This event celebrated the upcoming International Year of Forests 2011 and its theme of “Forests for People.” Jan McAlpine, UNFF, explained that the first panel was hosted by the Clinton Climate Initiative Forestry Program. Stephen Devenish, Clinton Foundation, noted that his Foundation has set up a number of REDD+ projects around the world, which strive for simultaneous sustainable forest management and poverty elimination.

Chea Sam Ang, Cambodia, discussed linking community-based natural resource management to carbon markets in Cambodia. He said his government supports REDD+ implementation with at least 50% of net benefits going to local communities. Yetti Rusli, Indonesia, described national initiatives on forests and climate change, emphasizing that it is possible to involve small polluters and villages. She noted the need to scale-up finance. Salvador Anta, Mexico, discussed his country’s projects on forests and climate, highlighting the “ProÁrbol” program, and the recently created commission for climate change.

McAlpine explained that the second panel was sponsored by the Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration. Stewart Maginnis, IUCN, stressed the potential for landscape restoration to deliver triple benefits for climate change by: reducing emissions; sequestering carbon; and helping rural people adapt to climate impacts. He cited a recent study that indicates that the level of livelihood dependence on forests is constantly underestimated and highlighted a recent IUCN project in Tanzania that delivered benefits for forests, agro-forestry, food security, climate, and women.

Cao Duc Phat, Vietnam, said his country is severely impacted by climate change, and highlighted a recent initiative on payments for forests, which provides opportunities for poor people to improve livelihoods by managing forests sustainably. John Liu, Environmental Education Media Project (EEMP), presented a short film made up of several of the films he is working on around the world. He noted his films document ecosystem function, dysfunction and best management practices around the world.

This event discussed the opportunities and challenges of standardizing the CDM. The event was moderated by Axel Michaelowa, Perspectives.

Paula Castro Pareja, University of Zurich, said standardization is not new in the CDM. She said one example of standardization uses predefined value parameters, which are applicable to many projects at once, such as grid emissions factors. She said standardization will increase efficiency of CDM projects and reduce transaction costs, which in turn will lead to an increase in project flows under the CDM. She explained that broader systemic improvements in standardization will improve the environmental integrity of the CDM and the distribution across host countries and project types.

Eva Maria Filzmoser, CDM Watch, said baselines must be independently verified by a third country to ensure they are not self-serving to the host country. She said scaling up CDM projects while ensuring environmental integrity is "very challenging." Filzmoser noted that standardization does not really address sustainable development but that there is potential to do so. She said taking precautions on the standardization of baselines is necessary.

Kim Carnahan, International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), said stringent baselines imposed on projects in LDCs are not conducive to furthering development in those countries.

Massamba Thioye, UNFCCC, outlined five methodological approaches for baseline setting, including: identification of baseline fuels; the technology switch approach; GHG emission factors; and displacement of GHG intensive products. He said the UNFCCC is developing a broad standardized approach for baseline setting.

Sarah Love, UK, said standardization is a way of improving access, efficiency and environmental integrity of CDM projects. Martin Cames, Energy and Climate Division Berlin, said finance to support CDM projects can be funded by governments and institutions with financial resources. Kimberly Todd, US, said standardization approaches are amenable to a diverse set of project types. Panelists discussed methodologies for standardization.

This event discussed Bangladesh’s vulnerability and ongoing activities to respond to climate change. Mihir Kanti Majumder, Bangledesh, moderated the event. Hasan Mahmud, Bangladesh, summarized climate impacts in Bangladesh. He said average loss in gross domestic product is more than 1% annually by most estimates, and stressed that Bangladesh is an “innocent victim” of climate change.

Ainun Nishat, Brac University, highlighted Bangladesh’s vulnerabilities including, sea level rise, increased intensity of cyclones, food security and salinity intrusion. He summarized the country’s efforts to address these issues, including its 2005 NAPA. He stressed that Bangladesh is making every effort to integrate climate change policy into all development planning processes. He said Bangladesh wants, inter alia: a legally-binding document; a 1.5 degree Celsius target in the long term; and immediate action on Fast Start finance.

After screening a documentary film on vulnerability in Bangladesh, Matthew Wyatt, UK, said the UK intends to spend 50% of its Fast Start finance on adaptation and that countries like Bangladesh should be prioritized in accessing these funds. William Breed, US, stressed the importance of economic growth, country ownership of decision-making, and “game changing investments” in addressing climate change.

Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Bangladesh, stressed the urgency of mitigation in addition to adaptation. He noted unity across the political spectrum in Bangladesh on climate change, stressing that his country sees climate change as the most important national security issue. He added that Bangladesh is a role model on adaptation, and underscored the importance of disaster preparedness.

Noting that mitigation is also important, Fatou Ndeye Gaye, the Gambia, stressed that adaptation is a top priority. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, said developed countries must act on their responsibilities in terms of reducing emissions and providing finance.

Participants discussed: whether or not the UK should provide loans or grants; if the Bangladesh Constitution will be amended to give a legal right to the environment; and innovative finance.

This event discussed the UN systems’ collective capacity and ability to support adaptation. Anote Tong, President of the Republic of Kiribati, chaired the event, underlining that the adverse effects of climate change will continue to impede sustainable development.

Xianfu Lu, UNFCCC, outlined the UNFCCC’s adaptation-related negotiating items, including under the AWG-LCA, Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), and SBSTA. She called for increased technical and institutional capacity and technological and financial support for adaptation.

Helen Clark, UNDP, said UNDP aims to put adaptation “at the heart” of national agendas and development strategies. She outlined UNDP’s work, including in 20 Small Island Developing States and 33 LDCs. Clark described UNDP's work enhancing: policy and planning; decision-making; finance accessibility; and knowledge building.

Michel Jarraud, WMO, said adaptation requires making “big decisions” between conflicting national priorities. Emphasizing the importance of information sharing, he said there is a significant need to strengthen global observation systems.

Axumite Gebre-Egziabher, UN HABITAT, discussed her organization’s Cities and Climate Change Initiative, noting that the majority of the world’s people live in urban areas, with one billion people living in slums. On adaptation needs, she listed, inter alia: city-wide vulnerability assessments; research on sustainable use of urban wetlands; and improved integration with urban planning.

Recalling the Hyogo Framework for Action on resilience adopted by 168 governments, Helena Molin Valdes, UNISDR, said her organization supports adaptation, reducing risk and enhancing resilience at national and sub-national levels. She presented the PreventionWeb, an information conduit between nations and UN agencies.

Stanlake Samkange, WFP, highlighted his role as coordinator of the UN Joint Programme on Climate Change in Uganda, which aims to better align UN work with government and regional development. He said WFP aims to do this at the national-, district-, and community-levels.

In the discussion, panelists commented on: capacity building; communication and response between UN agencies and governments; health; and cost-benefit analysis of UN climate projects.