What might be minimum requirements for making the mechanism of Joint Implementation under the Climate Convention credible and operational

Abstract

Joint implementation (JI) is a mechanism under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC). The criteria of the mechanism are yet to be decided upon, but discussions in the International Negotiating Committee (INC) and in other fora have shown large differences of opinions on how to make this mechanism operational.

Many complicated issues related to the JI mechanism are under consideration. Many of these issues will probably be difficult to regulate into a strict set of rules and criteria. We believe that it is necessary to establish a few important criteria and leave other elements to the discretion of the Parties to the FCCC, who on a voluntary basis choose to perform JI projects. Such an approach would give the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (CoP) an opportunity to learn from experience with the mechanism and to adjust criteria as they see fit at a later stage.

This paper should be regarded as a basis for a discussion, which may be a step in the search of a minimum set of criteria to be decided upon by the CoP at their first meeting in March 1995.