Osborne publishes critique carbon markets for REDD+
From Indonesia to Mexico, members of indigenous and forest communities have marched in protest against market-based strategies for climate change mitigation in forests. In particular, they have expressed concern about how forest-based carbon offsets associated with REDD+ may affect their land rights and access to resources. REDD+ aims to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) in developing countries, but also includes sustainable forest management, and the conservation and enhancement of carbon stocks (the plus). In response to critiques over REDD+ and the possible harm and exclusion it may bring to marginalized groups, a variety of social and environmental safeguards have been proposed to prevent negative outcomes and ensure equitable social benefits. REDD+ Social and Environmental Standards outline a set of principles to guide the development of safeguards, which will ultimately rest in the domain of domestic law, including free prior informed consent, local participation, and the protection of indigenous land rights. While safeguards are well meaning, I argue that the market structure they are tied to is likely to undermine them, for it consistently privileges land uses based on market value over the social needs of people within communities. The focus on safeguards has been misplaced. Instead, we need to pay attention to the finance mechanism of REDD+, particularly where it is reliant on a carbon market.
