The main goal of the seminar has been to increase understanding about the potential benefits, the added value and/or constraints for IFAD to link its operations to the carbon market (through both the CDM and the voluntary market) with the objective of benefiting ultimately the poor rural people.
The specific objectives of the seminar have been:
- To increase understanding about how IFAD could link its operations to the carbon market and what could be the added value for the rural poor people.
- To identify the areas and activities relevant to IFAD’s work, as suitable mitigation activities in its partner countries.
- To understand and assess the potential of existing market mechanisms for rural poverty reduction.
- To evaluate the possible issues and constraints related to linking IFAD’s operations to the carbon market.
The seminar has been facilitated by resource persons from the UNFCCC secretariat, the University of Zurich, the private sector and IFAD.
Seminar participants have been informed about options on how to work with rural people to address climate change mitigation and the possible benefits of the carbon market.
To focus on IFAD’s target group, the speakers provided concrete examples about the opportunities and the ways to involve poor rural communities in projects linked to the carbon market.
Interactive discussion sessions provided the opportunity to better understand and clarify the implications of linking an IFAD project to the carbon market.
Participants also gained an overview on how to sell emission reduction credits, thus converting the environmental benefits that contribute to climate change mitigation into cash flows.
The seminar has been articulated around three sessions:
- The CDM and potential for IFAD activities.
- The carbon market: getting poor rural people involved.
- Interactive discussion.
