What actually happened at COP17?

The United Nations Climate Change Conference was held in the largest city in South Africa, Durban. 

Bringing together representatives of the world's governments, international organisations and civil society to build upon previous agreements and to begin building the frameworks and funds neccessary to combat climate change.

Held in the continent which is already feeling the effects of climate change, the agreements reached have been dubbed the 'Durban Platform'. 

Some small steps were achieved here, for example the increased commitment for a legally binding agreement to curb the emmition of greenhouse gases was agreed by developing countries, including China. 

However, it is now estimated that the terms will be agreed by 2015 and come into effect by 2020 - and for many these dates have shown a lack of urgency. 

Moreover, very little was mentioned in terms of the scale of cuts needed. This has led environmental groups to critise the talks as not achieving enough.  Oxfam refered to it as a 'major dissapointment'; WWF has said it is 'too little, too slow' and Freinds of the Earth 'an empty shell of a plan'.

Ever wondered what The Matrix has to do with Climate Change? - Sociologist Anthony Giddens explains...

Illegal Logging Stakeholder Conference at Chatham House

Summary of The 18th Illegal Logging Conference at Chatham House

This is a Summary of the 18th Illegal Logging Conference at Chatham House, London.  I attended this conference as a volunteer for The Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew.  We start with a brief introduction to the current plans to introduce EU legistlation (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade - FLEGT) to stop the trade in illegal logging.  This legistlation, and its implimentation is then carefully examined to determine potential enforcement issues. 

Furthermore, the examples of Liberia, Central African Republic and Indonesia, countries who have already entered into the FLEGT process through the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), enable us to explore and evaluate lessons to be learnt.  Lastly, we look at REDD+ and compare the two approaches to concider how the implimentation of FLEGT can potentially be a useful lesson for REDD+ also.

Topics Covered

·         Forest Certification

·         EU Timber regulation:  Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT)  

·         Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) case studies:  Liberia, Central African Republic and Indonesia

·         Lessons from FLEGT for the agricultural sector

·         Comparisons, linkages and lessons between FLEGT/VPA and REDD+

Introduction

Timber is a unique product, which links social, governance, loss of biodiversity etc currently 15-20% of illegal timber enters the UK, resulting in a loss of profit estimated at $10-15 billion a year.  UK imports 80% of its timber is imported, so UK has strong trade partnerships.

This two day illegal logging conference looked at the theoretical framework of FLEGT with some examples from already   it was generally agreed that the implementation of this legislation was yet to bring challenges and measures of success.  This conference looked at the new proposed legislation from the perspective of various stakeholders involved; the EU, the UK government, supplier governments, certification bodies, NGO’s, customs and exiles, community groups, logging industry itself and retail etc

The VPA is a trade agreement which brings clarity and aims to improve legal frameworks.  VPA’s promise is to improve law enforcement, reduce corruption etc but only implementation will show results.  It is also a broad enough framework to bring various aspects to the table – forest conservation/preservation, law enforcement, governance and trade.  Legality is the basis for this, rather than sustainability.

Forest Certification

Only 9% of forests worldwide are certified, and only 1% of these are virgin rainforest.  Certification as a framework looks at governance, standards, monitoring, reporting and verification, and chain of custody.  For forest certification to work and an increase in the percentage of forests word wide with certification to occur, both demand and supply side requirements must be taken into account.  The chain of custody approach enables this link between production and consumption to become clear and easily monitored and verified.  

Presently, certification is mainly in operation in plantation forests, rather than tropical forests and hopes are that REDD+ will focus attentions to certification of tropical forests also.  Another aspect of REDD+ that may be useful is that focus may be brought not only to issues of deforestation, but also to issues of forest degradation.   Foreseen problems between REDD+ and Certification are in value assumptions: Is the forest value seen in terms of carbon, rather than social and environmental? 

Although each certification body has differing criteria and approaches towards certification they are increasingly influencing one another.  Moreover, the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) will further standardise the definition for the c

riteriam for timber certification in the FLEGT legislation.

EU Timber regulation: Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT)

The new FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) timber regulation will have CITES linkages and be implemented across the EU states.  Details of enforcement and penalty are yet to be decided, although it is clear that considerations must be made to encourage all member states to offer similar implementation.  Success of this legislation will depend on this robust barrier across the EU, especially due to the fact that once goods are within the EU there is free trade movement between the member states.

