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2004 Global Forecast

2.  Climate change

Introduction

Executive summary

2002 regulatory review

       

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Chemicals restrictions

Climate change

 Safety at work

 Waste minimisation

 Emergency planning and response

Air quality

Use of water resources

Noise at work

Transparency

Management systems

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full 2004 Forecast 
(Pdf 2,075 KB)

 

 

Climate change

>> Introduction

>> Regulatory developments

>> Web links

 
 

Full report (Pdf 186 KB)

 
     
 

Introduction

 

 

International Context of Climate Change

In 2002, 56 countries (i.e. 25 from Annex I and 31 from Non-Annex I) have moved forward to handle climate change issues. Likely, 2003 or 2004 would be the year that the Kyoto Protocol enters into force (however, it is solely depending on Russia’s decision for the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol under the circumstance that U.S.A will not join the Protocol).

Status of the Climate Change Convention and the Kyoto Protocol

 

2002

Annex I

Non-Annex I

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Ratification

2

14

11

6

Austria, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom

Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mali, Papua New Guinea, Peru, South Korea, Seychelles, Thailand, Vietnam

Acceptance

 

1

 

 

Japan

 

Accession

6

2

8

3

Hungary, Iceland, Netherlands

Benin, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cameroon, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Grenada, India, Jordan, Lao, Liberia, Morocco, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Tanzania, 

Approval

 

2

1

 

European Community, France

China

* 2002_Q4 includes January and February of 2003.

* Annex I countries have obligatory reduction targets under the Climate Change Convention and the Kyoto Protocol.

* An explanation of legal terms can be found on-line at: http://untreaty.un.org/English/guide.asp#glossary.

* The rules for entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol require 55 Parties to the Climate Change Convention to ratify (or approve, accept or accede to) the Protocol, including Annex I Parties accounting for 55% of that group’s carbon dioxide emissions in 1990.

Regional Context of Climate Change

In line with 2002 regulatory developments in European countries in which most of them have ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2002 it is expected that there would be more active regulatory requirements such as emissions trading, CO2 tax/energy tax, climate change agreement, energy efficiency, etc.

As Canada has ratified the Kyoto Protocol in December 2002, it is estimated that there will be more regulatory approaches to climate change on the North American side. In U.S.A even though there might not be stringent requirements at the federal level on climate change, some of the states sets requirements on Greenhouse Gas emission reduction and reporting from industrial facilities and in the transportation sector.

Asia-Pacific and Latin American countries would not actively regulate industrial facilities with stringent requirements, as countries have no obligatory reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. Many countries in the region (e.g. Brazil, Chile, Mexico, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, etc) respond to climate change issues with improving measures such as energy efficiency labeling, building standards, energy audits, energy efficiency standards, voluntary agreements, tax incentives, demand-side management in energy supply, fuel efficiency, etc.

Country-Specific and Industry-Specific Approach to Climate Change

Apart from the politics of climate change at the international level, regulatory developments on climate change at the national level have been and are being focused on energy use such as energy efficiency, building standards, renewable energy, and emission reporting.

1. Energy Efficiency

With respect to energy efficiency national energy labels and minimum energy performance standards are common measures taken by countries. Targeted products are varied country by country. Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners are commonly regulated. Electric products are fast becoming targeted products.

Labeling Programs and Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS)

 

Program

C/E

M/V

Regulatory Information/Implementing Agency

Argentina

-

C

M

Resolution of May 1999 Household appliances labeling

Australia

Star Rating Scheme (Electric)

C

M

State and Territory Government, National Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Committee and Standards Australia publish regulatory standards

Galaxy Energy Award

E

V

Initially a Victorian Program, becoming national

International Energy Star

E

V

US EPA and US DOE develop endorsement criteria

Mandatory MEPS

Air conditioner, freezers, motors, refrigerators, water heaters

Brazil

Programa Brasileiro de Etiquetagem-PBE

C

V

Programa Nacional de Conservacao de Energia Eletrica and National Institute of Metrology 

Stamp Procel de Economia de Energia

E

M

Programa Nacional de Conservacao de Energia Eletrica 

Canada

EnerGuide Program

C

M/V

Energy Efficiency Act

Environmental ChioceM Program/EcoLogo

E

V

Environment Canada

Mandatory MEPS

Air conditioner, ballasts, boilers, freezers, lamps, refrigerators, etc.

Chile

-

E

V

National Energy Commission is developing

Mandatory MEPS

Motors and refrigerators

China

-

E

V

The Law on Energy Conservation of China

Mandatory MEPS

Air conditioners-room, ballasts, irons, refrigerators, rice cookers, TV, etc.

European Union

Energy Label

C

M

National bodies of EU member countries

GEA Label

E

V

Group for Energy Efficient Appliances

European Eco-label award scheme

E

V

European Union Econ Labeling Board

Mandatory MEPS

Ballasts, Boilers, freezers, refrigerators, etc.

Hong Kong

Energy Label

C/E

V

Electrical and Mechanical Services Department

Japan

International Energy Star

E

V

-

Energy Saving Labeling System

C

M

The Law on the Rational Use of Energy/Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Top Runner standards program

Air conditioner, computers, lamps, copiers, refrigerators, freezers, TV, etc.

Korea

Energy Efficiency Rating Labeling Program

C

M

The Act on the Rational Use of Energy/Korea Energy Management Corporation (KEMCO)

Energy-saving office equipment & home electronics program

E

V

KEMCO

Mandatory MEPS

Air conditioners-room, ballasts, boilers, computers, lamps, refrigerators, etc.

Mexico

Eficencia Energetica

C

M

National Energy Savings Commission

Sello FIDE

E

V

FIDE Trust for saving Electrical Energy

Mandatory MEPS

Air conditioners, boilers, lamps, motors, refrigerator, transformers, etc.

Philippines

Philippine Appliance Energy Standards and Labeling Program

C

M

Department of Energy, Bureau of Product Standards and Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers

Mandatory MEPS

Air conditioners-room, fluorescent lamp ballast

Poland

Energy Label

C

M

The Energy Law of 1997

Polish Efficient Lighting Program/Efficient Lighting Initiative

E

V

International Finance Corporation

Mandatory MEPS

Clothes washers, refrigerators, space heaters

Russia

ENERGOCOMPASS

-

-