Carbon sequestration options under the clean development mechanism to address land degradation

49 Pages·2000·1.8 MB·English

by  Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

WorldSoilResourcesReports 92
ISSN0S32-CI4ee
CARBONSEQUESTRATIONOPTIONS
UNDERTHECLEANDEVELOPMENTMECHANISM
TOADDRESSLANDDEGRADATION
InternationalFund
torAgriculturalDevelopment
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92
WorldSoilResourcesReports
CARBONSEQUESTRATIONOPTIONS
UNDERTHECLEANDEVELOPMENTMECHANISM
TOADDRESSLANDDEGRADATION
FOODANDAGRICULTUREORGANIZATIONOFTHEUNITEDNATIONS
Rome,2000 Thl« On*
material
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ISBN92-5-104515-1
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©FAO2000
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Carbonseque.stralionoptionsunderthecleandevelopmentmechanism Hi
Preface
IncontinuationofacollaborativeprogrammeontheimplementationoftheConventionto
CombatDesertification(CCD),KAOandIKADagreedtoimplementaprojecttoassistcountries,
initiallyinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean,intheformulationofpolicyandtechnicaloptions
forsustainingproductionsystemswhichcanimprovelivelihoodofpoorfarmersthroughland
conservation,enhancementofagro-biodiversityandincreasedcarbonsequestration.
Theobjectiveofthisprojectistoaddresstheurgentneedtoreverselanddegradationdueto
deforestationandinadequatelandiisc/managementinthetropicsandsub-tropicswithfocuson
theLatinAmericaandCaribbeanregion.
Atagenerallevel,theprojectdealswiththisissuethroughthepromotionofimprovedlanduse
systemsandlandmanagementpracticeswhichprovideeconomicgainsanden\ironmental
benefits,greateragro-biodiversity,improvedconservationandenvironmentalmanagementand
increasedcarbonsequestration.Theprojectwillcontributetothedevelopmentofregionaland
nationalprogrammeslinkingtheConventiononClimateChange(CCC)-KyotoProtocol,the
ConventiontoCombatDesertification(CCD)andtheConventiononBiodiversity'(CBD).
focusingonsynergiesamongthethreeConventions.
Ataspecificlevel,pilotstudiesarecarriedoutinselectedsitesinLatinAmericato:
• assessthequalitativeandquantitativeassetsofthemajorlandusesystemsandland
managementpracticesinl.atinAmericaandtheCaribbeanintermsofsoilfertilityandland
productivity,agro-biodiversityandcarbonstock;
• evaluatethepossibilityandoptionsoflandusechangesandlandmanagementpractices
whichwouldpreventlanddegradation,conserveagro-biodiversityandenhancecarbon
sequestration:and
• prepareregionalandnationalstrategicsandactionplanslinkingtogetherthespecificlegislative
frameworkinplaceanditsareasofoperation.
Thispublicationcontainstheresultofastudyontheoriginandbackgroundofthecarbon
sequestrationoptionsandtheCleanDevelopmentMechanism(CDM).Itdocumentstheoutcome
oCfDtMhehvaavreiobuesenprdoicseceudssiendg.sTohfetahtetiitnutdeernaantdiotnhaelpmoesiettiionngsofitnhewhkieychcocuanrtbroinessaetqiudetshteraGtrioounpan7d7
involvedininternationalenvironmentaltreatiesareexaminedusingtheavailablesourcesinthe
UnitedStates,includingrelevantNGOsandinternationalorganisations.11iepublicationexamines
theVariousinitiativesthathavebeentakeninresponsetotheabove-mentionedideas,including
therecentinitiativebytheGlobalKnvironmentFacility(GLK)andtheWorldBanktofacilitate
thefundingoflanddegradationprojectsunderGEF.Thisanalysisincludestheexplorationof
tchoellalebgoarlatbiaosnebfeotrweseunchIFinAiDtiaatnivdesF.AOItoanlscoairnbcolnudseesquaesrtervatiieownoafndthiendoincgaoteisnghopwroigtrwaomumledfoift
withintheframeworkoftheexistinginternationalenvironmentaltreaties,aswellastherecent
GEFandWorldBankinitiative.
