Assigned amount units
An Assigned Amount Unit (AAU) is a tradable 'Kyoto unit' or 'carbon credit' representing an allowance to emit greenhouse gases comprising one metric tonne of carbon dioxide equivalents calculated using their Global Warming Potential.[1] [2] Assigned Amount Units are issued up to the level of initial "assigned amount" of an Annex 1 Party to the Kyoto Protocol.[3][4]
The "assigned amounts" are the Kyoto Protocol Annex B emission targets (or "quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives") expressed as levels of allowed emissions over the 2008-2012 commitment period.[5]
[edit] Application
Article 17 of the Kyoto Protocol allows emissions trading between Annex B Parties (countries). Parties that have "assigned amount units" to spare because of reductions in emissions below their Kyoto commitment set out in Article 3 and Annex B may sell those units to countries that have emissions exceeding their targets.[6] Article 17 also requires that any such emissions trading shall be supplemental to domestic action for the purpose of meeting quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments (QELRCs).
[edit] See also
- Kyoto Protocol
- Certified Emission Reduction
- Emission Reduction Unit
- Removal Units
- Voluntary Emissions Reduction
- Emissions trading
- Flexible mechanisms
- List of Kyoto Protocol signatories
[edit] References
- ^ "Assigned Amount Unit (AAU)". CDM Rulebook A-Z. Baker & McKenzie. http://cdmrulebook.org/695. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
- ^ IPCC (2001). "Appendix II Glossary". IPCC Third Assessment Report - Climate Change 2001. Working Group III: Mitigation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA. http://www.grida.no/publications/other/ipcc%5Ftar/?src=/climate/ipcc_tar/wg3/454.htm. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
- ^ "Kyoto Protocol Reference Manual On Accounting of Emissions and Assigned Amount". United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. November 2008. http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/publications/08_unfccc_kp_ref_manual.pdf. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
- ^ "Glossary of climate change acronyms". United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. http://unfccc.int/essential_background/glossary/items/3666.php#A. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
- ^ "Kyoto Protocol Targets". United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/3145.php. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
- ^ "Emissions Trading". United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/mechanisms/emissions_trading/items/2731.php. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
