RWE appeals for carbon trading scheme

ESSEN, Germany, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Parts of the Kyoto Protocol that let companies offset their emissions with renewable projects in developing nations should be kept, German utility RWE said.

Copenhagen, Denmark, hosts a climate summit starting Monday that aims to find a replacement environmental regime to the expiring Kyoto Protocol.

The Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation provisions of the Kyoto Protocol allow industrialized nations to invest in alternative and green energy projects in developing countries or other less expensive options to offset their emissions.

RWE, the German energy giant, said it was important that both mechanisms be incorporated into any international environmental treaty in order to secure long-term investment planning in climate protection projects.

"It is essential CDM and JI projects are part of all international climate protection schemes," said Juergen Grossmann, chief executive officer of RWE. "They ensure climate protection is carried out all over the world and not limited to industrial countries."

Grossmann said his company was committed to invest $6.5 billion in renewable energy options and modernization programs at its power plants and energy grids. It added it was involved in more than 100 CDM projects across the globe.

"We appeal to decision-makers at Copenhagen to ensure CDM and JI are tied into a future climate protection agreement," he urged.