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Acknowledgements
ThanksareduetoMrAllenKeiscr,thelegalconsultantwhocarriedoutthestudyandprepared
tPhairsvirzepKoroto.haTfhkeanw,orFkAOw.aTshceormempiosrtsiwoansedreavinedwesdupbeyrviJ.seAdntboyinBea,hTmuadnorMBaontszuarni,R,.IGFoAmDn,ieasn,d
M.AliandR.Brinkman.
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Carbonsequestrationoptionsunderthedeandevelopmentmedtanism
Contents
page
1 _ iKrROnL't'TU)^ 1
II TThOiTil1lImli,'HM)n-NnANiaitoiNoSnCsoFwraimnitiwoonrnrorCoomwbi.aNtTiDoi-NsionrtCiirciamtaitopnr.iainAdNrorrsI.inkagf 1
III
KyotoProTix-oi 3
IV. Carbonsloulsiration 7
Themeaninaofcarbonsequestrationincurrentliterature 7
TCahrebmoenasneiqnuaesotfractairobnoannsdeqtuheesCtrCatDionasithasdevelopedundertheFCCC 1147
V. EmissionsTradingandtheCi.danDevelopmentMechanism(CDM) 20
EmissionstradinaunderArticle17 21
Thecleandevelopmentmechanism 21
VI. TheGlobalEnvironmentFacility(GEF) 25
VII Till:PRtrroTYPECarbonFund 31
VUI CoMLt’SION 32
RlKFRINtrS 33
Aim>lNDixListokacronymsand.selectivec.lossarv 33
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Carbonsequestrationoptionsunderthedeandevelopmentmedtanism vii
Summary
TheUNFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(FCCC)statedasitsmainobjective;
“stabilizationofgreenhousegasconcentrationsintheatmosphereatalevelthatwouldprevent
dangerousanthropogenicinterferencewiththeclimatesystem’’.Itisinterestingtonotethatthe
FCCCwasalsoconstructedwithissuesofdesertificationinthemindsoftheParties’negotiators;
itsPreamblerecalls"thepertinentprovisionsofGeneralAssemblyResolutionofDecember
1989ontheimplementationofthePlantoActiontoCombatDesertification”.
ThesubsequentConventiontoCombatDesertification(CCD)isconcernedthatextensiveareas,
whichmightotherwisebeproductive,havebeenrenderedunsuitableforcropproductionto
meettheneedsofthepopulationduetolanddegradationandreductioninsoilcarbonstocks.
Thus,theCCDandFCCCwithitsKyotoProtocol(KP)shareamutualgoal,i,e,,theproper
managementofcarbon.Moreover,landusechange,agricultureandforestryactivitiesrecognized
bytheKParcalsocloselylinkedtotheCCDandConventiononBiodiversity(CBD),although
theKPdoesnotexplicitlyaddressitsrelationwiththose.
Restoration,towhichallthreeConventionsrefer,couldonlyoccurtliroughimprovedlanduse
andcropmanagement,throughpracticesleadingtotheproperplacementofcarboninthegeosphere
atthesametimeascontributingtofoodsecurity.Restitutingcarbontothoselandsdepictedof
thecapacity'tobeproductivewouldalsocontributetoreducingcarbonintheatmosphere.
Becauseindustrializedcountriesarelargelyresponsiblefortheexcessiveamountsofgreenhou.se
gasesintheatmosphere,andbecausetheyarebelterabletopay,theFCCChasassignedto
thosetheleadershiproleinthereductionofgreenhousegasemissions.TheKP,notyetentered
intoforce,hassetQuantifiedEmissionLimitationandReductionCommitments(QELRCs)to
bemetbythedevelopedcountryPartiesduringthefirstcommitmentperiod,2008-2012.
Developingcountry'Parties,duetotheprincipleofcommonbutdifferentiatedresponsibilities,
presentlyhavenosuchcommitmentsthoughitisrecognizedthatemissionsfromdeveloping
countrieswillgrow.
