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I'm a student of Master in Environmental Science and my dissertation project concerns the REDD theme in regards to its impact in Brazil.
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Latest talks - Climate change new agreements in Politics and policy
Posted on Oct 23 2009 at 04:28PM by Michelle
The idea of creating economic measurable value to a standing, still preserved forest area has gained attention and, therefore, was included in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen December 2009. This concept has been called REDD (Reduce Emissions for Deforestation and Degradation).
Reduced deforestation and forest degradation may play a significant role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, can yield significant sustainable development benefits, and may generate a new financing stream for sustainable forest management in developing countries.
On the other hand, there are still some key issues and concerns regarding REDD which still should be addressed. For instance, one of the biggest concerns is related to the possibility of rewarding countries or regions who manage to reduce its deforestation rates, but were deforestation champions in the recent past.
I would like to get some inputs regarding REDD’s weak points. Or if you have any questions regarding REDD, REDD+ or simply RED, I will be glad to answer.
Read more on this topic »Latest talks - Climate change new agreements 2 in Politics and policy
Posted on Oct 24 2009 at 02:08AM by Michelle
Hi Nanita,
Thanks for your interesting inputs!
I just would like to call your attention for the point
you mentioned about “paramos”. Although they may capture more CO2
than forests, it is important to take into consideration that the main
justification used for REDD is that forest degradation is responsible for a great
deal of greenhouse gases emissions to the atmosphere, and, therefore, REDD
could help to reduce CO2 emissions. As a matter of fact, according
to IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), deforestation alones
contributes to almost 20% of world’s gas emissions.
More on REDD - REDD Issues - How to reduce poverty? 2 in Politics and policy
Posted on Oct 24 2009 at 09:37PM by Michelle
REDD (Reduce Emissions for Deforestation and Degradation) - The idea of creating economic measurable value to a standing, still preserved forest area.
A related but more general concern about a sudden increase in financial support for activities to reduce deforestation is the risk of elite resource appropriation, both within countries, and within communities. This risk is particularly high if REDD activities will be primarily financed through market-based mechanisms, although it should be emphasized that public funds might also lead to elite resource appropriation.
By assigning a substantial monetary value to forests, the REDD mechanism may encourage this resource appropriation. This could include rapid entitlement of forest land by elites, implementation of policies aimed at displacing smallholders peasants out of forest areas, repression of traditional modes of farming considered unsustainable, such as slash-and-burn cultivation etc., social marginalization, and displaced deforestation (by peasants moving from REDD project areas to other forest land). One possible solution might be to condition the REDD payment to the recognition of the use rights of people living in the concerned forests, and to the compensation of any possible loss of such use rights.
A common answer given to the issue of resource appropriation and to the other consequences of ill designed projects is “community participation”. But participation can be manipulative, and used to favor the adoption of externally designed agendas, while the communities involved in participatory approaches are often “imagined communities” that might end up competing or entering into conflict with real communities. This may lead to social disruptions and project failure, especially if these “imagined communities” are given a legal status and new forms of power, and receive financial assistance (such as through REDD payments).
Could someone add any valuable inputs regarding REDD X local communities’ rights?
I'd like to apologize my for those who've read my previous post who had a hard time trying to comprehend the lines... I've decided to post it again in order to adjust the formatting...
Read more on this topic »Brazil X CO2 emissions in Evidence of climate change and ideas
Posted on Oct 25 2009 at 03:35PM by Michelle
Did you know that deforestation responds for 75% of Brazil’s greenhouse gases emissions? According to Brazilian government, the cutting down of trees represented about a 1/3 of CO2 emissions in 2008.
For instance, deforestation in Amazon accounts for 460 million tons of CO2 each year.
An international agreement - REDD? in Climate - It's getting hot
Posted on Oct 25 2009 at 10:59PM by Michelle
Hi Jennyjst,
I agree with you that an international agreement is essencial in order to reduce greenhouse gases emissions. Have you heard about REDD ((Reduce Emissions for Deforestation and Degradation)? The idea of creating economic measurable value to a standing, still preserved forest area?
REDD is based on a multilateral fund and efforst including FAO, UNDP and UNEP. I suggest you take a look at REDD's ideas before Copenhagen.
