High-Level Panel on the CDM Policy Dialogue affirms commitment to work in open and independent manner

Policy Dialogue Panel
High-Level Panel on the CDM Policy Dialogue affirms commitment to work in open and independent manner

(Bonn, 16 February 2012) - The high-level panel established to conduct a policy dialogue on the Kyoto Protocol's clean development mechanism (CDM) has concluded its first meeting  by deciding to focus on developing recommendations about the future of the CDM.

The panel of distinguished individuals affirmed its intention to give due consideration to the evolving policy context, relevant lessons learned, effectiveness, efficiency, integrity, as  well as mitigation and sustainable development impact of the mechanism. It committed to  undertaking this task in an independent, inclusive and transparent manner, with stakeholder  input.

The high-level panel on the CDM policy dialogue has decided on a research programme and processes for stakeholder consultation to support its considerations. The three areas of research will focus on the mechanismís internal workings, future direction, as well as impact to mitigation and sustainable development. In order to gather a wide range of views,  the panel will also conduct an extensive programme of consultations with interested
stakeholders and individuals.

At its first meeting, the panel elected Mohammed Valli Moosa and Joan MacNaughton as its chair and vice-chair respectively. It also defined a work plan and adopted rules and modalities for its work.

"The panel welcomes the trust bestowed on us by the CDM Executive Board, and is committed to discharing its responsibilities to the best of our abilities," said the chair of the high-level panel, Mohammed Valli Moosa. "In this regard, we are hoping that stakeholders and CDM participants will engage with the process and share their views regarding the CDM and its future."

At its 64th meeting in October 2011, the CDM Executive Board agreed to the terms of  reference for the policy dialogue and launched a call for public input on the scope of the  dialogue. The call resulted in 58 submissions from a wide range of stakeholders, ranging from  intergovernmental organizations and carbon market participants, to civil society organizations  and individuals.

Although the dialogue is an initiative of the CDM Executive Board, the panel will conduct its work independently and make its own recommendations. It will also determine further methods of public engagement to gain a full and unbiased picture of the operations, benefits and shortcomings of the CDM.

The policy dialogue will be conducted from now until September 2012 and the panel's work will be submitted to the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and published in a report  immediately afterwards. The report is expected to provide recommendations for the future design and operations of the CDM, as well as inform negotiations on related issues, including potential new marketbased mechanisms.

Panel Members:

  • Luciano Coutinho, President of the Brazilian Development Bank, Brazil
  • Maggie L. Fox, President and CEO of The Climate Reality Project, formerly known as the Alliance for Climate Protection, United States of America
  • Ross Garnaut, Distinguished professor of economics at Australian National, University, Climate Change Advisor to the Australian Government until June 2011, Australia
  • Prodipto Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow at The Energy & Resources Institute, Former Secretary to Ministry of Environment and Forests, India
  • Yolanda Kakabadse, President of the World Wide Fund for Nature, Former Minister of Environment, Ecuador
  • Joan MacNaughton, President of the Energy Institute, Executive Chair of Energy and Climate Policy Assessment, World Energy Council, Global Advisor Sustainable Policies, Alstom, United Kingdom
  • Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry of Zimbabwe, Former AWG-LCA chair, Zimbabwe
  • Paul Simpson, CEO of the Carbon Disclosure Project, United Kingdom
  • Nobuo Tanaka, The Institute of Energy Economics, Former President of International Energy Agency, Japan
  • Mohammed Valli Moosa, Chairman of the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa, Former President of International Union for Conservation of Nature, South Africa
  • Changhua Wu, Greater China Director of The Climate Group, China

About the CDM
The clean development mechanism (CDM) allows emission-reduction projects in developing countries to earn certified emission reductions (CERs), each equivalent to one tonne of CO2. CERs can be traded and sold, and used by industrialized countries to meet a part of their emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. There are more than 3800 registered CDM projects in 72 developing countries. To date, some 1400 projects in 46 countries have been issued more than 860 million CERs.