The EUTR will involve and affect a wide range of stakeholders including European governments, Developing nations governments, business on both production and consumer ends and local producer and local consumers.  Taking this into consideration, the EU is working on the FLEGT legislation from a partnership approach. 

Governments are working alongside industry to ensure that the EUTR is effective, enforceable and encourages best practice and due diligence.  Best practice and due diligence systems will include the need to have transparency and access to information, and procedures to ensure detailed risk assessments and risk mitigation are undertaken.

Some challenges faced are:

Traceability – Especially relevant to multi-component and complex items such as small pieces of wood on other products, paper pulp, MDF, woodchip, fuel wood and charcoal etc.

Supply chains – One product can include 15-20 suppliers, making supply chains long and complex. 

Transparency – May be difficult as problem of competition within these supply chains as retailers not necessarily in direct contact with all suppliers within a product they sell.

Availability – If only 9% of forests are currently certified an issue may arise of suitable and quantity of available wood supply.

Which forest? – Need to certify primary rainforest, whilst also concentrating on degredated forest such as those found in frontier regions, rather than just plantation forest.  Also may need to think of other types of biome also as biomes are linked to one another, such as bio-diverse grasslands, areas with high carbon stocks and other protected areas of biodiversity.

Time and cost – Resources required verifying the legality, of in some cases hundreds, of products.  May have a long term impact on producers and suppliers e.g. / product manufacturing, wood being substituted with plastic.

Seized Timber – Once any illegal timber has been seized, what will governments to do with it?

Consumption patterns – A shift in consumption patterns could have good and bad repercussions. 

Governance – May encounter governance issues such as apathy, lack of transparency and accountability.  Some areas difficult to govern for various reasons and some governments may not have the infrastructure to implement all that is required for certification such as lack of administrative laws and mechanisms to implement them.  Too many concessions being given out.  Institutional reforms and capacity building may be necessary – for example stronger sanctions, capacity building in police, policy, and judiciary systems.  Consistency is needed between the national and local levels. Capacity to monitor governance – tracking and monitoring systems should be set up for governance within a multi-stakeholder framework.

Social and environmental safeguards -Communities – Will communities be given the opportunity to express their views, will they get a fair deal and be given control to engage with wider economy? Informal logging systems common in many parts of the world – is there any way to formalize these?  Communities may be consulted, but how much of the decision making process will be influence by these consultations and how many decisions will the communities make themselves?

 Enforcement – Law enforcement, including anti-corruption and anti- money laundering are key to addressing illegal logging.  Which agencies should be involved in enforcement?  At different stages need different enforcement rules.  Currently at the border using customs and exiles, however, undecided on who should be the enforcement agency away from the border. Need to train accredited auditors for monitoring and verification, raising issues of internal control and impartiality/corruptibility of auditors.  Issuing of false licenses would be a risk if governance inclined to corruption.

Penalties – As mentioned above, penalties will have to be as similar in greyvity across the EU to ensure exporters and importers are deterred from trading in illegal logging.

Monitoring and Verification – Data will need to be of quality and credible.  There must also be a mechanism to share data between institutions and be made publicly available.  Practical concerns may be the implementation and operation of an online system.  Will access to necessary data be facilitated?  Presently there are separate mandates for accreditation, standard setting, monitoring, verification and registration. Unclear, multiple and contested definitions and estimates on key varieties (CITES).  Problems of measurement, capacity and quality of data. 

It is clear with all these considerations that models must be created with a focus on area and context specific solutions.  It is also fair to point out that the issues here may take decades to iron out.

Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) case studies:  Liberia, Central African Republic and Indonesia

Liberia

Commercial forestry began in the 1950’s in Liberia.  During the 80’s the iron industry collapsed and logging replaced this as Liberia’s major export.   Civil war raged in Liberia from 1989-2003 and ranks highly on the world poverty index (80% Liberians live on $1.25 and 90% live on $2 per day).  In 2003 the UN Security Council imposed sanctions on Liberian timber exports due to the lack of transparency and the money it generated to fund civil conflict.  The Forestry Development Authority reformed in 2003, combating it’s corrupt past by down-sizing staff numbers and improving salary levels.  It is believed that $64 million is still owed to the Liberian government by concession holders.

