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BD in CC SUMMARY

Project Name:

BDinCC, Thinktank to Integrate Biodiversity in Climate Change policy/ the Kyoto mechanism/ Emissions Trading Scheme

Aim:

to integrate Biodiversity in Climate Change policy/ the Kyoto mechanism/ Emissions Trading Scheme

The integration of biodiversity in climate change is necessary in order improve the effectiveness of the Kyoto Protocol by integrating biodiversity's optimal capacity in balancing emissions and mitigating climate change, thereby assisting countries to meet their engagements under the Kyoto Protocol and to conserve the world's biodiversity = protecting the remaining world's rain forests, the most diverse ecosystems on the land

Background:

Green Week 2006 of the European Commission Directorate General Environment was dedicated to biodiversity to attract attention to the alarming rates of disappearance of species worldwide. Green Week 2005 was dedicated to climate change, attracting attention to global warming. The objective of these Green Weeks is to bring policy developers and experts together to provide them with the knowledge and views to improve the development of effective policies.

During the Green Week 2006 session on Climate Change and Biodiversity, an intervention was made on the initiative to integrate biodiversity in the Kyoto Protocol. Earlier efforts to incorporate biodiversity aspects in climate change policies have not yet led to concrete policy proposals. According to the UNEP/CBD Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Biodiversity, the Director of the European Commission Directorate Climate Change and Air, a number of professors, main ENGOs and natural resource owners and managers, there is a clear potential for a more efficient and effective integration of policies.

Stakeholders: Biodiversity, forestry, climate change and policy experts

Project Activities:

Preparations undertaken until present:

• Technical development of a Virtual Office, offered by the IT for Youth Initiative (IT4YI) in collaboration with the Polish College of Computer Science (WSINF) and designed for efficient and collaborative writing, discussion and planning over the internet in order to avoid excess meetings. It currently comprises: an Internet-based writing tool or wiki, an online project planner and agenda, conferencing software and a mailing-list. Link Virtual Office: http://it4yi-wiki.skn.wsinf.edu.pl/Integrating_Biodiversity_in_the_Kyoto_Mechanism;

• Contacting of the expert stakeholders (mentioned above);
• Inventarisation of policy efforts related to the integration of biodiversity aspects in the Kyoto mechanism/Emissions Trading Scheme;
• Contacting of various international organisations and secretariats (the IUCN, WWF and CBD Secretariat).

General Proposal:

to be decided upon by the thinktank; starting with the "cliff-hangers": elements related to biodiversity that are currently incorporated in climate change policy, like LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry) activities in CDM (and JI) currently eligible under the Kyoto Protocol (afforestation and reforestation), additional LULUCF activities like forest conservation (preventing deforestation) and sustainable forest management of existing forests, and related activities: sustainable management of other natural resources like the oceans

Expected results:

the integration of biodiversity in climate change, in order improve the effectiveness of the Kyoto Protocol by integrating biodiversity's optimal capacity in balancing emissions and mitigating climate change, thereby assisting countries to meet their engagements under the Kyoto Protocol and to conserve the world's biodiversity = protecting the remaining world's rain forests, the most diverse ecosystems on the land.

Capacity building:

The preparatory work for BDinCC has been undertaken in free time. Further development of the Thinktank requires collaboration with Parties interested in mitigating global warming and saving biodiversity, to provide for an office with telephone and internet connection and a budget for the coordination of the work of the tinktank

Coordination:

Anna VAN DER HEIJDEN, Engineer in Forest and Nature Management – Policy (Wageningen University), former Trainee (march-aug.2006) at the European Commission at the Directorate-General Enterprise and Industries at the Forest-based Industries Unit, former Trainee (sept. 2006) at the CEPF Confederation of European Forest Owners, Skype:AnnavdHeijden, iVisit:AnnavdHeijden.3473, APHvanderHeijden@gmail.com

Sven AERTS, CDM/JI Afforestation and Reforestation Project Developer, Member of the IUCN - Commission on Education and Communication (CEC), skype:AertsSven, ivist:aertssven.5797, aertssven@mac.com, www.carbonismoney.com

Annex 1: Photo Green Week 2006 (left to right: Mr. X, Ms. Maria Purificació CANALS i Ventín, IUCN Regional Councillor, Prof. Dr. Rik LEEMANS, Wageningen University (Environmental Systems Analysis group of the Environmental Sciences Department), Jos DELBEKE, Director DG Environment Directorate Climate Change and Air, Prof. Gábor VIDA, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Dr Robert WILSON, University Rey Juan Carlos, Sven AERTS, CDM/JI Project Investor, Mr. X)