Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Chris Bennett
Table of Contents
Table of Contents.................................................................. 1
Section 1: Introduction and Context.......................................2
Section 2: Research Questions and Methods...........................3
Section 3: Results.................................................................3
Climate and Development: The Growing Consensus........................................3
Existing Best Practice ......................................................................................5
Mitigation Best Practice ...............................................................................5
Adaptation Best Practice..............................................................................6
Improving MCC’s Environmental Practices.......................................................7
Section 4: Conclusions .......................................................... 8
Section 5: Appendices...........................................................9
APPENDIX I: Mitigation Best Practice in Detail..................................................9
Appendix II: Adaptation Best Practice in Detail..............................................11
APPENDIX III: Matrix of Best Practices at Multilateral and US Development
Banks (First Intern Research Product)...........................................................14
Appendix IV: Screening and Decision Tools for Adaptation and Mitigation
(Second Intern Research Project) ..................................................................16
Works Cited........................................................................17
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I interned at the MCC from January 2009 until the end of March 2009,
and during my time there completed an extensive research review on
best practice for low-carbon development (more precisely, for
mitigation and adaptation in developing countries). This research
helped me to craft several smaller research products, and eventually
to contribute to a memo which aimed to help spur the adoption of
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The research methods I’ve used are two-fold. The first is a literature
review; my internship involved compiling the existing knowledge and
policies of donors giving development aid. This method is the
foundation for all the policies, examples, and recommendations listed.
The second method is that of a case-study, in which I’ve treated the
process of the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s internal climate
reform as another point of analysis. I’ve employed this perspective to
draw more general conclusions.
Section 3: Results
Climate and Development: The Growing Consensus
Practitioners, politicians, and academics in development traditionally
considered environmental concerns to be a luxury relative to the
importance of growth. Often, greener practices were viewed as
“levying a tax on those least able to afford it” (McKee). This
prioritization was based on the assumption that environmental and
economic outcomes are largely separable. The implications of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 4th report and the Stern
Review on the Economics of Climate Change, however, made it clear
that this notion was untenable. The idea that developmental priorities
are opposed to climactic ones ultimately ignored the fact that low-
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carbon trajectories for development would be the ones that would work
in the coming years (Baer and Athanasiou).
The notion that the adverse effects of climate on the developing world
could erase the expected gains of development organizations provided
a more tangible foundation for the argument, and consensus on the
issue gained institutional traction within the World Bank following the
meeting of the parties in Bali in December 2007. Consensus was
articulated in the World Bank’s Strategic Framework for Climate
Change document, released in early 2008: “climate change has the
potential to reverse the hard-earned development gains of the past
decades and the progress toward achieving the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs)” (The World Bank). The fact that the World
Bank’s 2009 World Development Report is focused entirely on
Development and Climate Change demonstrates this sea change in
perception. The report explicitly states that climate change must
become one of the bank’s fundamental strategies in the 21st century,
as a “multilateral institution whose mission is inclusive and sustainable
development” (The World Bank).
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In the medium to long term, the MCC should codify its own sourcebook
for adaptation to climate risks as it learns from its experiences with
available adaptation frameworks and sector guidance. MCC may wish
to revise guidelines and compacts to reflect country and project
specific strategies that will integrate vulnerability to climate risks.
National strategies have served a key link in scaling adaptation to the
level of country-specific guidance, and MCC should work with partner
countries to help them develop and implement their own national
adaptation policies and strategies. Funding could take place
independently, but MCC could also consider meeting additional costs
through GEF, CIF, or other funds.
Section 4: Conclusions
The Millennium Challenge Corporation has a unique position; it is not a
typical aid donor, and has a reputation for innovation. Moreover, as a
government corporation that operates in partial insulation from
partisan demands, it has an opportunity to take a relatively bold
environmental stance on the interconnectedness of climate and
development. In this conclusion section, I want to pose the broader
question of why this has not happened, as well as suggest some future
directions.
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There isn’t an easy way to get around the glacial pace of government,
but there is hope that change in government priorities will trickle
down. The Obama administration has indicated that action on climate
is a priority, yet significant government positioning on the international
aspects of climate will only become evident after the dust from
Copenhagen has settled. Moreover, change in international financial
mechanisms for climate can only help. Cameron Hepburn suggests
that the Clean Development Mechanism has always been a relatively
controversial mechanism; in addition to the disputed validity of its
emissions reductions, transaction costs are very high (Hepburn).
Because of this hassle and cost, organizations like MCC have had a
disincentive to participate. The incentive for it to be significantly
reformed and redesigned is strong, and assuming this happens, donor
agencies will be far more likely to adopt it as a financial instrument.
