Not sure I agree that no decision on 6.2 is good news. Those who wanted "light touch" regulation under 6.2 were in favor of adding no additional language, which is exactly the outcome they achieved. 6.2 is viewed as being operational and countries are enacting bi-lateral arrangements "under the guise of 6.2". Maybe you could argue that an agreement to add no additional text would have been worse than no new text, but not clear that we will get a different outcome. Given the inability of the CMA to make any decisions on 6.2 or 6.4, the VCM ecosystem believes it has the green light for business-as-usual. They are celebrating the collaboration amongst the major standard setters, and between the various 'regulatory' initiatives (VCMI, ICVCM, SBTi, CDP .....). Additionally they are pointing to comments made by John Kerry and others fully supporting the VCM. Like it or not, we have not seen the last of carbon credits and carbon offsetting.
Thanks Paul. I know what you mean. Governments are already implementing Article 6.2 deals - including with private companies like Blue Carbon LLC. The failure to regulate these deals via an agreement on Article 6.2 does not improve the situation. On the other hand, if the Dubai draft text had been agreed, governments and companies could hide behind confidentiality agreements forever.
Surely, if there's one thing we've learned from the voluntary carbon markets (and the Clean Development Mechanism) it must be that the more transparency there is, the better. Without investigative journalists digging into REDD projects, we might still believe that REDD is a meaningful way of addressing the climate crisis.
Would Verra ever had looked into what was going on at the Kasigau REDD project in Kenya if SOMO and the Kenya Human Rights Commission hadn't investigated? And would the problems underlying the Kariba REDD project ever have come to light without a series of investigative journalists taking a look at the project?
And so on - there is a long list of other dodgy and downright fraudulent REDD projects I could refer to that have been exposed by investigative journalists over the years. With the complete lack of transparency in the draft text on Article 6.2, such investigative journalism would be extremely difficult to carry out.
"Since the climate negotiations began in 1992 more carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels has been released worldwide than in all preceding human history."
Not sure I agree that no decision on 6.2 is good news. Those who wanted "light touch" regulation under 6.2 were in favor of adding no additional language, which is exactly the outcome they achieved. 6.2 is viewed as being operational and countries are enacting bi-lateral arrangements "under the guise of 6.2". Maybe you could argue that an agreement to add no additional text would have been worse than no new text, but not clear that we will get a different outcome. Given the inability of the CMA to make any decisions on 6.2 or 6.4, the VCM ecosystem believes it has the green light for business-as-usual. They are celebrating the collaboration amongst the major standard setters, and between the various 'regulatory' initiatives (VCMI, ICVCM, SBTi, CDP .....). Additionally they are pointing to comments made by John Kerry and others fully supporting the VCM. Like it or not, we have not seen the last of carbon credits and carbon offsetting.
Thanks Paul. I know what you mean. Governments are already implementing Article 6.2 deals - including with private companies like Blue Carbon LLC. The failure to regulate these deals via an agreement on Article 6.2 does not improve the situation. On the other hand, if the Dubai draft text had been agreed, governments and companies could hide behind confidentiality agreements forever.
Surely, if there's one thing we've learned from the voluntary carbon markets (and the Clean Development Mechanism) it must be that the more transparency there is, the better. Without investigative journalists digging into REDD projects, we might still believe that REDD is a meaningful way of addressing the climate crisis.
Would Verra ever had looked into what was going on at the Kasigau REDD project in Kenya if SOMO and the Kenya Human Rights Commission hadn't investigated? And would the problems underlying the Kariba REDD project ever have come to light without a series of investigative journalists taking a look at the project?
And so on - there is a long list of other dodgy and downright fraudulent REDD projects I could refer to that have been exposed by investigative journalists over the years. With the complete lack of transparency in the draft text on Article 6.2, such investigative journalism would be extremely difficult to carry out.
The COP trade shows are meaningless,
"Since the climate negotiations began in 1992 more carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels has been released worldwide than in all preceding human history."
https://www.monbiot.com/2023/12/13/baked-in/