Watch This! NGO Voices on Carbon Markets #5 March 2013

 

Welcome to the first online edition of our NGO newsletter: Watch This! NGO Voices on Carbon Markets

Despite severely over-supplied carbon markets and lacking mitigation commitments, countries are currently developing additional carbon market schemes. At the same time, countries are contemplating what changes are needed to the underlying rules of the CDM. They are also negotiating REDD and other approaches to reduce emissions from international aviation. Throughout all these developments it is of utmost importance to take into account the lessons from the past. In order to achieve real benefits for climate and people, your voice on carbon markets will be important!

In this first 2013 edition you’ll read about theCDM review and what we think can finally be done to address some inherent problems of the CDM. We also explain why emerging national emission trading schemes must beware of copy pasting. Together we’ll take a closer look at the EU’s stop the clock decision on aviation emissions and why countries must get in the loop to agree on a global mechanism to tackle these emissions.

Our guest authors share their experience with carbon markets in India, Vietnam and Panama. Starting in India, you’ll read about mega dams in Sikkim and their impacts on the climate and local peoples. You’ll also get an update from Kalpavalli in Andhra Pradesh, where a community is struggling to protect their livelihoods and ecosystems from the impacts of a CDM project.

In “not a holy cow” we’ll see why environmental impact assessments are also important for renewable energy projects and why existing sustainability criteria do not deliver on the ground. We’ll take a look behind the scenes of Vietnam’s carbon consultancy boom. Finally, you’ll hear about the decision of Panama’s indigenous peoples to withdraw from the UN REDD programme.

Enjoy!

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Watch This! appears quarterly in English and Hindi with campaign updates and opinion pieces from around the world.

If you would like to contribute to the next edition of Watch This! please get in touch with [email protected].

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CDM ReviewCDM Review

After the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol has ended, countries have decided to review the modalities and procedures of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) this year. More…

(C) By Benchill on Wikimedia CommonsEmissions trading and national carbon markets – Beware of past mistakes!

The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) struggles with an over-supply of 2 billion tonnes of CO2, very low demand and record low allowance prices. More…

Foto by St.Stev on FlickrTime to get in the loop! Nations must reduce aviation emissions

After the Commission delayed its plan of including international aviation in its emissions trading scheme for one year, pressure is now on ICAO to ensure that the aviation sector plays its part in the fight against climate change. More…

Timbaktu CollectiveKalpavalli Community Conserved Forest harmed by CDM project

The Nallakonda Windpower project is having negative environmental and socio-economic impacts on the neighboring Kalpavalli area. More…

© Jorge Royan / www.royan.com.ar / CC-BY-SA-3.0Renewable Energy projects in India: Not a “Holy cow”!

India is one of the biggest CDM host countries in the world. More than 2000 CDM projects are either already registered or under validation. More…

 Mega Dams and CDM fraud in SikkimMega Dams and CDM fraud in Sikkim

In the state of Sikkim, land of rhododendrons, in the Himalayan foothills in India’s North East, rivers have been aggressively dammed over the last decades. More…

Garbage dump in Hoang Cau, HanoiThe parallel universe of CDM consultancy: a view from Hanoi

The number of hydropower CDM projects has boomed in the last few years in Vietnam, on the back of a strong push for hydropower to meet the country’s rapidly increasing electricity demand. More…

Native forests threatenedThe right choice by the native peoples of Panama

In a letter to the UN, COONAPIP explains that UN-REDD “does not currently offer guarantees for respecting indigenous rights [nor for] the full and effective participation of the Indigenous Peoples of Panama.” Ironically, UN-REDD recently released its Guidelines on Free, Prior and Informed Consent. More…

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