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Global Change and Climate Change Links: Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

» Official Sites

» Non Governmental Organizations (NGO)

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Look here for more NGOs!

If you are really interestet in what the climate skeptics have to say, look here!

  • Climate Change Knowledge Network (CCKN)
    The Climate Change Knowledge Network provides a forum for rigourous research on the issues within the international climate change structure and a means to further the dialogue between nations in their efforts to address climate change.
  • GHG Protocol Initiative
    The initiative brings together many leading experts on greenhouse gas emissions. The participants, drawn from business, governments and non-governmental organizations are working in partnership to design, disseminate and promote the use of an international corporate protocol for measuring and reporting business greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Climate Action Network (CAN)
  • Climate Network Europe
    Climate Network Europe (CNE) is a coordinating office, based in Brussels, for environmental groups in Western Europe working on climate change issues. It is a non-profit organisation receiving funding in the present financial year from Commission of the European Communities, the Danish Government, the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Swiss Government. CNE runs an information service on climate change and coordinates policy on climate change at a European level as well as liaising with other groups in the global organisation of Climate Action Network.
  • The Climate Group
    The Climate Group will promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions globally. Membership of The Climate Group is open to all companies, NGOs and local, regional and national governments committed to adopting a leadership agenda on climate protection and to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Climate Group will actively seek out those organizations that fulfill these criteria.
  • The Climate Trust
    The Climate Trust is a non-profit working towards a more stable climate. Our sole mission is to promote climate change solutions by providing high quality greenhouse gas offset projects and advancing sound offset policy. To realize its vision, The Climate Trust provides greenhouse gas offsets to power plants, regulators, businesses and entities of all sizes, and individuals.
  • Future International Action on Climate Change Network
    This website has been developed by Ecofys upon the initiative and with the support of the Federal Environmental Agency of Germany. The purpose of this website is to provide an interactive international platform for discussion on future international action on climate change, including evolving approaches of a post 2012 commitment regime under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol.
  • Earth Council
    The Earth Council is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) created in 1992 as a direct result of the Earth Summit. Our mission is to support and empower people in building a more secure, equitable and sustainable future.
  • German NGO Forum on Environment & Development
  • EcoEquity
    EcoEquity is a new US organization and a part of the emerging international Climate Justice network. Our principal goal is a phased transition to a climate treaty based on equal rights to the atmospheric commons.
  • Resources for the Future (RFF)
  • World Resources Institute: Climate and Atmosphere
    • Safeclimate
      This site provides the tools, products, and connections to help you take positive action in your home, organization, and local community. SafeClimate is a project of the Environment and Business program at World Resources Institute.

Industry

  • Climate Strategies
    Climate Strategies is funded by the SHELL Foundation (Sustainable Energy Programme) and has been formed as a network of senior researchers on climate change policy, initially in Europe. It aims to connect leading applied research on international climate change issues to the policy process and public debates. It seeks thereby to raise the level of debate and the quality and coherence of advice to policy formation, including in the new context created by the current US Administration position in the international negotiations.
  • European Business Council for a Sustainable Energy Future
  • Kyoto Club
  • Global Climate Coalition (GCC)
  • BP Amoco
  • Climate Neutral Network
    The Climate Neutral Network is an alliance of companies and other organizations committed to developing profitable products and enterprises that minimally impact the earth's climate. This is achieved by reducing and offsetting associated greenhouse or global-warming gases.

» Flexible Mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol

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  • Kyoto mEchanisms Expert Network (KEEN)
    The Kyoto mEchanisms Expert Network is a network of experts in the area of Kyoto Mechanisms set up in partnership by Ecofys research and consulting (The Netherlands), the Hamburg Institute for International Economics (Germany), the Royal Institute of International Affairs (UK) and the University of Pavia (Italy). The network is funded by the European Commission.
  • Greenhouse Gas Inventory Experts Network
    A global forum to access and exchange information in the area of greenhouse gas emission inventories. The objectives of this network are to provide technical assistance to developing countries for the preparation of GHG inventories, and to build a larger and more capable community of inventory practitioners.
  • Kyoto Mechanisms
    Activities related to Joint Implementation (JI), Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and International Emissions Trading (IET) of the Institute for Economy and the Environment (IEE-HSG) at the University of St. Gallen
  • Royal Institute of International Affairs: Quantifying Kyotopdf-file
    This project aims to integrate expertise on the various forms of flexibility in the Kyoto Protocol.
  • EU and Flexible Mechanisms
  • Annex I Expert Group on the UNFCCC
    The Annex I Expert Group is an ad hoc group of government officials from Environment, Energy and Foreign Affairs ministries from countries that are listed in Annex I to the UNFCCC. The Annex I Expert Group is not a negotiating forum, but its work includes policy analysis, advising on options to advance the Kyoto Mechanisms.
  • TFS Green
    TFS is one of the largest and most successful energy brokers in the World and is part of the Tradition Group, which employs over 2,200 people worldwide. Founded in 1985, TFS has built-up a global business in the power, gas, coal, weather and oil markets and since 2001 has been prominent in the renewable energy and emissions markets in Europe, the US and Asia Pacific. In 2005 TFS began building a presence in Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Joint Implementation (JI) and Voluntary Emissions Reductions/ (VER) which has led to a global team of 12 brokers now specializing in these, the newest of the environmental markets.
  • Flexible Mechanisms for Climate Protection - A Manual for Companies (D)
    The aim of the manual is to inform companies in detail on emissions trading (ET), Joint Implementation (JI) and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The manual gives detailed descriptions of the mechanisms as well as step-by-step instructions for their implementation. The reader is introduced to the process of quantifying CO2 emissions and identifying reduction options. Using diagrams and decision trees to complement the instructions the reader is then taken through the evaluation of these options. At present the manual is being updated to incorporate the latest developments from COP 7 (Marrakesh-Accords ).
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Emissions Trading (ET/IET)