Liberia’s forest land mass is 45% of the total land mass of Liberia itself.  The current conservation area stands at 1.7% of this forest land, whereas forest under concessions totals 21%.  Within this there are 590 species of birds and 240 species of timber, of which 60 types are exported.  Serious considerations must be made in terms of existing concessions – many believe them to be illegal concessions due to the context they were issued in.

The UN sanctions lifted in 2006, after all conditions set by the UN had been met.  The logging industry is restarting; however, exports are still extremely low.  This is due to severe capacity challenges such as poor infrastructure, roads, ports, offices, poor financing, logistical issues and lack of equipment.

The VPA has aided in providing a framework and supporting the enforcement of laws.  It also builds on commitments to transparency.

Central African Republic

The threat of losing the European market with the implementation of FLEGT meant that he private sector applied pressure to the Forest Ministry to consider FLEGT process and VPA as an opportunity for the Central African Republic.  Signing up to the VPA has now given the Central African Republic a guarantee of export with the UK.

Central African Republic has 4 million hectors of forest – 1 million of this has not been exploited, due to lack of road infrastructure and wood production area being situated away from this non-exploited forest.  Export prices are higher due to high transportation costs as The CAR is a land locked country.  Due to this, it also means that two FLEGT systems will need to be implemented, one within the Central African Republic and one at Douala Harbour in Cameroon.  Cameroon is also signed up to the VPA and so experiences can be shared, and trade links strengthened between these timber exporting countries.

Reforms of legal frameworks are needed and clarification on land rights, laws, and access is essential.  Monitoring this vast land mass may be difficult and so governance, legal and infrastructure capacity must be addressed.

During the VPA process, it was felt by some organisations that indigenous and community perspectives were not sufficiently explored.  Due to the lack of capacity, scarcity of resources, logistical problems and time constraints involvement was minimal and it is hoped that this will change when the implementation phase begins.  There appears to be confusion on the ground of the difference between VPA and REDD+ initiatives and it is felt that difficult policies must be translated into simplified language so that all persons involved may understand the implications of these policies – again, simplification may not have been needed if communities/indigenous peoples had been involved from the beginning of the process.

Indonesia

Indonesia is the 1^st largest exporter of timer within Asia and is ranked as the 5^th largest worldwide.  The timber trade to the UK alone is worth $1.2 billion and worth overall $9 billion worldwide.  The entering of Indonesia to the VPA was initially driven by NGO’s, both the government and industry followed, and finally concessionaries (such as factories) also entered discussions.   It is hoped that 4500 exporters will be audited and comply with the FLEGT legislation.  Indonesia hopes to have the timber industries infrastructure fully operational by January 2013 when FLEGT will enter in the EU. 

Country specific problems in Indonesia are things such as the complicated licensing system.  Due to the amount of different licences available, it is relatively easy to cheat the system.  Indonesia are hoping to have a high standard of transparency however current complicated licensing systems make it relatively easy to cheat the system.  A simplification of this may aid in cutting down concessions and a recommendation has been made to put into effect a moratorium to affect all licences until forest areas are defined and legal frameworks have been improved by the government.

Lessons from FLEGT for the agricultural sector

The agricultural sector may also benefit from FLEGT style legislation; however, there are various things that would have to be considered differently.  For example there is not so much state management of agricultural lands, there is less history of transparency within agricultural community, there are various types of crops – each with differing issues to take into account and governments are less likely to see illegality as an issue within the agricultural sector.  However, the sector is facing pressure from NGO’s, consumers and some governments to work towards more sustainable practices.

The example of FLEGT may help the agricultural industry to see the benefits of improving legal frameworks in which sustainability is high up on the agenda.  Brazil is leading by example in terms of legislation which deems deforestation to make way for agriculture illegal.  Consequently, the laws and legal framework created in Brazil has seen success in the rate of deforestation for use in cattle ranching for example.   Supermarkets in Brazil have signed an agreement with the government and producers to only sell beef from legal farms.  This has come about due to having institutional frameworks and laws in place, coupled with demand from a rising middle class.

Due to FLEGT’s success in involving various stakeholders, and in encouraging transparent dialogue between all involved, it is thought that any agricultural equivalent would draw heavily from the FLEGT model.  Another aspect of FLEGT which has aided its success so far is that it works on measures which affect both the supply and demand aspects simultaneously.  Products which may benefit from such regulation are things such as palm oil, beef and leather, biofuels, soy etc.