Brazil reducing deforestation in Climate - It's getting hot
Posted on Oct 26 2009 at 02:34PM by Michelle
It’s true Brazil is signaling a 80%deforestation reduction in the Amazon area. Nevertheless, what concerns me is that this plan is based on a 4%estimated year economic growth and according to last economical reports, Brazil is probably going to grow more… In addition, these “freezing “as Brazilian government is calling the 80% reduction goal, depends on foreign investment on the biodiesel industry and hydroelectric plants.
Read more on this topic »Canada’s 2007 Forestry Management Law in Politics and policy
Posted on Oct 27 2009 at 04:57PM by Michelle
According to Canada’s government managed forests are efficient carbon sinks as long as they are regenerated, and Canadian law requires prompt reforestation after public lands are harvested. Half a billion seedlings are planted in Canadian forests each year, the key reason why the country has virtually no deforestation even after more than 100 years of forestry.
Is this really happening? Some NGO’s are now denouncing the gaps into Canada’s forestry law enforcement… In addition, although young trees absorb more carbon than old ones, should we not take into consideration forest diversity?
Are there any Canadians in the discussion who could add something to this topic?
Eyes on Africa in Politics and policy
Posted on Oct 27 2009 at 05:08PM by Michelle
The Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (Inpe – Brazil) and the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD – France) have launched together a project aiming to help Gabon to monitor it forests. Canary Islands, South Africa and Egypt will also be monitored in the future.
Is there anyone from Africa in this forum who could add some information or point of view about the investment made on Cbers-2B satellite?
How to choose the right model? in Evidence of climate change and ideas
Posted on Oct 27 2009 at 05:21PM by Michelle
The usage of models as a tool to study and describe future climate changes is being vastly applied by scientists and some advance has been done in this area. There are hundreds of models available and each model gives a different importance to every climate variable. Some areas, as the Brazilian Pantanal for instance, are not yet well represented by models and thus, there’s still a lot of incertitude on the data they provide.
How are models applied to explain climate change in your country?
Copenhagen's Inconvenient Truth in Politics and policy
Posted on Oct 27 2009 at 05:35PM by Michelle
The Copenhagen conference won't solve the problem of climate change once and for all. Rather than aiming for a broad international treaty, negotiators should strengthen existing national policies and seek targeted emissions cuts in both rich nations and the developing world.
I'm studying REDD policies and I believe it's going to take at least 5 years for countries to sign a comprehensive treaty or agreement.
Does anyone do not agree to that?
The Other Climate Changers in Evidence of climate change and ideas
Posted on Oct 27 2009 at 05:40PM by Michelle
Most initiatives to slow global warming involve reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Little attention has been given to reducing emissions of the light-absorbing particles known as "black carbon" or the gases that form ozone--even though doing so would be easier and cheaper and have a more immediate effect.
Does anyone in this forum could add some actions that are being made in order to tackle "black carbon"?
REDD's Attractives in Politics and policy
Posted on Oct 28 2009 at 04:49PM by Michelle
REDD is attractive in three ways. First, the mitigation of climate change. Comparing the value of carbon with the opportunity costs of changes in land use to reduce emissions suggests that huge emissions reductions could be achieved through REDD at relatively low cost.
Second, the conservation of biodiversity, as preserving forests is likely to preserve biodiversity. REDD has the potential for greater financial flows than existing biodiversity financing instruments.
Third, the development perspective. REDD could offer large financial flows to some of the world’s poorest countries, with some estimates reaching $53 billion per year for halving deforestation rates. It also offers a mechanism that encourages these flows to be channelled substantially towards the rural areas that are the most depressed and under-funded sectors of many least-developed countries. It places a value on environmental services that are, at present, undervalued financially or not valued at all.
Any positive thoughts to add?
REDD's Issues in Politics and policy
Posted on Oct 28 2009 at 04:52PM by Michelle
Looking to the real world in which REDD will be implemented, some major questions arise. The scale of emissions reductions that is likely to be achieved through REDD systems in poor countries could be rather small. This is due to a number of factors, most notably:
• The diverse drivers of land use change, many of which originate outside the forest sector and enjoy high levels of political support;
• The large differences in country competences, and the limited ability of many forest-rich countries to handle complex carbon accounting and management systems;
• The absence of institutions, at national and international level, that can manage and facilitate the required financial flows. The institutional problems include the structures of public governance and tenurial rights. Where these are weak, the economic case for REDD is undermined, and it is likely that REDD investments will either fail, or be diverted to better functioning, but less needy, economies.
