REDD report for Monday 6th December
Outlook: The social, governance, and broader environmental outcomes for potential REDD projects have in effect been reduced to a set of “safeguards.” Without a clear commitment to implement them, it’s likely that REDD will neither protect natural forests nor secure the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Quote: From Dr. Rosalind Reeve, Global Witness: “The chair’s text marks a significant roll-back on any commitment to implement and monitor safeguards. We had understood that consensus was close on this key issue. But the new Chair’s text fails to reflect this. Brazil in particular is concerned about commitment on monitoring and reporting on safeguards. We would like to see Brazil take more of a leadership role on this issue since they have viable experience to offer.”
Question for journalists in country briefings: Why have the safeguard provisions in the latest REDD text been weakened? They are now only “affirmed” but in the prior text they were “decided.” And they’re only defined as “guidance.” I hear this was changed without any serious discussion in Friday’s drafting group.
Question for journalists in country briefings: Is it true that the emerging deal on REDD involves agreeing on preparatory phases only and not on operational phases, which involves deciding about markets? The Coalition of Rainforest Nations can be expected to be seriously frustrated.
Today’s REDD activities (AWG-LCA, 1b(iii) of the Bali Action Plan): None. (There are, however, drafting groups on other aspects of mitigation throughout the day.)
LULUCF Report (land use, land use change and forestry under the Kyoto Protocol) for Monday 6th December
Outlook: LULUCF negotiations remain mired with ongoing disagreement over baselines. Developed countries continue to want to evade accounting for increased logging emissions and are constructing loopholes, but this is being resisted. Outlook for today’s spinoff group: procedural argument, no resolution of key issues, and contentious matters to be referred up to Ministers.
Quote from Virginia Young, The Wilderness Society: “Ministers will end up with the decision on whether to get real about reducing land and forest emissions in developed countries, which is an opportunity to completely change the tenor and focus of the proposed new rules.”
Quote from Susanna Tol, Wetlands International: “The ongoing argument is delaying a decision to allow countries to reduce real and huge emissions by re-wetting drained peatlands. It will be a failure if this mitigation opportunity is not created in Cancun.”
Question for journalists in country briefings: Is LULUCF so stuck that it is going to be sent to ministers and is there a prospect that THEY will then act to close the logging loophole?
Today’s LULUCF activities (AWG-KP): “Spin-off group on Chapter II” 15:00 – 16:30 in Ballena (Azteca)
The Ecosystems Climate Alliance is comprised of ten NGOs committed to keeping natural terrestrial ecosystems intact and their carbon out of the atmosphere. We are available for interviews and background at the third blue table to the right of the Azteca entrance, underneath the up escalator outside Sol.
CONTACT: Don Lehr / Cancun 998 204 1849
+1 917 304 4058 / dblehr@cs.com