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briefing maRCh 2009 Financing REDD: meshing markets with government funds briefing Deforestation accounts for roughly 17 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. So it is no surprise that in the runup to the December 2009 climate talks in Copenhagen, REDD – reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation – is emerging as a strategy with big potential for mitigating climate impacts. With REDD, local communities can be rewarded for conserving their forests, so the approach works for poverty alleviation as well as emissions reduction. Evidence is showing that REDD is simple and workable. Funding is Policy an altogether more complex issue, however. Looking at the roles of market and briefing pointers government, is a combined approach to financing REDD feasible? REDD and climate change after 2012, are searching for a consensus on how challenges to include a provision for REDD – reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation. The Bali Roadmap n Government-to-government Deforestation is a major driver of climate change, for the new international climate change agreements funding alone is not at the releasing billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) includes a focus on REDD. right scale, or efficient and and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The REDD can simultaneously reduce emissions and effective enough, to lower Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) alleviate poverty by rewarding local communities for emissions. Market-based – the 2000-plus scientists who analyse the evidence on conserving their forests. As a relatively new alternative finance alone will fall climate change – estimates that the forestry sector is method for reducing emissions, it is now much in the short. A dual mechanism responsible for 17.4 per cent of global greenhouse gas spotlight, and is expected to feature prominently at combining both is needed. emissions, putting it above global emissions from the the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework 1 n An agreement to finance transport sector of just over 13 per cent. So it is clear Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December REDD this way could be the that to reduce emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse 2009 in Copenhagen, where the post-Kyoto regime is key landmark decision of the gases to safe levels (see ‘Two degrees’), action to halt due to be designed. As a concept REDD has now gained 2 2009 climate talks and may deforestation will be necessary. much acceptance, and the question is not whether, but also allow for deeper cuts in The first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol how, it will be implemented. overall emission targets. (2008-2012) did not include any targets or credits Debate has raged round REDD for some time, focusing n REDD may become for emission reductions from deforestation. Ongoing on issues to do with methodology, local communities the most important negotiations for the second commitment period, and indigenous people, and finance mechanisms. mechanism for financing forest conservation and poverty alleviation in Two degrees: the safe limits that to achieve that limit, atmospheric greenhouse gas 4 the tropics, where most of emissions emissions should be lowered to 350ppm. However, deforestation occurs. today’s atmospheric concentration of these gases is n To implement REDD The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimated to be 433ppm and current ‘business as effectively and ensure (IPCC) concludes that Earth’s atmosphere needs to usual’ scenarios suggest that a dangerous level of benefit sharing to local be stabilised at 445 to 490 parts per million (ppm) atmospheric CO2 will be reached in 2030 rather than 3 5 people, certification and of atmospheric greenhouse gases. They have also in 2040, as was formerly thought. The evidence is independent monitoring stated that the safe level for global temperature more than enough to back calls for urgent action on a 0 are key. increase is 2 Celsius. Conservative estimates suggest massive scale to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Download the pdf at www.iied.org/pubs/display.php?o=17053IIED Pilot projects have shown, however, that methodological institutions such as the World Bank have viewed 10 issues such as baseline, additionality, permanence and investment in the forest sector as too risky. Net flows leakage (see ‘Jargon buster’) can all be dealt of foreign aid from rich countries in the Development with satisfactorily. Assistance Committee of the OECD amounted to 11 Among the biggest REDD US$104 billion in 2006, but only a small fraction of Financing REDD: successes is the Juma Sustainable that went to deforestation-related projects. Development Reserve Project in Future finance: the two basic meshing markets with Amazonas, Brazil’s largest state. This is the first REDD project in approaches government funds Brazil to comply with the Climate, The two basic approaches to REDD financing are Community & Biodiversity Alliance government funding and market-based instruments. (CCBA) standard. It has also been validated by the There is considerable debate over which is best. A international certification body TUV SUD, and gone possible solution is a mechanism incorporating both. through the additionality test of the Voluntary Carbon 6 Standard (VCS) Program. The 2008 Eliasch Review on financing global forests The project at Juma also involves a benefit sharing estimates that US$17-33 billion must be invested mechanism for local communities (through the forest annually to halve greenhouse gas emissions from conservation grant programme Bolsa Floresta), who deforestation by 2030. One scenario modeled suggests receive 100 per cent of the benefits obtained in the that the global carbon markets could supply around Jargon US$7 billion per year to reduce deforestation by 2020. voluntary carbon markets. This may vary according to the stringency of the buster This is simple and effective: each person is given a emissions reduction targets, the level of supplementarity widely accepted debit card in exchange for conserving allowed and the carbon price. their forests, along with additional benefits through This scenario would leave a funding gap of around investment in sustainable income generation, support US$11-19 billion per year. The suggestion is that To be effective as a strategy for to grassroots organisations and social programmes such funding would come from governments of the reducing emissions, REDD has (education, health, communication and transport). relatively rich Annex I countries party to the UNFCCC. to satisfy a number of criteria, The key for the ultimate success of REDD is, however, An example is Norway’s Climate Change and Forestry including the following. how it will be financed. mechanism, which has an initial budget of Baseline: An established The underfunding of US$2.5 billion for the next five years. benchmark against which any Raising funds under reduction in emissions can reduced deforestation be calculated. Tropical deforestation is a consequence of land use each approach Additionality: Proof that any dynamics that vary among and within regions. Drivers Government funding This mechanism would be reduction in emissions from of deforestation include conversion to agriculture, financed by governments, mainly from funds derived a REDD project is genuinely illegal logging, land grabs, poor public policy and from the auction of emission allowances in the European 7 additional to reductions that poor governance. Deforestation is largely driven Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme and others, as well would occur if that project by stakeholders’ perception of economic gains, not as developmental assistance funds and other funds such were not in place. by ignorance, irrationality or stupidity. So stopping as Norway’s. Permanence: The long-term deforestation demands the creation of a different viability of reduced emissions rationale for all stakeholders involved: forests need to be Each rainforest nation would monitor deforestation at 8 from a REDD project. This seen as worth more standing than cut. the national level against a generally agreed baseline. is heavily dependent on the Initiatives to reduce deforestation in tropical areas have Payments would be made on the basis of deforestation forested area’s vulnerability focused on two general approaches: regulations and reductions at country level. Each country would set up to deforestation and/or law enforcement, and incentives for forest management its own strategy to invest these funds to continue to degradation. and conservation. Historically, greater emphasis receive annual transfers. No leakage: Leakage is a has been given to regulations and law enforcement. Market-based This mechanism would be financed by reduction in carbon emissions Recently, economic incentives for forest management allowing companies in Annex I countries to offset part of in one area that results in and conservation, especially payment for environmental their emission reduction obligations through REDD. 9 increased emissions in another services, have received increasing attention. Project owners and developers would validate and – for example, where curbing International and national efforts to reduce deforestation certify projects under generally agreed guidelines and clearfelling in one forest have lacked appropriate funding. International approved methodologies. Each project would invest the region drives farmers to organisations such as the UN Forum on Forests and the carbon credit revenues according to local and regional clearfell in another. Global Environmental Facility have either underfunded conditions. These results would be inspected periodically forest projects, been too bureaucratic, or both. Financing by independent auditors at project level. briefing Pros and cons: analysing ‘fit’ a twinned system for REDD funding briefing Linking market and government funding approaches first demands a close look at their advantages Market Government and disadvantages. mechanism