Edition 5 2011
Editors Comment
SADC REDD Network
Welcome to our newsletter for the SADC REDD+ information network! In this newsletter, you will find information about current developments on climate change and REDD+ with a special focus on the SADC region.
Earlier this month, negotiators met in Bonn for another round of technical negotiations before the UNFCCC COP17 in Durban in December this year. South Africa as the host conducted a number of open-ended informal consultations on parties’ expectations and possible outcomes for Durban.
What are your expectations for the UNFCCC COP17 in Durban and for REDD+ in your country? We would like to hear your views and expectations, so feel free to email us (sadcredd@ymail.com).
To interact with other REDD+ experts, you can also become a member of the SADC REDD+ online discussion form here: SADC REDD Information Network group. For feedback, comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact us at sadcredd@ymail.com and visit: http://www.sadc.int/REDD/
News
African Pavilion at COP17: Call for Proposals
On behalf of the African Union, SADC Secretariat has been asked to sensitize the Member States and call for proposals and ideas from the SADC Member States for activities at the African Pavilion during COP17. The idea is to showcase mitigation and adaptation actions taken in the SADC region and highlight success stories and best practices. SADC Secretariat will collect the ideas and submit it to the African Union for further consideration. To submit your ideas, please download the form (Word Document) here and send an email to sadcredd@ymail.com by 30 July 2011.
SADC Ministers approve REDD+ Programme
During the SADC Ministerial Meeting that took place in Windhoek, Namibia on 26th May 2011, the programme document on “SADC Support Programme on Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+)” was approved by the Ministers responsible for Environment and Natural Resources Management. SADC is the first regional organization in Africa to agree on a comprehensive programme to support Member States in their efforts to combat climate change and achieve their development goals through reduced emissions in the forestry sector. Read more here.
Information Brief on Green Climate Fund
The Green Climate Fund is one of the main outcomes of the Cancun Climate Conference and a Transitional Committee was set up to develop the operational and management structure of the new financial mechanism. For an overview of the process and the preliminary work programme, download the SADC REDD+ Information Brief here.
UNFCCC Bonn Session: SBSTA calls for submissions on REDD+ modalities
During the SBSTA and SBI Session in Bonn that took place from 6 to 17 June 2011, thousands of delegates met to discuss and prepare for the UNFCCC COP17 in Durban at the end of this year. The discussions on methodological guidance on REDD+ focused on forest reference levels and forest emission levels, MRV as well as addressing the issue of safeguards. Parties are invited to submit their views on how to address these issues to the UNFCCC Secretariat until 19 September 2011. For further information, download the draft conclusions here.
Report on REDD+ National Registries
A new report on national REDD+ registries, produced jointly by the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and KfW Bankengruppe, has been released. It calls for centralised registries for national accounting of REDD+ and provides an overview of the value of such registries. The report also outlines key requirements and possible elements of national registries and discusses design options. To download, click here.
New UNEP report: Forests in a Green Economy
On the occasion of World Environment Day on 5 June, UNEP launched a new report on how investments in forests can create jobs and combat climate change through sustainable management of forests. The report examines the economic, social, environmental and health benefits of forests, which will be key in the transition to a low-carbon economy. To download the report, click here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SADC Positioning Workshop and Media Training, 6-7 August, Durban, South Africa (tbc)
The SADC Secretariat is organizing a workshop for negotiators. The aim of the workshop is to work on a revised SADC position for COP17, reflecting recent developments and outcomes from the UNFCCC Bonn session. Part of the workshop will be a media training for participants, providing them with skills to bring across key messages from the SADC region to the media. For further information, watch the SADC REDD+ Website.
Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting “Petersberg II”, Berlin, Germany, 4-5 July 2011
Negotiators’ Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand, 25-26 July 2011
African Group of Negotiators Meeting, 8-10 August, Durban, South Africa
Technical Meeting on Mitigation & MRV, August, South Africa (tbc)
Ministerial Session and Meeting of Negotiators, 5-9 September 2011, South Africa (tbc)
UNFCCC AWG Session part 3, 1-7 October 2011, Panama City, Panama
Pre-COP Ministerial Session, 23- 26 November 2011, South Africa (tbc)
REDD Calendar of Events
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