TheCleanDevelopmentMechanism(CDM)isoneofseveralmechanismscreatedintheKP
thatenablesPartiestocooperatewitheachothertoreduceemissions.Itistheonlymechanism
dcilriemcatteedcshpaencgifei.caTlhlyeaptudrepvoesleospionfgtchoeunCtDriMes,atrhcetPoaratssiiesstlteahsotsaeblPaerttoieasdanpottthoaavdivnegrsQeEeLffReCctssoinf
achievingsustainabledevelopment,andatthesamelimetoassistdevelopedcountryPartiesin
achievingtheirQELRCs.
Osenqeueascttriavtiitoynm—enrteitoanineidngasinmetehteinggeotshpehoebrjeecctairvebsonofthtahtewCoDuMl,doFtChCerCwiasnedeCscCaDpeisinctaorbtohne
atmosphere.Carbonsequestrationcanoccurinseveralsites:biomass,forests,wetlands,geologic
fonnationsandsoils,amongothers.Article2.1oftheKPrecognizesthatcarbonsequestration
iAsdadintaipopnraolplryi,aAtretoipclteio3n.3foorfPtahretiKesPtpoeursmeitinsmneeettaicncgotuhnetiirndgomoefsdtiireccotbhliugmaatinonisntdoucreedduacfefoermeisstsaitoinosn.,
deforestationandreforestationactivitiesinassessingadevelopedcountryParty’semissions.
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viii
Article3.4saysthattheConferenceofParties(COP)willdecide“whatadditionalhuman-
inducedactivitiesrelatedtochangesingreenhousegasemissionsbysourcesandremovals,by
sinksintheagriculturalsoilsandland-usecategoriesshallbeapplicable”.Thisdecisionwas
reachedbecausetheuncertaintiesregardingmeasurementofcarbonflu.xes-particularlyin
soils-werethentoo^eatandhadtoberesolved.
Nevertheless,ithasbecomewellrecognizedthatcarbonsequestrationisaviableoptionfor
capturingcarbonundertheProtocol.Forestsastheymaturecantakeupcarbonandagrass
coverwilladdtotheforest'seffectivenessattakingupcarbon.Lai(1997)estimatesthatthe
ptoottaelntaimaolufnotrsoofilancnaurablonatsmeoqsupehsterraitcioinncmreaaysebeinaCsOh.igchonacsen1t.r4aPtgioCn/.yrThoercaabrobuotn4f0erpteirlcizeanttioonfatnhde
wateruseefficiencyphenomenasuggestthattheappropriatechoiceofcropscoupledwith
aupnpdreorprtihaetCeDlaMndismcaunrargenetmleynutndweilrlrleevaidewtoanidncwirlelasbeeddceacribdoendraetttehnetiuonp.coCmairnbgonCOsPeq.uestration
TheCCDhasafundingmechanism,theGlobalMechanism(GM).whichfacilitates,butdoes
nPaorttiitesseltfoptrhoevCidCe,Dfaurneduirnggefdotroecffooorrtdsitnoatperedvievnetrsleapnrdojdeecgtraacdtaitviiotinesa,nadctdievsietriteisfitchaatticono.mpFruerhtheenrd,
thevariousinfluencesaffectinglanddegradation,desertificationandeffectivelanduse.
TheFCCCsfundingmechanismistheGlobalEnvironmentFacility(GEF)and,unliketheGM,
theGEFisauthorizedtoprovidefunds.TheGEFhasfundedbothprojectsthathavehadan
effectonremedyinglanddegradationandActivitiesImplementedJointly(AIJ)thataddressed
carbonsequestrationinforests.TheGEF’sScientificandTechnicalAdvisoryPanel(STAP)
hasendorsedanapproachtosequesteringcarboninanefforttorehabilitatedegradedlandand
encouragingafforestation.
