Being able to calculate carbon emissions is a huge development. Not only can people monitor their personal carbon emissions,  but also allowing cities to take a  carbon trading position that is reasonably accurate.

Technology Direction

Telecommunications wireless networks have been established for many years. Wimax and other wireless networks are becoming prolific. Emerging standards, such as IP version 6 and smart roaming will enable seamless handovers of wireless communications to the best available network.
The mobile phone revolutionised the way we do business, providing instant communications on the move, for field workers, business travellers, family contacts and even networking remote communities into the world at large.
The next big leap is a suite of services that provides internet and video, plus a connecting portable device, able to utilise the home broadband data connection, seamlessly passing off to wireless networks eg all telco networks, any other wireless networks, such as Wi-Max, and Wi-Fi.
This portable device will be a combination of phone and personal computer, and will not only be able to use the data connection in the home, and the wireless networks when on the move, but also plug into a slot in the car to provide tracking and navigation services.



Where to next?

Wireless networks will increasingly be used for delivering navigation services as well as transmitting navigation information over the air.
It is increasingly likely that there will be a standard subscription service for vehicle telecommunications within the next five years, to meet a growing industry in measuring vehicle journeys for the purposes of journey tracking, congestion charging, and in addition, monitoring carbon emissions on the planet!

The way forward is to establish carbon trading markets at the community level to feed into a global carbon market.

Kyoto Protocol

"The Kyoto Protocol (¹) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change strengthens the international response to climate change. Adopted by consensus at the third session of the Conference of the Parties (COP3) in December 1997, it contains legally binding emissions targets for Annex I (developed) countries for the post-2000 period.

By arresting and reversing the upward trend in greenhouse gas emissions that started in these countries 150 years ago, the Protocol promises to move the international community one step closer to achieving the Convention’s ultimate objective of preventing "dangerous anthropogenic [man-made] interference with the climate system".

The developed countries commit themselves to reducing their collective emissions of six key greenhouse gases by at least 5%. This group target will be achieved through cuts of 8% by Switzerland, most Central and East European states, and the European Union (the EU will meet its target by distributing different rates among its member states); 7% by the US; and 6% by Canada, Hungary, Japan, and Poland. Russia, New Zealand, and Ukraine are to stabilize their emissions, while Norway may increase emissions by up to 1%, Australia by up to 8%, and Iceland 10%. The six gases are to be combined in a "basket", with reductions in individual gases translated into "CO₂ equivalents" that are then added up to produce a single figure.

Each country’s emissions target must be achieved by the period 2008-2012. It will be calculated as an average over the five years. "Demonstrable progress" towards meeting the target must be made by 2005. Cuts in the three most important gases – carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂0) - will be measured against a base year of 1990 (with exceptions for some countries with economies in transition)." - European Commission, Environment website. 

¹ Adapted, with minor modifications and additions, from the UNEP Climate Change Information Kit

Carbon Trading

"Emissions trading evolves from a system that restricts the aggregate allowable amount of a pollutant and allows market forces to continually move the allowed emissions to the highest value uses.

Market transactions are driven by relative prices of emission reduction opportunities among market participants. For example, a company with a low cost opportunity to reduce emissions below its allocation of emission rights can sell these unneeded rights to a company with limited or uneconomic emission reduction opportunities.

Emissions trading systems can be found in regulated markets (as in the European Union  and in the United States Acid Rain Program) or in markets attempting to address environmental problems prior to regulations (as in the greenhouse gas markets emerging throughout the world).

The trading region is prescribed to the area impacted by the particular pollutant. For greenhouse gases, this means the whole world. Emissions Trading is often described as Emission Reductions Trading. " - International Emissions Trading Association

World Energy Council

The World Energy Council is the most representative body of the energy industry with members in more than ninety countries. Its mission is to promote the sustainable supply and use of energy for the greatest benefit of all. The London-based organization has official consultative status with the United Nations.

http://www.worldenergy.org/

European Commission - Reducing CO2 from cars

“The Commission will pursue an integrated approach with a view to reaching the EU objective of 120 g/km CO2 by 2012. This can be achieved through a combination of EU and Member States action. The Commission will propose a legislative framework, if possible in 2007 and at latest by mid 2008, to achieve the EU objective of 120 g/km CO2, focusing on mandatory reductions of the emissions of CO2 to reach the objective of 130 g/km for the average new car fleet by means of improvements in vehicle motor technology, and a further reduction of 10 g/km of CO2, or equivalent if technically necessary, by other technological improvements and by an increased use of bio-fuels, specifically:

1. setting minimum efficiency requirements for air-conditioning systems;
2. the compulsory fitting of accurate tyre pressure monitoring systems;
3. setting maximum tyre rolling resistance limits in the EU for tyres fitted on passenger cars and light commercial vehicles;
4. the use of gear shift indicators, taking into account the extent to which such devices are used by consumers in real driving conditions;
5. fuel efficiency progress in light-commercial vehicles (vans) with the objective of reaching 175 g/km CO2 by 2012 and 160 g/km CO2 by 2015;
6. increased use of bio fuels maximizing environmental performance.

The above will be measurable, monitorable, accountable and non double-counting the reductions of CO2.

Beyond the legislative framework, the Commission strategy to reduce CO2 should encourage additional efforts by other means of road transport (heavy duty vehicles, etc.), by the Member States (CO2 related taxation and other fiscal incentives, use of public procurement, traffic management, infrastructure, etc.) and by the consumers (informed choice as a buyer, responsible driving behaviour).”