Achievements and Highlights

In 2003–2004 IISD continued to undertake work that examines the linkages among adaptation, mitigation and sustainable development. These linkages are most obvious in the rural developing world, where energy deprivation is strongly linked to subsistence biomass energy dependency, deforestation and high ecosystem-level vulnerability to climatic stresses like floods and droughts. The climate change mitigation-adaptation nexus is an implicit element of the World Summit on Sustainable Development Water-Energy-Health-Agriculture-Biodiversity (WEHAB) agenda, but its potential has not yet been clearly identified. The synergies between mitigation and adaptation are practical, possible and provide an alternative way of addressing climate change—as complementary, not conflicting, responses that bridge the north-south divide over climate policy. IISD intends to expand its work in this area by exploring the potential for mitigation-adaptation synergies, such as decentralized renewable energy and ecosystem approaches to carbon sequestration, in developing countries, economies-in-transition and in OECD countries.

The TERI-Canada Energy Efficiency project was one of IISD's largest and longest-running projects. Beginning in 1997 and ending in 2003, the project undertook research into climate change policy in three different streams of activity. The first was the PEERS program which trained about 70 executives from corporate, government and other sectors in India on the issues of sustainable development. The second component involved research into the evolving Clean Development Mechanism, examining project possibilities and policy frameworks in India, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia and Canada. This work was undertaken in partnership with the Alberta-based Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development. The third component explored the kind of fiscal or economic instruments that governments in India and Canada could use to implement energy efficiency policies, and the development of some analytical tools to allow them to better understand the implications. Click here for the project Web site.

2003–2004 marked the end of the project called Climate Change and Economic Change in India: the Impacts on Agriculture. This project started in March 2001, with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency and the Government of Norway. IISD partnered with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), of Delhi, and the Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO), of Oslo. The project used a framework based on the concept of "double exposure," which relates to the dual impacts that certain regions or social groups will experience as a result of climate change and changes brought about by economic globalization. The partners identified vulnerable areas and social groups and assess the nature of that vulnerability. A macro-scale analysis developed a profile for India, emphasizing the dynamic nature of vulnerability to climate change within the context of economic changes. The focus on vulnerability was relevant in targeting policies aimed at poverty reduction in agricultural communities in India. Click here for the project Web site.

Over the last year, IISD continued to examine the role of sustainable livelihoods (SL) and ecosystem management and restoration (EM&R) activities in climate change adaptation. December 2003 marked the end of Phase One of the Livelihoods and Climate Change project with IUCN – The World Conservation Union, Stockholm Environment Institute – Boston (SEI-B) and Intercooperation. Apart from establishing important institutional and disciplinary linkages, Phase One yielded a range of case studies and desk assessments that identified and examined different types of SL and EM&R interventions that build community resilience to climate impacts. Phase Two was launched in January 2004. It involves the development, testing and implementation of an "adaptation toolkit" to help project managers determine the actual or potential impact of projects on adaptive capacity.

"The synergies between mitigation and adaptation are practical, possible and provide an alternative way of addressing climate change..."

As in many urban centres, the transportation sector is growing in Santiago, Chile, with a resulting rise in carbon emissions. Curbing the rate of growth will be a key component of sustainable development planning for the future. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) offers a possibility to increase funding for transportation projects, enhance local planning and project evaluation capacity, and expand technology transfer opportunities. IISD, in partnership with the Center for Clean Air Policy and Climate Change and Development Consultants, continues to run this project aimed at building the capacity of the Chilean transportation sector to use the CDM to address sustainable development goals. The project has developed three local case studies aimed at exploring the fit between the CDM and transportation, which are being used as part of a hands-on approach to capacity building. The project team and local stakeholders are preparing to host the final workshop and International Seminar in August 2004, where participants from the transportation, climate change and CDM communities will be invited to share in the lessons learned from the project and explore creative solutions to the challenges posed by increasing transportation emissions. Click here for the project Web site.

"IISD staff and associates have been actively involved over the past year in the development and design of national Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions trading system in Canada."

Whatever the outcome on the ratification of Kyoto, there is strong agreement that Kyoto represents but a first step in the global challenge to reverse human-induced greenhouse gas emission trends. IISD, in partnership with institutes from China, Germany, Norway, Japan and the U.S., is looking at a number of future climate regime scenarios: "deepening Kyoto commitments"; development-first scenarios; global emissions trading scenarios; and regional regimes. In addition, IISD is also examining scenarios for a future climate change policy framework for Canada.

IISD continues to provide a wide range of services related to climate change for corporate and government clients in Canada and abroad. The Institute provides briefings and strategic advice on the most current climate change developments nationally and internationally for decision-makers in Ottawa and for stakeholders throughout Canada. Clients include provincial governments and an expanding list of companies.

This past year, IISD acted as the Secretariat for the Task Force on Emissions Trading and the Manitoba Economy. This diverse group, chaired by Lloyd Axworthy, looked into the economic and environmental opportunities for Manitoba that could result from Canada's proposed domestic emissions trading system. IISD conducted the research for the Task Force, brought forward drafts of the report and managed the logistics. This is the first major report on how the proposed national system will affect a specific province. The report is available here.

IISD staff and associates have been actively involved over the past year in the development and design of the national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions trading system in Canada. Projects included:

• an analysis of transaction and administration costs for the proposed domestic offset system in Canada, and options for minimizing these costs, carried out for the Canadian federal government (with Marbek Resource Consultants and PricewaterhouseCoopers);

• organization and facilitation of a multi-stakeholder workshop on the key design elements of the large final emitter system;

• facilitation of a stakeholder technical advisory group that provided recommendations to a federal/provincial/territorial committee on a GHG reporting system for Canada; and

• facilitation and logistical support for a technical workshop on baselines and monitoring methodologies for Clean Development Mechanism/Joint Implementation projects, carried out for the Canadian federal government.