The Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (AP6): A Distraction to the Kyoto Process or a Viable Alternative?

Given the deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions called for by scientists, accelerated technology development and transfer is crucial to address climate change. To date, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol have had limited success in driving technology transfer. AP6, as a collaborative mechanism for promoting technology transfer, holds promise in bringing together the US and Japan with key developing countries, particularly China and India. However, this promise is unlikely to be realised and AP6 will remain a distraction unless injected with a massive increase in project funding. Moreover, for the necessary rapid technology transfer to occur, both increased research and development as well as mechanisms such as emissions trading or carbon taxes are urgently required.