EDAFOLOGIA, Vol. 11 (1), pp.27-36, 2004
LOS SUMIDEROS DE CARBONO EN EL MARCO DEL PROTOCOLO DE KIOTO
M. CAMPS ARBESTAIN, M. PINTO
NEIKER-Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario, Berreaga 1, 48160-Derio
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - created in 1992 – has as ultimate objective “the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”. The UNFCCC entered in force in 1994 and since then there have been annual meetings of the COPs (Conference of the Parties) in which new instruments are being des igned to ensure the achievement of the objectives established. In 1997, COP 3 delegates agreed the Kyoto Protocol, which commits developed countries and countries making the transition to a market economy (annex I parties) to achieve quantified emission reduction targets for six greenhouse gases by an average of 5 % below 1990 levels during the first commitment period (between 2008-2012). The 15 Member States that constituted the EU by that moment agreed to reach a reduction of 8 %, although this reduction was apportioned individually, and Spain was allowed to increase its emissions by a 15 %. The Kyoto Protocol establishes a series of principles: enhancement of energy efficiency, reduction of emissions, promotion of renewable energies, protection of carbon sinks, and promotion of agricultural and forestry sustainable management techniques. The Protocol also establishes flexible mechanisms which allow annex I parties to meet their greenhouse gas emission limitation by purchasing emission reductions from elsewhere. The Protocol recognises the role of soils and biomass as carbon sinks, allowing the parties to discount their emissions by the carbon fixed into these sinks. Sinks considered are land use, land use change and forestry. Several agreements have been approved thereafter, most of them included in the Marrakech Accords of 2001, in which detailed rules related to these activities were specified.