| Many environmental
experts concur that climate change poses a serious threat to the global
community. It imperils international economic development and environmental
stability worldwide. Although the impacts of climate change vary from country
to country and region to region, it is expected that developing nations
and nations in transition to a market based economy will be impacted most
because of their limited capacity to contend with the problem. Some of
the known effects of climate change include sea level rise, tidal surges,
severe fluctuations in soil moisture, increased rainfall, drought, and
soaring heat indices. Projected climate changes will potentially affect
everything from public health and agricultural productivity to forest and
water resources and the balance of the Earth’s most delicate ecosystems.
A major factor in global warming
is the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases have
the same effect on global climate regardless of where they are emitted,
and their emission levels are rising rapidly. However, the cost of reducing
or sequestering GHG emissions varies among countries. Joint Implementation
offers the opportunity to reduce emissions at a lower global cost than
would be possible if each country acted alone. It allows countries to cooperatively
participate in the global response to emissions reductions through the
planning and implementation of sustainable development projects. |
Copyright © 1999 USIJI
