News Archive: 2007
20 December 2007 - Climate Focus, as part of a group of consultants, developed a feasibility study for the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx). HKEx has the objective of setting up a Carbon emissions trading system and becoming the leading marketplace for related products in Asia. A series of articles have been published recently with regards to this study and HKEx new venture.
Download articles from the South China Morning Post and others.
8 December 2007 - Forest Day at COP13, Bali, Indonesia
On Saturday December 8 during COP13, Charlotte Streck from Climate Focus participated as a speaker in a side event hosted by IUCN, Ecosecurities and Faktor AG. The side event looked at various approaches that value the additional social and environmental benefits of carbon forestry projects. Dr. Streck gave a presentation on the Carbon Conservation Mechanism. The CCM has been proposed as a trading mechanism to value the carbon stored in standing, highly valuable forest ecosystems and promote private sector financing of forest conservation. The approach is based on the recognition that carbon stored in forests provides valuable climate, ecosystem and biodiversity conservation services.
Download IUCN side event agenda (29k PDF)
7 December 2007 – Side Event at COP13, Bali, Indonesia
Law & Governance of Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation
On Friday December 7 during COP13, Charlotte Streck from Climate Focus chaired a side event hosted by the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law that featured the international release of the CISDL “Sustainable Development Law on Climate Change” Legal Working Paper Series.
3 - 14 December 2007 - United Nations Climate Change Conference, Bali, Indonesia
Climate Focus is participating in the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali from the 3rd to the 14th of December. Furthermore Climate Focus, along with The Global Public Policy Institute, and Avoided Deforestation Partners hosted a side event on private sector participation in REDD held on Thursday 6 December.
This side event draws on lessons learned from the existing trading mechanisms, practical experience, and financial analysis to identify and discuss issues that need to be addressed to develop REDD policy that will work in practice.
Download REDD side event agenda (207k PDF) (visit website)
Download IISD Coverage of the event (1032k PDF) (visit website)
Download Side Event Presentation from Charlotte Streck (138k PDF)
Download Side Event Presentation from Robert O’Sullivan (107k PDF)
Download Side Event Presentation from Johannes Ebeling (1038k PDF)
Download Side Event Presentation from Jeff Horowitz (1625k PDF)
Download Side Event Presentation from Marisa Meizlish (1591k PDF)
Download Side Event Presentation from Bernhard Schlamadinger (254k PDF)
26 November 2007 -Climate Focus and Carbon International implemented a training session for journalists during the Indian Carbon Market Conclave organised by the World Bank and ieta, that took place on November 1 and 2 in New Delhi. The event was hosted by the World and was attended by journalists from the main Indian Newspapers. The training addressed issues as diverse as causes and impacts of global warming, carbon market mechanisms and how to link these issues to reporting on local themes like poverty, droughts, increased monsoon season and melting glaciers in the Himalayas.
6 November 2007 - FELABAN Annual Assembly, Miami, USA
Charlotte Streck presented the CERSPA at a session hosted by the IIC entitled "Banks and Climate Change, Mainstreaming Carbon Finance in Latin America." She highlighted how the template can support project developers and financial institutions in Latin America. The FELABAN Annual Assembly is the largest gathering of senior Latin American bankers outside the IMF and IDB meetings. During the Assembly Charlotte Streck was interviewed by Business News Americas about how the carbon market in Latin America remains untapped.
Download the presentation in English and Spanish (27kb) (visit website)
Download the interview in English and Spanish (60kb)
30-31 October 2007 - At the UNDP Capacity Building Program in Baku, Azerbaijan, Charlotte Streck will deliver a two-day training on CDM legal issues. Agreements for the sale and purchase of CERs will feature as one of the main topics of the course which will also include an explanation of the CERSPA initiative.
24-25 October 2007 - Climate Focus, CATIE, and Avoided Deforestation Partners hosted a dialogue on mechanisms to reduce emissions from deforestation (RED) in developing countries. The event was very successful and attracted over 70 attendees from Governments, the private sector, and non-profit organizations. One of the objectives of the event was to initiate a dialogue between governments and the private sector on RED policy given the acknowledged need for private sector financing to effectively address the problem of tropical deforestation.