  • Bundesverband Emissionshandel und Klimaschutz (BVEK)
  • CO2 Handel.de
    German Onlineportal providing up-to-date information about emissions trading and climate change issues
  • Fichtner platform on climate change
  • FICHTNER Plattform für Emissionshandel
    Emissions Trading Portal (in German)
  • EU and Emissions Trading
    • National allocation plans (NAP)
      One of the core tasks in the run-up to the implementation of the EU-wide greenhouse gas allowance trading scheme is the elaboration of national allocation plans by Member States.
  • The EU Emissions Trading Directive: Opportunities and Potential Pitfalls pdf-file
    Regardless of outcome, the EU trading system will be influential in future international efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, concludes this discussion paper of Resources for the Future.
  • International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP)
    On October 29, 2007, leaders of more than 15 governments met in Lisbon, Portugal to launch the establishment of the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP). ICAP is made up of countries and regions that have implemented or are actively pursuing the implementation of carbon markets through mandatory cap and trade systems. The partnership provides a forum to share experiences and knowledge. Sharing and evaluating best practices will help ICAP members determine the extent to which their respective programs can be supported by, and or benefit from, the ICAP process.
  • UNCTAD Site
    UNCTAD's work on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading started in 1991. The goal of the project is to help foster the development of an integrated global emissions trading system in which all countries would participate based on the accepted principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
  • IEA-Papers on Emissions Trading and CDM
  • newvalues
    New Values facilitates carbon emission rights trading by offering a user-friendly and reliable online trading platform. As part of the Climex Alliance, New Values provides cleared pan-European EUA Spot Trading. New Values also stimulates the CDM market by organising regular CER Auctions. The New Values Community is a central resource for the entire industry to keep informed and share ideas on everything related to emission trading.
  • emissierechten.nl
    de website over emissie-handel (NL)
  • CantorCO2e
    CantorCO2e serves all of the world’s principal emissions markets, including the Kyoto markets (CDM, JI and European emissions trading), the USA compliance markets, and the voluntary carbon market. CantorCO2e is a leading global provider of financial services to the world’s environmental and energy markets, offering finance, advice, technology and transaction services to clients engaged in using energy and managing emissions across the world. We are headquartered in London and San Francisco, and have fourteen offices across five continents.
  • CARBONSIM
    CARBONSIM is one of the world's leading developers of greenhouse gas emissions trading platforms, simulations and software. The CARBONSIM trading platform and software is the most sophisticated internet based greenhouse gas emissions trading platform available on the market today. The trading platform and software incorporates virtual markets in CO2, electricity, renewable energy, coal, gas and oil and may be tailored to incorporate multi-country scenarios.
  • Climate Care
    Climate Care was formed in 1998 to help individuals and organisations reduce their own impact on global warming. Climate Care Trust is a company limited by guarantee and sells carbon offsets on the one hand while funding and managing projects on the other. The Trust does not have shareholders as its primary aim is to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
  • Australasian Emissions Trading Forum (AETF)
    The Australasian Emissions Trading Forum was originally founded in 1998 under the auspices of the Sydney Futures Exchange (SFE). The AETF is an information service supported by a range of Australian private and public agencies to provide information and foster debate on emissions trading and greenhouse policy developments.
  • EcoCarbon
    The aim of EcoCarbon is to provide industry-based education and training with respect to the Kyoto Flexibility Mechanisms, namely, emissions trading, Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation. EcoCarbon activities will build industry capacity to respond effectively to the uncertainties surrounding greenhouse response, how these may affect the wider business community, and where the opportunities may lie with possible solutions.
  • Environmental Markets Association (EMA)
    he Environmental Markets Association (EMA) is an international nonprofit trade association dedicated to promoting market-based trading solutions for environmental management industry professionals. The EMA has spent the past ten years educating environmental professionals on emissions trading and risk management while creating insightful networking opportunities with industry experts. The EMA also has developed an internet-based seminar series addressing industry hot topics. Today the EMA’s membership consists of more than 200 individuals from over 100 companies worldwide including academics, brokers, consultants, government agencies, non-profit groups, and large utilities. The EMA is committed to educating individuals in supporting market-based solutions.
  • Natsource
    As a leading over-the-counter broker of energy products, Natsource is uniquely positioned to help companies deal with and take advantage of uncertainty in the energy field. The environmental division of Natsource participates in all major environmental credit markets. These include the nationwide SO2 emission allowance market, NOx emission allowance market under the Ozone Transport Commission Budget Rule in the northeastern states, regional new source offset markets for NOx, VOC, CO, PM, ROG emission reduction credits, and the emerging greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction credit markets.
  • International Emissions Trading Association (IETA)
    IETA is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to the establishment of effective systems for trading in greenhouse gas emissions by businesses. IETA is committed to securing the development of market-based trading systems that are demonstrably fair, open, efficient, accountable and consistent across national boundaries. Membership of IETA is open to all companies, business organisations and affiliated national and regional trading associations around the world that have an interest in securing and promoting the effective operation of greenhouse gas emissions trading at national, regional and/or international level.
  • International Carbon Bank and Exchange (ICBE)
    The International Carbon Bank and Exchange is the result of 9 years of research and activities into offsetting greenhouse gases produced as a result of forest loss and fossil fuel combustion. We concluded that lowering the concentration of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere is feasible, beneficial to life on earth, and profitable for those who manage the transition. At the ICBE you can earn Emission Reduction Credits from RE production, apply for RE product finance and make investments in the Renewable Energy Fund
  • The Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management
    The Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management was founded in October 1998 by environmental professionals from the University of Edinburgh and other environmental companies. It is an independent consulting company that provides specialist expertise relating to climate change mitigation strategies and policies to businesses, governments and civil organisations. One of ECCM's main areas of policy related research is currently the relationship between rural livelihoods in developing countries and carbon management in forestry.
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Joint Implementation (JI)

