Clean Development Mechanism workshop [1]
Monday, January 14, 2008 - 05:25. Updated on Monday, January 19, 2015 - 16:16.
Climate change is a major international discussion issue today: it is already affecting our lives and in the future it will drastically affect how we live and survive. Here in the Pacific, the effects of climate change are already being felt in our countries and territories by way of sea-level rise and salt-water inundation, extreme coastal erosion and frequent damaging cyclones.
Climate change is the result of the warming of the earth caused by the increasing emission of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere due to the activities of humans. The burning of fossil fuels - coal and natural gas, which power our factories, power plants and transportation systems - is the largest cause of emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Degradation of forests and deforestation is another important factor contributing 20% of greenhouse gas emissions leading to global warming.
The 1997 Kyoto Protocol of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change obligates industrialised countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5.2% below their 1990 levels by 2008...2012. The clean development mechanism (CDM) is one of the three mechanisms that have been identified to help industrialised countries fulfil their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.
CDM, which includes reforestation and afforestation, involves joint action between industrialised and developing countries to 'assist the industrialised countries achieve compliance with their greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments, as well as assist developing countries achieve sustainable development'. It allows industrialised countries to invest in projects that reduce emissions in developing countries as an alternative to more expensive emission reductions in their own countries.
CDM therefore presents a funding opportunity for forestry in developing countries. However, the mechanism is very complicated and difficult to understand. There are many complex issues involved that need to be clarified, and because of this it is difficult to formulate proposals to meet current project requirements. In fact, internationally, only one project has been approved to date. This however is likely to change as negotiations at the recent Bali conference have paved the way for forestry and forest conservation to play a stronger role in mitigating climate change.
Pacific Island countries have been part of the negotiations on climate change over the years, but the Pacific forestry sector has not yet tapped the full potential of CDM. A lack of understanding of the subject and limited input from local forestry experts have hampered development.
Pacific Island countries need a thorough understanding of the implications of climate change, specifically CDM forestry. They also need to be learn skills so they can better handle international, regional and national negotiations on CDM forestry. Closer collaboration among Pacific Island countries and territories and relevant agencies and programmes will help enhance understanding of climate change issues and can prepare for the bundling of individual projects necessary to ensure that benefits accrue to small and large countries alike.
As a first step, a regional awareness workshop is being held with the main goal of raising awareness and understanding of climate change and specifically of CDM forestry among national forestry services. Heads of forestry or their representatives from Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have been invited to a four-day workshop at the Novotel Hotel, Nadi, Fiji, 14-17 January 2008.
The workshop is being organised by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in collaboration with the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with funding assistance from GTZ. SPC, 11/01/08.