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Climate Change and Forests: Emerging Policy and Market Opportunities

October 2008

Once the province of think tanks, academics, and global agencies such as the UN, climate change has finally penetrated the world's consciousness. To date, international attention has focused primarily on the industrial and energy sectors. However, the agriculture, forestry, and land use sector is a major driver of the climate change problem and, thus, must be an integral part of the solution. In this wide-ranging volume, international experts explain the links between climate change and forests, highlighting the potential role of this sector within emerging climate policy frameworks and carbon markets.

After framing forestry activities within the larger context of climate-change policy, the contributors analyze the operation and efficacy of market-based mechanisms for forest conservation and climate change. Drawing on project examples from around the world, the authors present concrete recommendations for policymakers, project developers, and market participants. They discuss sequestration rights in Chile, carbon offset programs in Australia and New Zealand, and emerging policy incentives at all levels of the U.S. government. The book also explores the different voluntary schemes for carbon crediting, provides an overview of carbon accounting best practices, and presents tools for use in future sequestration and offset programs. It concludes by considering a range of incentive options for slowing deforestation and protecting the world's remaining forests.

About the Authors

Charlotte Streck is director of Climate Focus BV, a Rotterdam based consultancy on climate law and policy and the international carbon market. Previously she spent five years as senior legal counsel with the World Bank.

Robert O'Sullivan heads Climate Focus' North America office. He previously worked in the World Bank's Legal Department.

Toby Janson-Smith leads Conservation International's Ecosystem Service Investments program and formerly directed the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Alliance.

Richard G Tarasofsky is a legal counsel with the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. He was previously the head of the Energy, Environment, and Development programme at Chatham House.

Hardback Price: £39.99
ISBN: 9780815781929

Author(s): Charlotte Streck, Robert O'Sullivan, Toby Janson-Smith and Richard G Tarasofsky, eds