The right to carbon: From global perspectives to local impact

Featuring the launch of “Comparative study of carbon rights in the context of jurisdictional REDD+  - Case studies from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin-America and the Caribbean”

• Date: Tuesday 6 February 2024
• Time: 8:00 Lima / 14:00 Rome / 20:00 Bangkok
• Registration: https://bit.ly/47IoYde 

Languages: English

Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) within the framework of the UN-REDD Programme, this webinar offers a unique platform to share experiences and insights to the nature and allocation of carbon rights, as well as the legal entitlements associated with REDD+ outcomes.

As part of the webinar, “Comparative study of carbon rights in the context of jurisdictional REDD+  - Case studies from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin-America and the Caribbean” will be launched. To conduct this study, legislation from more than 20 countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America was reviewed between November 2021 and June 2023.

The webinar will feature numerous international and country experts who contributed substantially to the development of the study. During the event, they will share their views and showcase country efforts in progressing on the subject.

Why carbon rights?

The REDD+ framework encourages countries to reduce deforestation and degradation by offering financial rewards or results-based payments (RBPs) for verified emission reductions (ERs) – all while promoting sustainable development.

It is known that REDD+ is based on the right to benefit from (or be compensated for) the reduction of forest-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, whether through RBPs, carbon market transactions, or a combination of the two. However, in some cases it is not clear who can claim this right, or whether the right to REDD+ results and payments should be associated with the right to carbon. This lack of clarity raises several legal questions, including how to define and allocate carbon rights or transfer ER titles under REDD+ programmes.

While the existence of various international RBPs and carbon market schemes valuing ERs presents multiple opportunities for countries participating in REDD+, there is a critical need to clarify ER rights and determine who benefits from REDD+ results.

OBJECTIVES

• share experiences in clarifying carbon rights from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America;
• present challenges and lessons learned related to carbon rights; and
• strengthen global discussion on the issues and promote greater exchange to enable other countries to learn from good practices, challenges and progress made.

AGENDA:

Moderator’s welcome: Charlotte Streck, Co-Founder and Director of Climate Focus

Opening remarks: Serena Fortuna, REDD+ Team Leader, Forestry Division, FAO

Carbon rights in the context of jurisdictional REDD+: Case studies from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean: Francesca Felicani-Robles, Forestry Officer, REDD+ legal matters, FAO

Panel discussion:

• Gwen Sissou, General Manager, REDD+ and Climate Mitigation Division, CCDA, Papua New Guinea      
• Milagros Sandoval, Director of Climate Change and Desertification, Ministry of Environment (MINAM), Peru
• Guy Ipanga Nsima, REDD+ National Coordinator, Democratic Republic of Congo
• Fabiano de Andrade Correa, Senior Legal Counsel, World Bank
• Leif John Fosse, Senior Adviser, Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative at Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment 

Wrap up: Charlotte Streck, Climate Focus

The Q&A Session will be conducted in real time via Zoom Q&A function

This webinar is organized for governments, donors, academic and research institutions, private sector entities, international agencies, and NGOs keen on learning and contributing to the global discourse on benefit sharing in carbon rights.