Countries lobby for change in Kyoto 'Annex' status

Nairobi (Platts)--15Nov2006

A number of countries with non-Annex 1 (developing) Kyoto status are
negotiating their assumption of Annex 1 (developed) status, including Croatia,
Kazakhstan and Belarus. This last nation has been the subject of a rolling
debate, which is set to continue at the Nairobi conference, that addresses the
issue of "hot air" from economies in transition.
At last year's Montreal conference, Russia proposed that Belarus be
admitted to Annex 1 and given an emissions reduction target. While the issue
was not debated in Montreal, it has resurfaced in Nairobi.
Like most other eastern European states, Belarus' emissions are presently
considerably lower than they were in 1990, the baseline year for all Annex 1
targets.
Sources indicated that Belarus has sought an emissions target of 95% of
its 1990 emissions, and sources indicate Belarus' current emissions stand
significantly below 1990 levels.
The balance of the country's Assigned Amount could potentially be sold
through the international market to member states which are behind their own
reduction targets. Such sales of "hot air" are generally regarded to be
against the spirit of the Protocol and are discouraged.
In an effort to persuade delegates to approve its request for Annex 1
status, Belarus is believed to be proposing that a significant portion of its
surplus Assigned Amount be sequestered, leaving it with a relatively modest
surplus to sell on the open market.
Elsewhere, the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee has submitted
an annual report to the Conference, outlining its activities and proposing
that its various guidelines and documentation be approved for general use for
JI projects. The JI mechanism allows Annex 1 countries and private sector
companies to invest in clean technology projects in other Annex 1 countries,
and to earn emissions credits that can be set against their own Kyoto or
emissions trading scheme targets.
The Conference has yet to debate the JI's report in detail, but is widely
expected to approve its work and give it official sanction, much as the
Montreal conference last year did for the Clean Development Mechanism.

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