In an earlier post, "Perverse Incentives in the Clean Development Mechanism", I discussed illegitimate credits generated within the CDM for the destruction of overproduced HFC-23 gas. HFC-23 has a very high GWP and, therefore, its abatement produces many CERs. So many that with only about ~19 HCFC-22 production plants included as CDM projects (HFC-23 is a byproduct of the production of HCFC-22) half of the CERs in the CDM still came from HFC-23 destruction.
During the 69th meeting of the Executive Committee of the Ozone Secretariat (April 15-19, 2013), China agreed to phase out production of HCFCs over the next 17 years, by 2030. This does not address the venting of HFCs in the near-term however. HFCs have a GWP ~14,000 times greater than CO2. If one truly wishes to prevent the problems associated with HFCs then venting of the gas needs to be stopped through strict regulation and oversight.
While China's move is good there is still inertia on phasing out HCFC production through an MEA. India will not agree to discontinuing production until cost effective alternatives are found. China, however, makes up 92% of HCFC production in the developing world. Therefore, China's decision is very significant despite the lack of its inclusion in an MEA.
The progress China makes in this effort will be monitored by the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol. For the next 4 years China will receive US $95 million for the first portion of the HCFC phase out. Production levels will be frozen by the end of 2013 and should be reduced by 10% at the end of 2015.
The implementing agencies for the Multilateral Fund are UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, and the World Bank.
Sources
http://www.rtcc.org/china-ends-production-of-hcfc-greenhouse-gases/
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=2713&ArticleID=9480&l=en
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
UNFCCC Article 6: Education, Training, and Public Awareness
Introduction
According to recent surveys only ~50% of developing country populations are aware of climate change in the vaguest sense. While much of the burden for carbon emissions is located squarely on the shoulders of the developed world; developing world states, such as India and Indonesia, have increasing emissions burdens with populations that must understand the impact they are having on the world's climate. As a result, effective multilingual outreach programs must be put into effect to educate populations about climate change and train them to institute and maintain a resilient and sustainable society. This is the priority of Article 6 of the UNFCCC. Through Article 6 the Parties of the UNFCCC agree to focus on 6 areas to broaden public knowledge of climate change:
According to recent surveys only ~50% of developing country populations are aware of climate change in the vaguest sense. While much of the burden for carbon emissions is located squarely on the shoulders of the developed world; developing world states, such as India and Indonesia, have increasing emissions burdens with populations that must understand the impact they are having on the world's climate. As a result, effective multilingual outreach programs must be put into effect to educate populations about climate change and train them to institute and maintain a resilient and sustainable society. This is the priority of Article 6 of the UNFCCC. Through Article 6 the Parties of the UNFCCC agree to focus on 6 areas to broaden public knowledge of climate change:
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