Federal Environment Ministry exhibits at the Carbon Expo in Cologne from 26 to 28 May
From 26 to 28 May Cologne will put the spotlight on emission trading and climate protection: at the international fair Carbon Expo, the Federal Environment Ministry and the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) will again set up a "German Pavilion" where projects of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) will be presented. Since 2008 sustainable carbon markets also receive support from the Environment Ministry of through the Climate Initiative. So far fourteen projects at a total amount of 12 million euro have been launched in this field.
The projects concentrate on two different approaches: Firstly the projects are designed to test the viability of national and regional carbon markets and emissions trading systems. This also serves the purpose of mobilising financial markets and private investments in climate protection measures. Secondly the International Climate Initiative supports quality standards and particularly innovative project approaches.
Three projects will be on special display for the visitors at the Carbon Expo fair:
- In Southern Africa the Environment Ministry carries out a project in cooperation with the Environment Programme of the United Nations to support investments in Africa's carbon market through a newly established facility. It provides small loans to overcome the initially very high transaction costs and bring projects to the validation stage. Support is above all given to innovative transactions that are particularly adapted to sub-Saharan Africa and can easily be copied and spread.
- In another project the Environment Ministry supports the Gold Standard Foundation in overcoming impediments in trade of gold standard certificates for the clean development mechanism (CDM). A network of local experts was set up for this purpose in which relevant actors can exchange their experience and further develop their strategic knowledge of the gold standard and local implementation capacities.
- With funds provided by the Environment Ministry, the atmosfair GmbH conducts a pilot project in Burkina Faso to set up small scale installations for the conversion of biomass from millet or cotton harvest residues to gas, thus producing energy from biomass. The project will be registered as a CDM gold standard project.
With the help of the International Climate Initiative the Federal Environment Ministry will continue to give strong stimuli to the global carbon market.