Book Review
TITLE : Activities Implemented Jointly to Mitigate Climate Change: Developing Countries Perspectives
EDITOR : Kalipada Chatterjee
PUBLISHED BY : Development Alternatives, B-32, TARA Crescent, 
                          Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi 10016
PRICE : Rs.1000 or US$100                 PAGES : 450


The  book contains papers presented in the conference on Activities Implemented Jointly (AIJ), held during January 1997 in New Delhi. The conference was organised by Development Alternatives. AIJ is one of the supplements being considered under the Framework Convention of Mitigation of Climate Change. In addition, an executive summary has been provided for a quick glance. The book will be a useful reference for scientists, policy makers and academicians working or involved in the field of Climate Change and policy options.

The book has been featured in the International Institute for Sustainable Development’s "Notable New Books". The book has been sent to the Institute’s listing – "New and Notable books from the IISD".

Some excerpts from IISD’s comments: "This third international conference on joint implementation undertaken by the Joint Implementation Network (JIN) addressed the barriers to the execution of Activities Implemented Jointly (AIJ) projects in developing countries. Conference participation was broad and included 160 participants from the developing regions of Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin America, as well as 46 from North America, Europe, Australia and Japan. Governments, NGOs, academia and international organisations were represented".

Activities Implemented Jointly to Mitigate Climate Change

Few AIJ projects are officially recognised by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), yet AIJ has a strong potential to bring together developing and developed countries to meet common needs and goals. However, as several presentations pointed out, the expectations of developing countries are very different from those of developed nations. Developing countries clearly expect AIJ to help meet national development priorities, poverty alleviation, meeting the basic needs and economic development which, in their view, must take priority over climate change benefits.

Presentations also highlighted the need for cost-effective implementation and private sector participation. They examined several JI/AIJ programmes and presented country studies from India, Chile, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Several cases on AIJ projects in thermal energy, renewable energy, building, road and transportation, forests, agriculture and land use sector were outlined. Many included feasibility aspects and design principles. The final section of the book includes papers on roles of the different participants in the AIJ regime, government, private sector and NGOs.

The proceedings competently capture the many and complex aspects and issues of AIJ projects and put forward the needs and expectations of developing countries. It builds on a desire for equitable partnerships between developing and developed countries so that the needs of each can be fairly met and identifies ways to accomplish this.q

 

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