Meeting the obligations

As part of Annex I, CEE countries have special obligations under the Convention and specific targets and assigned amounts under the Protocol.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change defines emission reduction objectives rather than targets. However, specific commitments concerning efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions and enhance natural sinks apply to the OECD countries as well as to "economies in transition" (Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union) listed in Annex I to the Convention. Although negotiations left the treaty language less than clear, it is generally accepted that the OECD and transition countries should at a minimum seek to return by the year 2000 to the greenhouse gas emission levels they had in 1990.

Annex I Economies in Transition (EITs) have undertaken measures to meet the objectives of the Climate Convention and the special commitments of Annex I Parties. Their activities include:

• Climate change action plans

• Assessments of mitigation measures and options

• Institutional arrangements

EIT countries in Central and Eastern Europe are also reforming and restructuring their economies. On-going reforms in the energy sector will have a profound and long-term impact on the ability of these countries to reduce GHG emissions.

While non-binding in character, these efforts are nonetheless helpful preparation for the more stringent requirements of the Kyoto Protocol. EITs in CEE have signed the Protocol and committed to maintaining emissions within set levels over a fixed period of time, and to meeting the more stringent reporting requirements.