A Removal Unit (RMU) is a tradable
carbon credit
A carbon credit is a generic term for any tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit a set amount of carbon dioxide or the equivalent amount of a different greenhouse gas (tCO2e).
Carbon credits and carbon markets are a compo ...
or 'Kyoto unit' representing an allowance to emit one
tonne
The tonne ( or ; symbol: t) is a unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. It is a non-SI unit accepted for use with SI. It is also referred to as a metric ton to distinguish it from the non-metric units of the short ton ( United State ...
of greenhouse gases absorbed by a removal or
carbon sink
A carbon sink is anything, natural or otherwise, that accumulates and stores some carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period and thereby removes carbon dioxide () from the atmosphere.
Globally, the two most important carbon si ...
activity in an
Annex I country.
Removal Units are generated and issued by
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty which extended the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the scientific consensus that (par ...
Annex I Parties for carbon absorption by
land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) activities such as reforestation.
Application
Under Article 3.3 of the
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty which extended the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the scientific consensus that (par ...
, Annex I Parties can recognise the
biosequestration
Biosequestration or biological sequestration is the capture and storage of the atmospheric greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by continual or enhanced biological processes.
This form of carbon sequestration occurs through increased rates of photosynt ...
, the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by
carbon sink
A carbon sink is anything, natural or otherwise, that accumulates and stores some carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period and thereby removes carbon dioxide () from the atmosphere.
Globally, the two most important carbon si ...
s, created by direct human-induced afforestation, reforestation and deforestation since 1990, in determining whether they have met their emission reduction commitments under the Protocol. When sinks have resulted in the net removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, Annex I Parties can issue removal units (RMUs).
See also
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Emissions trading
Emissions trading is a market-based approach to controlling pollution by providing economic incentives for reducing the emissions of pollutants. The concept is also known as cap and trade (CAT) or emissions trading scheme (ETS). Carbon emission ...
*
Flexible mechanisms
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Assigned amount units
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Certified Emission Reduction
Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) are a type of emissions unit (or carbon credits) issued by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board for emission reductions achieved by CDM projects and verified by a DOE (Designated Operational E ...
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Emission Reduction Unit
The emission reduction unit (ERU) is an emissions unit issued under a Joint Implementation project in terms of the Kyoto Protocol. An ERU represents a reduction of greenhouse gases under the Joint Implementation mechanism, where it represents one t ...
References
Climate change policy
Carbon finance
Climate change treaties
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Treaties concluded in 1997
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