08 January 2008. http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=123989. 990 Electricity from Solar home systems in South Africa, Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town, June 2007. Date of Access: 05 January 2008. http://www.erc.uct.ac.za/publications/UCTWP2percent20Solpercent20electricfinal.pdf.
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February 2008,991 should provide an opportunity to more fully assess its impact.992 Based on this analysis, South Africa efforts to reduce the emission intensity of domestic energy consumption should be viewed as mixed. While the Government has shown clear willingness to embrace energy demand reduction strategies, it has failed to articulate a long-term strategy to reduce the emission intensity of domestic energy consumption as a way to meet the rapidly increasing energy demands of the country. As a result, South Africa was only found to be in partial compliance with this commitment. Analyst: Brendan Carey
991 Energy Efficiency Strategy of the Republic of South Africa, Department of Minerals and Energy, March 2005. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://www.dme.gov.za/pdfs/energy/efficiency/ee_strategy_05.pdf. 992 Presentation by Elsa du Toit at the South African Green Building Conference, Department of Minerals and Energy, 08-10 November 2007. Date of Access: 04 January 2008. http://www.greenbuilding.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=162&Itemi d=142.
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