KYOTO PROTOCOL
REALIZATION

KYOTO PROTOCOL REALIZATION

Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement adopted at the 3rd session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Kyoto, Japan in December 1997. In 2008-2012 Annex B countries will reduce their collective emissions of greenhouse gases that are not included in the Montreal Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol implies flexible implementation market mechanisms (Clean Development Mechanism, Joint Implementation, Emissions Trading).

According to terms of the protocol, it entered into force when not less than 55 Parties to the Convention which accounted in total for at least 55 percent of the total carbon dioxide emissions ratified the Protocol. The ratification by the Russian Federation on 18 November 2004 satisfied the "55 percent" clause and brought the treaty into force, effective February 16, 2005. The goal is to lower overall emissions of six greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, HFCs, and PFCs.

An attempt to build up a world system of controlling energy consumption, sustainable forest management and limiting negative human impacts upon ecosystems started with the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by Russia (according to the federal law of November 4, 2004 № 128-FL “On ratification of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change”). Reduction of human impacts on the environment and increase in efficiency of natural resources utilization are severely more important than greenhouse gas emission reduction itself.

Signing the Marrakesh Accords on Kyoto mechanisms and terms of fulfillment of individual paragraphs was a necessary step toward successful implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. 

The Russian Federation officially submitted five National Reports (1996, 1999, 2002), including inventory of greenhouse gases 1990-1999, to the Secretary of UNFCCC.

Each Annex B Party to UNFCCC (including the Russian Federation) should satisfy all provisions to have an opportunity to participate in the Kyoto Protocol mechanisms.

To meet the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol and Decisions of the UNFCCC Parties and to participate in implementation of flexible mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol, the presence of the national registry on taking stock and transferring of the Assigned Accounts and normative legal base for trading mechanisms and Emission Reduction Units (ERUs) transferring to other countries are required.

At the direction of the Russian Government of 20.02.2006 №215-r the Russian Ministry of natural resources is charged to establish and keep the Russian Registry of Carbon Units. The Ministry of natural resources has employed Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Federal Centre of Geoecological Systems” (FCGS “Ecology”) on establishment of the Russian Registry of Carbon Units.  

At the direction of the Russian Government of 15.12.2006 №1741-r the "Federal Centre of Geoecological Systems" has been appointed Registry Administrator.