From Promise to Practice: Assessing Global Carbon Markets

The Digital Development Dialogue (3D) seminar explores the gap between the promises and realities of global carbon markets focusing in particular on REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) projects within the voluntary carbon market. While nature-based solutions, particularly conservation projects under REDD+, constitute a significant share of carbon credits, their effectiveness and social impact have been widely debated.

The panelists will discuss the difficulties in establishing accurate counterfactuals for REDD+ projects and past errors that have led to a significant overestimation of actual emission avoidance. The seminar will also address the evolving discourse on the integrity crisis of the voluntary carbon markets. Aside from methodological challenges, the panelists will present insights into challenges such as inadequate benefit-sharing mechanisms, lack of community consent, and how these issues continue to persist also in newer projects.

The discussion aims to critically assess the climate and socio-economic impacts of the voluntray carbon markt and explore necessary reforms to improve its effectiveness and socioeconomic outcomes.

Panelists

• Prof. Dr. Jan Börner, University of Bonn

• Dr. Raymond Achu Samndong, The Tenure Facility

Moderator

Dr. Christoph Kubitza, GIGA