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Bringing forest carbon projects to the market

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2. Prospects for <strong>the</strong> <strong>forest</strong><strong>carbon</strong> <strong>market</strong> after 2012In <strong>the</strong> wake of <strong>the</strong> UNFCCC Conference (COP 15) in Copenhagen, <strong>the</strong> future of<strong>forest</strong>ry <strong>projects</strong> within <strong>the</strong> <strong>carbon</strong> <strong>market</strong> remains uncertain. A great many political,institutional, economic, technical, and financial parameters are still undecided.Never<strong>the</strong>less, several regulated <strong>market</strong>s, including future Kyo<strong>to</strong> Pro<strong>to</strong>col developmentsand a possible Federal quota system in <strong>the</strong> United States, are sending out positivesignals as <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> future of <strong>the</strong> <strong>forest</strong> <strong>carbon</strong> <strong>market</strong>. This section will review <strong>the</strong>negotiations now taking place as well as <strong>the</strong> broad trends that project promoters andinves<strong>to</strong>rs may anticipate.2.1. Forests in <strong>the</strong> post-Kyo<strong>to</strong> period: where will AR, IFM, andREDD <strong>projects</strong> stand?2.1.1. Forestry returns <strong>to</strong> centre stagefor <strong>the</strong> post-Kyo<strong>to</strong> periodThe latest reports from <strong>the</strong> IPCC 36 show that global warming is accelerating and thatimmediate action must be taken <strong>to</strong> stabilize atmospheric concentrations of GHGs at450 ppm eqCO 2, <strong>the</strong> minimum required <strong>to</strong> prevent global warming of more than 2°C.Reaching this target will mean using <strong>the</strong> entire range of attenuation options offeredby <strong>the</strong> different sec<strong>to</strong>rs of <strong>the</strong> economy. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, although emission reductionsin industrialized countries are essential, <strong>the</strong>y will not suffice. The contribution madeby transitional and developing countries is crucial and will imply very large-scaletechnology transfers and financing from <strong>the</strong> developed countries.Given this context, <strong>the</strong> inclusion of REDD <strong>projects</strong> in developing countries is asignificant attenuation option that may generate large emission reductions at relativelylow cost, as highlighted in <strong>the</strong> Stern Report on <strong>the</strong> economics of climate change 37 .Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, REDD is expected <strong>to</strong> produce substantial co-benefits in terms ofbiodiversity protection and improved living standards for populations who depend on<strong>forest</strong> ecosystems.36 IPCC, 2007. 2007 climate change review: Contribution from working groups I, II and III <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>Fourth IPCC Assessment Report37 Stern N., 2007. Stern Report: <strong>the</strong> Economics of Climate Change50

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