International Environmental Law Blog

Voluntary Carbon Markets Assessment

Dear all,

WWF has just published a new report on "Making Sense of the Voluntary Carbon Market - A Comparison of Carbon Offset Standards".

The study has been written by Anja Kollmuss and Clifford Polycarp from the Stockholm Environment Institute and Helge Zink from Tricorona.

The report discusses the role of the voluntary carbon offset market. It provides an overview and guide to the most important currently available standards, using the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) as a benchmark. The report compares the standards side-by-side and outlines the most pertinent aspects of each. It also includes a handy one page reference table for a quick comparison of the standards. The evaluated standards are:

• Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
• Gold Standard (GS)
• Voluntary Carbon Standard 2007 (VCS 2007)
• VER+
• Voluntary Offset Standard (VOS)
• Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX)
• Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards (CCBS)
• Plan Vivo System
• ISO 14064-2
• GHG Protocol for Project Accounting

WWF's press release and guidelines around the report can be found at: http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/climate_change/index.cfm?uNewsID=126700.
The report and the executive summary can also be downloaded from SEI-US’s website:  http://www.sei-us.org/offset_standard_report.html

We hope you find it interesting!

Juliette de Grandpré
Energy and Carbon Markets
WWF Germany
Große Präsidentenstr. 10
D-10178 Berlin
degrandpre@wwf.de

Anja Kollmuss

Associate Scientist

Stockholm Environment Institute - US

11 Curtis Avenue
Somerville, MA 02144-1224, USA

Tel:  +1 (617) 627-3786 8#
Fax: +1 (617) 449-9603

www.sei-us.org

 

SEI is an independent research affiliate of Tufts University

New Issue: IEL Agreements

We are pleased to deliver your requested table of contents alert for International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics.

Volume 8 Number 1 of International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics is now available on the SpringerLink web site at http://springerlink.com

By clicking on the URLs below you can access the abstracts for each article.

   

In this issue:

 

                                   

Original Paper
Local causes,   regional co-operation and global financing for environmental problems: the   case of Southeast Asian Haze pollution
Author(s)		Luca Tacconi,   Frank Jotzo, R. Quentin Grafton
DOI		10.1007/s10784-007-9057-z
Online since		September 29, 2007
Page		1 - 16

                                   

Original Paper
Trade and   environment negotiations in the WTO: Asian perspectives
Author(s)		Yohei Harashima
DOI		10.1007/s10784-007-9058-y
Online since		December 05, 2007
Page		17 - 34

                                   

Original Paper
European air   pollution assessments: co-production of science and policy
Author(s)		Willemijn Tuinstra
DOI		10.1007/s10784-008-9064-8
Online since		February 01, 2008
Page		35 - 49

                                   

Original Paper
Drivers for   adopting environmental management systems in the post-Soviet mining industry
Author(s)		Olli Salmi
DOI		10.1007/s10784-007-9046-2
Online since		July 18, 2007
Page		51 - 77

                                   

Book Review
Scott Barrett,   Environment & Statecraft: The Strategy of Environmental Treaty-Making
Author(s)		Jamie F. Morgan
DOI		10.1007/s10784-007-9032-8
Online since		October 31, 2007
Page		79 - 81

                                   

Book Review
Philippe G. Le   Prestre (ed.), Governing Global Biodiversity: The Evolution and   Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Author(s)		Pamela McElwee
DOI		10.1007/s10784-007-9055-1
Online since		September 01, 2007
Page		83 - 85

                                   

Book Review
Carraro, Carlo and   François Lévêque (Eds), Voluntary Approaches in Environmental Policy
Author(s)		Lada Kochtcheeva Dunbar
DOI		10.1007/s10784-007-9045-3
Online since		July 18, 2007
Page		87 - 90

                                 

Book Review
Jon Birger   Skjærseth and Tora Skodvin, Climate Change and the Oil Industry: Common   Problem, Varying Strategies
Author(s)		Jerry Hinkle,   Armin Rosencranz
DOI		10.1007/s10784-007-9056-0
Online since		August 29, 2007
Page		91 - 94

New article on governance and networks

Alkoby on International Environmental Lawmaking

Asher Alkoby (Ryerson University) has posted Global Networks and International Environmental Lawmaking: A Discourse Approach (Chicago Journal of International Law, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2008) on SSRN. Here is the abstract:

    The concept of networks is gaining currency in the study of global politics and international law. The term usually refers to a loose organization of nonstate actors characterized by voluntary, reciprocal, and horizontal patterns of communication and exchange. This Article explores the direct and indirect participation of global networks in international environmental decisionmaking fora, as a matter of both practice and aspiration. While in agreement with the view that global networks improve the democratic quality of international environmental institutions, this Article advances a particular conception of democratic governance, one that is more useful for understanding the role of networks in international rule creation and enforcement, as well as for assessing their operational effectiveness. Under the proposed discourse approach, the essence of democracy is deliberation rather than voting, preference aggregation, or self-government. The interaction of civil society in the public sphere, the realm of network activity, is likely to produce norms that will be legitimate in the eyes of their addressees because such interaction is typically nonhierarchical and unconstrained by power imbalances. The institutional discursive framework, in turn, is where the communicative appeal of the ideas that networks seek to advance can be tested. In the area of international environmental governance, much of this discursive activity takes place within intergovernmental institutions, which have been gradually opening up to the input provided by networks of nonstate actors.

    The Article's discussion begins by outlining the discourse approach and explaining why it is arguably superior to the alternatives, especially in the global context where preference aggregation is not a viable option. The Article then turns to examine the involvement of environmental and business networks in the climate debate, demonstrating how patterns of discursive interaction may be observed both within each network and in the ways in which these networks attempt to channel their respective agendas into the institutional deliberation. Finally, this Article argues that the proposed conceptual schema is also useful in responding to commentators who are critical of global networks' involvement in environmental lawmaking. These critics claim that global networks are not legitimate international actors because they answer to no one in their power wielding political activity. Under a discourse approach, the legitimacy of networks both environmental and business lies in their ability to infuse the institutional debate with different policy perspectives and arguments, out of which well-informed, consensual decisions may be reached. The Article concludes by pointing to some of the implications flowing from a discourse approach for institutional design.

Posted by Lawrence Solum on March 10, 2008 at 12:19 AM in Environmental Ethics, Law, and Politics | Permalink

New article on the ECHR and the Environment

Dear All

My article on "the European  Court of Human Rights and the Right to the Environment" is just published in Ankara Law Review which is available at the following online

http://ankara.edu.tr/journals/alr (click the issue Vol. 4 No 1 Summer 20007)

I will appreciate if you let me know your comments.

best regards

Nükhet Yılmaz Turgut

Ocean Atlas

FYI. This is an excellent resource on ocean issues. Check out the contents of the latest issue below. One can subscribe to updates.

           

NEWSLETTER MARCH 2008

Dear UN Atlas Member,     This month's newsletter takes a look at new happenings around the globe with   information from the polar regions to the equator. Many worldwide activities   have been launched to celebrate the wonders of our planet: the International Polar Year, the International Year of the Reef and the International Year of Planet Earth   -- learn more by visiting these sites.     If this newsletter may interest someone you know, please forward it.     Contribute to and participate in the growing Atlas community by becoming an   active Member of the UN Atlas today.     Thank you,     The UN Atlas of the Oceans Editors     Visit the UN Atlas of the Oceans Web site     Comments? Please write to UN-Atlas-Oceans-Project@fao.org

