Kyoto flexibility mechanisms in EU accession countries: Will they make a difference?

Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, Aleksandra Novikova*, Alan Watt

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract (may include machine translation)

What potential effect do flexible mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol have on energy efficiency, fuel switching and the development of renewable energy sources for the eight post-communist EU Member States that accessed in 2004? These countries are chief candidates for hosting Joint Implementation (JI) projects and for participating in international emission trading, which may assist the implementation and financing of projects in these target areas. The potentials and barriers to Joint Implementation are reviewed, as well as the conditions under which international emission trading can influence the energy use of the selling country. Different strategies adopted by the host countries towards the application of these instruments, and their impact on sustainable energy development, are examined. The article concludes that the Kyoto flexibility mechanisms may play a positive, but rather limited, role in the sustainable energy development of the region, but the barriers to Joint Implementation may shift the emphasis towards transactions under the framework of international emission trading. If innovative mechanisms are tied to sustainable development goals, this may mobilize the energyefficiency potentials of these countries. An attractive opportunity exists to achieve energy efficiency and emission reductions, utilizing the revenues from allowance sales through ‘green investment’ schemes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)179-196
Number of pages18
JournalClimate Policy
Volume7
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007

Keywords

  • Energy efficiency
  • Green investment schemes
  • International emissions trading
  • Joint Implementation
  • Kyoto flexibility mechanisms
  • New Member States
  • Renewable energy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Kyoto flexibility mechanisms in EU accession countries: Will they make a difference?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this