Too big to fail? Environmental responsibilities of the UNFCCC and ICAO processes for aviation’s new carbon market

Last year, states created an offsetting scheme to compensate for aviation’s pollution growth above 2020 levels. The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) is supposed to contribute to the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement. However, compensating for growing emissions does not reduce emissions overall, nor put the sector on a pathway to do so. ICAO will finalize details for the CORSIA by the end of 2017. Crucial elements include the type of credits allowed, registry design, and Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) rules.

Recommendations for APA Items 3, 5 and 6 as they relate to bunkers targets outside of the scope of NDCs

Prepared for the Bonn Climate Change Conference 8 – 18 May 2017 International aviation and shipping emissions, referred to as bunkers emissions, are principally dealt with under the UN processes of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) respectively. However, they also significantly interact with the Paris Agreement. International emissions …

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 …

Forests must not be used to undermine climate commitments

Forests and land-use remain a contentious issue in climate negotiations but are an essential part of many countries’ climate pledges. The sector should be used as an additional climate tool, not as an excuse to reduce ambition in others. At the UN climate conference in Marrakesh, discussions on land use remained gridlocked because of the …

More work needed to make aviation’s climate tool fit for purpose

Climate action is multiplying outside of the UN climate talks (UNFCCC), from the Kigali Agreement on the highly potent greenhouse gas HFCs to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) agreeing to offset emissions from international aviation. Nevertheless, they all have connections to the UNFCCC where the bulk of the world’s effort against climate change is managed. …

COP22 Side Event: Human rights and climate change: what’s next after Paris?

Venue & Time: Tuesday 15 November 2016, Green Zone Room 2, Time: 15:00-16:30 In a historic step, the Paris agreement recognized the interconnectivity of climate change and human rights, specifying in its preamble that “Parties should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights.” The priority …