REDD Funds in Politics and policy
Posted on Oct 28 2009 at 04:56PM by Michelle
Funds are being mobilised to prepare countries for REDD, focusing on three main areas:
1. ‘Readiness measures’: the major ‘input’ investments. These are the competences that countries need to participate in the mechanism and report on their emissions performance;
2. ‘Enabling reforms’: to create the governance and institutional frameworks for REDD implementation, such as property rights and institutions for revenue sharing and local government;
3. REDD Implementation: these cover opportunity costs and output measures, including national level policy decisions, improved industrial practices, and initiatives to transform the livelihoods of the poor.
But what are the chances that all of these preparations will actually succeed in conserving forest lands?
Climate changes - next 20 years in Education and awareness
Posted on Oct 28 2009 at 05:03PM by Michelle
Climate change over the next 20 years could result in a global catastrophe costing millions of lives in wars and natural disasters..
A secret report, suppressed by US defence chiefs and obtained by The Observer, warns that major European cities will be sunk beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a 'Siberian' climate by 2020. Nuclear conflict, mega-droughts, famine and widespread rioting will erupt across the world.
The document predicts that abrupt climate change could bring the planet to the edge of anarchy as countries develop a nuclear threat to defend and secure dwindling food, water and energy supplies. The threat to global stability vastly eclipses that of terrorism, say the few experts privy to its contents.
Read more on this topic »Coral bleaching X Climate change in Evidence of climate change and ideas
Posted on Oct 28 2009 at 05:06PM by Michelle
Coral bleaching is a condition that can seriously damage or kill entire reef systems. Corals contain microscopic plants called zooxanthellae that colour their tissues and provide them with food by photosynthesis - the same process that plants manufacture food from light. Without these tiny plants corals cannot survive or lay down the huge amounts of limestone in their skeletons. When corals become stressed, the zooxanthellae are the first to go. Stressed corals expel the zooxanthellae and turn white or "bleach". If zooxanthellae do not return to the coral's tissue, the coral will die.
Because of the increasing intensity and geographic scale of recent bleaching events, mass bleaching is considered by most reef scientists to be a serious challenge to the health of the world's coral reefs. The worst coral bleaching ever was recorded in 1998. Every reef system in the world's tropical oceans was affected. In some places, such as the Indian Ocean, entire reef systems died.
Read more on this topic »Coral bleaching on next decades in Evidence of climate change and ideas
Posted on Oct 28 2009 at 05:08PM by Michelle
Estimates of increased sea temperatures show that bleaching events will steadily increase in frequency and intensity. Within the next 30 years they are projected to occur every year in most tropical oceans.
The worst mass bleaching event occurred in 1998 with coral reefs being affected in 30 large-scale incidents worldwide, including Australia, China, Japan, Panama, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Kenya, the Red Sea, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, the Bahamas and Okinawa. Events as severe as the 1998 event are projected to become a commonplace annual event by around the year 2020.
Australia's Great Barrier Reef is expected to face bleaching events every year by around 2030. At current rates of warming, southern and central sites of the Great Barrier Reef could be severely affected by sea temperature rise within the next twenty years. Northern sites are warming more slowly and will lag behind changes in the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef by up to 20 years.
Globally, some regions will experience the effects of climate change on their reefs sooner than other areas. Caribbean and Southeast Asian coral reefs are projected to bleach every year by 2020. Central Pacific reefs are projected to experience bleaching every year by 2040.
Read more on this topic »Climate changes in UK in Evidence of climate change and ideas
Posted on Oct 28 2009 at 05:17PM by Michelle
Some examples of changes already happening in the UK are:
Temperature: The five hottest years on record for the UK as a whole have all been since 2000. The UK's highest recorded temperature of 38.5°C was recorded in the South of England in the 2003 heat wave.
Sea Levels: Between around 1915 and today the average sea level has risen by approximately 15cm at Newlyn in Cornwall and by 20cm at Sheerness in Kent.
Wave Height: The average wave height from trough to crest has increased by approximately 50cm since the 1960's. This will accelerate coastal erosion.
Coastal Water Temperature: This has increased by 0.5°C in the last century and is increasing at a faster rate than land temperature.
Growing Season: This has lengthened by approximately 1 month since 1900. Spring flowers bloom earlier and grass grows for a greater proportion of the year.
