『Abstract
　This paper examines whether the Kyoto mechanisms have stimulated the diffusion of renewable energy technologies in the BRICS, i.e. Brazil, Russian, India, China and South Africa. We examine the patterns of diffusion of renewable energy technologies in the BRICS, the factors associated with their diffusion, and the incentives provided by the Kyoto mechanisms. Preliminary analysis suggests that the Kyoto mechanisms may be supporting the spread of existing technologies, regardless if such technologies are still closely tied to environmental un-sustainability, rather than the development and diffusion of more sustainable variants of renewable energy technologies. This raises questions about the incentives provided by the Kyoto mechanisms for the diffusion of cleaner variants of renewable energy technologies in the absence of indigenous technological efforts and capabilities in sustainable variants, and national policy initiatives to attract and build on Kyoto mechanism projects. We provide an empirical analysis using aggregated national data from the World Development Indicators, the International Energy Agency, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and secondary sources.

Keywords Renewable energy; Technology diffusion; Kyoto mechanisms』

1. Introduction
2. Analytical framework and operationalization
　2.1. Analytical framework: the diffusion of renewable energy technologies in emerging economies
　　2.1.1. Characteristics of national potential adopters
　　2.1.2. National natural endowments
　　2.1.3. National economic and social development
　　2.1.4. National policies
　　2.1.5. Global institutional frameworks (the Kyoto mechanisms)
　2.2. Operationalization of the analytical framework
　　2.2.1. Level of diffusion of renewable energy technologies in the BRICS
　　2.2.2. The Kyoto mechanisms and other factors influencing the diffusion of renewable energy technologies in the BRICS
　　　2.2.2.1. Factors associated with the diffusion of renewable energy technologies in the BRICS
　　　2.2.2.2. Incentives created by the Kyoto collaborative mechanisms for diffusion of renewable energy technologies in the BRICS
3. Diffusion patterns of renewable energy technologies in BRICS countries
4. Explanation for the diffusion patterns identified
　4.1. Factors supporting the diffusion of renewable energy technologies in the BRICS
　4.2. Role of the Kyoto collaborative mechanisms in creating incentives for diffusion
　　4.2.1. The number of JI and CDM projects in the BRICS countries
　　4.2.2. Technological scope of JI and CDM projects in the BRICS
5. Discussion
6. Conclusions
Acknowledgment
References