News & Press
By Pierre-Jean Brasier on 25 Oct 2017
WATCH THIS! NGO Voices on Climate Finance & Carbon Markets #20 – October 2017
Editorial Dear partners, dear friends, Welcome to the 20th edition of our Watch This! Newsletter. In this edition, we introduce two of Carbon Market Watch’s new working topics: international shipping emissions and carbon pricing. On both issues, the involvement of the network will be key, as a vital counterweight to the interests of emitting industries….
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By Aki Kachi, Juliane Voigt on 29 Jun 2017
Climate Finance: Retreat should not spell defeat
The US President’s withdrawal from international efforts to fight climate change casts a shadow over the future of climate finance. Some EU countries, cities and states within the US have already stepped forward, but more is needed from countries around the world to fill the gap.
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By Juliane Voigt on 27 Apr 2017
Fostering sustainable development through climate action – what should the future UN mechanism look like?
In May, climate negotiators will again gather to flesh out the rules to implement the landmark Paris climate agreement. One of the topics on the agenda is the Sustainable Development Mechanism. To be effective, the successor to the Clean Development Mechanism must guarantee real, measurable and long-term benefits both in terms of emission reductions and…
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New study adds urgency to end UN carbon offsetting scheme
Brussels 19 April 2017. The European Commission has released a new study showing major flaws in carbon offsets from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). As countries flesh out the rules to implement the Paris Agreement, Carbon Market Watch calls for an end to the scheme, and a shift away from offsetting as a climate policy…
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By Juliane Voigt, Pierre-Jean Brasier on 13 Apr 2017
UN climate fund should learn from past mistakes and reject large hydro dam projects
In a controversial move, the Board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved three large hydro dam projects, despite concerns raised by civil society on the extensive adverse social and environmental effects these projects can have. This development has to be seen very critically, especially considering past negative experiences under the Clean Development Mechanism…
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By Juliane Voigt on 16 Dec 2016
Still no closure for UN offsetting scheme review
At the COP 22 climate conference in Marrakesh, countries continued debating the review of the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which will serve as a model for the newly established Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM). Parties generally shied away from controversial topics, such as demands to establish a grievance mechanism. In order for the CDM review…
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In landmark decision, Panama withdraws UN registration for Barro Blanco hydrodam project
Marrakech, Morocco; Panama City, Panama – 10 November 2016: Last week, Panama withdrew its registration of the controversial Barro Blanco hydro dam project on grounds of stakeholder violation, a precedent under the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). While this decision is a step in the right direction for climate action, lessons need to be learned…
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By Juliane Voigt, Aki Kachi on 23 Sep 2016
Carbon markets in the Paris Agreement: what’s next on the negotiation agenda?
The Paris COP made strong provisions for markets and, non-market approaches. Next on the agenda is figuring out how these pieces work and fit together, what role they may play in a 1.5C scenario, how to improve and phase out the Kyoto Protocol’s measures (the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI)), and how…
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Carbon markets in the Paris Agreement: what’s next on the negotiation agenda?
The Paris Climate Conference agreed on strong provisions for markets, alongside provisions for non-market approaches. Next on the agenda is figuring out how these pieces work and fit together, how to improve and transition from the Kyoto Protocol’s measures -the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI), and how to integrate robust safeguards to…
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Barro Blanco: Flooding begins on UN approved hydro dam as indigenous defenders are forcefully removed
Washington DC, Bonn, Kiad, Panama 24 May 2016 – Today the floodgates were opened on the contentious UN backed Barro Blanco hydro dam in Panama, sparking forced removal by authorities of indigenous Ngäbe communities that are living in protest camps near the dam site. With construction finished, GENISA, the company that owns and operates the…
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