China Set To Launch Kyoto Clean Energy Fund
Published by MAC on 2007-02-09Source: REUTERS
China Set to Launch Kyoto Clean Energy Fund
PlanetArk CHINA
9th February 2007
BEIJING - Beijing will launch within weeks a renewable energy fund likely to deploy tens of millions of dollars it has taxed from carbon trading under the Kyoto Protocol.
Kyoto sets rich countries emissions reductions targets through to 2012 but allows them to meet these by funding emissions cuts in poor countries. Buying carbon credits is considered cheaper than making domestic cuts.
China has dominated as a selling country, so far attracting approved investments to cut emissions through 2012 by some 300 million tonnes -- UN data shows -- worth over 3 billion euros (US$3.90 billion).
It has become a honeypot for investors because some of its carbon credits are achieved at especially low-cost, for example destroying especially potent greenhouse gases which qualify for huge multiples of carbon credits for every tonne of emissions saved.
China has taxed these western investments at up to 65 percent as a way of diverting some cash away from industrial plants into smaller projects, and the long touted carbon-fund could have tens of millions of dollars already.
"It has been approved by the state council and we are coordinating with other authorities to formalise it," said Ju Kuilin, Deputy Director General at the Ministry of Finance's International Cooperation Department.
"By the end of this month or early March we will put it into operation.
"Our guideline for management is based on independence in climate change projects," he added.
He declined to say how much of a pot had built up since the tariffs were brought in last year, and said Beijing was also hoping for contributions from other governnments and international organisations.
Science and Technology Vice-Minister Liu Yanhua said the cash will be handed out in both loans and grants, but regulations might be adjusted after assessing their practical impact.
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE