Forestry & the Environment
Carbon Change and Kyoto
Forests act as "carbon sinks", that is the trees absorb carbon (CO2) from the atmosphere. This ability is becoming more important with the increase in CO2 in our atmosphere and fears of this increase contributing to climate change and global warming.
Planting forests can reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, particularly if a forest is planted on land that was previously non-forested (as Forest Enterprises does).
| Section Headings below |
| Overview of the UNFCCC and Kyoto |
| Some Relevant UNFCCC and Kyoto Documents |
| Some Relevant New Zealand Documents |
| Some Relevant Web Sites |
Overview of UNFCCC and Kyoto
The subject of climate change and the international and national programs responding to climate change is complex. The complexity is worsened by the continuing side debate over whether climate change is in fact happening, and if happening, whether it is as a result of human activity resulting in greenhouse gas emmissions. It is not the purpose of the information set out below to debate the subject but simply to provide links to some of the information available for those interested to become better informed.
In 1992 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted and came into force on 21 March 1994. Today there are 189 countries party to it. The Convention had a non binding aim for industrialised countries to return emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. The conventions provisions concern all greenhouse gases not covered by the 1987 Montreal Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer. It is estimated that 6.5 billion tons of carbon are added to the atmosphere annually.
In 1997 the Kyoto Protocol was adopted. The protocol is an enhancement to the Convention as anticipated by Article 17. Whereas the Convention encourages countries to stabilize emissions, the Kyoto Protocol commits them to reduce their collective emission by at least 5% of the 1990 levels calculated as an average of the years 2008 to 2012 (the first commitment period).
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Some Relevant UNFCC and Kyoto Documents
|
United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change |
The full text of the 1992 Convention |
| Guide
to the Climate Change Convention and the Kyoto Protocol (PDF File 504 KB) |
Excellent 40 page overview
pulished in 2005. Key subject headings - Introduction Background The Convention Country checklist The Kyoto Protocol Looking ahead Sources and further reading |
|
United
Nations Framework Convention - the first 10 years |
A comprehensive review of the Convention published in
2004 under the headings - |
| Kyoto
Protocol (PDF File 66 KB) |
The full text of the Protocol |
| Kyoto
Status of Ratification (PDF File 160 KB) |
Published 27 May 2005. Lists all countries who signed and their ratification status |
Some Relevant New Zealand Documents
|
Governments
Preferred Policy Package |
The discussion document published in April 2002 which forms the basis of New Zealands current policy package subject to the changes agreed in the cabinet paper below |
| Climate
Change - Confirmation of Preferred Policy Package (PDF File 169KB) |
The cabinet paper based upon the April 2002 Discussion Document above that establishes New Zealand's present policy position |
| The
Castalia Report (PDF File 130KB) |
The independent report that warned the Government of the looming 'Kyoto Deficit' |
| Projected
Balance of Units (PDF File 193 KB) |
The May 2005 Ministry of the Environment Report that officially reported New Zealands 'Kyoto Deficit' position |
| Forest Sinks
and the Kyoto Protocol (PDF File 216 KB) |
June 2001 information document
organised under the following headings - Introduction to climate change and the Kyoto Protocol Forestry sinks and the Kyoto Protocol A possible frameword for trading sink credits |
| Land Use and Forest (Sinks)
Sector (PDF 440 KB) |
Additional information
published October 2001 to support the consultation on climate change
policy options organised under the headings - Background Government decisions and international negotiations Possible elements of a system to manage forest sinks |
| Implementing
the Carbon Tax - a Government Consultation Paper (PDF File 432 KB) |
The disucssion document
published May 2005 orgainised under the headings - Introduction Why a carbon tax? Putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions How the tax will work Issues for specific industries |
Some Relevant Web Sites
|
The official web site of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change |
| The web site of the New Zealand Climate Change Office |
| The web site of the Ministry for the Environment |
| The web site of the Kyoto Forestry Association |