What is KEEN?

• Background
• A network of experts
• The projected outputs

Background
At the third Conference of the Parties (COP) in December 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was agreed by 185 countries (38 of them being categorised as industrialised). The latter countries have agreed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 5,2% between 1990 and the "commitment period" 2008-2012. To help parties to reach their obligations at lowest economical costs, several flexible instruments, the so-called "Kyoto Mechanisms" have been defined. The Kyoto-Protocol only gives very broad definitions and many details still needed to be defined. In the context of Joint Implementation (JI), the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and International Emissions Trading (IET) the legal status, the institutions to be involved, the eligibility of "sinks" and the problem of baselines and additionality were unclear.
After the Kyoto conference negotiations continued on those details – some of which turned out to be very difficult but crucial issues for ratification. One intended to resolve the most crucial questions until COP 6 in The Hague, November 2000. But, due to some severe differences on relevant issues, negotiations could not be completed successfully in The Hague. It was decided to resume COP6 in Bonn in July 2001. Expectations concerning that conference had been low due to the rejection of the Protocol by the USA at the beginning of the year; nevertheless negotiators got to an agreement. This agreement builds the basis for ratification of the Protocol by the remaining parties. Major countries such as those of the EU and Japan intend to ratify the Protocol by the end of 2002. Having built the foundation for the continuation of international climate policy, the international community will now be able to focus on the practical issues concerning the Kyoto mechanisms on the next conferences, with COP 7 (November, Marrakech) as the next major milestone.
Next to those political aspects, many activities in these areas are currently ongoing involving actors from all sectors in society – scientists, industry, NGOs. But, in many cases, those activities are pursued separately from each other – synergies in context are not used. All these actors could benefit from an increased level of sharing of information and co-operation. This is thus the most important goal of the KEEN project.

A network of experts
The KEEN network is directed towards the development of a network of experts that are currently involved in activities in the area of JI, CDM and IET. These experts come variously from the private sector, academia, NGOs, national governments and supra-national organisations. KEEN will support the exchange of ideas and viewpoints, insights to certain topics, practical experiences and promote the teaming up of scientists, industry and NGOs.

The projected outputs

• The development of an international network of specialists in the area of the Kyoto Mechanisms that involves experts from the private sector, governments, universities, NGOs and supra-national organisations.
• An increase in international co-operation in this field.
• Intensification of the exchange of literature, methodological approaches and information on specific topics. The KEEN partners will provide some overview papers to give input on for some initial topics of discussion, like baseline issues, non-CO2 GHG emissions related to JI, CDM and ET as well as institutional implications. Those overview papers shall provide input for discussion – either based on an e-mail forum or e.g. for the KEEN-workshop in Amsterdam in November 2001 (see below).
• To provide a platform to exchange and discuss new ideas, to pose questions on special issues and to inform about new developments in the field of international climate policy. This will be achieved by means of the KEEN website (www.kyoto-experts.com), which in main parts will be accessible to the public but also provide restricted areas for KEEN-experts to ensure "privacy".
• Enable a "real-life" discussion on the Kyoto-Mechanisms by organising a 2-day workshop in Amsterdam from December 6th to 7th.