The Kyoto-Mechanisms

A special characteristic of the Kyoto-Protocol is without any doubt the flexible mechanisms. Within Climate policy, they are considered as Innovation allowing the participating countries to reach its quota not only in front of the own gate but also by international cooperation and interaction.

The measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must not necessarily take place in the own country. Finally, there is no difference, as the former Director of the Max-Planck-Institute, Hartmut Grassl states, whether the carbon dioxide "is set into the atmosphere in Munich or in the Antarctica".

The following mechanisms were worked out in order to implement the objectives specified in the Kyoto Protocol, considering even the costs:

• Trade with emissions: Industrialized countries may buy and sell rights allowing them to generate a certain amount of carbon dioxide. The trade with emissions-or pollution rights started in Europe in 2005. As part of the trade with emissions countries have the permission to approve enterprises to sell and buy emission certificates.
• Joint Implementation – joint introduction: Joint Implementation means the transfer of emission reduction units, whereby the countries are free to cooperate with each other. Such a co-operation allows one nation financing measures to reduce greenhouse gases in a foreign country. Therefore, so-called Credits or National Reduction Certificates are awarded, which are added to the own quota.
• Clean Development Mechanism: The Clean Development Mechanism is largely similar to the Joint Implementation. The difference is, that the measures, which should reduce the greenhouse gases take place in a developing country. For this involvement, the countries receive credits.