#theme:cc_environment

This strategy was carried out under the Second National Communication under the leadership of the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies IDEAM and the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development. The national strategy is the result of an intersectoral and interagency consultation involving the "National Table of Article 6 of the UNFCCC", comprising public and private research institutes, civil society organizations and academia, among others. The aim of the strategy is to establish guidelines for the implementation of programs and projects that promote access to information, public awareness, training, education, research and participation, to assist in building local capacity, regional and national levels on the issue of climate change.

Based on joint modelling by the OECD and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), this document looks forward to the year 2050 to find out what demographic and economic trends might mean for the environment if the world does not adopt more ambitious green policies. It also looks at what policies could change that picture for the better. This Outlook focuses on four areas: climate change, biodiversity, freshwater and health impacts of pollution, identified as 'red light' issues by the previous 'Environmental Outlook to 2030' publication.

Produced every two years, the UNEP Foresight Process is a careful and authoritative ranking of the most important emerging issues related to the global environment. After reviewing and analysing emerging issues, the Foresight Process concluded that the most pressing one is the need to align governance to the challenges of global sustainability. The second most pressing issue identified is the need to transform human capacities for the 21st century, and to move towards a green economy. The third most pressing issue is the need to ensure food safety and security for nine billion people.

Year 2011 saw existing forest carbon standards across the world launch new or revised methodologies, contract new projects and issue verified credits. Given the breadth and scope of issues covered by REDD+, links between forest carbon standards and other existing standards such as FSC and commodity roundtables’ standards are being explored and complementary socio-environmental standards continue to be initiated. This brief provides an update on these standards and an updated consolidated comparison table of key features of all standards. Please see FCA Brief No. 3 for an earlier standards review up to March 2011. We only focus on standards that are applicable for forest carbon activities in Asia.

The situation of overlapping offset crediting programmes has not been well addressed or widely discussed in academic or policy dialogues. The policy question is whether a single activity can earn offset credits from more than one offset programme. Further, how do we assess the additionality and baselines for proposed activities in a situation with overlapping offset crediting programmes? This article applies the definitions and framework regarding additionality and baselines from Parts 1 and 2 of this series to this issue of stacking. It presents specific options for how to apply the concept of additionality to activities that could potentially stack offset credits and outlines a practical way forward for policy makers.

There is a strong case for the Green Climate Fund to support private sector investment in the move towards a low carbon, climate resilient – or ‘climate compatible’ – future. The public sector has a critical role in setting goals, building the enabling environment, and investing in research, development and public infrastructure in ways that support the transition. But businesses and households will be responsible for the bulk of the investment needed, and will need access to finance. This paper outlines the need for, and barriers to, private sector investment, and presents a range of complementary strategies for overcoming these barriers.