Withinthisconte.\t,theFoodandAgricultureOrganization(FAO)andtheInternationalFundfor
AgriculturalDevelopment(IFAD),bothcarryingadministrativeresponsibilitiesundertheCCD,
havejointlyembarkedonaprogrammetoalleviatepovertyandincreasefoodsecurity.The
CentralAmericanEnvironmentandDevelopmentCommission(CCAD)requestedFAO
assistanceinpreparingaCarbonSequestrationprogrammefortheCentralAmericanregion.At
aconsultationin1999,FAO/IFADproposedtwooptionsforreducingemissionsthrough
agriculturalprojects.First,increasethesequestrationpotentialofforestsandotherlandtypesin
tphheotososiylntahnesdiss.ecFounndd,incgapitsunreeedaetdmotospcharerryicoutcatrhbeosengtoharlsouagnhdtihnecrCeDasMedprveesgeenttastiaonnopcpoovretrunaintdy
forobtainingnecessaryfunds.Flowever,thedifficultyremainswithmeasuringcarbonexchange
onaregionalizedscale.
Onemethodofaddressingthisdifficultyisthroughthesocio-economiccomponentofsustainable
development.Thereisaneedtoalleviatepovertynotonlyforitsownsakebutbecauseit
contributestoenvironmentaldegradationandfurtherexacerbatestheeffectsofpoverty.
NteheveCrtDheMlesmsu,stthearcehiiesvaenraeddduicttiioonnalsitiynreemqiusisrieomnesntthtahtatarmeuasdtdibteiomneatl:taocaerntyiftiheadtpwroojuelcdtuoncdceurr
wtspohiuiabtltlhicohcuaatrssbetbochetneeopsnrreocfqjruueinectsdti.ticrinFzagoetrdti.oopnraSodtujidnelrldce,tesstrshoteffhoGtehoMiCdsDsnseMahct.ouururileTtdhtyhheaeanGGvdeEMlaFanwnpidorlplodpveloigirdrkteaeusldnyaiitnhticayorvnteeomietbfnortthiwaenolgCrftkOuongPtdehitarnhpogep,urgrahponrvtiaehvpseapturCesoDeaancoMhdf
which“shairhelptoarrangefundingofcertifiedprojectactivities.
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Carbonsequestrationoptionsunderthedeanderelopmenimechanism ix
TheUnitedStates,thecountrv'Partywiththelargestshareofgreenhousegasemissions,is
generallyinfavorofexpandingitsopportunitiesforcooperationwithothercountryPartiesin
ocrodnecrertoneadpptlhyatthaecreerstuilltlcidngermeidsuscitoinonrsetdoucittsioonw(nCcEoRm)miutnmdeenrltsh.eDCevDeMlopwiilnlgbceouinnttreyrcPhaartnigeesabalree
withemissionreductionunits(ERU),thusreducingthepoolthatmightbeavailableunderthe
CfuDnMdi.ngAlnsoot,bdeedviemlionpiisnhgedcoausntarcyonPasneiqcusenacrecocfonCcDerMnepdrowjietcths.equityandthatothersourcesof
Asecond,thouglimorelimitedfund,isthePrototypeCarbonFund(PCF)establishedthrough
tpheercWeonrtlodfBtahnekf.unTdT'isisafsusentdswmilalyfibneanicneveesmtiesdsiinonlarnedduucsteiopnropjreocjtesc.ts;however,nomorethan1
Inconclusion,itisgenerallyrecognizedthatcarbon.sequestrationiseffectiveinreducingemissions
ofgreenhousegastotheatmosphere.TheKyotoProtocolencouragesitsincreasedoveralluse
bydevelopedcountry'Partiesinmeetingtheircommitments.'I'heKPlimitsitsuseintheforestry
sleacntdorm,aanlatgheoumgehntthaernediasgproitcuelnttuiraallfoprrarcetidcuecsi.ngLiemmiitsastiioonnsstuondtehreathtemoCsDphMeraerethlraoruggehbeicmapursoeveodf
theproblemswithmeasuringcarbonfluxesonaregionalizedscale.Ontheotherhand,the
tUhneitKePdoSntadteesveSleonpaitnegucnoaunniUmyouPsalrytipeasscsoemdmiatntoinn-gbitondeimnigssrieosonlruetdiuocntcioonnsd.itIitoinsianlgsoitesxappepcrtoevdatlhoatf
emissionsfromdevelopingcountryPartieswillgrow.Yetmanyofthemdonothavethefunds
necessarytoreducelanddegradation,fertilitydeclineandfoodinsecurity;theCDMcouldbea
win-winsolution.
