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Joint implementation (JI) projects involve a collaborative effort between private entities from two or more countries to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This approach enables these entities to achieve GHG reductions at a lower cost than would otherwise be possible. JI projects can take the form of emission reduction efforts (e.g. energy efficiency or renewable energy) or can involve protection and enhancement of GHG sinks (e.g. forests, grass lands, or coral reefs).
In 1992, world leaders signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) to develop strategies to mitigate the effects of atmospheric pollution on the global climate. The JI concept, known as "Activities Implemented Jointly" (AIJ) during the current pilot phase, was introduced during the negotiations leading up to the Rio Earth Summit, and was formally adopted into the text of the FCCC. Under the agreement, industrialized countries committed to balance their GHG emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000 and to assist developing countries in mitigating their long-term emissions trends. The FCCC allows each party to determine how to pursue its commitments which have been set forth in national action plans.
Policy Implications for the Utility Industry
The U.S. Initiative on Joint Implementation (USIJI) encourages U.S. private-sector investment in developing and disseminating technologies to reduce or sequester GHG emissions; promotes cost-effective projects that encourage technology cooperation and sustainable development projects in developing countries and emerging economies; and promotes a broad range of projects to test and evaluate methodologies for measuring, tracking and verifying costs and benefits of JI projects.
Wisconsin Energy's Position
The energy efficiency/emission reduction project involves replacement of inefficient, highly polluting district heating boilers in Decin, Czech Republic with high efficiency, natural gas-fired internal combustion engines. An important strategy in reducing GHG emissions in the face of growing demand for energy is to produce and use energy as efficiently as possible.
WEC's second project, which enhances GHG sinks, involves acquisition and protection of endangered tropical forests in Belize, Central America, and development of a program of sustainable forestry management that will increase the total pool of sequestered carbon in a 120,000-acre area. Scientists believe that forest conservation and management play an important role in stabilizing the world's climate by absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide. By establishing a project that creates economic incentives to reverse deforestation trends, more of a difference can be made toward achieving a global GHG balance than many solutions available within the U.S.
Beyond the benefits already described (reductions in: emissions, costs, energy consumption,
natural resource use), these projects also may provide:
Successful JI projects demonstrate that voluntary participation in these types of partnerships can be cost-effective, offering benefits to all partners -- and that environmental goals can be achieved through flexible approaches.
Creation of these JI projects also helps to produce the conditions necessary for the formation of a voluntary carbon offset trading program. Promotion of flexible, market-based emission reduction programs may be enhanced through the success of this project.
We are concerned that the results of international climate change negotiations may not fully reflect and recognize JI's value and importance as a climate change mitigation strategy. It has been suggested that forestry initiatives be discounted to reflect perceived uncertainties. This is unnecessary and inaccurate, since our efforts in Rio Bravo prove that measurable and verifiable results can be demonstrated and documented. Therefore, we feel that all types of JI projects, energy efficiency and carbon sequestration alike, should receive full credit, including credit for early actions.
Wisconsin Energy continues to look for new opportunities for JI partnerships with developing countries. We know that, since GHG emissions know no boundaries, WEC's investments abroad pay environmental benefits around the world -- simply, it is the "right thing to do". Leading by example hopefully will show others a new path for environmental solutions.
For more information on Joint Implementation, call Wisconsin Energy at 414-221-3421 or send us an E-mail request.
Return to Wisconsin Energy's Environmental Commitment.