UN’s carbon offsetting executive to discuss human rights safeguards

by CMWGlobal markets, Human rights in climate actionPosted on Comments are Disabled

Brussels, 12 October. Following numerous incidents of human rights violations related to carbon offsetting projects, the UN’s Board of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) will, for the first time, discuss options to address these concerns at its 86th meeting starting today. The Board will also discuss recommendations to overhaul the CDM’s local stakeholder consultation rules, including a requirement that projects must repeat consultations if they have not been carried out in line with national laws. In an open letter, 96 groups from 35 countries have highlighted their support for these changes.

CDM Board to discuss human rights safeguards

by CMWGlobal markets, Human rights in climate action, Sustainable developmentPosted on Comments are Disabled

Following numerous incidents of human rights violations related to CDM projects, the CDM Board will, for the first time, discuss options to address these concerns at its next meeting starting on 12 October. It will also discuss recommendations to overhaul the CDM’s local stakeholder consultation rules, including a requirement that projects must repeat consultations if they have not been carried out in line with national laws.

UN Sustainable Development Summit paves road to Paris

by CMWGlobal marketsPosted on Comments are Disabled

The adoption of the new universal sustainable development goals (SDGs) has kicked-off a set of government actions to achieve a clean and prosperous future. Two major polluters, the US and China, announced a joint vision on climate change. China, UK and France ramped up climate finance to $17.5 billion.

UN body launches tender to buy carbon offsets, excludes substandard projects from eligibility

by CMWGlobal markets, Sustainable developmentPosted on Comments are Disabled

Last week, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) closed a tender to buy 350.000 carbon credits from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). According to the Invitation to Bid (ITB), offset credits must meet high quality requirements to be eligible. Quality criteria exclude coal, HFC-23 and large hydro projects that do not comply with additional quality assessments and favour projects that demonstrate improvements to the health, safety and welfare of people and especially women living near the projects.

New aviation reports add pressure to address airline emissions

by CMWAviationPosted on Comments are Disabled

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is busy developing a new market-based mechanism that will allow it to buy offsets to achieve the goal of limiting emissions to 2020 levels, despite rapid growth in the industry. In parallel, it has standards that aim to increase the fuel efficiency of aircraft. In 2010, ICAO agreed to achieve an annual 2% average fuel efficiency improvement to 2020. However, two new reports (links below) show that this goal is not yet being met, undermining the aviation industry’s need to reduce emissions.

COP21

by CMWClimate finance, Global markets, Sustainable developmentPosted on Comments are Disabled

From 30 November to 11 December 2015, countries met in Paris to flesh out a historic deal to tackle global warming. The Carbon Market Watch team was in Paris to support the negotiations providing independent analysis on key issues and to raise awareness about potential deal breakers. Our advocacy and capacity building activities focused on …

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UN launches new platform to offer stranded CDM carbon offsets

by CMWAviation, Global markets, Sustainable developmentPosted on Comments are Disabled

As part of the climate week in New York, the UN launched the “Go Climate Neutral Now” initiative- a new online platform to purchase carbon offsets generated by its Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The initiative attempts to boost demand for CDM credits on the voluntary carbon market and for the aviation sector but fails to dodge the sale of bogus carbon offsets.

NAMAs

by CMWClimate financePosted on Comments are Disabled

Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) are a mitigation instrument for developing countries to take part in global efforts towards a long-term sustainable strategy for cutting emissions.

Media Action: EU Energy and Climate Tug of War!

by CMWGlobal marketsPosted on Comments are Disabled

Nature Code with WWF, CAN Europe, Greenpeace, Change Partnership, Transport & Environment, and Friends of the Earth Europe staged an Energy and Climate Tug of War. On the day when EU environment ministers were meeting to sign off their final position before the Paris climate negotiations, NGOs urged EU leaders that a commitment to ambitious …

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