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From: Joint Implementation Network, The Netherlands
Volume 2 Number 1 April 1996
Canada prepares JI Pilot Initiative
In Spring this year, the Government of Canada launched its National
Action Program on Climate Change (NAP). The program sets
strategic directions which support Canada’s policies to meet its
commitment to stabilize GHG emissions at 1990 levels by the year
2000. The program furthermore includes guidance for action which
could be implemented beyond 2000. In the framework of the NAP the
Federal Government of Canada invites the Canadians (local
governmental institutions, business community as well as citizens)
to initiate actions on a voluntary basis which could contribute to
reducing or offsetting Canada’s GHG emissions.
The implementation of the NAP is to a large extent based on the
Voluntary Challenge and Registry (VCR), which was officially
launched in late 1994. As can be read in NAP the VCR ‘...will
encourage all sectors to explore cost-effective actions, and to imitate
actions taken by sectoral leaders.’ The main task of the VCR will be
to guide individuals and organizations interested in undertaking GHG
emission reducing or offsetting measures. Furthermore, the program
consists of recognition and evaluation provisions. Projects recognized
by VCR will officially be indicated as early actions in contributing to
Canada’s long-term environment goals.
In NAP a section is included which deals with the Canadian intention
to set up a Joint Implementation Pilot Initiative. Together with
provincial and territorial governments, industry, and environmental
groups the Federal Government of Canada is currently developing this
initiative, of which the key objectives include:
- contributing to global efforts to reduce net emissions of greenhouse
gases through voluntary partnerships between Canadian and foreign
entities;
- encouraging private-sector initiatives to develop and disseminate
technologies and build capacities with other countries;
- testing and evaluating methodologies for initiating JI; and,
- gaining early, practical experience that can be used to develop a
longer-term JI program both domestically and internationally.
The Canadian JI Pilot Initiative aims to encourage the setting up of JI
pilot projects which:
- improve energy efficiency in other countries;
- achieve GHG emission reduction cost-effectively;
- are sustainable over the longer term; and
- have other social, environmental and economic benefits.
The Voluntary Challenge and Registry (VCR)-Participant’s Handbook
was published in August 1995. Through the VCR the JI project can
be recorded, monitored, and publicly reported on a regular basis. This
procedure will be made as transparent as possible, so as to facilitate
the future review of the project results by the FCCC bodies.
The VCR Participant’s Handbook contains guidelines for both
reporting of domestic and international projects. Although companies
would ideally provide detailed project information on such things as
baseline determination, provisions for measurement and verification of
net GHG emission reduction, and provisions for monitoring and
verifying results, it is recognized that the level of sophistication of
reporting will increase with experience. For the reason of gaining
experience, the Government of Canada wishes to have the broadest
participation possible in its JI pilot program and would not preclude
projects from the registry and the program, simply for lack of
information. The guidelines have been drafted in a way which helps
eligible participants prepare their proposals for submission, rather
than to restrict participation in the program.
In addition to the recently published guidelines, Canada also views a
facilitation role for government as a key aspect of ensuring the
success of the Canadian JI Pilot Initiative. To this end, the
Government of Canada is pursuing opportunities for bilateral or
multilateral agreements which could open the door for Canadian
project proponents.
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Box 1 Canadian private sector involvement in JI
Recently, some private sector representatives in Canada have shown
their interest to be involved in JI. As an example, TransAlta Utilities in
Calgary has voluntarily set a corporate goal to stabilize its net GHG
emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000. In order to achieve this,
TransAlta could, among others, purchase international offsets
through JI. In this respect, TransAlta supported and participated -
together with the Chilean company CAP S.A. - in the World
Business Council for Sustainable Development (study) project
Catalyzing a Market for Joint Implementation.
Another example of a Canadian initiative with a JI element in which
the private sector participates, is through Memoranda of
Understanding (MOUs) between industry associations and the
Federal Government of Canada. These MOUs commit associations
to cooperate with the Government to further develop and promote the
VCR. CAPP will be encouraged to prepare voluntary action plans to
reduce the emissions of GHG or enhance sinks. To date, similar
MOUs have been signed with the Canadian Association of Petroleum
Producers, the Canadian Electrical Association, the Canadian Gas
Association and the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association. Under
these MOUs, one of the categories in which actions could be
undertaken is to purchase offsets domestically or internationally.
International actions are referred to as JI.
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For further information, please contact:
Kristi Varangu,
Environment Canada,
Ottawa Ontario,
Canada
tel.: +1 613 996 6081
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