(view RED Workshop page) (view Forestry page)
24-25 October 2007 - REDD Workshop, Brussels, Belgium
Climate Focus, CATIE, and Avoided Deforestation Partners hosted a dialogue on mechanisms to reduce emissions from deforestation (RED) in developing countries. The event was very successful and attracted over 70 attendees from Governments, the private sector, and non-profit organizations. One of the objectives of the event was to initiate a dialogue between governments and the private sector on RED policy given the acknowledged need for private sector financing to effectively address the problem of tropical deforestation.
(view RED Workshop page) (view Forestry page)
Voluntary Carbonmarkets - Unlocking the True Market Potential
16-17 October 2007, ICO Conference Centre, London
Join 30+ voluntary carbon market makers including Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Natsource, Climate Focus, The Climate Group and ECX at the first international VCM networking congress and gain an in-depth understanding of how the voluntary markets function. Charlotte Streck is one of the distinguished speakers whom will debate whether the voluntary market will help shape the compliance market by providing ways that currently are not explored or possible in the compliance market
Download the agenda (184k PDF) (visit website)
10 October 2007 - Climate Focus has become a member of the International Carbon Investors & Services group - INCIS. INCIS is a market oriented organization that strives for a robust and well functioning global GHG emissions trading market.
(visit website)
29 August 2007 - Charlotte Streck will be a speaker at the Singapore Academy of Law where she will evaluate the performance of
the Kyoto Protocol’s market mechanisms with a
particular focus on the CDM. She will analyse how the
existing set of mechanisms can be improved and
strengthened to form part of a robust post-Kyoto
agreement.
(visit website)
Discussion Meeting: Carbon Markets and Forest Governance
10th September 2007, Chatham House, London, UK
Robert O'Sullivan spoke on risks and governance issues in different policy approaches to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries.
(visit website)
07 September 2007 -
Lexxion, a publisher in the field of environmental law and European Community law based in Berlin is launching a quarterly journal on the legal dimensions of climate change and mitigation policies. It will be published under the title Carbon & Climate Law Review: A Journal of Climate Regulation and the Carbon Market, and is targeted at an international audience (for a description and reading sample, please visit website below). An inaugural issue on legal aspects of the post-2012 debate appeared recently, and there are also plans to organize a side-event at the next Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in Bali to present the journal to a larger audience. Climate Focus Director Charlotte Streck is a member of the Journal's Editorial Board.
(visit website)
Crucial Issues in Climate Change and the Kyoto Mechanisms in Asia
30-31 August 2007, National University of Singapore, Singapore
The conference will address legal issues around climate change law and policy in Asia. Charlotte Streck has been invited to give a course on the Kyoto flexible mechanisms at Singapore University and give a presentation on CDM governance.
22 August 2007 -
The ENCOFOR ("ENvironment and COmmunity based framework for designing afFORestation, reforestation and revegetation projects in the CDM: methodology development and case studies") was a EuropeAid funded project that aimed at maximizing synergies between the sequestration of carbon and the creation of benefits for the local environment and local stakeholders.ENCOFOR is officially over but you can still download the numerous free tools and reports that were produced by the project.
ENCOFOR Tools in Spanish English
18 July 2007 - Together with the Hong Kong based office of the law firm Mallensons Stephen Jaques and the Washington based International Environmental Trading Group, Climate Focus has been selected as strategic advisors to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx). The study will look at the potential for Hong Kong to become an Asian hub for trading environmental and carbon products. The presentation of the study to the HKEx Board is scheduled for 12 December 2007.
(visit website)
11 July 2007 - Climate Focus teaches market and legal module at CATIE’s annual CDM course for Afforestation/Reforestation projects on 6 July 2007 in Turrialba, Costa Rica. Download the presentations (in Spanish): Mercados de Carbono & Aspectos legales de proyectos forestales.
