new details on REDD in Waxman/Markey bill

Here is some of the latest information on REDD in the US House legislation. Click title to connect and here is the relevant text:

Supplemental Reductions from Preventing Tropical Deforestation: 5% of allowances will be allocated from 2012 through 2025 to prevent tropical deforestation and build capacity to generate international deforestation offsets. By 2020, this program will achieve additional emission reductions equivalent to 10% of U.S. emissions in 2005. From 2026 through 2030, 3% of allowances will be allocated to this program. In 2031 and thereafter, 2% will be allocated to this program.

copenhagen church and jazz

53 groups join on global warming principles: details short

53 environmental organizations have published a "National Call to Action on Global Warming". The band of 53 have called for deep cuts in global warming pollution. 6 groups apparently didn't sign on.

It is great all these groups can start from the same page, especially as opposition to sane climate change policy builds. I would have liked to see more content in the National Call to Action, especially given how much staff time and resources probably went into the effort. For instance, the part of the National Call to Action" on tropical forests and climate change simply says:

"...financial incentives and other programs are
needed to ensure reductions in domestic and international deforestation and forest
degradation; international deforestation alone contributes about 20 percent of
worldwide emissions. These incentives and programs should protect biodiversity and
the rights of Indigenous Peoples."

This is great. Like-minded groups drinking from the same chalice is definetly a good thing. But at this point in time, with UN and US policy moving fast and into complicated terrain, broad statements like the one above are probably going to have little impact.

What TFG is going to focus on are clear, specific and detailed proposals on how to include tropical forest carbon into US and international policies. Other (smaller) coalitions are also working on specific proposals on REDD/international forest carbon, notably the Forest Carbon Dialogue. You can find out more here and here.

For another critical view from a different perspective on the 53 groups coming together (and 6 groups that did not join the statement), see the grist column Motion to Reconsider by Ken Ward.

The full list of endorsers of the National Call To Action includes: 1Sky, ACORN, Audubon, Catholic Healthcare West, Center for International Environmental Law, Ceres, Clean Water Action, Climate Law and Policy Project, Climate Protection Campaign, Climate Solutions, Defenders of Wildlife, Democracia USA, Earthjustice, Eco-Equity, Ecology Center, Energize America, Energy Action Coalition, Environment America, Environment and Energy Study Institute, Environment Northeast, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Green for All, Greenpeace, Health Professionals for Clean Air, Hip Hop Caucus, ICLEI USA, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Interfaith Power and Light, International Forum on Globalization, Kyoto USA, League of Conservation Voters, League of Women Voters, League of Young Voters, Massachusetts Climate Action Network, National Hispanic Environmental Council, National Teach-In on Global Warming Solutions, National Wildlife Federation, Oceana, Oxfam, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Progressive Future, Public Citizen, Religious Witness for the Earth, Rock the Vote, SEED Coalition, Sierra Club, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Teleosis Institute, The Humane Society of the United States, The Student Public Interest Research Groups, The Wilderness Society, Union of Concerned Scientists