Such programs could greatly reduce the cost of compliance. In two weeks of talks, government ministers meeting in Buenos Aires will begin to decide how to achieve the goals set in Kyoto. Diplomats may decide how to monitor compliance with the Kyoto treaty and what to do about chronic violators. Options could range from a simple suspension of voting rights at future meetings to some form of economic sanctions. The country making the investment would receive credit for cutting emissions, while the host country would benefit from new technology and a cleaner environment.
Sinks are natural systems, such as forests, that remove carbon dioxide from the air.