Carbon Partnership - Policy

Our policy work involves the development of strategic cross-sectoral synergies in the transition to a low carbon economy. A lot of our work is in the forest sector, but we are also working on initiatives in the waste, energy, and agricultural sectors with a particular focus on the links between them.

Photo: UNFCCC REDD Workshop, Cairns 2007. L-R Bob O'Sullivan (Climate Focus), Ioan Viji (Vanuatu Forestry Department), Sean Weaver (Carbon Partnership)

1. Reducing Emissions From Deforestation and Degradation (REDD)

Assisting the governments of Vanuatu and Fiji in the development of national policy and strategy frameworks for REDD. This has included UNFCCC and World Bank negotiating on behalf of the Government of Vanuatu. This work has focused on developing national policy and strategy frameworks and linking these to technical components of a national REDD programme (remote sensing and forest carbon inventory). Key outputs have included:

1. Hosting and organizing the Vanuatu National Climate Change Mitigation Programme (VCCP) Roadmap Workshop
2. Development of the Vanuatu REDD Readiness Plan Idea Note (R-PIN) for the World Bank - and succeeding in gaining Vanuatu's acceptance as a Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Participant Country.
3. Development of the Fiji National REDD Strategy Framework, and facilitating negotiations and drafting of the (draft) Fiji National REDD Policy.

See more on the Pacific Islands Page.

2. Voluntary Carbon Market

We initiated a project to design, develop and test a domestic voluntary carbon market instrument. This instrument is designed to help overcome a variety of barriers to large scale uptake of clean technologies in the transition to a low carbon economy. A key feature of this instrument is its ability to link local supply and demand for voluntary carbon units.

We also promote the use of the voluntary carbon market as a public policy tool for reducing emissions.

3. Educational Resources in Emissions Trading & Carbon Markets

Description: With GtripleC co-authored a guide booklet entitled "Leader's Guide to International Emissions Trading and Carbon Markets." This booklet is designed as an educational tool and technical reference for policy makers with a particular focus on those involved in the post-2012 negotiations. Copies were provided to all negotiating parties at COP 14 in Poland. The UN Secretary General sought and received a copy in late 2008. A copy of the Leader's Guide can be found here.