Flooding: There has been extensive flooding in the UK over the past few years. Boscastle in 2004 and The Cotswolds in 2007 may have been extreme examples, but all the indications are that we will experience more extreme weather events and more homes will be affected.
Is there anybody from UK who would like add something?
Read more on this topic »An alternative to REDD in Politics and policy
Posted on Oct 28 2009 at 06:32PM by Michelle
Tropical deforestation happens because it is more profitable to cut down trees or forests than look after them. This is due to a combination of market, policy and governance failures which make
alternative land uses more attractive - in other words the opportunity costs of sustainable forest management (SFM) or conservation become too high. A key response to market failure is the development of payments for ecosystem services (PES) mechanisms. Since its linked to climate change, the most important PES opportunity currently is for ‘forest carbon’ payments.
There are various alternative REDD proposals to market-based compensated reduction. Some of them propose a global fund rather than carbon trading, although a weakness of this is that it is less
likely to result in ‘real’ carbon benefits, and how to financially sustain it. Other proposals revolve around compensating the maintenance of carbon stocks in standing forests. Such approaches would make it easier to reward community conservation, but at the sacrifice of carbon ‘additionality’. This reflects a wider tension with PES mechanisms of the trade-off between environmental and equity benefits – PES is a difficult area for win-win benefits.
Climate change: biggest health risk of 21st century in Education and awareness
Posted on Oct 30 2009 at 12:26AM by Michelle
Lancet report warns that increased incidence of tropical diseases, food shortages, natural disasters and heatwaves threaten global humanitarian and economic disaster.
Climate change will increase health threats for billions of people globally over the course of this century, resulting in catastrophic humanitarian and economic impacts, as food and water shortages, extreme weather events and disease migration patterns become more severe.
That is the stark warning from a major new report by University College London and The Lancet, dubbed the " Stern Report for health", which argues that the health risks associated with rising global temperatures have been seriously underestimated.
Climate change economic impacts X developing countries in Education and awareness
Posted on Oct 30 2009 at 12:31AM by Michelle
Prediction of the economic impacts of climate change is particularly difficult because of the global scale of the impacts and the long time horizon involved. Such studies have mostly been carried out in developed countries, and often only concentrate on market impacts such as agriculture. Impacts are typically divided into market and non-market impacts, with ecosystem and health damages relegated to the latter category.
Read more on this topic »Climate change and the US insurance industry in Lifestyle and economic changes
Posted on Oct 30 2009 at 12:42AM by Michelle
The insurance industry — especially government-sponsored insurance — will face major challenges. In an average year, about 90 percent of insured catastrophe losses worldwide are weather-related. Escalating exposures to catastrophic weather events, coupled with private insurers’ withdrawal from various markets, are placing the US government at increased financial risk as insurer of last resort.
Read more on this topic »Climate change X Energy resources in Evidence of climate change and ideas
Posted on Oct 30 2009 at 12:47AM by Michelle
Consumption will change, as demand for electricity rises to cool homes and offices, and demand for heating (in the form of natural gas and fuel oil) falls. Meanwhile, while electricity demand rises, energy production (in fossil or nuclear power plants, for example) is expected to be constrained by rising temperatures and limited water supplies in many regions. Climate-change-induced water shortages and other disruptions in some regions are likely to constrain energy production.
Read more on this topic »Climate change X US immigration in Politics and policy
Posted on Oct 30 2009 at 12:51AM by Michelle
It would be interesting to see current estimates of the costs of inaction against climate change that use the same assumptions for determining the cost of action – though from what I understand the latter model is significantly easier to calculate than the former.
In any case, even if the implied cost of inaction is high, as the world’s richest country the United States has resources to counteract some of these climatologically-induced consequences. Many poorer countries will not be so fortunate, a phenomenon that may lead to greater immigration to the United States.
Beyond Kyoto in Politics and policy
Posted on Oct 31 2009 at 04:36AM by Michelle
Money and private investments; this is what the climate summit in Copenhagen in December needs more than anything, if the world’s leaders want it to succeed. This was the clear message from the more than 1.000 experts and other participants assembled at the Beyond Kyoto conference.
