FAQs
Frequently asked Questions
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
Under Kyoto, industrialised nations pledged to cut their yearly emissions of carbon, as measured in six greenhouse gases, by varying amounts, averaging 5.2%, by 2012 as compared to 1990. That equates to a 29% cut in the values that would have otherwise occurred. However, the protocol didn’t become international law until more than halfway through the 1990–2012 period. By that point, global emissions had risen substantially. Some countries and regions, including the European Union, were on track by 2011 to meet or exceed their Kyoto goals, but other large nations were falling woefully short. And the two biggest emitters of all – the United States and China – churned out more than enough extra greenhouse gas to erase all the reductions made by other countries during the Kyoto period. Worldwide, emissions soared by nearly 40% from 1990 to 2009, according to the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.
What about non-Kyoto (Voluntary) Carbon Credits?
Verified Emission Reductions (VERs) – VERs are non-Kyoto carbon credit units. They can be used for voluntary offsetting for corporate branding, corporate social responsibility and for public relations purposes.
VERs can be from projects which meet certain minimum standards such as the gold standard, the voluntary carbon standard, or VER+.
In New Zealand, several projects which were awarded Kyoto carbon credits for the years 2008-12 have VERs for the emission reductions which have been achieved up until the end of 2007. Unlike carbon credits allocated under the Kyoto Protocol, VERs do not require approval or authorisations from governments.
It is important to note that VERs cannot be used by companies for compliance either in New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme or internationally.
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