Climate Change and Carbon Markets


Book Description

Climate change is an environmental problem of unprecedented complexity, not just in terms of its physical, social, economic and political impacts, but particularly in terms of the range of policy instruments being designed by countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate Change and Carbon Markets aims to provide an accessible and practical guide to cutting edge market-based mechanisms which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This book is a guide for national and international policy-makers and industry professionals, who need to understand the carbon markets established pursuant to the Kyoto Protocol, one of the most complex agreements ever negotiated. The book sets out how carbon markets will function by explaining the rules, institutions and procedures of the Kyoto mechanisms, including: emissions trading, joint implementation (JI) and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). It also provides an in-depth explanation of the EU Emissions Allowance Trading Scheme, emerging mechanisms in the US and developing countries, and how these will link up. For policy-makers, researchers and scholars; industry practitioners, companies, market service providers, technical and legal consultants, NGOs and all stakeholder organizations engaged in the Kyoto markets, this is the authoritative and comprehensive practical guide to this rapidly evolving area. Contains the full text of the key European Union documents setting up the EU Emissions Allowance Trading Scheme and the Linking Directive.




Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification Manual for Clean Development Mechanism Projects


Book Description

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), a market mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol, has been successful in supporting mitigation actions through carbon inance. With nearly 7,700 projects and 290 Program of Activities registered by the CDM Executive Board, the CDM allows GHG emission reduction projects in developing countries to generate Certiied Emission Reductions which can be used to ofset mandatory or voluntary emission reduction targets. It however requires a robust monitoring, reporting, and veriication (MRV) to ensure social and environmental integrity of such projects and the emissions reductions thereof. This MRV manual is intended to assist CDM project developers in understanding and managing the MRV requirements and process of their CDM projects in a simple step-by-step manner with the help of real examples and practical tips. While this MRV manual has been developed primarily to assist CDM project developers, it also aspires to be of help for projects participating in other existing and emerging market mechanisms. These may include bilateral mechanisms; voluntary carbon markets; regional, national, and subnational carbon markets; and any of the cooperative approaches and new market mechanism for the post-2020 carbon markets consequent to the Paris Agreement adopted at COP21 in December 2015. As carbon markets in the region evolve beyond CDM, there is a strong need to maintain and further build institutional capacities to ensure growth and enhanced efectivity of carbon markets---and this MRV manual is an efort in that direction.




From Kyoto to Paris—Transitioning the Clean Development Mechanism


Book Description

This publication provides insights on deliberations regarding the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) transition and implications for Asia and the Pacific. With the Article 6 Rulebook expected to be finalized at the 26th Conference of Parties in Glasgow, the Asian Development Bank hopes this publication can increase knowledge and understanding of the CDM transition along with its relevance to economies in the region. It is also intended to help stakeholders from Asia and the Pacific become better prepared to contribute to the finalization of the Article 6 Rulebook and move toward operationalizing Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.




The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2017


Book Description

The aim of this report is to present an overview of the 17 Goals using data currently available to highlight the most significant gaps and challenges.




Legal Issues for Implementing the Clean Development Mechanism in China


Book Description

Today, climate change is among the most hotly-debated topics. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), one of the three financial mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol open to developing and developed countries, was devised to assist in mitigation of global warming. This book discusses what China should do to make full use of the CDM to promote sustainable development and to meet the challenge of climate change from a legal perspective. The findings lead to the conclusion that the CDM has limitations in promoting sustainable development in China, and thus should be regarded only as a complementary instrument in combating climate change. Legal strategies for improving the implementation of CDM projects under the legal framework in China are thus put forward, and some proposals for China to meet the challenge of climate change in the post-2012 era are made. This book offers new insights to academics and policymakers both in the public and private sector. It is intended for legal practitioners and researchers on carbon trading as well as policymakers interested in the role of developing countries in climate change law. In addition, it is of interest to stakeholders of CDM projects.




