International Actions in Reducing Greenhouse Gases
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
The IPCC is a scientific intergovernmental body set up by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). It was established to provide decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. The main activity of the IPCC is to provide assessment and other reports of the state of knowledge on climate change, its impacts, and appropriate actions. The most recent major report is Climate Change 2007, referred to as the “Fourth Assessment Report” and released in four distinct sections:
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
The Convention on Climate Change sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. It recognizes that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and other emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The Convention has near universal membership, with 192 countries having ratified.
- As a signatory to the UNFCCC, Canada is obliged to submit an inventory of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on an annual basis. This is also the document on which B.C.'s emissions reporting is based
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol was signed by about 180 countries at Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997. It commits 38 industrialized countries to cut their emissions of greenhouse gases between 2008 to 2012 to levels that are 5.2% below 1990 levels. It is the result of intense negotiations by members of the UNFCCC. While the UNFCCC encouraged developed countries to stabilize GHG emissions, the Protocol commits them to do so
In December 2007, the UN climate conference in Bali launched negotiations to intensify the fight against global warming. These negotiations are scheduled to finish in December 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Governments have agreed that "Kyoto II" will be guided by scientific analysis of the stronger emission reductions needed to avoid dangerous climate change.
International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP)
British Columbia is partnering with European Union countries and U.S. states in the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP) to share best practices on global carbon trading systems. Trading systems already exist in Europe and systems are being developed by Eastern U.S. States and the Western Climate Initiative, of which B.C. is a member.
The Climate Registry
The Climate Registry (TCR) is an international partnership working to create a common approach to measuring and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. British Columbia was one of the first Canadian provinces to join this partnership, which now includes seven provinces, 39 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., three American Indian tribes and six Mexican states. The Registry is governed by its members, the Board of Directors for which BC has representation and active participation.
The Registry's goal is to provide an accurate, complete, consistent, transparent and verified set of GHG emissions data supported by robust reporting and verification infrastructure. The Registry makes it possible to track the progress we make in reducing GHG emissions. Through its work, the Registry encourages early action to reduce GHG emissions and supports future GHG reduction efforts across North America.
The Registry began accepting reporting data in January 2008.
More information is available at the Registry's web site.
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