  • JI section of the UNFCCC web site
  • Foundation Joint Implementation Network (JIN)
    JIN was established in 1994 with the aim to create an international network for research activities and information exchange about climate change policy issues, in particular project-based emissions trading. Over the years JIN has broadened its field of expertise to other issues such as climate change policy, development aid, technology transfer and energy market liberalisation. Overall the Foundation JIN mission is to carry out international economic research in a broad sense, both for the public and the private sector. Keywords to characterise JIN's research activities are: scientific, independent, and small-scale/high-level.
    • Joint Implementation Quarterly (JIQ) The Joint Implementation Quarterly provides background information and discussions about the latest developments in the field of greenhouse gas emissions trading, both quota-based and project-based emissions trading. The main focus has been on the flexibility mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI), and on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
  • JI Rulebook
    JI Rulebook is a online guide to the JI rules, practice and procedures. The Rulebook presents in an easy-to-use format all COP, COP/MOP and Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee decisions relating to:
    • JI project development stages for Track I and Track II (project design, determination, monitoring, verification, issuance and distribution of ERUs);
    • different types of JI projects (standard, small-scale and afforestation and reforestation project activities); and
    • players in JI projects (project participants, Accredited Independent Entities, Designated Focal Point, Parties involved, the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee etc.).
  • Carboncredits.nl
    Carboncredits.nl buys emission reduction for the Dutch government, via Joint Implementation (JI) and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
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Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

