Critical issues facing REDD

1
Critical issues facing REDD

• CPA Conference. Global Mechanisms Reducing
  Emissions from Deforestation and Forest
  Degradation (REDD), July 2010

2
Questions

• What are the debates surrounding REDD?
• What issues are yet to be resolved?
• What are the potential pitfalls and how can these
  be resolved?
• How do we maintain momentum behind the
  discussions?
• What opportunities does REDD offer
  parliamentarians and what should they do to
  support it?

3
What are the debates surrounding REDD?

• Broad agreement that deforestation and
  degradation (DD) contributes 11-20 of global GHG
  emissions, so why is REDD contested?
• Common but differentiated responsibilities is it
  fair and will it distract from other mitigation
  measures?
• Cost-effective way to reduce emissions (Stern
  2006), or is it?
• Can REDD solve underlying DD drivers?
• Can national sovereignty be respected?
• How can effective international policy
  instruments be created?

Source Flickr, pasipasi
4
What issues are yet to be resolved?

• Despite the debates, there is considerable
  interest in REDD from both developed and
  developing countries, but many political and
  technical issues are still under debate
• Where REDD fits within the broader UNFCCC
  framework
• Scale at which REDD is implemented
• Financing sources and mechanisms
• Environmental and social safeguards
• How to assess performance (reference levels)
• Capturing experience from early actions

5
Drivers Examples of influence on actors positions on key REDD building blocks
Economic benefits Drives some developing country governments on potential expansion of REDD Drives conservation NGO interest in inclusion of conservation areas in REDD Drives private sector positions REDD carbon markets and projects
Cost efficiency Drives some developed country positions on use of REDD offsets and carbon markets
Environmental integrity Drives opposition from environmental NGOs on market based REDD Drives positions of some developed country governments on use of REDD offsets and carbon markets
National sovereignty Drives many developing country government positions on offsets, scale, safeguards relating to indigenous peoples and development of MRV systems involving third parties
Fairness and social justice Drives pro-market NGO positions on the use of social safeguards for co-benefits in REDD Drives anti-market NGO opposition to offsets and market based approaches Drives local and indigenous peoples concerns for the development of social safeguards
Political positioning and PR Drives some developed country government positions (e.g., desire to be seen as progressive) Positive public relations drives private sector interest in systems (e.g., standards) to demonstrate co-benefits some developed country government positions
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What are the potential pitfalls and how can these
be resolved?

• Failing to address underlying DD drivers and
  demand side
• Perverse impacts on governance and local peoples
• Ensuring global additionality and avoiding
  leakage
• Uncertainty in financing sources and reducing
  investment risks

7
How do we maintain momentum behind the
discussions?

• Paris-Oslo process Action track to supplement
  the UNFCCC negotiations track (Brattskar 2010)
• Timely delivery on financial pledges
• Pushing through domestic legislation in key
  countries (especially the U.S.)
• Demonstrate and communicate early results (e.g.
  Brazil)
• Maintain flexibility in approach (e.g. phased
  approach)
• Regional or bilateral approaches to enhance
  demand
• Engage with civil society organisations

8
What opportunities does REDD offer
parliamentarians?

• Potential to assist with broader development
  goals, through new streams of finance
• Increased prominence of forest/environment issues
  in national policy processes (opportunity for
  sector reforms)
• Improved information on sector and better
  monitoring
• New policy instrument with strong performance
  element

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What could parliamentarians do to support REDD?

• Support activities to address demand side
  drivers
• Illegal logging (national legislation in importer
  countries legality verification etc.)
• Enhanced forest sector transparency (e.g. G8
  Forest Transparency Initiative)
• Supporting sustainable forest management
• Support sustainable agriculture (e.g.
  sustainability criteria)
• National support in REDD countries
• Increasing the political profile of REDD
• Promote appropriate legislative frameworks for
  REDD (monitoring systems carbon rights
  definition investment criteria safeguards)
• Promote policy coordination between forestry
  departments and other govt. departments
• Promoting inclusive development of national REDD
  plans

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• Leo Peskett
• Research Fellow
• Overseas Development Institute
• l.peskett_at_odi.org.uk