Climate Change – a global challenge
Climate change constitutes a global challenge. On the one hand, greenhouse gases causing climate change are emitted all over the world. On the other, effects of climate change can already be observed in many countries making adaptation measures a must. For this reason, in 1992 an international treaty was created aimed at confining climate change: the United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Multilateral measures for addressing climate change are negotiated and agreed in annually held Conferences of the UNFCCC member states. One of the better known decisions, for example, was the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, in which industrialized nations pledged to limit their greenhouse gas emissions.
Our contribution to the UNFCCC process
Since its formation, the Climate Concept Foundation has been involved as a stakeholder in shaping international climate policy. We have had success in helping to improve the framework conditions for international emission reduction activities.
This is why we have been officially accredited as a UNFCCC observer organization by the 19th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in November 2013. This entitles us to participate in all climate change related meetings on UN-level. Specifically, we can address the Climate Change Secretariat in Bonn or UNFCCC member state delegates directly. We do so on a regular basis with an emphasis on our core competence “market based climate policy instruments” (such as the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol).
Providing support to UNFCCC member state delegates
We support those member states, whose delegations share our high ecologic standards in the continuation of market based approaches. In addition to our own expertise we can draw on a network of experts that match our deep rooted experience in the development and steering of international emission reduction projects. Due to our emission markets knowledge and independence, we can highlight weaknesses in existing regulations. As we are a charitable organization, our support is free of charge.
Economic activity in alignment with ecologic effectiveness
The nature of economic activity – such as the development of international emission reduction projects – is aiming for financial gains. In principle, we welcome this as it is an engine for efficiency and innovation. In addition, ambitious climate policy targets could not be attained without tying in the private sector.
Nevertheless, the effectiveness of international climate policy measures is crucial for ensuring that granted incentives like carbon credits meet the envisaged environmental goals and do not water down emission reduction commitments of member states. This is what we work for within the UN climate negotiations.