Read more on this topic »Nanotechnology X Climate in Evidence of climate change and ideas
Posted on Oct 31 2009 at 04:37AM by Michelle
Nanotechnology is about manipulating particles to make new materials. In one of the potentially most far-reaching projects, scientists want to prevent heat from disappearing during the burning of fossil fuels. This will dramatically increase the efficiency and reduce global warming. Imagine if your jacket could charge your Ipod only by using your body heat? Read more on this topic »
Who´s going to pay the bill? in Politics and policy
Posted on Oct 31 2009 at 04:38AM by Michelle
Climate negotiations have become increasingly concerned not only with who is responsible for climate change, but also who is likely to suffer the most damage.Regionally, the most exposed nations are China, Bangladesh and Myanmar in Asia; western Sahel and southwestern nations in Africa; Brazil in South America; the eastern United States in North America; and the Mediterranean nations (including France, Italy and Spain), Russia and Scandinavia in Europe.
Read more on this topic »Climate changes X Immigration in Politics and policy
Posted on Oct 31 2009 at 10:39PM by Michelle
There are limitations to adaptation; migration may be the only option for low-lying states, such as Bangladesh, and small island states, such as Tuvalu, a coral atoll in Polynesia, the highest point of which is just 5m above mean high water. Red Cross research reveals that more
people are now displaced by environmental disasters than war. The UN University predict that by 2010, as many as 50 million people may be driven from their homes by environmental crisis. They are currently looking at the issue of environmental refugees and how to best recognise and support them.
Cross-border migration can cause tension, especially in regions with political instability. Additionally, climate refugees currently do not have the same status or rights
as political refugees!!!
Vulnerability of developing countries to climate change in Evidence of climate change and ideas
Posted on Oct 31 2009 at 10:42PM by Michelle
The majority of developing countries are in tropical and sub-tropical regions, areas predicted to be seriously affected by the impacts of climate change: Africa, Asia,
Latin America and the Small Island States (for example Mauritius) have all been identified as regions of concern.
This is compounded by the fact that developing countries are often less able to cope with adverse climate impacts:
• Poverty exacerbates, and is exacerbated by, the impacts of environmental change: Between 1990 and 1998, 97% of all natural disaster-related deaths occurred in developing countries. 90% of all natural disasters are climate, weather and water related.
• Livelihoods are highly dependent on climate-sensitive resources: agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa, of which up to 90% is rain-fed, accounts for 70% of regional employment and 35% of gross national product.
• Low adaptive capacity: the poorest inhabitants of developing countries, especially those in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs),already struggle to cope with current extreme weather events and climate variability. In 2004 severe flooding in Bangladesh,caused by excessive rains of the annual Asian Summer Monsoon, killed over 600 people and displaced over 20 million. The greater frequency and severity of climate shocks is repeatedly eroding coping capacity.
Increasing scientific capacity in Politics and policy
Posted on Oct 31 2009 at 11:49PM by Michelle
Increasing scientific capacity by improving access to climate data, development of modelling capabilities, and having mechanisms in place to process and disseminate the data for users, helps promote awareness of potential climate change impacts. It also equips nations with
climate information necessary for national impact assessments, and adaptation and development planning,increasing their capacity to adapt.
Sprays X Climate change in Lifestyle and economic changes
Posted on Nov 01 2009 at 02:05AM by Michelle
Hi jaj,I´ve found you stated some very interesting points on how we can do our part in regards to avoid climate change. On the other hand, I must say that or point about sprays x climate change is not entirely correct.Using aerosol spray cans has almost no effect on climate change. In the past, aerosol spray cans contained CFCs which contributed to the depletion of the ozone layer (not the same as global warming). Under U.S. law, aerosol spray cans no longer contain CFCs.
Read more on this topic »Canada's in Evidence of climate change and ideas
Posted on Nov 04 2009 at 09:50PM by Michelle
Hi Pro Oxygen,
Thanks to your inputs! I suggest you take a look at Canada's 2007 Law related to forestry conservation. You'll be very surprise how your country is unfortunately not taking very good care of its boreal forests and misleading public opinion... I actually wrote a post onto this topic, if you want to take a look.
Read more on this topic »Yes - Developing countries in Evidence of climate change and ideas
Posted on Nov 04 2009 at 09:56PM by Michelle
Hi Juan,
I suggest you read again my post and pay special attention to the line where it's written : This is compounded by the fact that developing countries are often less able to cope with adverse climate impacts. I have never said that only developing countries will suffer from global warming, what I have said is that they have more financial difficulties to cope with its effects...
Read more on this topic »Videos/images by Michelle
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