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Danish JI Programme in the Russian Federation
At the UNFCCC Workshop on the Implementation of Article 6 (JI) projects under the Kyoto Protocol in Moscow, 26-27 May of this year, Ms. Ulla Blatt Bendtsen, Chief Program Coordinator of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA), delivered a presentation on the Danish JI program. Ms. Bendtsen addressed the potential for JI in the Russian Federation and showed promising projects that had been identified in the ‘Russian Technical Assistance and Cooperation (TAC) project’ carried out by DEPA. JIQ spoke with Ms. Bendtsen on the Danish activities.
Kyoto preparation
The Russian TAC project, which was set up by DEPA in 2003, focused on three issues: GHG inventories, JI project portfolios, and Emissions Trading. A range of institutions have been involved in the project, amongst others the Russian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environment Monitoring (Roshydromet), the Russian Ministry of Natural resources, Denmark’s National Environmental Research Institute, the Russian REC, and a number of Russian experts. According to Ms. Bendtsen, the overall purpose of the project is to assist the Russian Federation in its preparations to participate in the flexibility mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol. Ms. Bendtsen: "The three issues the project focuses on were identified by the Russian Government as being of highest importance. Furthermore, it is a supplement to the expected focus of the forthcoming EU TACIS project1 aid, which will focus on assisting Russia with the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol once a positive decision on ratifying Kyoto has been made."
Pilot project
The Danish JI program has already selected a number of JI projects in some Annex I countries and is now exploring investment opportunities in the Russian Federation. From the Russian TAC project, DEPA has selected one JI pilot project in the Moscow area, the Iksha and Khmetyevo landfill project. Although DEPA has decided to develop a pilot project to begin with, Ms. Bendtsen expects that more projects will be selected for further development, depending on the progress with ratification of the Protocol. Ms. Bendtsen: "The purpose of a pilot project in the TAC program was to demonstrate how all steps in the JI project cycle could be done in practice in Russia, and to develop a proposal for a Russian JI guidebook. This part of the project has so far failed, because no one can take responsibility for Kyoto implementation before the country has decided whether or not to ratify. Instead, the project is now focussing on possible JI guidelines than can be followed by the Russian Designated National Authority for JI once it is appointed, as well as on legal and economic barriers to ratification."
Complex communication
Earlier JI and AIJ experience in the Russian Federation showed that it is rather difficult to find the right government officials/Ministries to contact. In that respect, the Dutch ERUPT program, for example, encountered some difficulties. On the other hand, the Russian government did endorse all Expressions of Interest that were submitted under the ERUPT-4 tender.
Ms. Bendtsen: "I can only agree that communications are difficult. It seems even more difficult nowadays as restructuring of governmental bodies following the Presidential elections in March of this year has not yet been completed. I believe that only a decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol will provide a clear picture of roles and responsibilities in relation to the Kyoto mechanisms."
Greening of AAUs
Besides its JI policy, Denmark is also pushing the concept of ‘greening of AAUs’ in the Danish climate strategy. Ms. Bendtsen: "It is correct that DEPA buys greened AAUs in the form of early credits from concrete emission reduction projects. However, no other forms of greening have been investigated by DEPA in Russia."
The Danish cooperation with the Russian Federation is, according to Ms. Bendtsen, directed at both the shorter term (Kyoto context) and the longer term. Ms. Bendtsen: "The Danish technical assistance to Russia is primarily aimed at two issues: facilitating Russian ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, and developing the JI market in Russia for Russian and Danish public and private sector participants. This must be seen both in a short and long term context."
For further information, please contact:
Ms Ulla Blatt Bendtsen
Danish Environmental Protection Agency
Climate Change & Environmental Assistance
Strandgade 29
DK-1401 Copenhagen
Denmark
tel.: +45 32 66 01 00
fax: +45 32 66 04 79
e-mail: ube@mst.dk
Mr Sünnen on the KfW Carbon Facility
Interviews in previous JIQ Issues
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