OREANDA-NEWS. August 03, 2010. Ukraine and Japan agreed on further work plan under the Kyoto Protocol. Head of the National Environmental Investment Agency of Ukraine Serhiy Orlenko said this at today’s briefing.

Serhiy Orlenko reminded that the information that the previous Government misused the money received from selling carbon emission quotas, impacted on international negotiations conducted by the agency, and worsened relations with foreign partners.

However, according to him, cooperation with the Japanese side has been already restored, the summit with the delegation of the Japanese Government was held in May. "Ukrainian Government assured its partners in the clear performance of obligations and on June 10 the international audit confirmed renovation of account balances of the State Treasury of Ukraine. It was agreed a future work plan", said the Head of the National Agency. He added that as a result - the Japanese side reiterated its confidence in Ukraine, bought another 15 mln tonnes of carbon emission quotas, funds of which were transferred to Ukraine on July 29.

"I believe it is necessary to thank personally for this the Prime Minister who directly supervised these topical issues, kept under control, held several meetings, thank for the participation relevant ministries - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, State Treasury. Only through joint work and coordination with the Government we managed to substantially align and improve this situation during this period", said Serhiy Orlenko and added that a favourable factor for further action towards the implementation of projects under the Kyoto Protocol was earning higher status of the Agency, its direct subordination to the Cabinet of Ministers and the provision of spending functions.

The Head of the National Agency said that the agency is currently together with the Japanese side agreeing the projects implemented under the Program of the President of Ukraine "Ukraine for the people." Yes, according to him, the implementation of a program of thermal rehabilitation of socially important facilities - schools, hospitals, children's institutions – will begin in 2010: "In 2010/2011 we plan to complete work on 550 objects in general in Ukraine, in four polar points of Ukraine: the AR Crimea, Sumy, Ivano-Frankivsk, Luhansk regions.

Meanwhile Serhiy Orlenko noted that Ukraine is one of leaders in the world in realization of the Joint Implementation mechanism. Yes, according to him, as of now the agency has 180 JI projects, 44 of which are in a state of realization. "We feel that Ukrainian businesses, companies realized that the issue of maintaining the environment, emissions reduction- is not only a part of image, but has a good financial component and additional revenue that companies channel for modernization of their equipments", he said.

The Head of the agency also noted that Ukraine was the first in the world that made a conversion of assigned amount units (AAU) into emission reduction units (ERUs). Overall in 2009 from 12 million tons of ERUs in the world 7 million tons were Ukrainian ones, 60% of the world market.

Serhiy Orlenko noted that the agency's strategic aim is to create in Ukraine a market of carbon emission reductions that will enable to use the market mechanism for stimulating activity in the direction of reducing emissions. In this way solve the situation the most developed countries, including, in particular, EU countries, Japan, Australia, China in prospect, and some states of the USA. "Our goal, as a central executive body, is to promote strongly and create a market that would be stimulated, and businesses would get a greater opportunity to attract funds for structural, technical re-equipment of enterprises and introduction of more new technologies.