Press Release: New Study Adds Urgency to Reform UN Offsetting Scheme in Durban

by CMWGlobal markets, Human rights in climate action, Sustainable developmentPosted on No Comments

Durban. A study released today confirms that over 20% of all carbon credits under the UN’s offsetting scheme could come from business-as-usual large hydro projects. The study also points out the significant social and environmental impacts of these projects and calls for an overhaul of the project evaluation process. Civil society groups call on Environment Ministers to address shortcomings at the upcoming climate change negotiations in Durban.

Press Release: Pressure on EU mounts as UNFCCC suspends flawed rules for coal offsetting projects

by CMWEU carbon market, Global markets, Sustainable developmentPosted on No Comments

Durban, South Africa. In a crucial move, the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board yesterday suspended coal power offsetting projects because the rules used to calculate emission reductions cause artificial carbon credits. Pressure on the EU is mounting to call for a ban of these projects at the climate change conference starting next week in Durban.

Open letter: Call for EU Member states to halt artificial CDM carbon credits from coal power project

by CMWGlobal markets, Sustainable developmentPosted on Comments are Disabled

Letter to Austrian Minister: H.E. Mr. Nikolaus Berlakovich Letter to Belgian Minister: S.E. M. Paul Magnette Letter to Bulgarian Minister: H.E. Ms. Nona Karadjova Letter to Cypriot Minister: H.E. Mr. Sofoclis Aletraris Letter to Czech Minister: H.E. Mgr. Tomaš Chalupa Letter to German Minister: H.E. Mr. Norbert RÖTTGEN Letter to Danish Minister: H.E. Ms. Ida …

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CDM Watch Expectations for COP17 in Durban (Newsletter #17)

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

Achieving a successful outcome at the upcoming climate change negotiations in Durban (COP17) depends fundamentally on the political will of Parties to agree to emissions reduction targets that are in line with the Cancun Agreement to prevent global warming beyond two degrees Celsius. CDM Watch believes the following issues need to be addressed at COP17: …

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Upcoming Revision of Standards must strengthen Stakeholder Consultation (Newsletter #17)

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

The Aguan biogas project in Honduras (see article on Human Rights) not only highlights the need to address human rights issues in the CDM. It is also made it clear that CDM rules and procedures on local stakeholder consultation do not lead to effective stakeholder consultation. As the CDM Executive Board is revising its validation …

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Simplifying Additionality through Standardisation (Newsletter #17)

by CMWGlobal marketsPosted on Comments are Disabled

Standardisation of the additionality test has been suggested as a way to both ease requirements for project developers and to limit the number of non-additional credits. We summarise and comment on some of the upcoming plans to simplify parts of the CDM process. At the most recent climate change conference in Cancun, the CDM Executive …

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Additionality: the trouble with large-scale CDM projects (Newsletter #17)

by CMWEU carbon market, Global marketsPosted on Comments are Disabled

Additionality is intrinsically difficult to tackle and one of the main reasons why offsetting remains contentious. Recent publications and discussions highlight the fact that very large CDM projects are quite unlikely to be additional. The CDM Executive Board will discuss these additionality concerns during its upcoming meeting in Durban. This article gives you background information …

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Rewarding polluters: CCS in CDM? (Newsletter #17)

by CMWGlobal marketsPosted on Comments are Disabled

Guest article by Iris Cheng, Climate & Energy Campaigner of Greenpeace International Eligibility of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects in the CDM will be discussed in Durban.  CCS in the CDM means exporting unproven and risky technologies to developing countries and allowing oil companies to generate millions of carbon credits from enhanced oil production. …

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