Glen D. Anderson

Abstract

Countries throughout the world have become increasingly concerned about the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the potential ramifications for a net increase in surface temperatures. Signatories to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC), including Poland, have made a commitment to stabilize greenhouse gases (GHGs) to their 1990 (1988 for Poland) levels by the year 2000. Even if these countries are successful in stabilizing emissions, many experts believe that GHGs must be reduced even further. Negotiations on additional reductions in GHG emissions in the next century are now underway. Joint Implementation (JI) refers to a cooperative project between a donor (Annex I country under the FCCC) who provides funds or equipment to reduce GHGs in the territory of the host country. JI projects are attractive to donors because they provide the potential to achieve emission reductions at a lower cost/ton than investments in GHG reductions in their own country. To make JI attractive, donors need to receive credit for GHG reductions in the host country. Poland will most likely be a host country if it participates in JI projects because the cost/ton of GHG reductions in Poland will probably be below the costs of options in donor countries. The paper examines a range of issues that Poland would need to address to more effectively evaluate, implement, and monitor JI projects. Particular attention in the paper is focused on JI criteria, options for organizing a JI Secretariat, and legal issues related to negotiations and contracts the Government of Poland would undertake with donor countries and JI implementors, respectively.

Keywords: Greenhouse gas emissions, Framework Convention on Climate Change, Joint Implementation, donor country, host country, additionality