The UNFCCC administers the CDM under the Kyoto Protocol.UNFCCCHaving helped local communities submit comments against large destructive dam projects applying for carbon credits through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), I've gained a certain amount of insight into the CDM's official public participation process. The moral of that story is: official processes look all right on paper but in practice, they do a poor job of promoting transparency and public input.
Katy Yan
Job title:
Former China Program Coordinator/Intern & Volunteer Coordinator
Tagline:
Our Rivers Our Rights
Date: Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 16:53
As regional and national climate change bills continue to ebb and flow in the US, environmental groups have often found themselves split down the middle depending on how much they are willing to compromise with industry.
Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - 12:38
Update: The number of projects that entered the CDM pipeline stayed the same between the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first quarter or 2010 (See Fig. 1). The percent of hydropower projects entering the CDM pipeline relative to all CDM projects continues to be on a downward trend since 2007 (see Fig. 2). The percent of projects rejected out of the total number of projects requesting registration was 7.4% in 2007, 3.8% in 2008, and 2.0% in 2009 (this does not include withdrawn projects). 2009 saw an increase in rejections due to heightened scrutiny by the CDM Executive Board. The percent of registered projects that were involved in the review process (which includes projects that require corrections) has been growing over the years (see Fig. 4): 9.5% in 2005, 9.1% in 2006, 19.3% in 2007, 56.9% in 2008, 70.4% in 2009, 56.3% in 2010 (as of April). This is also likely the result of pressure by stakeholders for the CDM to review projects with questionable additionality and sustainability claims, and the CDM Executive Board's response. 46.6% of all hydro projects in the CDM pipeline have requested registration since 2004, while 41.5% of all hydro projects have actually been registered. Figs. 3 and 4 show the fate of projects requesting registration and being registered by year. Hydro projects continue to be the most prevalent type of project in the CDM pipeline (28% of all projects). 71% of hydro projects are located in China (the distribution among regions has been largely unchanged). 66% of all CERs issued come from China as well. Figs. 5 and 6 are based on the UNFCCC CDM pipeline database, last updated on March 1, 2010.
Date: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 14:48
I heard a beautiful story recently. It was a story about a young girl, a refugee from a war-torn country in the Middle East, who was able to create something beautiful in the midst of destruction and poverty. Tearing out pieces of magazines collected here and there, she created a collage, which eventually found it's way to Berkeley, California, and into the hands of the staff at River of Words.
River of Words is a non-profit dedicated to improving the environmental and art literacy of children in the US and abroad. Every year, they host a poetry and art contest, which draws hundreds of participants from places as different as Iran, Hong Kong, and Georgia. What these contestants share is a love of and appreciation for the natural world.
Date: Friday, April 9, 2010 - 16:10
Mobilization for Climate Justice–WestOn August 15th of 2009, our friends at Mobilization for Climate Justice–West held a successful rally, march, and non-violent demonstrationat the Richmond Chevron refinery to call for a strong, binding and justagreement at the Copenhagen climate talks in December. Over 300 peopleshowed up to create "street heat" for climate justice. You can check out their photos here.
Date: Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - 14:13
Downtown Tokyo at night. Tokyo, unlike the rest of Japan, will not accept fake offsets.Ian MuttooAccording to Reuters, the Japanese government on Thursday announced that
it has bought 95.8 of the 100 million tonnes of carbon offsets it plans to use during the 2008-2012 period to help the country meet its
binding reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol. Japan's government and companies are the biggest buyers,
outside of Europe, of Kyoto offsets (which include CERs from the controversial Clean Development Mechanism or the CDM, and AAUs from industrialized countries with excess emissions credits).
Date: Friday, March 26, 2010 - 18:16
How about Earth Day everyday?http://www.earthday.ca/pub/merchandise/calendar/index.htmlNormally, my experience with the hoopla surrounding national and international days of commemoration–Black History Month (US), World AIDS Day, International Women's Day, etc.–is tempered by a good dose of caution (except for our own International Day of Action for Rivers of course).
Date: Friday, March 12, 2010 - 13:19
The earth is unhappy, but it's humans, not the sun, that's making it too hot to live on.
Back in college, a group of us worked with local high school students to see what methods were most effective in encouraging behavior change and climate change comprehension. One of the exercises we did early on was to dispel any climate myths through a mental model exercise.