  • UNFCCC site on CDM
  • The Clean Development Mechanism: A Primer
  • UNEP Risoe CDM/JI Pipeline Analysis and Database
    The CDM/JI Pipeline Analysis and Database contains all CDM/JI projects that have been sent for validation/determination. It also contains the baseline & monitoring methodologies, a list of DOE’s and several analyses. Almost all information is from cdm.unfccc.int and ji.unfccc.int.
  • UNFCCC CDM Bazaar
    The UNFCCC CDM Bazaar is a Web-based facility which serves as a platform for exchange of information on Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project opportunities.
  • IGES CDM Programme
    The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Programme conducts training and other activities in support of CDM in developing countries in Asia. The programme disseminates information, contributes to the establishment of networks in Japan and the target countries, and builds capacity to initiate, develop and implement CDM projects.
    • CDM in Charts
      "CDM in Charts" is a booklet with a good reputation for providing a plain and easy-to-understand description of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
    • CDM Project Database
      IGES CDM Project Database is aimed at providing comprehensive, organised information on the CDM projects in an easy-to-understand way. The database helps users search for specific information on each registered project more easily and it also enables them to use relevant information for their own analytical purposes. All information is extracted from the publicly available sources on the UNFCCC web-site and this database will be updated regularly.
  • CDM Rulebook
    The CDM Rulebook is a database of all sources of law for the CDM, including Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol and decisions of the COP, the COP/MOP and the Executive Board.
  • Capacity Development for CDM (CD4CDM)
    With the international framework for the CDM presently under development, many complex legal, financial and technical issues still require further discussion. Under these circumstances, most developing countries with limited institutional capacity will face a significant challenge in taking a pro-active approach to participate as equal and reliable partners in CDM when it becomes operational. Reflecting the needs of developing countries, UNEP is implementing a 4-year project on Capacity Development for the CDM with funding from the government of the Netherlands
  • CDM-Connect
    The CDM Portal aims to result in real learning by doing CDM projects that will continue to deepening understanding, demonstrating results and providing evidence to fuel further success. CDM-Connect is a targeted online community for people working in the environmental sector and in particular those that have an interest in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
  • Network of CDM Centres of Excellence
    The aim of this project is to kick-start the development and establishment of Centres of Excellence in developing countries for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Initially, the project will establish two CDM Centres of Excellence, one in India and one in South Africa.
  • CDM Watch
    CDM Watch is an initiative of international NGOs and was re-established in April 2009 to provide an independent perspective on CDM projects, methodologies and the work of the CDM Executive Board. The ultimate goal is to help ensure that the current CDM as well as a reformed mechanism post-2012 are effectively verified, and contribute to sustainable development in CDM host countries. CDM Watch is hosted by the German NGO Forum Environment & Development.
  • The International Working Group (IWG) on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
  • Carbon Finance Africa
    Carbon Finance Africa is a website which aims to facilitate and stimulate the carbon sector in Africa. It does this through an innovative matchmaking facility which assists project developers in finding financial partners and their counterparts in sourcing carbon projects in Africa.
  • Certified Emission Reductions Sale and Purchase Agreement (CERSPA)
    The CERSPA initiative aims at elaborating and maintaining (through regular updates) a simple and balanced carbon contract template (and an comprehensive explanatory Guidance Document) to assist CDM project developers in fully understanding the terms and conditions under which they sell their CERs.
  • SV Carbon
    SV Carbon was formed to assist clients in harvesting the benefits of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The CDM gives unique possibilities to generate an extra income stream from the sale of Certified Emission Reductions (CER) from environmental friendly projects.
  • Prototype Carbon Fund (PCF)
    The World Bank's Prototype Carbon Fund (PCF) will pilot production of emission reductions within the framework of Joint Implementation (JI) and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The PCF will invest contributions made by companies and governments in projects designed to produce emission reductions fully consistent with the Kyoto Protocol and the emerging framework for JI and the CDM.
  • World Resources Institute CDM-Site
    The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) was created as part of the Kyoto Protocol to lower the overall cost of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions released to the atmosphere, and to support sustainable development initiatives within developing countries. These twin objectives reflect the need to coordinate action between differently positioned developed and developing countries, which nevertheless share a common aim of reducing the buildup of GHGs.
    • Designing the Clean Development Mechanism to meet the needs of a broad range of interests
      This WRI Note compares the advantages and disadvantages of each of the proposed CDM implementation models. The authors find that different models, often refered to as bilateral, multilateral, and unilateral approaches, each have strong attributes which can, and should, coexist under what the report dubs an "open architecture." An open architecture allows different designs to complement one another, enabling the CDM to deliver a broader set of climate and sustainable development benefits. This approach reconciles the apparently conflicting visions of the CDM and could help forge a consensus in the climate talks.
  • Climate Strategies CDM-Site
    Climate Strategies is a not-for-profit company established by a European group of climate change policy researchers, with the mission to assist governments in solving the collective action problem of climate change.
  • CDMCapacity.org
    This website provides information to forestry and land use audiences, principally in developing countries, who want to find out more about the CDM and how it affects their activities.
  • Determining Baselines and Additionality for CDM/JI Projects
    UNIDO has initiated a study entitled "Guidelines to Support Decision-making on Baseline-setting and Additionality Assessment for Industrial Projects". The objective of the study is to provide a foundation for the development of a methodological tool that supports the analysis of data and information when setting emissions baselines for CDM/JI industrial projects. Using AIJ projects as examples, the study develops a series of algorithms for baseline assessment using the "sub-system disaggregation" approach. This is an innovative approach to setting and one that has not thus far been discussed in the literature on baselines.
  • pdf-file The CDM maze: the way out
    The Kyoto Protocol and further discussions at various international forums have outlined the broad criteria for implementation of the CDM (clean development mechanism). This TERI publication highlights some of the major operational issues and provides guidelines to evaluate CDM projects. Four case studies covering different project types and sectors suggest the way out.
  • The Clean Development Mechanism: issues and modalities
    This TERI paper analyses issues related to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), particularly from the perspective of a developing country, and suggests a possible structure for CDM.
  • pdf-file EU trade in CO2 emissions: 2005 launch deadline at risk
    A report of the Deutsche Bank Research

» Land Use, Land-use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)

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  • UNFCCC LULUCF-Site
    The rate of build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere can be reduced by taking advantage of the fact that carbon can accumulate in vegetation and soils in terrestrial ecosystems. Any process, activity or mechanism which removes a greenhouse gas from the atmosphere is referred to as a "sink."
  • Land Use & Global Climate Change: Forests, Land Management, and the Kyoto Protocol
    Prepared for the Pew Center on Global Climate Change June 2000. Report authors Bernhard Schlamadinger and Gregg Marland examine how forests and other lands can be managed to slow the rate of increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, review how the Kyoto Protocol deals with forests and other land uses, and identify outstanding issues that must be resolved if the Protocol is to be implemented.

» Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)

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  • UNFCCC REDD Web Platform
    The agenda item on “Reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries and approaches to stimulate action” was first introduced into the COP agenda at its eleventh session in Montreal Parties, relevant organizations and stakeholders are encouraged to submit information relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD) to this web platform.
  • Little REDD Book
    Launched at the UNFCCC climate summit in December 2008 The Little REDD Book is a guide to the UN negotiations on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). REDD aims to help halt deforestation, which causes around 20% of the world’s carbon emissions – more than the entire global transport sector. In addition, the mechanism could help fight poverty while conserving biodiversity and sustaining vital ecosystem services.
  • UN-REDD Programme
    The United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries
  • Greenpeace: Forests for climate
    The Greenpeace Forests for Climate proposal outlines how governments can protect forests and how developed countries can cut CO2 at home. Forests for Climate lets developed countries meet overall targets and provides fair and accountable way to fund global forest protection.
  • KEA 3: REDD and the 2°C Goal: Impacts on Carbon Markets
    The introduction of REDD into carbon markets can have profound impacts on the price of carbon, and, consequently, on both Annex I domestic abatement and mitigation within CDM regions.

» The Kyoto Basket of Greenhouse Gases

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» Adaptation and Capacity Building

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  • Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change Study
    On August 3, 2010 the World Bank is releasing phase two of a major study on the Economics of Climate Change. The Global and Country Summary Report is being launched in Bonn Germany, alongside the UNFCCC Meetings. The summary report being released in Bonn is one of the most detailed and comprehensive assessments of potential adaption costs that has been done. The global study covered more sectors and in more depth than prior studies. The country studies are a first in estimating potential adaption costs by country. The Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change study estimates that it will cost US $75 - $100 billion each year to adapt to climate change from 2010 to 2050.
  • National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs)
    NAPAs (national adaptation programmes of action) provide a process for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to identify priority activities that respond to their urgent and immediate needs with regard to adaptation to climate change.
  • BASIC Project
    This website provides information regarding the BASIC project, a two years EU supported project that aims at linking national and international climate policy by enhancing and strengthening institutional capacity on climate change for Brazil, China, India and South Africa. The project was commissioned to a multi-national project team in late 2004 and will terminate in December 2006
  • european capacity building initiative (ecbi)
    The ecbi aims to promote a more level playing field between government delegations to the international climate change negotiations, and facilitate mutual understanding and trust - above all between European and developing countries.
  • Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies: supporting European climate policy (ADAM)
    Funded by the European Commission and co-ordinated by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in the UK, ADAM is an integrated research project running from 2006 to 2009 that will lead to a better understanding of the trade-offs and conflicts that exist between adaptation and mitigation policies. ADAM will support EU policy development in the next stage of the development of the Kyoto Protocol and will inform the emergence of new adaptation strategies for Europe.
  • Advancing Capacity to Support Climate Change Adaptation (ACCCA)
    The specific purpose of this initiative is to bring together stakeholders and scientific communities of the developing world to enable and support effective adaptation decisions that would reduce vulnerability to climate and environmental change while also promoting sustainable development.
  • Community Based Adaptation Exchange
    Community based adaptation recognises that environmental knowledge, vulnerability and resilience to climate impacts are embedded in societies and cultures. This means the focus is on empowering communities to themselves take action based on their own decision-making processes.
  • IDS Climate Change and Disasters (CCD) Group
    While ‘mitigation’ through tackling greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to limiting impacts, some change is inevitable and climate change ‘adaptation’ is now a central issue in development. Efforts to integrate adaptation into the development process must ensure that the most vulnerable groups are central to the rapidly expanding climate change research and policy agenda.
  • Systems Approach to Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Metropolises project
    The Systems Approach to Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Metropolises project is developing and testing an integrated, systems approach to assisting the fifteen Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG) Member Councils in assessing their vulnerability to climate change and the barriers and opportunities associated with adaptation at the Local Government scale. The project also seeks to demonstrate the value of coordinated regional-scale responses to climate vulnerability through Local Government cooperation.

» Bilateral Cooperation and Alternatives to Kyoto

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  • Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate
    Founding partners Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, and the United States have agreed to work together and with private sector partners to meet goals for energy security, national air pollution reduction, and climate change in ways that promote sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction.
  • U.S. EPA Integrated Environmental Strategies (IES)
    The Integrated Environmental Strategies (IES) program engages developing countries to build support for integrated planning to address both global greenhouse gas emissions and local environmental concerns. The program promotes the analysis and local support for implementation of policy measures with multiple public health, economic and environmental benefits. To date, government agencies and research institutions in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, India, Mexico, the Philippines and South Korea have participated in the IES program.
  • Methane to Markets Partnership
    The Methane to Markets Partnership is an international initiative that advances cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and use as a clean energy source. The goal of the Partnership is to reduce global methane emissions in order to enhance economic growth, strengthen energy security, improve air quality, improve industrial safety, and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
  • International Greenhouse Partnerships
    In addition to multilateral action on climate change, Australia is working with bilateral partners, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, on practical actions that contribute to the global effort to respond to climate change.

