The Kyoto Protocol lays down binding CO2 reducing goals in the industrial countries. Germany had set itself a target of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions by 21% as compared to 1990. This target was even exceeded, with a reduction of 21.4%.The principle of climate neutrality is anchored in the Kyoto Protocol (Clean Development Mechanism [CDM], Joint-Implementation [JI]). There, it has been laid down that CO2 emissions that were caused in the industrialised countries, can be equalised or compensated. This is possible, since CO2 can have a global harmful action. This means that emissions that are caused at location A can be compensated by climate protection measures at location B.
We talk of "climate-neutral" if emission reduction certificates are purchased from recognised climate protection projects of the magnitude of a calculated emission and are then extinguished or shut down. Thus, as an example, if CO2 emission is caused in Germany owing to the building of a trade fair stand, this emission can be compensated for by emission reduction certificates of the magnitude of the calculated emission through climate protection projects in other countries.
The climate protection projects are mainly located in the developing and transforming nations and all of them generate electrical power from renewable energies (e.g. wind, hydro-power). The operation of climate protection projects is financed through the sale of emission reduction certificates, or in fact, made possible by them in the first place. Every purchased certificate from a climate protection project contributes to more regenerative energy generation and an improvement in the socio-ecological conditions at the place.
An emission compensation should always have been preceded by an emission avoidance procedure. The more CO2 that can be reduced right from the beginning, the better it is for the climate. The mechanism of climate-neutrality is suitable as a supplement to a comprehensive sustainability involvement. In this manner, residual emission quantities on which no more reducing effect is possible, can be compensated.
Once an emission compensation has been carried out, products and services are marked as climate-neutral. In this manner, active climate protection can be carried out visibly and transparently. Companies whose products may carry the marking demonstrate yet again a live sense of responsibility for today and tomorrow.
