WATCH THIS! NGO Newsletter #11: Santa Rita hydro dam: ”A story of pain”

by CMWGlobal markets, Human rights in climate action, Sustainable developmentPosted on Comments are Disabled

The Santa Rita hydro dam is a violation of the basic rights of native people. This project, supported by the State of Guatemala and the funds granted by the major banks of Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Netherlands and by the World Bank for the general development of the Q’ eqchi communities of the Dolores River, generated the consequences feared from the beginning: death, fear, populations displacement, expulsions and repression of the local communities.

News: Seven climate plans towards Paris submitted – Mexico stands out over level of details provided

by CMWGlobal marketsPosted on Comments are Disabled

As the deadline for industrialised countries to submit their international climate pledges for the future climate treaty has passed, only seven countries have submitted their climate plans. While numerous high emitting countries, such as Canada, Australia, Japan and New Zealand failed to make submissions, Mexico was the first developing country to commit to climate action as part of the of the Paris agreement.

News: Green Climate Fund’s decision to accredit first entities shadowed by intransparency over approval process

by CMWClimate financePosted on Comments are Disabled

At the 9th Board meeting of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which concluded last week in South Korea, seven entities were approved to pass through funding proposals by mid-year. However, the decision was criticised over the lack of transparency and stakeholder input in the process. The Board also adopted rules to screen project proposals but failed to exclude funding for fossil fuels. Expectations are now on countries to sign off the remaining US$4.5 billion for the fund that has been pledged in November 2014 ahead of the 30 April deadline.

News: Global Aviation Dialogue meetings add pressure to address aviation emissions

by CMWAviationPosted on Comments are Disabled

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) intends to adopt a global market-based mechanism to reduce emissions from international aviation at its 2016 meeting. A series of regional workshops – Global Aviation Dialogs, or GLADs – over the month of April will put political discussions on this process into the next gear. Given the slow pace and lack of ambition so far, the upcoming GLADs will provide the opportunity for EU countries to start aligning positions to ensure that a future mechanisms does what it is set out to do and is not merely a greenwash for the aviation industry.

News: To tree or not to tree: Can Norway improve EU’s land accounting rules?

by CMW2050 climate strategiesPosted on Comments are Disabled

Norway was the third country after Switzerland and the EU to officially submit its climate contribution towards the Paris climate agreement. Like the EU, Norway announced an at least 40% emission reduction target by 2030, which it intends to fulfil jointly with the EU by joining the EU’s 2030 climate framework. While Norway has made it clear that land sector accounting shall not affect its ambition level, the EU has left doors open for forestry accounting tricks. If the EU want to jointly fulfil its 2030 climate target with Norway, the EU must also exclude the option of planting trees to offset emissions.

European Parliament discusses human rights dimension of EU’s climate finance contributions

by CMWGlobal markets, Human rights in climate action, Sustainable developmentPosted on Comments are Disabled

Last week in an event in the European Parliament, various stakeholders discussed experiences with existing climate mechanisms against the future climate finance policy landscape, where potentially huge amounts of climate finance will not only be channeled through the Green Climate Fund (GCF) but also through bilateral agreements and other instruments where it is still unclear what types of safeguards and compliance mechanisms will be applicable and how the respective public and private stakeholders involved will be accountable.

The tale of the EU’s overweight climate change fighter

by CMWEU carbon marketPosted on Comments are Disabled

The EU’s carbon market desperately needs to get rid of excess weight if it is to perform as an effective climate change fighting tool in the future. The task of providing a way to do this – for example by permanently cancelling the current oversupply of more than two billions tonnes of CO2 – is now up to the European Commission when presenting its plans to revise the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS) by mid-2015.

Carbon Market Watch is looking for a Communications & Fundraising Officer

by CMW2050 climate strategiesPosted on Comments are Disabled

Application deadline: 19 April 2015 Purpose of the position Carbon Market Watch is seeking a dynamic Communications & Fundraising Officer to support Carbon Market Watch’s advocacy campaigns and support fundraising efforts.  Tasks and responsibilities Work closely with communications manager, plan and implement innovative and effective media strategies for campaigns; Draft press statements, information brochures, articles …

Read more “Carbon Market Watch is looking for a Communications & Fundraising Officer”

Media Statement: EU’s announcement for Paris climate deal fails to address loopholes that could slash announced target in half

by CMW2050 climate strategiesPosted on Comments are Disabled

Brussels, 6 March 2015. Today, EU’s environment ministers presented the EU’s contribution to the international climate agreement to be finalized in Paris by the end of the year. Carbon Market Watch criticises the official contribution for the lack of detail and calls on ministers to specify measures that avoid that hot air and emission removals from forests undermine the 40% domestic emissions reduction target.