» Climate Regime beyond 2012

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  • Future International Action on Climate Change Network
    This website has been developed by Ecofys upon the initiative and with the support of the Federal Environmental Agency of Germany. The purpose of this website is to provide an interactive international platform for discussion on future international action on climate change, including evolving approaches of a post 2012 commitment regime under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol.
  • Information Toolkit for post-2012 climate policies
    This 2008 version of the Information Toolkit for post-2012 climate policies, funded by the Ministry of Environment (VROM), is meant to support the EU in providing factual underpinning of its positions in the negotiations on further commitments under the Kyoto Protocol and the Convention. It contains many datasets and graphical information on subjects relevant to the negotiating process up to UNFCCC CoP-14 (Poznan) and beyond. It is a visually attractive tool that enables users to retrieve information, to change parameters, and thereby to create own figures and tables.
  • The EU's Contribution to Shaping A Future Global Climate Change Regime
    On 10 January 2007 the European Commission set out proposals and options for keeping climate change to manageable levels in its Communication "Limiting Global Climate Change to 2° Celsius: The way ahead for 2020 and beyond."
  • Dialogue on Future International Actions to Address Global Climate Change (FAD)
  • Asian Perspectives on Climate Regime Beyond 2012
    The Climate Policy Project of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), in collaboration with several organizations across the Asia-Pacific region, conducted a series of stakeholder consultations in the latter half of 2005 to ascertain the concerns, interests and priorities of Asian countries on the future climate regime. The goals of the consultation process are to promote new and constructive thinking in the region on future actions against climate change beyond 2012, and to contribute to the shaping of a regime that adequately reflects concerns and developmental aspirations of countries in the region. Based on the first round of consultations, we published a report entitled "Asian Perspectives on Climate Regime Beyond 2012: Concerns, Interests and Priorities", which was distributed to interested delegates attending the COP11.
  • Sustainable Future Framework on Climate Change
    A draft interim report by the Special Committee on a Future Framework for Addressing Climate Change. The Advisory Council for the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan has just published this report on future climate actions beyond Kyoto to seek for public comments. This report firstly analyses global and major-emitters’ emissions toward the future, and then, by elaborating two fundamental principles, major-emitters’ participation and effective commitments, recommends the following three action-oriented commitments: 1)Cooperation for sustainable development in developing countries; in this context, specific recommendations are made to re-design CDM. 2)Development and diffusion of innovative technologies 3)Trans-boundary and sectoral intensity improvement; emission reduction potentials by this action are evaluated. The report also analyses the role that a national cap approach, as currently seen in the Kyoto Protocol, can play in the long run.
  • John Browne: Beyond Kyoto
    From Foreign Affairs, July/August 2004
    Global warming is real and needs to be addressed now. Rather than bash or mourn the defunct Kyoto Protocol, we should start taking the small steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions today that can make a big difference down the road. The private sector already understands this, and its efforts will be crucial in improving fossil fuel efficiency and developing alternative sources of energy. To harness business potential, however, governments in the developed world must create incentives, improve scientific research, and forge international partnerships. Lord Browne of Madingley is Group Chief Executive of BP plc.
  • Climate policy beyond 2012: a survey of long-term Targets and future frameworks
    A new report from CICERO is based on a comprehensive and structured literature review of key issues associated with long-term goals for climate policy, and to the framework for implementing climate policy. The study provides a basis for working with global climate policy after 2012, whether the Kyoto Protocol enters into force or not. The main challenges are to achieve broader participation in future climate agreements than has been the case with the Kyoto Protocol, especially with respect to the USA and developing countries, and to achieve deep emissions reductions to prevent human-induced climate change from getting out of control. The discussion of climate goals is divided into advantages and challenges presented by long-term climate goals, goals connected to the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, goals connected to the impacts of climate change, and the issue of setting short-term emissions targets as a step in meeting long-term goals. The discussion of implementing climate policy is divided into architecture of future climate policy, different types of national commitments under a global agreement, and differentiation of national emissions reductions targets.
  • pdf-fileSouth-North Dialogue on Equity in the Greenhouse - A proposal for an adequate and equitable global climate agreement
    The “South-North Dialogue on Equity in the Greenhouse”, a project co-ordinated by the Wuppertal Institute and the Energy Research Centre/South Africa, has concluded its first project phase. Fourteen climate researchers from all world regions have designed “A Proposal for an Adequate and Equitable Climate Agreement”. The proposal outlines equitable approaches to mitigation – including both deep emission cuts in the North, and differentiated mitigation commitments for four groups of developing countries. It further contains recommendations for adaptation policy to address the needs of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. And finally, it outlines a leadership strategy that could pave the way for such an agreement.
  • Climate Protection Strategies for the 21st Century. Kyoto and Beyond
    With this special report, the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) provides recommendations for future negotiations within the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The report concentrates on the potentials to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide, this being the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas. The analysis focuses, on the one hand, on the economic and technological potentials to reduce energy- and industryrelated emissions and, on the other hand, on the relevance of biological sinks of carbon dioxide and the options to preserve them.Finally, based on this analysis, the report contains specific recommendations on ways to shape political and economic instruments in the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.
  • pdf-fileBeyond Kyoto: Energy Dynamics and Climate Stabilisation
    This book by IEA surveys the science and the energy policy choices of climate change. It assesses current commitments and technical change. It discusses burden-sharing and possible forms of future commitments, drawing on work undertaken both with the IEA’s Standing Group on Long-Term Co-operation and with the Annex I Expert Group to the UNFCCC.
  • pdf-fileInternational climate regime beyond 2012: Are quota allocation rules robust to uncertainty?
    A Worldbank report by Franck Lecocq andRenaud Crassous
  • pdf-file Looking beyond 2012
    The Kyoto Protocol only sets emission reduction targets to 2012 – what happens after that remains to be agreed. This uncertainty is already making life difficult for business, and as Axel Michaelowa and Sonja Butzengeiger argue, a robust climate regime post-2012 is in everyone’s interests
  • International Climate Efforts Beyond 2012: A Survey of Approaches
    Prepared for the Pew Center on Global Climate Change November 2004
    This report provides an overview of key issues in the design and negotiation of future international efforts, and describes how the various proposals seek to address them. The issues include: the form and forum of negotiations; the time frame of a future agreement; the type and stringency of climate commitments; burden-sharing; and adaptation. The report also outlines criteria for assessing different options from a policy and a political perspective.
  • Beyond Kyoto: Advancing the International Effort Against Climate Change
    Prepared for the Pew Center on Global Climate Change December 2003
    The report is a compilation of six "think pieces" on core issues in developing an effective international response to global climate change. Working drafts of the papers were the focus of workshops in China, Germany, and Mexico. More than 100 people from nearly three dozen developed and developing countries have contributed as authors, reviewers, or workshop participants.
  • Developing Scenarios for the Global Climate Regime (COP-9 Briefing Paper)
    This study looks at a range of scenarios that countries may wish to consider for a post 2012 framework, illustrating the many possible futures under which the global climate regime may evolve. Up to now, little work has focused on developing a range of pragmatic options that could serve as a realistic basis for post-Kyoto negotiations that are set to begin in 2005. This project was conducted as a truly global effort with intensive and cooperative discussions among key researchers from Europe, Japan, China, Canada, and the USA. A full report entitled Scenarios for the Global Climate Regime will be published in early 2004.
  • Research Project on the next step of climate change regime (NIES) (IGES-Site)
    National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in Japan have started a research project on how to tackle climate change after the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. This website will be updated in a monthly manner to inform the latest news on this project.