mechanism These can be analysed using three sets of criteria, the briefing Percentage $$ Monitoring and so-called ‘three Es’. Is the mechanism achieving its REDD credits reporting greenhouse gas emission targets (effectiveness)? Is Carbon Other this target achieved at the minimum cost (efficiency)? markets funding What are the distributional implications and co-benefits $$$ Support $$$ (equity and co-benefits)? Equally key is the ‘U’ criterion: urgency. This is needed, Project-based Governance activities in the light of the potential role of REDD in providing rapid, large-scale greenhouse gas emissions as a bridge strategy for reducing near-term emissions while buying time to move into a fully fledged global low-carbon Reduction of deforestation, economy (see ‘Weighing up government and market poverty eradication and finance for REDD’). sustainable development The major difference between government and market 12 approaches is the time they take to set into motion. activities at both project and national levels. This Government can be slow; the carbon market can way of working is seen as the most flexible, but the respond relatively quickly. But both have distinct pluses challenge is how to harmonise the government and 13 that can be harnessed for a dual approach. market levels. Four areas of focus are necessary to construct the how a dual approach would work building blocks of an effective dual mechanism. Some have argued that a ‘nested’ approach would First, governments should receive financial incentives be the most appropriate, to allow countries to start to implement public policies aimed at reducing Weighing up government and market finance for REDD Effectiveness Efficiency Equity Urgency Government + strong support of rainforest + lower international + facilitates international - slow implementation of governments encourages sound transaction costs transfers between rich and intergovernmental funding policies poor countries - limited effectiveness of - higher domestic costs - favours middle-income - slow implementation of government-based policies countries government programmes + captures domestic leakage + greater incentives for - risk of domestic distribution governmental policies inequities - does not capture international - greater risk of policy and leakage governance failure - limited attractiveness to + lower monitoring costs private funders Market-based - weak support to encourage - higher international + increases funding from + quicker implementation of sound policies by rainforest transaction costs for small market to forest communities project-based activities governments projects in poor countries + greater effectiveness of field + lower bureaucracy and + does not favour middle- + quicker impacts on project-based activities administrative costs income countries reduction of deforestation and degradation - does not capture domestic - smaller incentives for + smaller risk of inequitable leakage governmental policies distribution of benefits to local communities + increases area of forests + smaller risk of policy and - potential risk of inequitable under protection with positive governance failure distribution of benefits to impacts on international forest local communities if project leakage certification schemes are ineffective + greater attractiveness to - greater monitoring costs private funders briefing deforestation. Secondly, project-based funding should be The way forward encouraged to deliver on-the-ground incentives. Thirdly, briefing In the negotiations for the post-2012 commitment both government and market-based funding should period of the UNFCCC, figures under discussion for have a social and sustainability focus. And finally, the reducing greenhouse gas emissions relative to 1990 dual government/market mechanism should allow levels vary by between 20 and 40 per cent. coexistence, in perpetuity, of finance from both sources. briefing The government side – a focus on governance What is proposed here is that in the carbon market, In a dual system, the government-based mechanism buyers will have to purchase 10 per cent of their carbon should aim at improving governance, policy coherence, offsets as REDD. Emission reduction targets should be efficacy and effectiveness related to forest conservation, increased to 40 per cent of 1990 levels. poverty eradication and sustainable development. The Having a 10 per cent quota for REDD would provide main focus should be on monitoring, law enforcement, programmes and projects to reduce deforestation and land tenure policies, expansion and implementation degradation with significant amounts of funding. With of protected areas and indigenous lands, reduction the carbon market around US$118 billion a year, REDD of impacts of infrastructure projects, agricultural credits could total US$11.8 billion a year. This figure is and economic policies to increase the value of at the scale of investment needs in international forestry standing forests to local communities and indigenous estimated by the Stern Review and the Eliasch Review, populations, and