Sinks Meeting the target means that industrialized countries start, that other countries follow later, and that the first group helps the latter to do so soon. It also means that together we globally reduce greenhouse gas emissions soon, rather than continue to increase them. Environmental integrity plays a major part in relation to sequestration activities or sinks in both the North and the South. Afforestation, reforestation and deforestation are already provided for in the Protocol, which also opens the door to additional activities, to meet both present and future commitments. Some argue that we should be liberal in allowing such activities, others are worried.
Caution is called for for several reasons.
First, unlike emission reductions and activities in other sectors, sequestration through sinks is not permanent. Second, the long-term objectives of the Climate Convention can only be achieved through the reduction of emissions. Sink projects are a cost-effective way of deferring measures to reduce emissions. But they are not an equally sustainable alternative as far as mitigating climate change is concerned. Third, in many cases it would be difficult, if not impossible, to differentiate between human induced and natural factors that influence sinks.