In the course of the annual UN climate change talks in Qatar, Ukraine (listed among the countries that undertook to lower their greenhouse gas emissions) succeeded in arranging for a prolongation of the Kyoto Protocol, from 2013 until 2020, relying on the key annex to the protocol. Under the new terms and conditions, the 2008-13 emission authorizations, previously unused, will be transferred to another period, provided the state fails to comply with its emission limitations.
Ukraine’s obligations remain the same: minus 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, compared to those registered in 1990. Over the past 22 years, with many industrial businesses closed, Ukraine’s emissions have reduced twofold. The Kyoto Protocol allows each signatory twofold emissions compared to the current rate. Ecologists hope this will never happen, considering that most countries are working on alternate energy sources. Also, this international instrument’s annex has to be ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Says Andrii MARTYNIUK, head of Ukraine’s Climate Change Task Force: “By taking part in the second round of the Kyoto Protocol, Ukraine will be able to curb emissions and approach the EU standard. We hope that this document will be ratified before long… After ratifying this amendment all joint projects will help reduce such harmful emissions in the second round of the Kyoto Protocol.”
Experts say the amendment rules out the possibility of making money using hot air, as was the case with the first round. Ecologists say the signatories will have to expand their obligations in 2014 to achieve a 40 percent global emission reduction, compared to 1990, that this is an absolute necessity, otherwise the findings of the International Panel on Climate Change will prove tragically true.
COMMENTARY
Maria STORCHYLO, coordinator, Climate Program, National Ecology Center of Ukraine:
“It’s good to know that the two countries have agreed on the second round of obligations… the fact remains that the Kyoto Protocol can’t suffice to help the global warming process and lower the temperature by two degrees [Centigrade]. The signatories must assume further obligations to curb the harmful emissions – although China, with it strong industrial potential, India and Brazil are still qualified as developing countries, so they can’t assume such obligations [by definition]. During the talks their delegations were pressured to do just that, but they refused. Hopefully, they will agree do so in the second round.
“In regard to Ukraine, the emission quotas that weren’t used in the first round are not for sale and can be used only if the country fails to lower its emission rate, compared to that of 1990. Given any economic growth rate, Ukraine will not be capable of increasing these emissions twofold, only to struggle to lower them afterward. In other words, Ukraine does not need the first Kyoto Protocol unused emission quotas. This country could use them when implementing target projects as part of an environmental program aimed at further reducing such emissions, with each such project being carefully studied first… In the second round these countries could sell their quotas, but the big question is: To whom? There are no buyers as the market is being rebuilt. There are people in Ukraine willing to discuss the possibility of a domestic carbon dioxide market, but this will take time, 2017 at least, considering the EU experience.”