Comparisons and linkages between FLEGT/VPA and REDD+

·          REDD+ processes are also ongoing in all FLEGT, VPA countries

·         Need to identify lessons from VPA which are of relevance to REDD+

·         Sound governance systems are needed for REDD+ -  VPA will help establish these governance systems

·         Building effective synergies between REDD+ and VPA will support work to stop illegal deforestation at country level

·         Both will require cross sectorial coordination

·         Both centrally designed processes, where government has to play a more significant role

·         Both must build idea of ‘ownership’ – VPA already appears successful in this due to way in which it has engaged with stakeholders

·         VPA also faced similar resistance initially

·         VPA had time to build public awareness and compliance.  REDD+ must not be in too much of a rush to implement on the ground if it wants to succeed in the same areas as VPA.  Needs attention to be paid to the process, time to address conflicts and to build ownership with stakeholders.

·         REDD+ may be able to tackle broader governance issues such as land tenure, and tenure security, therefore has the capacity to work towards a deeper reform.

·         Both will have independent verification systems

·         Both working towards improved governance, and strengthened law enforcement

·         Apply stakeholder model to REDD+ also

·         Liberia- fear that REDD+ will distract from the VPA process and its implementation

·         Unclear benefits to local communities

·         Not enough community consultation

For further information click here

Origins Festival

Myself and a couple of friends met up last Tuesday night to help celebrate the opening evening of the Origins Festival, presented by Border Crossings.

We had a great night and heard the voices of first nations people directly - something of a rare treat.  We were also introduced to some of the beautifully creative ways that these particular people had found to tell their story.  I absolutely loved this as we were exposed to a cross section of indigenous artists from around the world and the mediums they used to tell their stories; dance, theatre, music, photography, film etc.

I then took my mum, for her birthday, to see an oral history spoken by Noel Tovey.  He mused over his experience as an aboriginal boy growing up in Australia.  His performance and story were both shocking and incredibly inspirational.  I then went along to the screening of 'Our Generation' - a fantastic documentary that looks at the problems indigenous people are facing today in Australia.  The documentary weaved together the history, the injustices, the perceptions of land from an aboriginal perspective, and the international frameworks that have been set up to protect indigenous people.

It was particularly interesting to understand that for an aboriginal point of view the land owns you; rather than the Western perspective that we own the land.  Bridging the gap between these two perceptions would go far in helping governments understand some of the problems their land policies (such as leasing the land in exchange for building houses) bring.  Moreover, a comment by a non-indigenous Australian in the audience made me stop for thought, why is it that the majority of 'settler' Australians live in the coastal regions from East to West, while Aboriginal people live further inland and to the North?  I thought that this lack of integration may also be tied to the motivations of the first settlers, the fact they believed Australia to be Terra Nullis (land belonging to no one) and exacerbated by the fundamental lack of understanding what 'land' means.

Three weeks to go until Climate Week...

Four Weeks to go...

Five Weeks to go until Climate Week

Six Weeks until Climate Week...

I can't believe that it is only 6 weeks to go until Climate Week!!!

Seven...

Only Seven (or a bit less as it's already Wednesday!) to go until Climate Week...

Oxfam Political campaign summery

Cancun was deemed a success as it brought talks back on track; agreeing on the need for a new successor to The Kyoto Protocol which runs out 2012.  It also focused on the need of Governments to act on the pledges they have already made and agreed to.  But by far the star story of the show was the progress made in terms of the much needed Climate Fund.  Although no long term strategy has been agreed upon in terms of where the funding will come from this is still the beginning of something, which leaves at the very least, this campaigner, feeling far more hopeful than after Copenhagen.  BBC journalist Richard Black puts it all far more succinctly '(Cancun has been) touted as a platform on which that comprehensive agreement can be built'.


I am sure that this year there will be much campaigning surrounding the 'Robin Hood Tax' - a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) that would raise billions of pounds.  Luckily for us a big supporter of the FTT is French President Nicolas Sarkozy who is taking over the presidency of both the G8 and G20 this very year and has promised to prioritise this important issue.  

Eight...

Eight weeks to go until Climate Week...