Recently added   content:    FAO Fisheries Technical Paper: Global fishery        resources of tuna and tuna-like species : Global fishery resources of tuna and tuna-like        species (Document) FAO and industry reps discuss emerging issues        affecting seafood business : Energy efficiency subject of second FAO-industry        forum in Bremen (News) IMO: IMO endorses Fair Treatment of Seafarers        poster campaign : A        joint campaign by the International Shipping Federation (ISF), the        International Chamber of shipping (ICS) and the International Transport        Workers Federation (ITF) to promote the IMO/ILO Guidelines on Fair        Treatment of Seafarers in the event of a Maritime Accident, has been        endorsed by the IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos. The        campaign encourages members of ISF/ICS and ITF to approach Governments        to promote the Guidelines and monitor how effectively they are being        implemented. (News) Development of co-operative management        arrangements in the Great Barrier Reef: an adaptive management approach        : The practicalities of        planning and evaluating effective Indigenous co-management partnerships        within this unique marine protected area. (Document)        Feed Me! The story of Penny the Penguin Chick        : A children's story based on        the Gentoo Penguin's breeding grounds around Bransfield Strait,        Antarctica. Notes for parents and teachers. Ideal for 5 to 9 year old        children. (Book) Frank Hurley. The Man Who Made History :        Frank Hurley captured some of        the world's earliest images of the Antarctic, particularly Shackleton's        expedition on the Endurance in 1914. DVD includes 4 photo galleries, biography        of life and work and an extended version of the 59min film in English. (Multimedia) Ocean Mapping Expedition Yields New Insights into        Arctic Depths : New        Arctic sea floor data released today by the University of New Hampshire        and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggests that        the foot of the continental slope off Alaska is more than 100 nautical        miles farther from the U.S. coast than previously assumed.        Coastal nations have sovereign rights over the natural resources of        their continental shelf, generally recognized to extend 200 nautical        miles out from the coast. The Law of the Sea Convention, now under        consideration in the U.S. Senate, provides nations an internationally        recognized basis to extend their sea floor resource rights beyond the        foot of the continental slope if they meet certain geological criteria        backed up by scientific data. (News) Coral Reef Research : Conserving what we have as well as we can has become        the greatest of all challenges to face humanity. This website is Veron's        contribution towards this formidable task. (Website)        Status of Caribbean Coral Reefs after Bleaching        and Hurricanes in 2005 : This        book documents the devastating effects on coral reefs from the hottest        year on record with its very high sea surface temperatures and record hurricane        activity throughout the Caribbean and Atlantic basins. (Book) Environmental Groups Call For Increased Protection        Of Coral Reefs As World Marks 2008 International Year Of The Reef        : As 17 countries and 30        organizations launch the International Year of the Reef today, three        major environmental groups – World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy        and Conservation International – call on governments, businesses,        scientists, non-governmental organizations and individuals around the        world to vastly increase actions to protect coral reefs. The        International Year of the Reef 2008, designated by the International        Coral Reef Initiative, is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about        the value and importance of coral reefs and to motivate action to        protect them. (News) New guide to reducing bycatch goes online :        As a service to the long-term        sustainability of both fish stocks and fishing communities, WWF has        established an online resource providing up-to-date information on        bycatch (the capture of non-target creatures in fishing gear) and how to        reduce it. (News) La Niña weather pattern likely to last for some        months : The        current La Niña weather pattern is expected to strengthen and continue        through the middle of the year, bringing wetter conditions to Australia        and the western Pacific and a drier climate to the Americas, the United        Nations World Meteorological Agency (WMO) reported. (News) Biosphere reserves play major role in combating        climate change : Biosphere        reserves can spur efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change as        well as encourage increased use of renewable energy, according to a        recent declaration adopted by a meeting backed by the UN Educational,        Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (News)        International Year of Planet Earth launched at        UNESCO : Making        the Earth a better place for humankind by engaging Earth Sciences for        Society is the motto of the declaration adopted on 12 February 2008 at        the Global Launch Event of the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE)        held at UNESCO on 12 and 13 February 2008 (News)        Sharks disappearing as fin chopping rises :        Populations of tiger, bull,        dusky and other sea sharks have plummeted by more than 95 percent since        the 1970s as fisherman kill the animals for their fins or when they        scoop other fish from the ocean, according to an expert from the World        Conservation Union, or IUCN. (News) Improved management of fishing's "last        frontier" needed : Countries        discuss how to better protect deep sea species and habitats (News) Science and the challenge of managing small        pelagic fisheries on shared stocks in northwest Africa : The marine waters off northwest Africa, from Morocco        in the north to the southern region of Senegal, are among the richest in        the world. FAO, in partnership with the Moroccan Institut National de        Recherche Halieutique and the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research,        are organizing a four-day symposium to address the issues on the        challenges for managing the area's important small pelagic fisheries. (Event) FAO Fisheries Technical Paper: Culture-based        fisheries in Bangladesh - A socio-economic perspective : Review of culture-based fisheries and community-based        fisheries management in Bangladesh with regard to socio-economic impacts        as well as environmental effects and biodiversity loss. (Document) Understanding the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007        : Guidebook providing a quick        overview of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (Document) Ocean Map Charts Path of Human Destruction :        Four years in the making, a        groundbreaking new map of the state of the world's oceans was released        today, and its message is stark: Human activity has left a mark on        nearly every square kilometer of sea, severely compromising ecosystems        in more than 40% of waters. (News) Map shows toll on world's oceans : Only about 4% of the world's oceans remain undamaged        by human activity, according to the first detailed global map of human        impacts on the seas. (News) IMO: BLG Sub-Committee agrees technical proposals        for reduction of air pollution from ships : Draft amendments to revise the MARPOL regulations on        the prevention of air pollution from ships were agreed by the IMO        Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG) when it met last week (4-8        February) for its 12th session. (News)        Social Dimensions of Marine Protected Area (MPAs)        : Marine Protected Areas:        Small-scale fishing community perspectives (Event)        A co-operative solution to overfishing :        When Tam Giang Lagoon’s        once-bountiful catch started dwindling in the face of poor management        and destructive fishing methods, the area’s fishermen decided it was        time to get organised. (News) Climate change and children : Report examining how climate change has evolved from        an ‘environmental’ issue into one that requires collective expertise in        sustainable development, energy security, and the health and well-being        of children (Document) The world's rubbish dump: a garbage tip that        stretches from Hawaii to Japan : A "plastic soup" of waste floating in the        Pacific Ocean is growing at an alarming rate and now covers an area        twice the size of the continental United States, scientists have said. (News) Dutch mull ideas to defend coast from rising seas        : Dutch water experts met to        look at ways of protecting the nation's fragile coast from rising sea        levels, including one proposal to build man-made islands -- one in the        shape of a massive tulip. (News) Loss of mangroves alarming : 20 percent of mangrove area destroyed since 1980        -rate of loss slowing (News) Fishermen 'greening' their catch : About 400 vessels from six European nations catch        brown shrimp in the North Sea's Crangon fishery, off the coast of        Holland. (News) IMO: Major shipping nation accedes to key        Conventions : One        of the world's largest shipowning nations, the Commonwealth of the        Bahamas, has acceded to two major IMO Conventions and deposited its        annual assessment for 2008 with the Organization.   His   Excellency Mr. Basil G. O'Brien, High Commissioner and Permanent   Representative of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to IMO has deposited with   IMO Secretary-General, Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, instruments of accession to   the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems   on Ships, 2001 (AFS Convention) and the International Convention on Civil   Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (Bunkers Convention). (News)   Illegal, unregulated fishing continues to plague        Africa : Illegal,        unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is an acute problem globally,        and, for Africa, it creates numerous struggles regarding the extraction        of its natural resources. (News)

