WWF Launches Gold Standard For Kyoto Protocol Projects

from Jennifer Morgan of the World Wildlife Fund (New Delhi),

NEW DELHI, India, Oct. 29, 2002/U.S. Newswire/ -- World Wildlife Fund
today unveiled a set of draft "gold" standards designed to ensure
that two key provisions of the Kyoto Protocol more effectively
reduce the carbon emissions that cause global warming. Developed
by WWF in consultation with a range of environmental, business and
governmental organizations, the standards set forth criteria for
projects carried out under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
and Joint Implementation (JI) provisions of the Kyoto Protocol.
The CDM and JI allow governments and firms to offset their carbon
dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions through new investment
in clean technology projects: The standards developed by WWF would
ensure that these offsets do indeed provide climate and sustainable
development benefits.

"The Gold Standard provides a framework for governments and the
private sector to ensure that real environmental and social
benefits occur from Kyoto Protocol projects," said Jennifer Morgan,
director of WWF's Climate Change Program. "We are releasing the
standards now so that project developers, companies and governments
can show their commitment to climate protection by investing only
in the highest quality projects."

While WWF believes industrialized countries should focus their
efforts on domestic emissions reductions, it also believes that CDM
and JI projects could become powerful tools for accelerating the
spread of sustainable energy technologies and helping to fight
global warming. However, WWF and other groups are concerned that
the CDM/JI rules contain loopholes likely to create projects with
no net environmental benefit. For instance, many of the projects
currently proposed would have occurred anyway and therefore offsets
are claimed while emissions continue to increase.

To address these concerns, the Gold Standards outline a series
of criteria for projects to meet, including a clear focus on
sustainable energy technologies, additionality and concrete
sustainable development benefits. They also ensure a high level of
public participation, particularly by those communities likely to
be affected by projects.

"The Gold Standards will show how the CDM and JI could become
powerful instruments for climate protection," said Mark Kenber, WWF
Senior Policy Officer. "If widely adopted, the standards can
assist in overcoming the current mistrust of these instruments,
providing certainty for investors and real climate benefit."

An independent Standards Advisory Board, composed of technical
experts from around the world, has approved the standards and will
oversee their further refinement. WWF welcomes comments and
further inputs on the standards, particularly on their practical
implementation.

For further information, contact Jennifer Morgan, Director of
WWF Climate Change programme at +91 98101 34322 or
jennifer.morgan@wwfus.org; Mitzi Borromeo, Press Officer for WWF
Int. at +91 98101-52359 or mborromeo@wwfint.org.

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Note to Editors: Additional information on the carbon standards
is available, including a technical summary of the gold standard
guidelines.

http://www.usnewswire.com
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10/29 11:29