Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 26th, 2008- A network of organizations working on poverty alleviation and energy issues have launched Carbon Solidarity Asia (CSA), a grassroots initiative to gain a better deal for sustainable development projects in the carbon market.
Announcing the launch, Minh Cuong LE QUAN, head of international N.G.O. GERES’ Climate Change Unit said, “The world is waking up to the dangers of climate change. But resources are not flowing to the people who need them most.”
In response, organizations from eight countries representing both civil society and the private sector have agreed to assist each other to access carbon finance and scale-up existing energy projects.
Carbon Credits that change people’s lives
“CSA is an important development for the billions of people who are most affected by the negative impacts of climate change” said LE QUAN. “Simple technologies, like improved cooking stoves, are affordable to the poor and have the potential to reduce large quantities of greenhouse gases whilst providing a wide range of health and economic benefits to the users. Such projects can get a higher price for their carbon credits because buyers recognize these benefits.
“Previously, the only way to spread these technologies was through donor funding. With CSA and carbon finance we can now start seriously thinking about developing long-term programs across Asia disseminating very large numbers of improved technologies to those most vulnerable to climate change impacts.”
Ultimately, CSA intends to become a vocal player in the carbon
market, ushering in a new era of developing country participation in the climate change arena.
Founding members (countries):
– VERC Village Education Resource Centre (Bangladesh)
– CEDAC Centre d’Études et de Développement Agricole Cambodgien (Cambodia)
– GERES Groupe Energies Renouvelables, Environnement et Solidarités (France)
– ARTI Appropriate Rural Technology Institute (India)
– YDD Yayasan Dian Desa (Indonesia)
– CRT/N Centre for Rural Technologies (Nepal)
– APPROTECH Asia (Philippines)
– IDEA Integrated Development Association (Sri Lanka)
Supporting organizations:
– ADM Capital Foundation
– ARECOP
– ClimateCare/JP Morgan
– GoldStandard Foundation
– Pt. Jimbaran Lestari
– Rare
– Social Carbon
Quick facts:
???? Carbon finance is a new funding stream based on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
???? 2.5 billion people, especially the poorest, burn biomass everyday to cook their meals.
???? Women and children suffer the burden of collecting firewood, either as time spent or cash off their food budget.
???? Indoor air pollution from cooking is directly responsible for 1.6 million deaths every year (WHO 2006), especially pneumonia in children under five and pulmonary diseases in women over 30.
???? Rural cottage industries run out of business sending people to the slums when access to biomass energy decreases and costs increase.
?????“Carbon Solidarity Asia” will facilitate the flow of finance into projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by millions of tons of CO2 and improve the livelihoods of people across Asia.