CDM Watch welcomes yesterday´s appointment of Martin Hession, an Irish national who works for the UK’s Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to chair the Board. Maosheng Duan from China was elected Vice-Chairman. In addition, a number of new members were elected to the Executive Board at COP 16 in Cancún bringing the following new personalities to the Board:
- Mr Daniel Vicente Ortega Pacheco (Ecuador)
- Ms. Fatou Gaye (Gambia)
- Mr Jose Miguel Leiva (Guatemala)
- Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Mr Hussein Badarin (Jordan).
More details about their background and professional experience are provided below.
This new set-up sees the departure of long-standing member Jose Domingos Miguez (Brazil), Samuel Adeoye Adejuwon (Nigeria) and Rajesh Kumar Sethi (India) as well as Tahar Hadj Sadok (Algeria) and Hugh Sealy (Barbados). This means that with the exception of China, the traditional “big” CDM host countries India and Brazil are no longer represented. Given that the new members will first have to spend time settling in to their new roles, this year will certainly be dominated by long-standing Board members from Annex I countries. However, the strong presence of Central American members is likely to play a role in the CDM’s development in Central America, especially when it comes to boosting under-represented regions in the CDM. But for a good part of this year, China will be the host country that dominates discussions. Looking ahead, China’s role on the CDM Executive Board is likely to be strengthened in 2012 as the Board usually elects the former Vice-Chairman to be the Chairman in the following year.
When assessing the weight of different countries depending on the nationality of CDM EB members, it is important to recall that members are required to act in their personal capacities while sitting on the Board. Owing to serious concerns that Board members would abuse their role and aggressively promote projects that benefit their home countries, a code of conduct was adopted in 2009. Unfortunately this code of conduct allows Board members to exercise “discretion in deciding whether a conflict of interest exists and, if so, disclose it to the Board.” In other words – individual Board members were given a licence to decide what constitutes a conflict of interest or not, which was a highly dissatisfactory state of affairs.
Fortunately, this provision was strengthened in Decision –CMP.6, which lays down that “Members of the Executive Board, including alternate members, shall have no pecuniary or financial interest in any aspect of a clean development mechanism project activity or any designated operational entity.” CDM Watch will screen CVs and involvement of Board members.
“The CDM Executive Board 2011 – what to expect”
Mr Daniel Vicente Ortega Pacheco, EcuadorDirector of the Environment and Climate Change Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Integration. He is the Ecuadorian Political Focal Point for most UN and international forums and works closely with the national DNA. He has a strong background in carbon market-related issues and has previously advised companies such as BIOCARBON, which produces Jatropha Biodiesel in Ecuador. |
Ms Fatou Gaye, GambiaResponsible for national and international correspondence regarding UNFCCC negotiations and the DNA’s contact person/focal point for Gambia under the Ministry of Forestry and the Environment. As a member of the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee (JISC) since 2005 she also has experience with JI. |
Mr. Jose Miguel Leiva, GuatemalaVice-Minister of Natural Resources at the Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources of Guatemala. In addition to extensive experience with various UN agencies including UNEP, he has also worked as a consultant in agricultural and environmental issues. |
Mr Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, Democratic Republic of CongoDirector of the DNA of the Democratic Republic of Congo and member of the Congolese team of climate change negotiators. He chairs the African Group at the UNFCCC negotiations and will remain in this capacity until COP17. He is known to be a strong supporter of a REDD offsetting mechanism, potentially through the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility. |
Mr Hussein Badarin, JordanDirector of the Monitoring & Assessment Directorate and head of the Jordanian DNA. With his previous experience as a member of the CDM Executive Board in 2008 and 2009 he will bring essential expertise to the Board and will be able to provide a counter-balance to other CDM host country representatives. |