Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol

While the validity of the evidence for climate change continues to be a source of much debate, the information on temperature rise (i.e. global warming) over the 250 years since the industrial revolution is virtually irrefutable. The impact of this rise on sea levels and weather patterns is still emerging and such effects may never be fully attributed to global warming, since the mechanisms are too complex and the burden of proof is too great. But can we ignore the possible consequences?

The Precautionary Principle has become the basis on which action needs to be contemplated and the creation of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) following the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 became the first step in the regulatory response. IPCC continues to guide global policy development in this area and this contribution led to the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. However, the political implications of climate change on economic growth and society's current way of life are so pervasive that some Governments are still finding it difficult to fully engage the agenda. This is perhaps not surprising in developing countries where economic growth in an absolute imperative. However, it is more disconcerting to note that major developed economies are also shying away from what some would see as their obligations.

Although originally drawn into the Climate agenda by its Montreal Protocol interests, Caleb has extended its activities in areas where its technical expertise and policy experience have relevance. This has been particularly the case on the issue of building energy efficiency, where Caleb believes that there is a major opportunity to make significant and cost effective (in climate change policy terms) savings. In pursuit of this objective, Caleb has produced a series of reports in support of groups such as EuroACE to promote the importance of building energy efficiency at European level. One of the results has been the emergence of the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive in early 2003. Since 2004, Caleb has been advising new European member states, Accession and Candidate country governments and agencies on the adoption of European legislation on Energy Efficiency in Buildings. We are doing this on behalf of TAIEX (Technical Assistance & Information Exchange Instrument of DG Enlargement) Caleb also continues to advise the UK Government on the implementation of strategies (regulatory, fiscal and altruistic) in order to promote energy efficiency and has been particularly instrumental in the revision of thermal efficiency standards for pipe insulation.

The company also monitors the development of carbon trading schemes to assess their effectiveness in achieving the proper management of carbon dioxide emissions. Such schemes are now promoted as important responses to climate change, but often lack evidence of actual verified emission reductions. We work with our clients on their development and implementation of a strategic response to the climate change agenda. Our emphasis is on achieving results within a 'carbon management hierachy' which favours first action on direct and then indirect carbon emission reductions. Only where emissions are unavoidable do we recommend the purchase of good quality verified emission offsets that are delivered to the best international standards available today.

One of the main trading schemes within the Kyoto Protocol, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) exists as a vehicle for organisations in industrialised countries to assist developing countries to achieve a low-carbon development path. Caleb was involved in a project to write a Project Development Document (PDD) relating to a specific agricultural renewable technology. This resulted in the completion of the first CDM PDD for developing large-scale biogas plants for the conversion of pig waste into biogas for electricity generation in Henan, China for Asia Development Bank. This process has given us a high degree of insight in how the Kyoto Protocol flexible mechanisms operate.

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Agricultural Engineering in Support of the Kyoto Protocol - PDF 836 KB

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