Introduction

The Kyoto climate treaty talks will reconvene in July, 2001 in Bonn, Germany after talks broke down last November in The Hague (CoP6). According to analysts, one of the primary reasons for the impasse in negotiations was the bitter and divisive disagreements concerning the role that terrestrial carbon sinks should play in the Kyoto Climate Change Protocol. Terrestrial carbon sinks are one of the most complicated and controversial issues to emerge within the Protocol process. Allowing countries to receive credit under the Kyoto Protocol for using forests and lands to absorb and store carbon will continue to be controversial until the key issues are settled. With strong rules and guidelines based on sound science, storing carbon could be part of a menu of options aimed at slowing the build-up of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Without sound crediting rules, countries such as Canada may utilize interpretations that could allow them to weaken the emission reduction commitments made under the Protocol.