Experiences of host communities with carbon market projects: towards multi-level climate justice

The literature on equity and justice in climate change mitigation has largely focused on North–South relations and equity between states. However, some initiatives (e.g. the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation programme (REDD), and voluntary carbon markets (VCMs)) are already establishing multi-level governance structures that involve communities from developing countries in global mitigation efforts. This poses new equity and justice dilemmas: how the burdens and benefits of mitigation are shared across various levels and how host communities are positioned in multi-level governance structures. A review of the existing literature is used to distill a framework for distinguishing between four axes of climate justice from the perspective of communities. Empirical evidence from African and Asian carbon market projects is used to assess the distributive and procedural justice implications for host communities. The evidence suggests that host communities often benefit little from carbon market projects and find it difficult to protect their interests. Capacity building, attention to local power relations, supervision of business practices, promotion of projects with primarily development aims and an active involvement of non-state actors as bridges between local communities and the national/international levels could potentially contribute towards addressing some of the key justice concerns.Policy relevance International negotiations on the institutional frameworks that are envisaged to govern carbon markets are proceeding at a rather slow pace. As a consequence, host countries and private-sector actors are making their own arrangements to safeguard the interests of local communities. While several standards have emerged to guide carbon market activity on the ground, distributive as well as procedural justice concerns nevertheless remain salient. Four empirical case studies across Asia and Africa show that within the multi-scale and multi-actor carbon market governance, local-level actors often lack sufficient agency to advance their claims and protect their interests. This evidence suggests that ameliorating policy reforms are needed to enhance the positioning of local communities. Doing so is important to ensure future acceptability of carbon market activity in potential host communities as well as for ensuring their broader legitimacy.     

The cooperation strategies of fisheries between Taiwanese purse seiners and Pacific Island Countries

The tuna industry in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) is one of the most valuable fisheries in the world. Taiwan has a long fishing history and is one of the major distant water fishing nations in the surrounding area. This study aimed to review the historical cooperation structure between Taiwanese purse seiners and Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Data were collected by literature analysis and semi-standardized in-depth interviews with experts. The results showed that since 1982, the Taiwanese purse seiners have developed and signed bilateral access agreements with seven PICs under a variety of formats. The fisheries access and licensing arrangements have been transformed to a Vessel Day Scheme (VDS); as a result, the access fees have increased rapidly since 2010. Taiwanese industries have invested in facilities and share ownership with some PICs. Moreover, the Taiwanese purse seiner industries have proclaimed their willingness to follow the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission conservation measures and stated that they will cooperate with PICs. They hold conservative views, however, regarding the further transfer of ownership to PICs. For the conservation of tuna resources in the WCPO, distant water fishing nations and PICs should cooperate to limit fishing capacity and ensure that the access fee benefits PICs.