Emissions reduction projects, technologies and carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS)

Emission reduction treaties

Emission reduction projects aim to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. They often generate carbon credits which can be traded in international or voluntary markets.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is one of the two treaties which were opened for signature at the 1992 United National Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED), the other being the Convention on Biological Diversity. The ultimate objective of the UNFCCC was to stabilise GHG concentrations. For more information, see Practice Note: UNFCCC 1992—snapshot.

The Kyoto Protocol committed developed economies in Annex I to the UNFCCC (Annex I parties) to detailed reductions in GHG emissions through a number of methods, including flexible mechanisms.

Eligibility requirements applied for Annex I parties to participate in the Kyoto-based flexible mechanisms.

For more information, see Practice Notes:

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Kyoto Protocol 1997—snapshot [Archived]
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Kyoto Protocol—eligibility, compliance and enforcement [Archived]
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Joint Implementation (JI)
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The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
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Carbon markets—international emissions trading schemes
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Carbon offsetting

The Paris Agreement

Paris Agreement, article 6 creates frameworks,

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