Climate Change

Five reasons carbon markets won't work for agriculture

Carbon markets are viewed as the primary source of climate financing. The experience to date demands a reevaluation of their ability to exact real, sustainable change, particularly in relation to agriculture. Here are five reasons why poorly designed and regulated carbon markets should not be part of a global climate treaty.

Submission by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy on the cost-effectiveness of "market-based mechanisms" and their promotion of mitigation actions

The focus on market mechanisms is a dangerous distraction from the real work of finding agricultural practices that reduce emissions while ensuring food security, environmental integrity and rural livelihoods.

Inspiration from Egypt at the World Social Forum

Friday’s closing ceremony of the World Social Forum began with the news that Hosni Mubarak had resigned from office and led to a resounding cheer and celebration amongst the crowd. Egypt and Tunisia’s people-led struggles had reverberated throughout the forum with intermittent marches of Eyptians and those in solidarity.

Women at the Center of Climate-friendly Approaches to Agriculture and Water Use

Introduction

New US interagency study on carbon markets

On Tuesday, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission released an interagency study on carbon emissions markets. The 54-page study for the U.S. Congress was mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

A climate-friendly Farm Bill

We're in a rut when it comes to taking action on climate change. Congress has stalled on passing climate legislation. International negotiators failed to agree on binding emission cuts in Cancun late last year. And it's unclear whether the EPA will have the power to regulate greenhouse gases. Fortunately, we have a tool to help us make a real impact on slowing climate change: the Farm Bill.

Public Input for the Study Regarding the Oversight of Existing and Prospective Carbon Markets

Comment on issues to be considered by the interagency group in the CFTC carbon market study mandated by Section 750 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act).

Shefali Sharma on disappointing conclusion to Cancún talks

IATP's Shefali Sharma reports on why the "agreement" reached in Cancún is less than representative of the countries and civil society groups that attended the negotiations but were kept from the table.

The climate deal that failed us

“History will be the judge of what has happened in Cancún.” These are the last lines of the Bolivian Government’s press release yesterday about the outcome of the climate negotiations here in Cancún.

Empty global climate deal leaves agriculture behind

Cancun, Mexico – A watered-down United Nations climate deal reached early this morning missed another opportunity to support climate-resilient agriculture and global food security, according to the Minneapolis-based Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP).