 |
| Germany pledged $50 millions |
By Eric Marx, Science Insider, January 13, 2012
After receiving pledges totaling more than its goal of
$100 million by a year-end deadline, the Ecuadorian government last week
announced that it would move forward with the so-called Yasuni ITT Initiative,
an innovative plan to leave untapped
more than 900 million barrels of crude oil beneath a pristine Amazonian nature
reserve, in
exchange for annual international donations. Last summer, there were fears that
Germany would back away from a nearly
$50 million pledge to the effort, but $116 million in contributions has now been
collected from it, other foreign governments, individuals, and foundations,
according to Ivonne Baki, the head of the Yasuni ITT Initiative. "We've
created amazing momentum," says Baki. That momentum will be needed as the
Ecuadorian government has now set a new goal of securing $291 million in
contributions in both 2012 and 2013 to keep the initiative going.
Launched in mid-2010 after 3 years of technical
consultation, the Yasuni ITT project was lauded by foreign governments and
environmental groups as an innovative way to fight global warming: Not
exploiting the Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini (ITT) oilfields in Yasuni National
Park will, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
prevent the emissions of around 410 million metric tons of carbon dioxide—equivalent
to the annual emissions of France and accounting for 20% of Ecuador's known oil
reserves. The project could also prevent the extermination of at least two
indigenous tribes that live in voluntary isolation, while conserving a forested
area that scientists say is the most biodiverse place on earth.
But for a variety of reasons, donor countries initially
declined to support the initiative, which is supposed to be financed through a
trust fund overseen by UNDP. Many have questioned commitment of Ecuador's
President Rafael Correa, citing expanded oil and mining in other parts of the
Amazon. Still another impediment has been fear that the initiative's
"avoided emissions" strategy would lead to similar plans being
considered as part of future global warming/climate change treaty negotiations.
This last concern appeared to scare off Germany's
Secretary for Economic Cooperation and Development Gudrun Kopp, who in June
2011 told a German parliamentary commission that "a direct payment into a
fund of this type would set a precedent that could ultimately prove very
costly." Per the agreement signed with UNDP, however, Yasuni's precedent
is "very limited in scale," says Pamela Martin, author of Oil in the
Soil: The Politics of Paying to Preserve the Amazon. It only applies to
countries situated between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer which have
tropical forests, a certified high level of biodiversity, and a credible
program for investment in sustainable energy programs, she notes. Germany is
now tentatively back in the initiative, agreeing to a one-time, nonrefundable
commitment of $47 million in bilateral technical assistance to be paid over 3
years. The contribution is not an all out endorsement of Correa's vision, say
analysts, because Germany's monies will not pass through the UNDP Trust Fund
but will be invested instead directly in the park. The other funding committed
to the Ecuadorian Government amounted to approximately $69 million, including
pledges from provincial governments such as the Belgian region of Wallonia and
the French department of Meurthe-et-Moselle. The Initiative was previously open
to only governments and corporations pledging more $100,000. Now, individuals
and businesses wishing to contribute amounts as small as $25 may become
involved.
In Ecuador, Baki notes, a recent poll indicates that
nearly 90% of the public approves of the project. Baki says the next step is to
launch an aggressive advertising, social networking, and promotional campaign
focused on Europe, North America, and Australasia. Insiders say the new
strategy is an attempt to put public pressure on elected officials, while also
drawing upon the financial resources and discontent of a global population that
finds itself increasingly frustrated with slow-paced climate negotiations.
"The next 2 years are going to be telling because we know there is now
finally a budget to carry out a real publicity campaign," says Kevin
Koenig, the Amazon oil campaign coordinator for Amazon Watch based in Quito.
Koenig says environmental campaigners are deeply concerned about
stepped up drilling plans in other parts of the Ecuadorian Amazon but they see
merit in supporting the Yasuni Initiative as a means by which to enable Ecuador
to extricate itself from its current "oil debt trap." At present,
Ecuador relies upon oil income for more than half of its annual export revenue.
"If the world is so concerned about preserving biodiversity, protecting
indigenous rights and trying to find solutions to climate change, this proposal
merits support," he adds. "It's not perfect but, regardless, it's
important for Ecuador and the world."
No comments:
Post a Comment