"Draw a picture of what you think causes climate change," we'd asked.
Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 10:55
Hydro developers and auditors in hot water.Photo: Gregg McNeill, http://www.flickr.com/photos/gbmcinephoto/The Clean Development Mechanism's Executive Board (EB), which approves and rejects projects applying for emissions reductions credits, just ended their latest board meeting in Germany with a decision that has stunned carbon market investors – and given some hope to dam-fighters and CDM reform activists.
Date: Friday, February 5, 2010 - 16:55
The average Nike shoe emits about 40 pounds of CO2http://www.greenbiz.comA few years ago, the latest green(wash) rage among the rich and famous was offsetting carbon emissions from air travel and energy use. Lately, this trend may be slowly reversing itself.
Companies are beginning to see the problems inherent in offsets and are instead turning to improving energy efficiency. The latest companies to abandon the over-hyped offset are Yahoo! and Nike.
Date: Friday, January 8, 2010 - 10:58
Update:
The number of projects that entered the CDM pipeline fell 42% from the third quarter (See Fig. 1).
The percent of hydropower projects entering the CDM pipeline relative
to all CDM projects continues to be on a downward trend since 2007 (see
Fig. 2).
According to a new Point Carbon survey
(sub req'd), one third of registered CDM projects never go on to
receive CERs, or certified emissions reductions credits. Most notable
are landfill gas and other waste projects. Arne Eik, analyst at Point
Carbon, attribute the lack of issuance to:
"problems with project finance prompted by the economic downturn,
uncertainty about post-2012, and the difficulties some projects had in
demonstrating they can cut emissions."
The percent of projects rejected out of the total number of projects requesting registration was 7.4% in 2007, 3.8% in 2008, and 1.4% in 2009 (this does not include withdrawn projects).
48% of all hydro projects in the CDM pipeline have requested registration since 2004, while 40% of all hydro projects have actually been registered. Figs. 3 and 4 show the fate of projects requesting registration and being registered by year. This graph shows the dramatic increase over the last year of projects that the Executive Board has requested be reviewed.
Hydro projects continue to be the most prevalent type of project in the CDM pipeline (27% fo all projects). 70% of hydro projects are located in China. Figs. 5 and 6 are based on the UNFCCC CDM pipeline database, last updated on December 20, 2009.
Date: Friday, December 18, 2009 - 14:28
Daniel BachhuberOn the final day of the COP15 climate negotiations at Copenhagen, leaders have reportedly reached a final deal, though one that insufficiently deals with emissions reduction targets, timelines, accountability, compliance, and the question of who's responsible for adaptation and mitigation action and funding.
Water justice - the belief that every human being deserves the right to
access clean water to meet their basic needs - is another issue that
has largely been glossed over by delegates these past two weeks.
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 10:52
International Rivers' Payal Parekh gives an update on the current status of the climate negotiations at Copenhagen's COP15. Developed countries continue to avoid taking strong targets, raising
tensions between rich and poor countries on the third-to-last day of the negotiations. News on offsets and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) are mixed and constantly changing.
Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 - 15:08
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California addressing the 194-nation U.N. climate talksUnited NationsAs the clock winds down, and countries are nowhere near an agreement, subnational leaders from Canada, Nigeria, France and Algeria, led by California's "Gubernator," announced today in a press conference at Bella that they plan to advance the concept of a new regional coalition to fast track the results of the Copenhagen negotiations.
Date: Monday, December 14, 2009 - 02:13
Flood for Climate Justicehttp://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Billedserier/2009/12/12212940.htmWeek Two of the COP15 in Copenhagen opens with the arrival of over 110 ministers and soon their heads of state - i.e. crunch time for the negotiations. This is also leading to incredibly long lines at the entrance and limits to the number of NGO members being admitted.
Date: Friday, December 11, 2009 - 14:03
To see what civil society is saying about various countries, check out the Fossil of the Day Awards, which awards the top three countries who perform the worst during the UN climate negotiations.
Daily video summaries of the negotiations.
More live videos from Copenhagen, covering interviews and actions.
Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009 - 01:34
Green peace protest, 10 Dechttp://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop15/The latest:
Climate
justice protest outside the Bella Center (where COP15 is being held) by
Greenpeace this morning, calling out "Don't leave youth out in the
cold" as they stood in the 7 degrees C weather in swimsuits. Brief
video to come.
Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2009 - 14:26
COP15 logoUNFCCCWelcome to the first in a series of vlogs taken live from Copenhagen!
Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 - 16:46
Climate activists protest dam lobbyists at Barcelona climate summitOn November 3rd, at the Barcelona climate summit (the lead-up to the much anticipated climate talks in Copenhagen this December), officials from the dam industry and negotiators from the UN Conference on Climate Change received a rude awakening at dinner.
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 - 10:41
Arnold, the Green Bill Terminator, is backhttp://healthtrain.blogspot.com/After several months of in-district meetings with legislators, op-eds, letters, calls, and action alerts by over 90 stakeholder groups and their members, the campaign to pass Assembly Bill 1404 achieved what few at the beginning could have hoped for -- it passed the state legislature.
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - 15:38
The leaky offset faucethttp://www.co.carver.mn.us
Polluters in the US may be able to wait another decade before having to turn the spigot on their emissions faucet.
Date: Friday, October 9, 2009 - 09:06
Around the world, climate change is already melting glaciers that feed major rivers, drowing islands, feeding forest wildfires, and threatening the water supply and river resources of billions of people. Out of the global calamity, a growing international movement is gathering to send a message to the governments convening in Copenhagen this December. International Rivers will be there, standing in solidarity with those most impacted by climate change.
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 - 16:33
Updates:
The number of projects that entered the CDM pipeline increased slightly from the second quarter, although it dropped 14% from the third quarter in 2008 (See Fig. 1).
The percent of hydropower projects entering the CDM pipeline relative
to all CDM projects has been on a downward trend since 2007 (see Fig.
2).
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - 11:57
The final AB 1404 ScoreboardIn a narrow 21-to-19 vote on Saturday, the California Senate passed AB 1404, which would strictly limit offsets in California's global warming program and entirely exclude the CDM!
This landmark bill would make the California legislature the first US governmental body to put such strict limits on the use of offsets. According to Erin Rogers of the Union of Concerned Scientists,
Date: Monday, September 14, 2009 - 13:25
Lightening over Londonhttp://galleries.thelondonpaper.com/lightning-storm-london-august-2008/Lightening never strikes the same place twice...except when you're a CDM auditor with problems that just won't take cover.
After our very own thunderstorm in the Bay Area this weekend, I awoke to the news that yet another CDM auditor, this time SGS UK, has been suspended for bad practice according to The Sunday Times.
SGS seems to be carrying on the (in)glorious tradition started by DNV, which was suspended last year. SGS's suspension also follows closely in the footsteps of the recent WWF scorecard
that gave all the major auditors a failing grade, including an E for
SGS.
Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 - 16:04
Tall treesMaury McCown, FlickrThe Wall Street Journal came out with an article Friday on the potential carbon offsets market around forests, A New Fight Over Pollution Curbs Takes Root. In a (mostly) even-handed look at the issue, the author describes one scenario where a Truckee airport saved a track of forest from home developers. However, while the airport recognizes the ecosystem services of forests (storing carbon among others), it is now considering selling carbon credits (or offsets) from the forest to polluters so that they can continue polluting, with these carbon offsets counting towards their reductions goal.
Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 - 14:35
The Chinese sturgeon, not as popular as the panda, but still considered stamp-worthyhttp://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/04/restocking_yangtze.phpThe Chinese sturgeon (zhonghua xun) is not as popular as the cuddly and iconic panda, but China still considers it stamp-worthy. Its home is the Jinsha River on the Upper Yangtze, which boasts some of the most stunning gorges and unusual fish species in China. Like the salmon in the US, these wild fisheries provide a huge economic boost to local economies and support a diverse aquatic ecosystem. And like the US, native fish species in the Jinsha and Yangtze are being threatened by a host of problems. Top of the list are a series of new dams.
Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009 - 13:22
Prolonged dry episodes in the USWRI
It's not breaking news, but then again, most global problems aren't.
A new report by the World Resources Institute continues to confirm not only that human activity is the primary cause of rising temperatures, but also that global warming impacts are accelerating.
