African Carbon Forum reaching out to Africa

African Carbon Forum reaching out to Africa
Ugonma Cokey, Germany

Planning is under way in earnest for the third Africa Carbon Forum (ACF), to be held in Marrakesh, Morocco, from 4-6 July, aimed at boosting carbon market activity in Africa. It will also commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Marrakech Accords, which kicked off implementation of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). 
 

The forum, which will bring together a broad range of stakeholders, will include match- and deal-making facilitation sessions that will allow potential CDM project participants and developers to showcase their projects to interested parties, including investors and carbon buyers.

The ACF is one of a number of initiatives of the Nairobi Framework, which was launched in November 2006 by then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to help increase the number of CDM projects in underrepresented regions, particularly sub-Sahara Africa.

While interest in the mechanism and the number of projects on the continent has grown, Africa still accounts for less than two percent of the more than 3,000 CDM projects registered to date.

Under the CDM, projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to sustainable development can earn saleable credits called certified emission reductions (CERs), each equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide. Countries with an emission reduction or limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol can use CERs to cover a part of that commitment.

Promotion of CDM

As part of its effort to increase the number of CDM projects in underrepresented areas, the secretariat has produced five broadcast-ready radio stories for dissemination to radio stations in Africa, with a view to making the CDM understandable and accessible to a broad audience.

The stories include a general overview of the benefits of the CDM to countries on the African continent, and tell the story of some projects already under way that are reducing emissions and contributing to sustainable development, including highly efficient wood stoves being produced and used in Nigeria, and solar panels being used by township households in South Africa.

So far, around 14 radio stations in Africa have requested to run the stories. The communications team is also developing a “radio club” to encourage African broadcasters to carry CDM stories and to produce stories about CDM projects in their own locations.

Qasim