PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 5:41 PM by Tevita

Draft resolution on REDD sails through to Copenhagen

From : PACNEWS

By Makereta Komai(Pacific communications team), Poznan, Poland

12 DECEMBER 2008 POZNAN (Pacnews) ---- After three years of scientific research and trials of reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD), a draft conclusion, which introduces a possible draft text for a new carbon trading initiative has been endorsed in Poznan.

The draft conclusion was adopted by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advance (SBSTA), one of the scientific bodies created within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The resolution gives SBSTA the authority to convene more discussion on the so-called ‘methodological issues.’

“The UNFCCC Secretariat, subject to funding, is to organise an expert meeting before Copenhagen, to discuss reference emission levels for deforestation and forest degradation, the draft resolution said.

The Secretariat will also prepare a technical paper on the cost of implementing and monitoring systems related to REDD and assess carbon stocks. It will also collate experiences and views of rainforest nations, who have trialled, REDD methodologies.

By February next year, Parties are requested to submit their experiences with REDD methodologies.
“SBSTA also invites Parties and accredited observers to submit to the Secretariat their views on issues relating to indigenous people and local communities.”

A number of indigenous leaders outside the session did not want to comment on the draft resolution.
“We want to study the resolution first, but as it is, our concerns seem watered down.

“According to paragraph 15 of the draft resolution, the Secretariat will only seek our views but not formally engage in any dialogue with us,” said an indigenous leader who did not wish to be named.

“Indigenous peoples must not be excluded from, and should be centrally involved in and benefit from, all climate change and forest programmes and policies at all levels to ensure that they deliver justice and equity and contribute to sustainable development, biodiversity protection, and climate change mitigation and adaptation, a text from their submission to SBSTA.

Papua New Guinea, one of the two sponsors of the REDD initiative, described the inclusion of a draft resolution as a ‘success story’ for a developing country.

It will make a statement on REDD at the high level segment tomorrow (Friday 12 Dec), when its Ambassador at the United Nations, Robert Aisi, delivers PNG’s statement on behalf of its forest minister, Beldan Namah.

Even though REDD has not been adopted as a formal UNFCCC mechanism, many industrialised countries, or Annex 1 countries have made financial contributions to REDD.

The two major commitments have come from the European Union, which has promised €1.3 billion and Norway, around US$3 billion. United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Milliband announced that £100 million has been set aside for rainforest nations.



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DIVA-GIS	Thursday, December 11, 2008 Posted 5:41 PM by Tevita Draft resolution on REDD sails through to Copenhagen From : PACNEWS By Makereta Komai(Pacific communications team), Poznan, Poland 12 DECEMBER 2008 POZNAN (Pacnews) ---- After three years of scientific research and trials of reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD), a draft conclusion, which introduces a possible draft text for a new carbon trading initiative has been endorsed in Poznan. The draft conclusion was adopted by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advance (SBSTA), one of the scientific bodies created within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The resolution gives SBSTA the authority to convene more discussion on the so-called ‘methodological issues.’ “The UNFCCC Secretariat, subject to funding, is to organise an expert meeting before Copenhagen, to discuss reference emission levels for deforestation and forest degradation, the draft resolution said. The Secretariat will also prepare a technical paper on the cost of implementing and monitoring systems related to REDD and assess carbon stocks. It will also collate experiences and views of rainforest nations, who have trialled, REDD methodologies. By February next year, Parties are requested to submit their experiences with REDD methodologies. “SBSTA also invites Parties and accredited observers to submit to the Secretariat their views on issues relating to indigenous people and local communities.” A number of indigenous leaders outside the session did not want to comment on the draft resolution. “We want to study the resolution first, but as it is, our concerns seem watered down. “According to paragraph 15 of the draft resolution, the Secretariat will only seek our views but not formally engage in any dialogue with us,” said an indigenous leader who did not wish to be named. “Indigenous peoples must not be excluded from, and should be centrally involved in and benefit from, all climate change and forest programmes and policies at all levels to ensure that they deliver justice and equity and contribute to sustainable development, biodiversity protection, and climate change mitigation and adaptation, a text from their submission to SBSTA. Papua New Guinea, one of the two sponsors of the REDD initiative, described the inclusion of a draft resolution as a ‘success story’ for a developing country. It will make a statement on REDD at the high level segment tomorrow (Friday 12 Dec), when its Ambassador at the United Nations, Robert Aisi, delivers PNG’s statement on behalf of its forest minister, Beldan Namah. Even though REDD has not been adopted as a formal UNFCCC mechanism, many industrialised countries, or Annex 1 countries have made financial contributions to REDD. The two major commitments have come from the European Union, which has promised €1.3 billion and Norway, around US$3 billion. United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Milliband announced that £100 million has been set aside for rainforest nations. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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