Non-compliance Procedure of Lithuania under the Kyoto Protocol

Summary:

The question of implementation arose with respect to Lithuania’s 2010 annual inventory submission. Consequently, it was found that the Lithuanian national system did not operate fully in accordance with the general and specific functions as set out in the guidelines for national systems. In particular, the institutional, legal and procedural arrangements failed in estimating emissions and sinks covered by the Protocol, and for reporting and archiving this information in accordance with the methods described in the revised 1996 IPCC guidelines. Further, the national system was unable to comply with the preparation of information under Article 7, paragraph 1 of the Kyoto Protocol, for land-use change and forestry activities.

On 21 December 2011, the enforcement branch determined that Lithuania was not in compliance with the guidelines for national systems and consequently not eligible to participate in in the transfer and sale of emission credits. In March 2012 and June 2012, Lithuania submitted its plan of implementation and updated reports respectively. On 24 October 2012, the branch decided that there no longer continued to be a question of implementation with respect to Lithuania and reinstated Lithuania’s eligibility eligible to participate in the mechanisms under articles 6, 12 and 17 of the Protocol.

At Issue: Lithuania’s failure to establish an initial report demonstrating its capacity to account for emissions in compliance with guidelines under the Kyoto Protocol