Section 5: Appendices
APPENDIX I: Mitigation Best Practice in Detail
I. Best practice for a low carbon trajectory
i. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Accounting
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Yes. OPIC No, but Energy and Not published Assess every No Must reduce
will report projects are operational project; all GHG
OPIC GHG evaluated efficiency, those in emission in
emissions and co- forestation, industrial portfolio by
for all financed so and recovery sectors or 20% over 10
current and as to and storage of sensitive years
new >100 emphasize GHG must
kt CO2 clean undergo EIA
emitting energy under US or
projects1 WBG
standard2
Ex-Im Yes. No. Ex-Im Environmental Not published All projects > Yes, Not
Projects still finances Exports 10 million if published
>50 carbon Program undergo 98%
kilotons will intensive provides environment S02
be tracked, projects finance for al screening; remo
and carbon thermal EIA and WBG val
accounted power4 categorizatio
for in n
Annual
Report3
World No. In 2007, No; conflict GEF several Funds under Safeguard Yes Under
Bank almost 50% of interest billion $ GEF; GFDRR, Policies6 Operational
Group of lending with market Climate Directive 4.01
was made developmen development; Change must minimize
without any t, but manage 11 Initiative global
consideratio exploring it carbon funds. Grant, LCDF, environmental
n of climate for future Increase SFCCD5 impact7
change sue efficiency and
renewable
lending
20%/yr.
1
OPIC Greenhouse Gas/Clean Energy Initiative, June 14 2007
2
OPIC Handbook, p. 7
3
Ex-Im, Environmental Procedures and Guidelines
4
Ex-Im, Environmental Procedures and Guidelines, Annex F
5
Toward a Strategic Framework on Climate Change and Development for the World Bank Group, p. 19
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World Bank Operational Policy (OP) Bank Procedure (BP) 4.01: Environmental Assessment
7
Chapter 2, Global and Cross Sectoral Issues in Environmental Assessment, p. 3
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IFC Yes, > 100 No, but Sustainable Access to GEF Performance Yes Must
kt CO2 actively Infrastructure Adaptation Standards on evaluate
requires looking into Plan and Fund, Social and GHG
assessment adopting it partnership specializing in Environment emissions
, and with GEF/WBG energy and al under Kyoto;
documente carbon tech transfer9 Sustainabilit must reduce
d yearly8 finance y10 or offset11
EBRD Yes. Screen No; yet Sustainable Not published High risk Yes; Client must
all projects, many new Energy requires w. promote
any above projects Initiative. Env’t assess biom reduction of
20 kt Co2/yr include Total costs of (Referral, ass GHG
requires white/green €5 billion Category A)13 emissions;
mitigation12 certificates, Carbon Credit to reduce C
new finance Fund to intensity14
mechanisms administer
new EU
carbon
finance
ADB Informally; No. Yet the Clean Energy Climate ADB No, In the mid-
through EEI, Carbon Partnership, Change Fund Environment after term,
projects are market $90m, Carbon (CCF): $40 al EEI managing
assessed, initiative Market million, Assessment the
monitored provides Initiative/Futur Disaster Guidelines; environment
and then upfront e Carbon Emergency assigned one is one of the
offset15 financing, Fund, Energy Funds, of 4 project bank’s 5
emphasizing Efficiency climate categories strategic
RE projects Initiative proofing for priorities
1bn/y monitoring
IADB Yes. In 2005 No. But via Fund clean Adaptation Environment Yes Sustainable
surveyed SECCI, clean energy/technolo branch of and Energy and
GHG from energy gy up to $1.5 SECCI focuses Safeguards Climate
private alternatives Billion/yr16, on national Compliance Change
sector prioritized especially programs Policy Initiative
portfolio, biofuels, (SECCI) is a
now support Carbon core bank-
formalizing Finance wide initiative
process process17
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http://www.ifc.org/ifcext/sustainability.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/p_2005SustReport_GHG/
$FILE/GHG_Inventory_Final.pdf
9
Toward a Strategic Framework on Climate Change and Development for the World Bank Group, p. 25
10
http://www.ifc.org/ifcext/sustainability.nsf/Content/EnvSocStandards
11
IFC Guidance Notes 2007, p. 70
12
ERBD Greenhouse Gas Assessment Methodology, February 2005, p. 2
13
ERDB, Environmental Risk Categorization List 2008, p. 1
14
EBRD, Environment and Social Policy, p. 29
15
Energy Efficiency Initiative Brief, ADB
16
The Multilateral Banks and the Climate Change Agenda, p. 11
17
http://www.iadb.org/secci/projects.cfm?lang=en
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AfDB No; a No; trust Climate Support 5-10 Environment Yes Clean Energy
working funds in Investment adaptations/yr al Safeguard Investment
group is developmen Facility; Clean by 2010 via Policy using Framework for
attempting t for Energy CIF for climate ESIA tools Africa, directs
to formalize financing Financing proofing; focus
process low-carbon Partnership CECAFA fund
alternatives Facility for RE in
development19
18
The Multilateral Banks and the Climate Change Agenda, p. 12
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The Multilateral Banks and the Climate Change Agenda, p. 36
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Works Cited
Asian Development Bank. Strengthening Mitigation and Adaptation in
Asia and the Pacific. Brief. Washington, DC: Asian Development Bank,
2008.
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