Ferrial Adam, Greenpeace Africa, framed discussions on the use of coal.

Kyle Ash, Greenpeace US, presented the US experience of coal, stating that the US could show leadership in mitigation. Yang Fuqiang, NRDC China, detailed the China Coal Cap programme aimed to wean the country of coal as China is the number one coal emitter.

Melita Steele, Greenpeace Africa, presented results from research on the true cost of coal in South Africa, emphasizing that coal fails to deliver energy to over 2.5 million households and is destructive with a number of hidden negative externalities, such as: impact on climate change; health issues; water use; and mining. She warned that although there are benefits of renewable energy including job creation and reduction of carbon emissions, there are also barriers. Steele urged the South African government to listen to people rather than corporations when creating policies.

Siddharth Pathak, Greenpeace India, expressed hope that India could avoid developing a coal dependency that would require mining in dense forests that are home to tigers and indigenous communities.

Justin Guay, Sierra Club, provided specific examples that debunk coal industry claims, stating: scarce financial resources should be redirected to clean energy projects; coal cannot be low-carbon and actually lock-in large levels of emissions; and coal does not deliver on universal access. Iris Chang, Greenpeace International, explained that carbon capture storage is a false promise and should not be legitimized.

Kumi Naidoo, International Executive Director, Greenpeace International, stated that polluting corporations are influencing governments in climate negotiations, and undermining democracy. He suggested that the message of urgency be intensified in order to bring about necessary change and response to science.

Andrea Johnson, EIA, highlighted law enforcement and anti-corruption institutional activities are essential to successful and equitable efforts to reduce deforestation and degradation. She lamented that these issues have not been adequately included within REDD+ forest governance. She said building the institutions for more transparent and accountable law enforcement will have long-term benefits for forests and societies regardless of REDD outcomes.

Davyth Stewart, Global Witness, emphasized the need for anti-corruption measures since an increase in financial inputs in developing countries could lead to funds´ misappropriation. He recommended, inter alia: a mandatory auditing process, a publicly available registry of finance and activities; and the adaptation of the International Aid Transparency Initiative and International Monetary Fund Guide on Resource Revenue Transparency to include REDD.

Rosalind Reeve, Philippines´ Ateneo School of Government, highlighted: stakeholder cooperation, especially among law enforcement agencies; development of memoranda of understanding among national agencies; regional cooperation that enables fast communication, data sharing, and cross-border operations; and international cooperation.

Peg Putt, Global Witness, speaking on behalf of Indonesia´s communities of the Tripa Peat Swamps, stressed the main causes of substantial degeneration: long-ongoing conflict; subsequent tsunami and major loss of forest; and illegal fires which have been used to clear land. She posited that crimes committed by officials at government level need to be addressed in any crime prevention action.

Roberto Espinoza, Indigenous Association for the Development of the Peruvian Amazon (AIDESEP), stressed the need for structural change within REDD and called for an end to the financial speculation by “carbon cowboys”. He pointed as some of REDD+ problems: the separation of the rights to trees, soil and land; leakage and the establishment of infrastructures such as dams and roads; and the inability to address the rights of indigenous peoples.

Alexia Kelly, US Department of State, explained low-emission development strategy (LEDS) global partnership is a base to share information and identify opportunities for cooperation and moving forward.

Sadie Cox, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), summarized the evolution of this partnership that grew quickly and brought together 28 governmental and international institutions. She said LEDS’ main objectives are to: identify and disseminate best practices; foster ongoing information exchange; and build awareness of LEDS implementation globally.

John Christensen, UNEP, highlighted good experiences and coordination under LEDS to promote low-emission initiatives. On national communications, he said it is an ongoing process that needs to be: revisited; and established into a strong and permanent institutional framework.

Farhana Yamin, Children´s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), explained that CIFF is a private foundation that takes part in the LEDS. She said the aim is to fund and support developing countries, taking into account country-driven needs and best-designed efforts that enable mapping out pathways that link climate change mitigation and development.

Bert Metz, European Climate Foundation, gave an overview of the Green Growth Best Practice Initiative, noting that it encompasses a transition to a long-term low-carbon society. He underscored the Initiative´s objectives, including: perfroming rigorous assessment of green growth planning best practice; and facilitating knowledge-sharing by involving green growth partners.

Roberto Kobeh González, ICAO President, stressed that environmental sustainability remains a high priority, with airplanes currently being 77% more fuel efficient and 75% quieter. He said discussions on climate change should strive for a balance between environmental and social dimensions. Kobeh highlighted the need for financial resources and a clear roadmap to achieve these goals by the end of 2012.

After a video presentation on the implications of air transport, Jane Hupe, ICAO, reported on her institution´s training workshops held in several countries and commented on a report by the World Bank and the IMF, which requires an emission reduction of 5% from each sector, but lacks guidance on its implementation.

Asked about how passengers would be impacted by these steps, Kobeh said that it would not only include market-based instruments, but also operational procedures to improve the efficiency of the airplanes, such as landing issues and the airplanes’ use of alternative fuels.

On a question about biofuels, Hupe stressed the importance of their current research in different fuel stocks and using sustainability criteria, and added that airplanes are already flying with a range of fuel biomasses.

Clifford Polycarp, World Resource Institute, noted the European Union (EU) is implementing its commitment made two year ago on the fast-start funding (FSF) for developing countries. He highlighted the importance of understanding the reality on the ground to move and deploy financial resources.

Artur Runge-Metzger, EU Climate, Finance and Deforestation Unit, noted that the EU is supporting developing countries, especially in Africa and Asia, in the fields of adaptation, mitigation and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD). He underscored the EU FSF combines loans and grants to support such activities.

Taulealeausumai Tuifusaa Laavasa Malua, Samoa Minister of Natural Resources, said that the FSF is making a difference to his country by enabling adaptation activities in the water sector. He said current financial arrangements enable supplementation of governmental resources allocated to water issues such as: catchment; community needs; and supply.

Willem Bron, SNV World, explained that the Africa Biogas Partnership Programmes aim to provide half a million people with access to a sustainable source of energy and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by building sustainable market-oriented biogas sectors for 2009-2014. Bron underlined that the target is to have 70,000 biogas digesters in six countries by 2014.

Tewolde B. G. Egziabher, Ethiopia´s Environmental Protection Authority, said Ethiopia is getting the required support for building climate resilience through FSF. Underscoring that many developing countries complained about FSF bureaucracy, he noted that donors must act with caution to avoid abuse of financial resources. Egziabher called for transparency on both donor and recipient sides in order to achieve their commitments.

Heiner Von Luepke, GIZ Indonesia, explained FSF is used in Indonesia for combating vulnerability and adaptation in water, agriculture, health, sea-level rise and land change. He noted the need for: more direct and improved communication with Indonesian partners to clarify FSF differences from Official Development Assistance (ODA), concept, modalities and purpose; and enhanced dialogue with partners about selection, development and implementation of FSF related activities.

Thais Linhares Juvenal, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, presented the objectives of the UN REDD Programme, set up in 2008 to support countries in their REDD+ efforts. She underscored that in 2011-2015, its objective changed to promote the elaboration and implementation of National REDD+ strategies and readiness, including the transformation of land use and sustainable forest management.

In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed issues such as: whether FSF was “new and additional” and how it differentiated from ODA; participation of local private sector on biogas projects; increase in monitoring, reporting and verifying activities to minimize corruption; and importance of designated national authorities in speeding up carbon finance projects.