Negros Oriental Gov. Emilio Macias II said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that the agency should prepare policies and guidelines for local government units, who wish to participate in the international carbon credit scheme.

Macias suggested this to DENR Assistant Secretary Jayjay Yambao, who was in the province Thursday and had called on the governor at Capitol.

At the meeting, Macias expressed his interest in finding developed partner-countries that would like to trade carbon credits with less-developed nations.

Macias had also earlier said that the carbon credit scheme, which is covered by the Kyoto Protocol, is one way of mitigating the effects of climate change, through the reduction of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.

The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which aims to bring down the amount of emissions of greenhouse gases which cause climate change.

It also stipulates that participating countries have agreed on a carbon trading scheme which allows them to buy and/or sell their unused carbon credits or allowances.

The protocol requires developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the levels specified for each of them in the treaty while other countries have no obligation except for monitoring and reporting emissions.

As of April 2008, a total of 178 countries and other governmental entities have ratified it.

Macias said is high-time local government units in the country should consider availing of the carbon credit scheme as developed countries like Australia are already starting to sponsor environmental projects to this effect.

Yambao said he will bring the suggestion of the governor to DENR Sec. Lito Atienza.

The Philippines ratified and accepted the Kyoto Protocol on November 20, 2003, a UN list of member countries show.*JG

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