social programmes with a special among others. focus on education and health. A dual financing mechanism for REDD may provide a Government funds should be financed primarily by simple solution to a much-debated issue on the road to intergovernmental transfers from Annex I countries. Copenhagen. If rainforest governments are supported by Additional funding could also come from multilateral governments of Annex I countries, and if forest projects organisations, private foundations and a levy on are financed by carbon markets, REDD can become one carbon markets. of the most effective mechanisms to deliver rapid, large- The market side – a focus on forests and peoples scale reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. A market-based mechanism in the dual system should Such mechanism should be implemented with caution The International Institute for be directed at local projects, with a focus on investing so that all concerns about benefit sharing with local Environment and Development in activities that improve the sustainability of forest communities and indigenous peoples are dealt with (IIED) is an independent, management and reduce deforestation in ways that appropriately. Experience of field-based certification nonprofit research institute provide social, environmental and economic benefits in the forest sector, such as that offered by the Forest working in the field of to local communities and indigenous peoples, assure Stewardship Council, could be a useful reference. sustainable development. monitoring of these benefits at project level, and ensure Although REDD financing may become a catalyst IIED provides expertise and transparency and accountability for resource use. of change towards tropical forest conversation and leadership in researching Market-based financing should be directed to projects, sustainable development, it should not be seen as and achieving sustainable with measurable boundaries, and subject to field a panacea. There are political, human rights and development at local, national, verification and certification. Projects should allocate a environmental issues that require a multitude of regional and global levels. This percentage of the carbon revenues to special-purpose mechanisms. REDD can be one, but not a substitute briefing has been produced government funds of rainforest nations. for all. with the generous support n VIRGIlIo M. VIANA of Danida (Denmark), DFID Virgilio Viana is director-general of the Amazonas Sustainable (UK), DGIS (the Netherlands), Foundation, Manaus, Brazil, and is an IIED Visiting Fellow. Irish Aid, Norad (Norway), SDC (Switzerland) and Sida Notes (Sweden). 1 n Mitchell, A. et al. 2008. Forests NOW in the Fight against Climate Change. Forest Foresight Report 1.v3. Global Canopy CONTACT: Virgilio Viana 2 3 Programme, Oxford. n Stern, N. 2007. Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change. HM Treasury, London. n IPCC Virgilio.viana@fas-amazonas.org Working Group I. 2007. Couplings between changes in the climate system and biogeochemistry. In Climate Change 2007: The 3 Endsleigh Street, Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC. Cambridge University 4 London WC1H 0DD, UK Press, Cambridge. See www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-chapter7.pdf. n Hansen, J. et al. 2008. Target atmospheric CO : Where should humanity aim? Open Atmospheric Science Journal. 2:217-231. See http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/ Tel: +44 (0)20 7388 2117 2 5 papers/0804/0804.1126.pdf. n Eliasch, J. 2008. Climate Change: Financing global forests. The Eliasch Review. Earthscan, Fax: +44 (0)20 7388 2826 6 London. See www.occ.gov.uk/activities/eliasch.htm n Viana, V. M. et al. 2008. The Juma Sustainable Development Reserve Website: www.iied.org Project: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. See www.fas-amazonas.org/arquivos/ 7 juma_executive_summary.pdf n Chomitz, K. M. et al. 2006. At Loggerheads? Agricultural expansion, poverty reduction, and 8 the environment in the tropics. The World Bank, Washington DC. n Viana, V. M. 2007. As Florestas e o Des-envolvimento da 9 Amazonia. Valer, Manaus, Brazil. n Rojas, M. and Aylward, B. 2003. What Are We Learning from Experiences with Markets for Environmental Services in Costa Rica? A review and critique of the literature. IIED, London. See www.iied.org/pubs/pdfs/9247IIED. 10 pdf n Lele, U. et al. 2000. The World Bank Forest Strategy: Striking the right balance. The World Bank, Washington DC. 11 n Aid. 21 February 2009. The Economist. See www.economist.com/markets/indicators/displaystory.cfm?story_id=E1_TDSPPDTT. International 12 International n Pedroni, L. et al. 2007. The Nested Approach: A flexible mechanism to reduce emissions from deforestation. CATIE, Costa Institute for 13 Rica. n Angelsen, A. (ed.) 2008. Moving Ahead with REDD: Issues, options and implications. CIFOR, Bogor, Indonesia. Institute for Environment and Download the pdf at www.iied.org/pubs/display.php?o=17053IIED Development Environment and Development
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