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Carbonsequestrationoptionsunderthecleandevelopmentmechanism 1
I. Imrodktion
Effortstoeffecttheappropriatebalanceofgreenhousegasesintheatmosphereinvolvethe
globalcommons,ownedbynoone,relieduponbyall,butfoundbyabalanceoftheevidenceto
havebeenabusedtothedetrimentofmany,therebycreatingutineeessaryinsecurityforthose
leastabletoadapt.Fromtheperspectiveofseekingremediesforlanddegradation,desertification
andfoodinsecuritythispaperexaminescarbonsequestrationoptionsresultingpotentiallyfrom
theKyotoProtocolanditsCleanDevelopmentMechanism.Theunifyingelementiscarbon,the
unifyingthemeismanagement.Thereisgeneralconsensusthatcarbonsequestrationinsoilsis
afeasibleoption;itsmeasurementonthelocalscaleisthedifficulty,itremainswiththewillof
thePartiesastowhencarbonsequestrationinsoilswillbeapplicableundertheClean
DevelopmentMechanism.Thepaperendsbye.xaminingfundingoptionsthatcurrentlyarc
availableormaybecomeavailableasaresultofafully implementedCleanDevelopment
Mechanism,
II. Tilt:IJNtTEDNationsConventiontoCombatDesertieicationanditsLinicagetothe
United.N.vitonsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange
AttheUnitedNationsConferenceonEnvironmentandDevelopment(“UNCED"),the
participantsagreedtopursuenegotiationstOAsardaconventiontocombatdesertification.Tavo
yearslatertheUnitedNationsConventiontoCombatDesertification("CCD”)wasadopted
andon17February2000had162Parties,'Itsobjectiveisto:
combatdesertificationandmitigatetheeft'ectsofdroughtincountriesexperiencing
seriousdroughtand.'ordesertification,particularlyinAfrica,througheffective
actionatalllevels,supportedbyinternationaleooperationandpartnership
arrangements,intheframeAvorkofanintegratedapproachAvhichisconsistentwithAgenda
21.AvithaAiewtoachievingsustainabledevelopmentinaffectedareas.
2,AchievingthisobjectiveAvillinvolvelong-termintegratedstrategiesthatfocus
simultaneously,inaffectedareas,onimprovedproductivityofland,andtherehabilitation,
conscrvationandsustainablemanagementoflandandwaterresources,leadingtoimproved
livingconditions,inpailicuktratthecommunitylevel.'
throIutgishtihtesdienftiengirtaitoinosn.alTchaepamceitaynionfgthoefCdeCsDerttihfaitciastoiofniminpotrhteaCncCeD,aisca"plaacnidtdyebgertatdeartuinodneirnsatroiodd,
semi-aridanddrysub-humidareasresultingfromvariousfactors,includingclimaticvariations
andhumanactivitiesj.J"'
"Combattingdesertification”includesactivitieswhicharepartoftheintegrated
developmentoflandinarid,semi-aridanddrysub-humidareasforsustainable
developmentwhichareaimedat:(i)preventionand/orreductionofland
degradation:(ii)rehabilitationofpartlydegradedland;and(iii)reclamationof
desertifiedland.''
1 3wNwa4wt.iIuo.nIn.cs.cMCd.o.nc1hv3/e2rn8atti(io1rn9/9mt4to)iC;foiacmdabloaiptotneDsde.she1lr7mt.iJfuaincceacteis1os9n9e4(d;"ICeACnptDrei"rleord2,0i0wn0ht.eonf(oHerevcriedeei2nnt6a,ftD“eeCrocanelvmlebcniettriaotin1o9"n9)s6w.tiolltShereeefUehntriteptn:ec/de/
itsspecificarticlesandparagraphs.)
2Article2,CCD.
3Article1(a).CCD.
4 Article1(b),CCD.
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