29 June 2007 - Workshop on JI and forestry, held on 21/22 May 2007 in Budapest, discusses options to develop forestry projects in the context of a GIS: Download the workshop summary: Land use, landuse change and forestry (LULUCF) activities under Joint Implementation (JI) and Green Investment Schemes (GIS) and the presentation given by Charlotte Streck: The Unfinished Business: Forest in the Context of the UNFCCC.
29 June 2007 - With the support of the GTZ and the Tunisia Ministry of the Environment, Climate Focus led the first CERSPA workshop in Tunisia on 26th June 2007. The workshop was attended by over 40 participants. The aim of the workshop was to familiarize Tunisian lawyers and project developers with the drafting and negotiation of contractual terms of carbon contracts. GTZ kindly translated the CERSPA template and Guidance Document into French for the workshop.
26 June 2007 - Climate Focus offers observations and recommendations on the process of small scale methodology assessment.
25 June 2007 - Climate Focus and CATIE call for a project-based mechanism to create incentives for investments into the avoidance of further tropical deforestation.
(forestry focus) (policy development)
20 June 2007 - The VMD (Flemish Environmental Experts) organized a workshop to inform representatives from Flemish companies and the Flemish government on the latest developments with respect to the Kyoto Flexible Mechanisms.
Klimaatnamiddag VMD
20 June 2007, Brussels, Belgium
The Belgian association for environmental specialists organises a workshop on CDM and JI. Adriaan Korthuis elaborates on JI developments and opportunities.
Download the agenda (89k PDF)
23 May 2007 - Interview Charlotte Streck in the Colombian Newspaper, Poder, published 10 March 2007 (Certificados Calientes).
Congress “Emissiehandel in een veranderend klimaat”
15 May 2007, Hotel en Congrescentrum ‘De reehorst’, Ede, Netherlands
This congress was organized by the Dutch Emission Authority (NEa) and was aimed at informing businesses about recent and future policy developments in the areas of NOx- and CO2- emission trading. Jelmer Hoogzaad contributed to a session on use of CERs and ERUs in the ETS.
download presentation (1.48mb PDF) visit Website
10 May 2007 - Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and Endesa SA celebrate the signing of a Purchase and Sales Agreement.
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (“emm”) and Endesa SA are celebrating the signing of a Purchase and Sales Agreement, by which Endesa buys the Certified Emission Reductions from a portfolio of landfill gas extraction projects developed by emm. Climate Focus assisted Endesa with due diligence and contract negotiation. The seller was assisted by a team composed of Lee International, Palmer Development Group, Mallinicks and Jones&Wagener.
08 May 2007 - Robert O'Sullivan spoke at a side event at SBSTA 26 titled "LULUCF projects under JI: will they be impossible?"
07 May 2007 - Robert O'Sullivan spoke at a side event at SBSTA 26 titled "Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation: A Vanuatu case study"
07 May 2007 - CERSPA – Certified Emission Reduction Sales and Purchase Agreement–Climate Focus launched an open-source model CDM contract. The CERSPA was developed by more than 30 lawyers and CDM experts from around the world who have experience advising clients in CDM transactions. The CERSPA and Guidance Document will be made freely available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese.
(visit CERSPA page) (visit CERSPA website)
07 May 2007 - "New contract template for CDM projects could boost supply" article published on Point Carbon Website.
(visit CERSPA page) (visit CERSPA website)
CERSPA Launch
03 May 2007, Dorint Hotel, Cologne, Germany
At the occasion of Carbon Expo 2007, the CER Sale and Purchase Agreement (“CERSPA”) template and accompanying explanatory document will be launched at the Dorint Hotel in Cologne. The template and guidance document has been developed by a group of over 20 CDM lawyers, most of which come from developing countries, and is sponsored by the Inter-American Investment Corporation.
Visit the website
Carbon Expo - Global Carbon Market Fair & Conference
2-4 May 2007, Cologne, Germany
Carbon Expo 2007 will once again act as the international platform for companies operating on the global CO2 market. The 3-day conference will cover such things as up-to-date awareness of local and global regulations and how to address the resulting risks and opportunities.
