Short analysis of how political parties deal with environmental issues in India (WT)

With the results now revealed on who is India’s new Prime Minister, every one focuses their attention on the economic development Narendra Modi promises. But how about his environmental manifesto? All the parties, BJP included, preached a ‘sustainable development’ that would make environmental protection coexists with industrial and economic development but it does not mean that their propositions will actually be efficient? Moreover, most parties pledged a sustainable environment for every Indian citizens and future generations but in practice nothing is done to make sure laws are properly implemented.

Herding the global carbon market cats: Recommendations for the negotiations of the FVA

Countries agreed at COP17 in Durban that various approaches, including opportunities for using markets and non-markets, may be used to enhance the cost-effectiveness of, and to promote, mitigation actions. At COP18 in Doha it was decided that these approaches shall be governed by a Framework for Various Approaches (FVA). In November 2013, Parties will attend COP19 in Warsaw and will continue discussing the FVA.

Watch This! NGO Voices on Carbon Markets #7

COP-19 is just around the corner. Although Poland is not expected to deliver on concrete climate targets for the 2015 climate agreement, there are a number of important topics at stake that need to be addressed to pave the way for a comprehensive, far reaching future climate deal in 2015.

WATCH THIS! NGO Newsletter #7: Voluntary carbon market approves wind farm project on occupied land previously turned down by CDM

The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) has just registered a wind farm project in the occupied territory of Western Sahara. Earlier attempts by the project proponent to have the farm registered at the UN Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) had backfired precisely because of its location in a politically controversial area.

Press Release: Six EU Member States keep doors open to banned carbon credits

Brussels, 14 October 2013. At today’s meeting of EU Environment Ministers, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Poland and Spain refused to extend the EU-ETS ban on industrial gas offset credits to their national greenhouse gas reduction targets, prompting concern that some EU Member States are not taking their environmental responsibilities seriously. A group of six EU …

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At COP-19 in Warsaw, Parties will continue to discuss the development of new carbon markets under the so called Framework for Various Approaches (FVA). The FVA aims to set common rules for domestic and regional carbon markets to sell market units to other countries for compliance with their climate commitments under the UNFCCC. New regional carbon markets such as emissions trading schemes and offsetting programmes are being developed in many countries, including Japan, California, China and South Korea. Parties decided at COP-17 in 2011 that a framework should be established to enable cost-effective mitigation actions, e.g. by using these carbon markets. At the same time it was decided that a certain set of standards needs to be met. Crucial questions that remain are to what extent such market mechanisms should follow a common framework of rules under the UNFCCC, how and at what level these standards should be implemented and whether access to the framework either as buyers or as sellers will depend on a certain level of ambition.