Climat et Pauvreté

Can CDM contribute positively in the fight against poverty?

As EU countries will have difficulties in fulfilling their emission reduction targets of the Kyoto Protocol, they will have to look increasingly at the possibilites offered by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). This mechanism is designed to make it easier and cheaper for industrialised countries to meet their greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. There are already many projects in the pipeline and the UNFCC stated that CDM are estimated to generate more than one billion tonnes of emission reductions by the end of 2012. This corresponds to the present annual emission of Spain and the UK combined. Therefore, billions of Euros, together with new technologies and know-how are expected to flow within the framework of CDM and its prospects and volumes will certainly increase in a likely post-Kyoto phase.

The question that then comes to mind is the following: does the transfer of technology and know-how only lead to a reduction of emission or does it also have some socio-economic benefits? In other words, can the flexible mechanisms contribute positively in the fight against poverty? What are the real potential and opportunities of CDM in this area?

If it was true that CDM can be used as a tool to fight poverty, are there any specific criteria's that have to be met by there projects in order to be able to bring socio-economic improvements? Is there a need for more political support and new initiatives?

In order to discuss these questions, CERES has organised a Dinner Debate with high-level experts from various backgrounds.We are currenlty in the follow-up process of the discussion and would like to hear from you if you are interested in getting involved in this debate.

To download a copy of the summy, please click here

State and Trends of the Carbon Market

In the first nine month of 2006, the carbon market grew to nearly $22billion, more than doubling in value over the almost $11 million recorded in 2005. This and other current statistics are revealed in the State of the Carbon Market Report, published by the World Bank and the International Emissions Trading Association in October 2006.

The World Bank: State and Trends of the Carbon Market (pdf/en)

Latin America needs to fight poverty

In October 2006, the Wold Bank published a report stating that Latin American countries need to fight poverty more aggressively if they want to grow and compete with China and other dynamic Asian economies. There is no doubt that growth is critical for poverty reduction. In fact, there are plenty of examples indicating that countries that have been successful at reducing poverty are countries that have managed to maintain high growth rates over prolonged periods of time. On the other hand, countries with modest growth records have also modest poverty gains to show. To a large extent, this would justify having growth at the center of any poverty reducing strategy. However, could it also be that poverty per se is a barrier to growth?

According to the World Bank, poverty itself is hampering achievement of high and sustained growth rates in Latin America, which remains on eof the most unequal regions in the world.

The World Bank: Poverty Reduction and Growth: Virtuous and Vicious Circles (pdf/en)