Please check the item that you consider is the best response to each question.
1.
One of the main stand that India has
taken on Kyoto Protocol is that of allocation of the atmospheric global commons
on per capita basis. To which the US and other industrialized countries say
that doing so is an incentive to increase population on a planet already
crowded beyond its carrying capacity. In other words, an American would say,
If you have a large population, should it mean that we should give some of our
land to you? Or water? Or forests? Then why ask for per capita air rights? Do
you think Indias claim is justified and will gain general acceptance?
Fully justified Fairly justified Somewhat justified Not justified
2.
Many developed countries believe
that the poorer and less developed nations are at the greatest risk of loss of
life and property as result of global warming since they are the ones who are
least prepared and have the least resources. To what extent do you agree with
this:
Fully Fairly Somewhat Not at all
3.
Developing countries believe that
dragging forestry into climate change negotiations is just one of the ways to
divert attention from the real issue of reduction of fossil fuel consumption
and stems from unwillingness of developed countries to change their lifestyles
or consumption pattern. To what extent do agree with this?
Fully Fairly Somewhat Not at all
4.
There is a risk that the developing
countries having no clear programs, strategies and technical understanding of
the process of global warming may never be able to participate at equal footing
in global negotiations. That is why the developed countries are toying with the
idea of Kyoto Protocol and the larger issue of climate change at their own pace
and in their own interest. To what extent do you agree to this view?
Fully Fairly Somewhat Not at all
5.
The most important objection that
the US and many other big players in climate change negotiations are raising
against the Kyoto Protocol is that leaving out giants such as China and India
with the largest populations and, in future, the largest likely polluters,
makes the Kyoto Protocol ineffective. While rising populations is a fact
admitted by all, to what extent do you agree that the carbon emissions of the
third worlds major economies will one day outgrow that of many of the
industrial economies?
Fully Fairly Somewhat Not at all
6.
According to the latest report on
Land-use, Land-use Change and Forestry by the IPCC, the forestry sector has a
potential of absorbing 12 to 15% of global emissions from fossil fuels during
the period 1995 to 2050. A predominant proportion of this potential lies in the
developing south, most of them poorer nations. Kyoto Protocol if implemented
has potential of bringing these forests into the mainstream global economy by
integrating their services with the strategic and core market processes in most
nations of the North. Do you think such an interplay of subsistence and market
economies will be mutually beneficial?
Yes, for sure Fairly likely I am not sure No, for sure
7.
It is believed by experts that the
competitiveness of CDM projects in forestry sector will decline vis-ΰ-vis CDM
projects in other (mainly energy) sectors within a decade. This is because new
and more efficient methods of economizing energy-use will be developed by
market forces. As a result, it will be possible for the industrialized
countries to meet their commitments within their economy and the need for
investing in forests outside will be so much less. Going by this, if India (or
the third world as a whole) does not act quickly to take advantage of this
opportunity now (estimated at $1.50 bn in investments every year), it may soon
be too late. To what extent do you agree with this view?
Fully Fairly Somewhat Not at all
8.
Which forestry activities in India do you think have the
greatest potential for attracting CDM investments, considering all the
technological, methodological, institutional and operational constraints and
strengths? Please put in order of decreasing importance from amongst: (i)
Agroforestry (ii) Biofuels / energy plantations (iii) Forest improvement /
re-stocking of natural forests (iv) forest utilisation / storage management.
9.
Concurrent concerns for forest
conservation include a countrys commitment to Forest Principles (sustainable
forest management), Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention to Combat
Desertification, Ramsar Convention (on wetlands), and Rio Declaration. Once the
economics of CDM projects is seen to be attractive, there are chances that all
these concerns may be forgotten in search of funds. This is one of the major
concerns that gravitate against CDM projects in forestry sector. Do you think
this is likely to happen in the case of India?
Yes, for sure Fairly likely I am not sure No, for sure
10. Though the amount of carbon sequestered in a given forest, for example,
can easily be measured, the changes in carbon stock over time are more
difficult to keep track of. In such as situation, verifiability and monitoring
feasibility will become the key indicators of readiness of any country to take
advantage of the carbon market. In India there hardly are any data available
even on the growing stock, not to talk of changes in carbon stock over time. Do
you think it will be possible for India to get ready to take advantage of
carbon credits within say next 5 years?
Yes, for sure Fairly likely I am not sure No, for sure
Methodological and Institutional Issues
11. If the projected carbon markets grow full-fledged, these will involve
exchange of many billions of dollars over the next few decades at least. In
this new gold rush, many underdeveloped countries (and within these countries
the most vulnerable people) will be at a disadvantage for not being prepared or
having positioned themselves to a vantage point. This is likely to increase
international as well as intra-national disparity in a world already ridden
with extreme inequalities of access to resources and opportunities. To what
extent do you subscribe to this view?
Fully Fairly Somewhat Not at all
12. CDM forestry will be driven by big cash incentives and in this process
many larger concerns such as protection of biodiversity and protective
functions of the natural ecosystems may get ignored, or worse still,
imperilled. To what extent do you think such concerns are valid and realistic?
Fully Fairly Somewhat Not at all
13. Advocates of sound CDM investments (that is, investments for
sequestrering carbon) argue that CDM projects in forestry sector should be used
only in cases where non-economic impediments are the principle cause of forest
degradation. That is, carbon funds should not be used to subsidise unviable
economic activities (a standard practice in most developing countries). In
India which impediments do you perceive to be the biggest bottlenecks in
preservation of forests, economic non-viability or non-economic impediments
(e.g. bad policies, inequities)?
economic non-viability non-economic impediments Both
I am not sure
14. Advocates of sound CDM investments argue that CDM projects in forestry
sector should be used only in cases where there is already an existing
commitment to conservation of forests (to avoid perverse incentives), that is,
where forest conservation is already high in national development priorities.
At what level do you think India places its concern for conservation of forests
in its agenda of national priorities?
High
Middle
Low Not sure
15. For successful implementation of CDM projects in forestry sector it will
be necessary to ensure (and this may be a part of terms of agreements)
participation of the entire spectrum of stakeholders such as governments
(national, provincial and local), forest dwelling communities, forest industry,
intermediaries and NGOs, and experts or specialists in forestry, biodiversity,
social science, law, energy, and climate change. Do you think there is a
governance structure in place in India that has reasonable possibility of
assuring such a participation by all stakeholders on an equitable basis?
Yes, for sure Fairly likely I am not sure No, for sure
16. Political
support and economic stability are two chief criteria that the current
investors in CDM projects are taking into account in various pilot projects
around the world. Do you think that, in India, the political executive, the
professional manager, and the public at large are, firstly, aware of the pros
and cons of such investments, and secondly, will welcome/agree to CDM projects
in forestry sector?
Yes, for sure Fairly likely I am not sure No, for sure
17. List five major benefits that India may derive by participating in CDM
projects.
18. List five major risks/drawbacks that India attracts if it participates
in CDM projects.
19. List five best suggestions of yours for making CDM projects in India
successful, if India ever joins this program.
20. List five best project ideas which you think can contribute most to meaningful
participation of Indias forestry sector in CDM arena, if and when India decides
to participate in it.
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