The Implentation of the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ by Brazil
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The Implentation of the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ by Brazil http://redd.mma.gov.br Novembro, 2015 Federative Republic of Brazil Dilma Roussef President Michel Temer Vice-president Ministry of the Environment Izabella Teixeira Minister Francisco Gaetani Deputy Minister Francisco J. B. Oliveira Director, Department of Policies to Fight Deforestation Leticia Guimarães Manager, Climate Change and Forests Organization: Leticia Guimarães (MMA) and Antonio C. Martinez Sanches (MMA). Graphic Design: Gráfica e Editora Movimento Contributors: Monique Ferreira Sacardo (MMA) and Alexandre Avelino (MMA). Special thanks to: Working Group of Technical Experts on REDD+, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat and Felipe Ferreira (Ministry of External Relations). This publication has been edited under the responsibility of the Department of Policies to Fight Deforestation of the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment. BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT Ministry of the Environment FOREWORD Climate change presents a critical global challenge that needs to be dealt with through the multilateral process. Brazil strongly supports the international regime established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and is committed to its strengthening by means of an ambitious, universal and equitable agreement in Paris that sets a clear path towards meeting the goal of holding the increase in global average temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. In September 2015, the Brazilian Government gave a clear demonstration of the country’s serious intent to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Brazil’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) sets forward an economy wide absolute target of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 37% below 2005 levels in 2025 and 43% by 2030. Actions in the land use change and forest sector will be key to achieve the 2025 and the 2030 objectives. Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+) is a means for the implementation of Brazil’s INDC. Brazil is a megadiverse country with about 60% of its territory covered by forests. Between 2004 and 2014, the country has reduced deforestation in the Amazon biome by 82%, while also reducing poverty and promoting social inclusion without negatively impacting the country´s GDP. International technical cooperation and financial support can significantly enhance the effectiveness of REDD+ actions. We are particularly grateful, in this respect, to the Norwegian government, as well as to other donors, which have put forward significant financial contributions to the Amazon Fund. Brazil was the first country to implement the Warsaw Framework for REDD+. In September 2015, we successfully completed the verification process of REDD+ results achieved in the Amazon biome, 2.9 Gt CO2e between 2006 and 2010. We are now in the final stages for the approval of our National REDD+ Strategy and investments will be made with the proceeds of REDD+ payments for the establishment of a large-scale plan for the enhancement of forest carbon stocks in Brazil, as the country transitions from net source to net sink. This publication is a compilation of Brazil´s submissions to the UNFCCC as part of the implementation of the Warsaw Framework for REDD+. We hope that this can be a useful resource to other developing countries implementing REDD+, as well as an inspiration for donors and investors seeking to incentivize effective climate change mitigation actions in developing countries. We wish you all a pleasant reading! Brasília, November, 2015. Carlos Augusto Klink Secretary of Climate Change and Environmental Quality Ministry of the Environment of Brazil TABLE OF CONTENTS REDD+ under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ......................................................................................................6 The implementation of the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ by Brazil .........................................16 Brazil’s submission of a Forest Reference Emission Level (FREL) for reducing emissions from deforestation in the Amazonia biome for REDD+ results-based payments under the UNFCCC ...............................................................................18 Report of the technical assessment of the proposed forest reference emission level of Brazil submitted in 2014 ...............................................................................110 Brazil’s submission of a Technical Annex for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in the Amazonia biome for REDD+ results-based payments under the UNFCCC ...................................................................................................................128 Technical report on the technical analysis of the technical annex to the first biennial update report of Brazil submitted in accordance with decision 14/CP.19, paragraph 7, on 31 December 2014 ..........................................................152 Summary of information on how the Cancun safeguards were addressed and respected by Brazil throughout the implementation of actions to reduce emissions from deforestation in the Amazon biome between 2006 and 2010 .........................166 REDD+ under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), discussions on a framework to provide incentives to developing countries for reducing emissions from deforestation began in 2005 at the 11th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP), in Montreal, Canada. In 2010, the COP agreed on policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+). The logic of incentives for REDD+ consists of payments that are made ex-post, based on results already achieved through the implementation of policies in the forest sector. In 2013, after eight years of discussions, the Parties reached an agreement on a set of rules and procedures that enables mitigation efforts from developing countries in the forest sector to be recognized and rewarded through results-based payments. The Warsaw Framework for REDD+ (WFR) (decisions 9-15/CP.19) was the main outcome from the 19th session of the COP to the UNFCCC (COP-19), to a large extent concluding the negotiations on REDD+ and providing the necessary definitions for its implementation. The structure defined by the WFR was designed to be “flexible enough to accommodate a large variety of circumstances and capabilities of developing countries, while at the same time establishing a robust and clear framework for a results-based approach for financing mitigation actions in the forest sector. REDD+ under the UNFCCC is the outcome of a delicate balance between stringency of requirements to obtain financial support and flexibility to allow broad participation, while at the same time keeping consistency with other obligations under the Convention and with other relevant international agreements.”1 The progressive character of REDD+ is another aspect that has been designed taking into account the large variety of circumstances and capabilities of developing countries. According to decision 1/CP.16 REDD+ activities “should be implemented in phases, beginning with the development of national strategies or action plans, policies and measures, and capacity-building, followed by the implementation of national policies and measures and national strategies or action plans that could involve further capacity-building, technology development and transfer and results- based demonstration activities, and evolving into results-based actions that should be fully measured, reported and verified”. The phased approach is also clear in the guidelines for technical submissions, which are subject to a facilitative assessment processes, allowing improvements to be made over time (this will be further detailed ahead). Assurance that mitigation results have indeed been achieved is a fundamental element for a results-based payment scheme. The processes for assessing the Forest Reference Levels and/or Forest Reference Emission Levels (FRL/FREL) decision 13/CP.19 and for Measuring, Reporting 1 Voigt, C. , & Ferreira, F. The Warsaw Framework for REDD+: Implications for National Implementation and Access to Results-based Finance. IN: Special Issue: The Legal Aspects of REDD+ Implementation: Translating the International Rules into Effective National Frameworks? Carbon & Climate Law Review, Volume 9, Issue 2 (2015). pp. 113 - 129 7 and Verifying (MRV) REDD+ results decision 14/CP.19 are essential to reduce uncertainties and to provide an adequate level of confidence in the system, with a view to attract scaled-up investments. In addition to defining technical rules and procedures, which will be discussed in more detail ahead, the WFR stated that support for REDD+ must be adequate and predictable and may come from “wide variety of sources, public and private, bilateral and multilateral, including alternative sources”2. The WFR places the Green Climate Fund in a key role for channeling and catalyzing financial resources for REDD+. 3 Decision 10/CP.19 invites interested Parties to designate a national entity or focal point to serve as a liaison