» Documents

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The Convention

National Assessments of Climate Change Impacts

  • European Environment Agency: Impacts of Europe's changing climate
    The impacts of climate change on Europe's environment and society are shown in this EEA report. Past trends in the climate, its current state and possible future changes are presented using 22 selected indicators. For almost all of these a clear trend exists and impacts are already being observed. The report highlights the need to develop strategies at European, national, regional and local level for adapting to climate change.
  • Climate change and its impacts: Stabilisation of CO2 in the atmosphere
    In this DETR report the UK Met Office in order to contribute to the discussion on interpreting Annex 2 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, investigates two scenarios of reduced emissions, leading to a stabilisation of the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, at 550 and 750 parts per million (ppm); about twice and three times pre-industrial levels respectively.
  • US National Assessment of Climate Change: Directory of online reports
    Complete index of online reports from the US National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change (published 2000/2001).
  • U.S. National Assessment: NACC Site

National Strategies and Programmes

» Other Documents

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2007

  • pdf-file Stern Review on the economics of climate change
    This Review has assessed a wide range of evidence on the impacts of climate change and on the economic costs, and has used a number of different techniques to assess costs and risks. From all of these perspectives, the evidence gathered by the Review leads to a simple conclusion: the benefits of strong and early action far outweigh the economic costs of not acting.

2006

  • pdf-fileKyoto targets and population growth
    This paper takes a look at the current Kyoto gap of different Annex-B countries, including countries that have not ratified the Kyoto-Protocol, and assesses how this gap would change if the Kyoto Protocol were based on per capita targets. We show that the picture changes significantly when population changes are taken into account and suggest that for the next Kyoto commitment after 2012 these findings should be considered in order to set realistic targets and encourage all developed countries, including those with significant population growth, to participate.
  • pdf-file2006 Corporate Governance and Climate Change: Making the Connection
    The report includes a 30-page summary report comprised of the executive summary, the climate governance scoring criteria, the 100 company scores and sector-specific findings. The report also includes two to three page profiles on each of the companies evaluated.

