The decision by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) to withhold its stamp of approval from the most problematic cookstove methodologies and to approve a good methodology is a welcome step in the right direction but more needs to be done.
Whilst REDD+ credits have been the subject of intense media and civil society scrutiny, the same cannot be said of renewable energy projects, which are plagued by similar issues when used for offsetting, yet manage to hide in plain sight. Serious concerns exist regarding the use of renewable energy projects to generate carbon credits. Those …
Read more “Hidden in plain sight: Flawed renewable energy projects in the voluntary carbon market”
A recent report by Carbon Market Watch of 20 global, EU, national and sub-national climate policy frameworks shows that not one governs carbon removals in an environmentally sound way.
The CDM Board published a tool to report about the contribution of Clean Development Mechanism projects to sustainable development. The tool is far from being perfect but it is a step in the right direction
Carbon Market Watch protested outside the venue of the International Coal Summit alongside CAN Europe and other organisations. A lot has been said about the outrageous decision to have an International Coal Summit at the same time as the UNFCCC climate talks here in Warsaw.
Warsaw, Panama City – Last week, the Clean Development Mechanism’s Executive Board rejected the request for registration of the Bonyic Hydroelectric Project in the Naso indigenous territory in Panama. This decision demonstrates that the Board has the authority to exclude projects that fail to meet CDM requirements, including rules on local stakeholder consultation.
Review of the Bonyic Hydroelectric Project’s request for registration will start. If rejected, the CDM Executive Board would be sending a strong message to the world for the need to comply with CDM rules and international law.
As we gear up for another round of climate talks, it is apparent that the time for CDM reform is now.
This submission is to the UNFCCC on Views to the Review of the Modalities and Procedures of the Clean Development Mechanism. We urge Parties to strengthen the social and environmental integrity of the CDM and to address, as a matter of priority, the following issues: Fundamentally reform additionality requirements, Shorten length of crediting periods, Ensure that all CDM Projects uphold human rights, Improve the CDM’s contribution to sustainable development, Strengthened Civil Society Participation in the CDM process, Address conflict of interest of DOEs, Establish a communications channel for case specific matters, Set-up a Grievance Mechanism, and Improve the constitution and conduct of the CDM Executive Board and supporting bodies.
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) was designed to bring clean and sustainable development to poor countries while enabling rich countries to achieve their emissions reductions cost efficiently. Hydro power makes up 30% of all carbon offsets projects registered under the CDM. Despite delivering renewable energy, these projects have faced sharp criticism for their failure to reduce emissions and for negative social and environmental impacts.
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