2009 Amsterdam Conference on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Accountability and Legitimacy — 3: Integrated Climate Governance: Accountability and Effectiveness. Room 4 Edammerzaal

This paper focuses on carbon mitigation and biodiversity conservation in the context of the UN initiative for Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation in Developing countries (REDD). The design of REDD is important as it is has the potential to channel a great deal of the international funding that is going to be available for future environmental problem solving in developing countries. The most important multilateral environmental funding mechanism is the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which also has a basic structural similarity to the emerging REDD. Hence, this is a good starting point for drawing lessons of relevance to the design of REDD. While the major share of GEF co-financing goes to climate change projects, poor countries tend to have greater need for biodiversity projects and related capacity building. This speaks of limited legitimacy and is largely due to the role of key actors and the organisational structure of GEF, which do not encourage coalitions for addressing environmental problems in the poorest developing countries. The institutional setting of REDD in the UNFCCC may enhance this trend as the UNFCCC has limited socioeconomic concerns. In favour of utilising this similar organisation structure, is the scope for donor trust, for bringing in established competence and a comprehensive approach to the design of REDD. Still, in order to achieve permanence and commitment, REDD must be vary of catering to a Northern environmental agenda only.