6 151 participants, including 2 210 representatives of 167 countries that have ratified the Convention on Climate Change, were present at the Tenth Conference (COP 10) of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which ended recently in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Minister of the Environment Mr Villu Reiljan was the leader of the Estonian delegation. The emission of greenhouse gases by the parties specified in Appendix I to the Convention (developed countries plus countries with transitional economies) has declined by 1.2 billion tonnes, i.e. 6.6 % from 1990 to 2001. Thus, these countries have achieved the objective of the Convention: to stabilise the emission of greenhouse gases to the level of 1990 by 2000. To a great degree this objective has been achieved owing to the fact that the emission of greenhouse gases by the countries with transitional economies has declined by 39.7 %. For example, Estonia reduced the emission of greenhouse gases by 55.4 % from 1990 to 2001, while in Monaco the emission of greenhouse gases in the same period increased by 40.5 %. During the conference, sessions of the implementing body of the Convention and the advisory implementing body in the field of science and technology as well as meetings of the contact groups of these bodies were held. At these meetings the following matters were discussed: activities related to the developing countries and the least developed countries and how it would be possible to finance these activities, methodical issues related to implementing the Convention, issues related to increasing the capability of the countries with transitional economies, alleviating climate changes, adapting to climate changes and establishing an international registry system. With the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol the provisions of the Protocol and the obligations assumed will become binding to the parties and all the so-called Kyoto Implementing Mechanisms (Clean Development Mechanism, Joint Implementation and Emissions Trading) will also become fully applicable. In order to fulfil the obligation of decreasing the emission of greenhouse gases specified in the Kyoto Protocol, and to gain experience in order to prepare for international emissions trading launched on the basis of the Kyoto Protocol, the European Union has established a community system of trading in greenhouse gas emission allowances that will be launched on 1 January 2005. The trading system will cover approximately 50 % of the European Union greenhouse gas emissions. During the conference Minister Villu Reiljan also had a meeting with the Danish Minister of the Environment. At this meeting, the two ministers concluded an agreement on the joint implementation project of the Türisalu wind park. This is a preliminary contract concerning the agreement on the intergovernmental joint implementation project of the Türisalu wind park. As a result of the Türisalu wind park project (21.45 MW) of AS Tuulepargid, greenhouse gas emission (CO2) should decrease by approximately 462,541 tonnes from 2008 to 2012. In addition, Minister Villu Reiljan had a meeting with the Minister of the Environment of Austria. At this meeting, the ministers discussed possibilities of cooperation within the framework of the Kyoto Protocol and agreed on the text of the draft memorandum of mutual understanding on intergovernmental joint implementation. By the time of this jubilee session of the Convention, 189 countries had ratified the Framework Convention on Climate Change and 132 countries had ratified the Kyoto Protocol. Consequently, the Protocol as an international treaty will enter into force on 16 February 2005. Further information: |