FOE Report on GMOs

Friends of the Earth has recently published a report on GMOs. The report's findings, among others, is that the planting of GMO crops has resulted in substantial increases in the use of pesticides. An executive summary of the report can be found at:

http://www.foei.org/en/publications/pdfs/gmcrops2008full.pdf/

New List: Energy-L

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has pledged the creation of a new e-mail list, ENERGY-L, for the distribution of announcements related to international sustainable energy activities. This pledge has been accepted by the conference organizers as part of WIREC 2008 Pledges.

 

This new distribution list, similar to IISD’s other popular lists CLIMATE-L, FORESTS-L, WATER-L, CHEMICALS-L, MEA-L, OCEANS-L and AFRICASD-L, has been launched as part of a soon to be announced larger partnership with UN-Energy, the interagency mechanism on energy.

 

The purpose of ENERGY-L is to provide a free, moderated, community communications tool, allowing subscribers to post announcements related to sustainable energy events, policy developments, publications and new initiatives. ENERGY-L is not a discussion list and is limited to non-commercial announcements, although the announcements of private sector initiatives is encouraged.

 

Sign up for ENERGY-L at http://www.iisd.ca/email/subscribe.htm (check your email after subscribing and respond to a confirmation email.)

 

Any subscriber can use this new list to send announcements to the other subscribers on the list by sending emails to ENERGY-L@lists.iisd.ca

 

For assistance in subscribing to ENERGY-L, please send email to enb@iisd.org

 

Pamela Chasek, PhD
Executive Editor, Earth Negotiations Bulletin
IISD Reporting Services

300 East 56th Street #11A
New York, NY 10022 USA
+1-212-888-2737
E-mail: pam@iisd.org

Post Doc Opps at Brown

Brown’s Watson Institute for International Studies is seeking several recent PhDs for one- and two-year visiting fellowships affiliated with existing Institute research projects. Successful candidates will develop their own research in collaboration with one or more Watson projects, teach undergraduate students, and be actively involved in Institute activities.

Scholars with a commitment to multi-disciplinary collaboration are sought for the fellowships, which begin July 1, 2008. Preference will be given to individuals who can make contributions to and/or across themes such as:
• climate change and/or global environmental governance;
• traditional and critical security studies (including issue areas such as terrorism, proliferation, illicit flows, and global media);
• participatory institutions and civil society;
• globalization and inequalities;
• transnational labor migration and trafficking; and
• democracy promotion in international perspective.

Fellows will also each teach one undergraduate course per year in their area of specialization within the university’s International Relations or Development Studies undergraduate concentrations.

Each fellowship carries a salary of $50,000 for 12 months, with the option to purchase insurance at the university’s group rate. There is a possibility of renewal, depending on project progress and availability of funding.

Apply on-line    http://www.watsoninstitute.org/application/

The committee will begin reviewing applications on March 17, 2008.

Good SSRN Site

For those of you working in the field of climate change or sustainable development, Widener Law School Professor John C. Dernbach has done an excellent job of providing full text access to many of his excellent pieces on these topics. Visit his site at: http://ssrn.com/author=411559

Post Kyoto Governance

There's an interesting excerpt of a chapter from a new climate change book on the role of governance in effectuating post-Kyoto greenhouse gas reductions. The chapter includes an analysis of how to engage critical sectors and the provocative suggestions of how we might proceed without the United States. See:

http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2008/climate_gov_way_ahead.pdf