Belarus ratified the Kyoto Protocol on August 26, 2005—this was shortly after the international and legally binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions world-wide entered into force on February 16, 2005 following its ratification by 55 countries. 

Most scientist agree that emissions of greenhouse gases are responsible for the rise in global temperature and are leading to erratic global weather patterns.  The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is a priority under the Kyoto Protocol to avert the damaging consequences of climate change.  One way the World Bank is addressing the global climate change issue is by promoting the benefits of emission reduction projects.

The carbon finance workshop will be held at the Hotel Minsk in Minsk on March 26, 2007 from 9:00 AM.  Workshop participants will be introduced to the role of the World Bank in mitigating climate change and how Belarus enterprises can benefit from carbon finance, as in the carbon funds managed by the World Bank.

A second series of presentations “Green Investment Schemes and World Bank Experience” will be held on March 27, 2007.  The sessions will be limited to the government officials responsible for managing the processes under the Kyoto Protocol’s Joint Implementation (JI) mechanism.

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