Oxfam Valentine's Day campaign

Last Thursday I went along to the first gathering of the year for the South-East Oxfam Campaigners.  It was a really interesting evening and it was great to meet some of the new team at the Victoria office!


These gatherings are really important to me as I am a solo Oxfam Campaigner and so they give me some great ideas to take away with me.  Plus I love Jammy Dodgers.


The Valentine's day campaign is all about showing our love for our global neighbours...ahhhhhhhhhh!  To make a change, activists across the country will be showering their MP's with praise for what they have already done and hint at what more they can do. Some ideas include sending your MP and valentine's Day Card, or creating a media stunt such as getting on one knee and proposing to your MP with the ask that your MP start and/or continues loving those who are affected by climate change.


Other ideas included creating romantic window displays in Oxfam shop windows, putting cakes in random places with a climate change fact on them, Climate Speed Dating, and creating a lonely heart video to share on Facebook and YouTube.  My favourite by far was the Craftivist Collective letters that will come complete with beautiful Tatty Devine inspired Key-rings.  The letters will explain the important reasons why we must extend our love to more than those in close-proximity to us and how to get involved.  I already know that my sole aim on Valentine's Day will be to find a red envelope!


All in all was a great night, with great speakers (I will post about the political campaigning stuff later on in the week).  Thanks very much Oxfam South East!

Nine

9 Weeks to go until Climate Week...

Climate Week

As I haven't blogged about Climate Week before, I will explain a little.  Just as I was about to start a new job, working in the world of mental health, I came across a job advert on a web-site that I had not used previously.  There, I found an advert looking for someone who wanted to get involved in working for a new national campaign.  

Having nothing to lose, and everything to gain, I applied with only a little hope that this would be the opportunity I had moved back to London, after spending five years in Aberdeen, to find.  I sent the application off and started working in my new job, where I only managed to stay for two weeks as I deliriously accepted a position with Climate Week.

Climate Week itself has been set up to celebrate those who are already taking steps in combating climate change, both in their personal and work lives.  It is an all inclusive campaign that allows individuals, schools, NGO's and businesses to showcase their work in the hope of inspiring more to do the same.

Unbelievably it is now only 9 weeks until Climate Week is upon us (21-27th March) and I am really excited!  I will be posting as often as I can from now on to share some of the great stories I hear during the next few weeks!

Big Climate Connection

Please see photos and the main points, as seen through my eyes of The Big Climate Connection below.

It was a long, and not always pleasing discussion - but the fact we managed to get a meeting and the length of it was testament to a willingness to debate some of the many issues.

Big Climate Connection Photos

Big Climate Connection

For all sorts of reasons, I haven't posted for a very long time now - whoops!

Thought I'd write a little about the Big Climate Connection, even though it was rather a long time ago now - double whoops!

Around 10 of us met with our MP Dominic Rabb and discussed our views whilst simultaneously learning about his views on climate change.

My interpretation of his points of view are summarised below:


1) He is not a Climate Change ‘Sceptic’.  He is influenced by logical arguments, factual data and evidence.
2) Is more open to environmental policies, which have a good economic grounding to them: likes economically stable policies. 
3) In favour of Carbon taxing.
4) In favour of cycle lanes in Surrey area – spoke about the Boris bikes in London.
5) Interested in all renewable energies but believes nuclear power is the only real economically viable option on a large scale.
6) Not open to a nationally implemented scheme for solar panels for each home in Britain – because doesn’t believe this to be an economically viable solution, however, he applauds individuals who decide to fund this option for themselves.
7) Spoke about his interest in local ‘green’ business.  Furthermore, believes that there is a niche in this particular area that Britain has the potential to fill; supports new start-ups in this area.  Genuinely enthusiastic about technology.
8) Unsympathetic to ideas of ‘West’ leading the way, believes that China and India could become a far worse problem in the future than Europe could ever be. 
9) Doesn’t see the link between Civil Liberties and Human Rights?!?  His particular interest is in Civil Liberties, not Human Rights.
10) Believes that prevention is not a viable option and so must concentrate efforts on resilience and adaptation.  Quoted James Lovelock and the Gaia theory. 

      

Outcomes of the meeting were:
1) Next meeting set for 6 months time
2) Enthusiasm shown regarding Energy Bill
3) Enthusiasm shown regarding more cycle lanes in Esher and Walton area.