Over the past two centuries, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has been increasing as a result of the intensification of activities such as the use of fossil fuels, agricultural production, industries and transport. Some studies estimate that in the last one hundred years the average temperature of the planet increased around 0.7ºC, resulting in noticeable impacts on the health of human beings, the ecosystems and economic activities.

The discussions related to this issue have intensified since the 80s culminating in the in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, approved in 1992, that defined as its objective the stabilization of the greenhouse gases recommending the adaptability of the ecosystems and sustainable economic development.
         
As a result of the agreement of the participating countries in the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol establishes the commitment accepted by each of the parties and determines that the industrialized nations must reduce their emission of greenhouse gases by at least 5% in relation to the levels of 1990 by the period between 2008 and 2010. In force since 2005, The Protocol permits countries in development such as Brazil, that were not obliged to reduce their emissions, contribute through projects of the type Clean Development Mechanism.

The CDM projects, through the reduction in the emission levels and/or the capture of carbon (reforestation), generate “Carbon Credits” that can be utilized by the industrialized countries in the compliance of their reduction quotas determined in The Protocol, characterized in the Carbon Market.

In parallel to the Kyoto Protocol carbon credit market, voluntary initiatives have appeared from companies and institutions that had no obligation to reduce emissions, but they wanted to compensate them through the acquisition of carbon credits en a non Kyoto market, known as the Voluntary Emission Market.

Voluntary compensation is different from the purchase of carbon compensations in compulsory systems, such as the Kyoto Protocol and it is important to understand that both tools have an important role, although distinct, in the fight against climate change.

Even with their distinct independent characteristics and systems, the emission reduction projects become opportunities to motivate sustainable activities in developing countries such as Brazil, promoting the use of the least pollutant technologies and attracting foreign financing.

In addition to investments, the emission reduction projects are a way to promote the sustainable development in these countries through not only environmental, but also social and economic gains. The inclusion o local development in emission reduction projects are based on the principle that each county has the right to develop socially and economically while avoiding impacts on the environment, having as a final goal the reduction of poverty.

However, the organizations the wish to develop emission reduction projects, in addition to having to prove the reduction of emissions, they must observe the consistent contribution to their projects of sustainable development guaranteeing not only the attractiveness to the investors but also its acceptance by the society.

Other actions can be made that don’t necessarily involve the Market and Carbon Commercialization. Making people aware and environmental education are important tools that must be used by all the Institutions. Even though it is an issue being discussed very frequently by the communication media, it is the role of everyone to inform and educate on the ways to mitigate these effects for all of us, highlighting the importance of scientific research and environmental conservation and preservation actions, objectives inherent in the Ecological Institute Mission.


▪ Click here to know more about the Kyoto Protocol

▪ Click here to know more about the Clean Development Mechanism