2005

  • pdf-fileClimate Change & the Financial Sector: An Agenda for Action
    Allianz Group and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have joined forces to produce a report that will advance the debate in the financial community, and to propose solutions. The report identifies risks for the sector which are due to climate change, and develops actions that demonstrate how integrated financial services companies, such as Allianz Group, can turn these risks into opportunities. Implementing these actions will mean big steps forward in developing sound business for a living planet.
  • pdf-fileClimate Change Futures. Health, Ecological and Economic Dimensions
    –The Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School, along with co-sponsors Swiss Re and the United Nations Development Programme, today released a study showing that climate change will significantly affect the health of humans and ecosystems and these impacts will have economic consequences. The study, entitled “Climate Change Futures: Health, Ecological and Economic Dimensions,” surveys existing and future costs associated with climate change and the growing potential for abrupt, widespread impacts. The study reports that the insurance industry will be at the center of this issue, absorbing risk and helping society and business to adapt and reduce new risks.
  • pdf-fileThe Global Climate and Economic Development
    This report is a product of a workshop held in autumn 2004 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. It reflects the thinking of a wide range of scholars, scientists, environmentalists, representatives of governments and the private sector. A key participant was the Chairman of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri. The report is a pathbreaking examination of the integral relationship between climate change and development.
  • pdf-fileWWF Climate Scorecards
    Emissions, projections and climate policies for Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom and Unites States of America Includes background information for China, Brazil, India, Mexico, and South Africa
  • pdf-fileEurope 2005: The Ecological Footprint
    A World Wildlife Fund and Global Footprint Network report documenting Europe's growing Ecological Footprint. The report shows that the European Union uses 20 per cent of what the world's ecosystems provide in terms of fibres, food, energy, and waste absorption.

2004

  • pdf-file The greenhouse gas protocol: A corporate accounting and reporting standard, Revised edition
    This GHG Protocol Corporate Standard provides standards and guidance for companies and other types of organizations preparing a GHG emissions inventory. It covers the accounting and reporting of the six greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol —carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2 O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).
  • pdf-fileReasoning goals of climate protection. Specification of Article 2 UNFCCC / Konkretisierungsstrategien für Art. 2 der UN-Klimarahmenkonvention
    Climate change entails severe additional risks for vulnerable groups and regions. As of a low adaptive capacity people in developing countries are most endangered. Without contributing to the problem themselves, they very likely will be victimised by risks posed by climate change. Based on the analysis of ethical principles, such as fairness, equity as well as precaution, the study concludes that imposing risks onto others has to be avoided. Only a stabilization of greenhouse gas concentration on low levels will meet this goal. In order to minimise these risks a consensus on ambitious long term targets among the Parties of the UNFCCC is necessary and generally possible.

2003

  • pdf-file Strategic Assessment of the Kyoto-Marrakech System
    An ICCEPT Briefing Papers by Michael Grubb et al, 2003
  • Free Riding on the Planet: The possibility of legal, economic and trade restrictive measures to tackle inaction on global warming
    The New Economics Foundation (NEF) is a London-based organisation focusing on social and environmental sustainability. In a new report it has floated the idea of the EU imposing taxes on imports from countries that have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol, to compensate for loss of competitiveness as energy costs increase in Europe.
  • pdf-filePeter Schwartz and Doug Randall: An Abrupt Climate Change Scenario and Its Implications for United States National Security
    The purpose of this report is to imagine the unthinkable – to push the boundaries of current research on climate change so we may better understand the potential implications on United States national security. We have interviewed leading climate change scientists, conducted additional research, and reviewed several iterations of the scenario with these experts. The scientists support this project, but caution that the scenario depicted is extreme in two fundamental ways. First, they suggest the occurrences we outline would most likely happen in a few regions, rather than on globally. Second, they say the magnitude of the event may be considerably smaller. We have created a climate change scenario that although not the most likely, is plausible, and would challenge United States national security in ways that should be considered immediately.

2002

2001

2000

  • Energy - The Changing Climate
    The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's 22nd report
  • pdf-file Options for Project Emission Baselines
    This OECD paper examines possible options for project emission baselines. It identifies three main approaches - project-specific, multi project and hybrid - and assesses the data, reporting and monitoring needs as well as the cost, transparency and environmental implications of each of these three approaches. The paper also presents quantitative examples that indicate the influence of different assumptions, baseline approaches and national circumstances on the level of an emissions baseline and emission credits.

before 2000

  • The Atmospheric Rights of All People on Earth
    Why is it necessary to move towards the 'ultimate objective' of the Framework Convention on Climate Change? CSE Statement by Anil Agarwal and Sunita Narain.
  • pdf-file Climate of concern: bridging the divide
    The Kyoto Protocol is only a first step in the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. Developments over the last seven years do, however, indicate that the world is still divided, the scientific from the political and the developed from the developing. This TERI publication, based on views of eminent climate change experts that reflect a spread across different geographic and economic regions and stakeholders, attempts to bridge this divide.
  • Climate Change: Post-Kyoto Perspectives from the South (TERI)
  • Impacts of the Kyoto Protocol on U.S. Energy Markets & Economic Activity
    The analysis in this report was undertaken at the request of the Committee on Science of the U.S. House of Representatives. In its request, the Committee asked the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to analyze the Kyoto Protocol, “focusing on U.S. energy use and prices and the economy in the 2008-2012 time frame,” as noted in the first letter in Appendix D. The Committee specified that EIA consider several cases for energy-related carbon reductions in its analysis, with sensitivities evaluating some key uncertainties: U.S. economic growth, the cost and performance of energy-using technologies, and the possible construction of new nuclear power plants