Future Carbon Fund


Book Description

Asia and the Pacific is home to more than 60% of the world's population and 62% of the global economic output. But the region still faces enormous development challenges and with economic growth, it has become a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This has exposed Asia and the Pacific to the impacts of climate change, threatening to undo the development gains from economic prosperity over the past decades. This report reflects how Clean Development Mechanism projects supported by the Future Carbon Fund not only reduce GHG emissions but deliver social, environmental, and economic co-benefits contributing to sustainable development in the region. This report also presents qualitative and quantitative analysis of these co-benefits.




Climate Change and Sustainable Development


Book Description

'Makes a substantial contribution to the practical, effective analysis of climate change mitigation options in developing countries.' Development And Cooperation 'The book is an excellent exercise and a good source of detailed information, and a basis for further discussions. Any person interested in this major environmental problem should read it.' International Journal of Environment and Pollution 'Markandya and Halsnaes' collection is thoughtfully put together and can be recommended to all the practitioners in the fields of climate change and sustainable development.' The Journal of Energy Literature This text argues that the policies pursued by developing countries will be crucial in determining the progress of climate change. Many are industrializing rapidly and the largest, particularly China and India, could have an impact at least as significant as that of the already industrialized economies - the reason given by President Bush for taking the US out of the Kyoto Protocol. The future of sustainable development in large measure depends on developing countries. This book develops a pragmatic framework for evaluating the climate change options faced by each developing country, depending on their individual circumstances. It assesses present methods, suggests how these might be improved, and proposes ways in which social and developmental aspects can be taken into account. Its discussion of the issues and the methods presented contribute to the practical analysis of climate change mitigation options in developing countries. The book should be useful to professionals, governments, international organizations and environmental groups working on climate change issues; as well as researchers, academics and students in economics, environmental and development studies and international affairs.




Sustainability Check Up for CDM Projects


Book Description

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol seeks to foster sustainable development. How can one assess the contribution of a given CDM project to a specific sustainability objective? This book provides a systematic overview of various approaches on how to assess the sustainability of CDM projects. The methodology Multi-Attributive Assessment of CDM (MATA-CDM), which evaluates CDM projects by means of 12 clearly defined criteria, is presented and discussed in detail. It produces comprehensive and pragmatic sustainability profiles of CDM projects. The methodology has been tested in case studies in India and South Africa. The administration of Uruguay is currently implementing MATA-CDM in order to officially approve CDM projects. Based on these experiences the book recommends a streamlined methodology for host country approvals. Christoph Sutter is an expert on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol. He combines hands-on experience with scientific knowledge. He has been working in the renewable energy sector for the last ten years and is a consultant to various CDM projects. This book is based on his Ph.D. thesis written at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich.




From the Paris Agreement to a Low-Carbon Bretton Woods


Book Description

This book investigates the existing and possible links between the concept of a Carbon Club and the Paris Agreement. In doing so the book defines those criteria that may lead to an effective establishment of a Carbon Club acting within the mandate of the Paris Agreement and identifies the key questions that such an option may help to tackle: Which low-carbon pathways are compatible with the new temperature targets set by the Paris Agreement? Can new entities like the Carbon Club have a decisive role in guaranteeing the alignment of the aggregate mitigating actions with the global objectives identified within the Paris Agreement? What role will be played by market and non-market approaches within the proposed framework? How can economic, social, and environmental sustainability be ensured during the implementation of the Agreement? How can justice and equity be encouraged between the Parties and all the involved actors as required by the Agreement? Which instruments can be designed and adopted to provide the expected degree of transparency for the new system? To respond to these questions the book adopts a holistic approach, able to emphasize the strong interrelations. The book discusses the opportunity to develop a Carbon Club within the Article 6 framework, and provides a feasible roadmap for its means of implementation, rules and governance structure. The final result is a feasible policy proposal that takes into account all the key issues introduced by the questions, and draws a roadmap towards a 'low-carbon Bretton Woods’.