Download the agenda (852k PDF) Visit the website
01 May 2007 - Climate Focus attended the Carbon Expo in Cologne:
- Adriaan Korthuis delivered a training session for developing countries. Journalists in the World Bank organized a Journalist Training on Tuesday, May 2, 2007, 12.00-16.00;
- Robert O’Sullivan spoke about “Emerging trends in standardized contracts” in the side event of the Legal Vice-Presidency of the World Bank. Thursday, May 3, 2007 10.30-11.30;
- Charlotte Streck spoke about “Legal aspects: LULUCF in the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and the EU ETS” in the World Bank side event on Developments on Afforestation and Reforestation in the Kyoto Protocol, Thursday, May 3, 2007, 15:30-16:30;
- Climate Focus spoke about “Legal aspects in JI” in side event on Latest JI developments in Russia by GFA ENVEST, Friday, May 4, 2007, 14:00-15:00.
18 April 2007 - Powernews interview with Charlotte Streck on CER price expectations. Published online on 17 April 2007(in German).
16 - 17 April 2007 - Robert O'Sullivan attended and spoke at a workshop on reducing emissions from tropical deforestation, sponsored by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Chatham House.
download presentation (PDF 145k)
13 April 2007 - Climate Focus and Forest Carbon responded to DEFRA's consultation on establishing a Code of Best Practice for the provision of carbon offsetting to UK customers.
Tackling Climate Change
30-31 March 2007, The Hague, The Netherlands
Organised by the T.M.C Asser Instituut, the conference looks at the legal and institutional aspects related to the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol with a look at the post-2012 phase. Climate Focus will present on legal issues related to the CDM.
Download the agenda (112k PDF)
University of Twente Short Course: Formulating Proposals for CDM Projects
21 March 2007, Twente University, The Netherlands
Robert O'Sullivan gave a lecture on legal aspects of the CDM including structuring CDM projects and carbon contracts.
Download Presentation (259k PDF)
CDM Tech 2007
19-21 March 2007, Cartagena, Colombia
Three day conference on CDM Markets and Technology Transfer, Latin America 2007. Charlotte Streck will speak on the key legal issues in CDM transactions.
Download the agenda (488k PDF) | Conference Web Site
Presentation (Espanol) Presentation (English)
Climate Change Investment and Finance 2007
20-21 March 2007, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Two day conference by DowJones and 3C. Adriaan Korthuis will present an overview of the CDM and JI markets on 21 March.
Conference Brochure (488k PDF) | Conference Web Site
19 March 2007 - Charlotte Streck and Ines Manzano presented the CERSPA initiative at the CDM Tech Conference in Cartagena de las Indias, Colombia. 19-21 March 2007
Interview Charlotte Streck
15 March 2007 - Charlotte Streck called for reform of CDM governance at Carbon Market Insights 2007
Carbon Market Insights 2007
13-14 March 2007, Copenhagen, Denmark
Climate Focus will make its expertise available at a Q&A session at the Point Carbon annual conference.
Conference Programme (1.1mb PDF) | Conference Web Site
Cap and Trade as Tools of C limate Change Policy
22-23 February, 2007, Berkeley, USA
Organised by the University of California Berkeley in conjunction with the American Society for International Law. Climate Focus presented on the design and implementation of cap and trade programs for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as a tool for climate change policy at the state, regional, national and international levels.
Conference Web site
JI Workshop
13-14 February 2007, Bonn, Germany
On 14 February Charlotte Streck spoke on advantages and disadvantages of JI Track 1.
07-09 March 2007 - Robert O’Sullivan represented Vanuatu as its technical advisor in the UNFCCC Workshop on reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries in Cairns, Australia
09 February 2007 - Charlotte Streck shared her viewpoint on the “tax versus trade” debate with Allianz (external Web site).
Coalition for Rainforest Nations Workshop
28-30 January 2007, San Jose, Costa Rica
Robert O’Sullivan attended as the technical advisor to Vanuatu and gave a presentation on the Vanuatu Forests project.
02 January 2007 - Climate Focus and South Pole Ltd. source small scale CDM projects on behalf of the Climate Cent Foundation