Transcript Overseas Development Institute

Critical issues facing REDD+
CPA Conference. Global Mechanisms: Reducing Emissions from
Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), July 2010
Questions
• What are the debates surrounding REDD+?
• What issues are yet to be resolved?
• What are the potential pitfalls and how can
these be resolved?
• How do we maintain momentum behind the
discussions?
• What opportunities does REDD+ offer
parliamentarians and what should they do to
support it?
What are the debates surrounding
REDD+?
• Broad agreement that deforestation and
degradation (DD) contributes 11-20% of
global GHG emissions, so why is
REDD+ contested?
– Common but differentiated
responsibilities: is it fair and will it distract
from other mitigation measures?
– ‘Cost-effective’ way to reduce emissions
(Stern 2006), or is it?
– Can REDD+ solve underlying DD
drivers?
– Can national sovereignty be respected?
– How can effective international policy
instruments be created?
Source: Flickr, pasipasi
What issues are yet to be
resolved?
• Despite the debates, there is considerable interest
in REDD+ from both developed and developing
countries, but many political and technical issues
are still under debate:
– Where REDD+ fits within the broader UNFCCC
framework
– Scale at which REDD+ is implemented
– Financing sources and mechanisms
– Environmental and social safeguards
– How to assess performance (‘reference levels’)
– Capturing experience from early actions
Drivers
Examples of influence on actors’ positions on key REDD+ building
blocks
Economic
benefits
•Drives some developing country governments on potential expansion of REDD+
•Drives conservation NGO interest in inclusion of conservation areas in REDD+
•Drives private sector positions REDD+ carbon markets and projects
Cost
efficiency
•Drives some developed country positions on use of REDD+ offsets and carbon
markets
Environmenta •Drives opposition from environmental NGOs on market based REDD+
l integrity
•Drives positions of some developed country governments on use of REDD+
offsets and carbon markets
National
sovereignty
•Drives many developing country government positions on offsets, scale,
safeguards relating to indigenous peoples and development of MRV systems
involving third parties
Fairness and
social justice
•Drives pro-market NGO positions on the use of social safeguards for co-benefits
in REDD+
•Drives anti-market NGO opposition to offsets and market based approaches
•Drives local and indigenous peoples’ concerns for the development of social
safeguards
Political
positioning
and PR
•Drives some developed country government positions (e.g., desire to be seen as
progressive)
•Positive public relations drives private sector interest in systems (e.g., standards)
to demonstrate co-benefits some developed country government positions
What are the potential pitfalls and
how can these be resolved?
• Failing to address underlying
DD drivers and demand side
• Perverse impacts on
governance and local peoples
• Ensuring global additionality
and avoiding leakage
• Uncertainty in financing sources
and reducing investment risks
How do we maintain momentum
behind the discussions?
• Paris-Oslo process: ‘Action track to
supplement the UNFCCC
negotiations track’ (Brattskar 2010)
– Timely delivery on financial pledges
• Pushing through domestic legislation
in key countries (especially the U.S.)
• Demonstrate and communicate early
results (e.g. Brazil)
• Maintain flexibility in approach (e.g.
‘phased’ approach)
• Regional or bilateral approaches to
enhance demand
• Engage with civil society
organisations
What opportunities does REDD+
offer parliamentarians?
• Potential to assist with broader development
goals, through new streams of finance
• Increased prominence of forest/environment
issues in national policy processes (opportunity
for sector reforms)
• Improved information on sector and better
monitoring
• New policy instrument with strong performance
element
What could parliamentarians
do to support REDD+?
• Support activities to address demand side drivers:
– Illegal logging (national legislation in importer countries; legality
verification etc.)
– Enhanced forest sector transparency (e.g. G8 Forest
Transparency Initiative)
– Supporting sustainable forest management
– Support sustainable agriculture (e.g. sustainability criteria)
•
National support in REDD+ countries:
– Increasing the political profile of REDD+
– Promote appropriate legislative frameworks for REDD+
(monitoring systems; carbon rights definition; investment criteria;
safeguards)
– Promote policy coordination between forestry departments and
other govt. departments
– Promoting inclusive development of national REDD+ plans
Leo Peskett
Research Fellow
Overseas Development Institute
[email protected]