• Energy Research

In this article, we reflect on the work of contemporary Brazilian indigenous artists and philosophers who have developed an Amerindian critique of the Anthropocene and the climate emergency. Based on research co-produced by the Another Sky research project, poetry, performance, and orality are discussed as routes of an emergent epistemological turn in the face of the inevitable challenges that lie ahead. Through indigenous thought expressed in aesthetic manifestations, we discuss critical analysis of the current situation, as well as imaginaries of future social and ecological conditions needed for climate justice, epistemiological justice, and protection of life in the broadest sense.

In this article, we reflect on the work of contemporary Brazilian indigenous artists and philosophers who have developed an Amerindian critique of the Anthropocene and the climate emergency. Based on research co-produced by the Another Sky research project, poetry, performance, and orality are discussed as routes of an emergent epistemological turn in the face of the inevitable challenges that lie ahead. Through indigenous thought expressed in aesthetic manifestations, we discuss critical analysis of the current situation, as well as imaginaries of future social and ecological conditions needed for climate justice, epistemiological justice, and protection of life in the broadest sense.

Le changement climatique et les taux élevés d'émissions mondiales de carbone ont attiré l'attention sur la nécessité de systèmes de surveillance de haute qualité pour évaluer la quantité de carbone présente dans les systèmes terrestres et son évolution dans le temps. Le choix du système à adopter doit être guidé par une bonne science. Il existe un nombre croissant d'informations scientifiques et techniques sur les méthodes de mesure du carbone au sol et par télédétection. L'adéquation et la comparabilité de ces différents systèmes n'ont pas été pleinement évaluées. Un examen systématique comparera les méthodes d'évaluation des stocks de carbone et des changements des stocks de carbone dans les principales catégories d'utilisation des terres, y compris les terres forestières, les terres cultivées, les prairies et les zones humides, dans les réservoirs de carbone terrestres qui peuvent être pris en compte dans le protocole de Kyoto (biomasse aérienne, biomasse souterraine, bois mort, litière et carbone du sol). L'évaluation du carbone dans les produits ligneux récoltés ne sera pas prise en compte dans cette revue. L'élaboration de stratégies d'atténuation efficaces pour réduire les émissions de carbone et de stratégies d'adaptation équitables pour faire face à l'augmentation des températures mondiales reposera sur des informations scientifiques solides et exemptes de biais imposés par les intérêts nationaux et commerciaux. Un examen systématique des méthodes utilisées pour évaluer les stocks de carbone et les variations des stocks de carbone contribuera à l'analyse transparente d'une science complexe et souvent contradictoire. El cambio climático y las altas tasas de emisiones globales de carbono han centrado la atención en la necesidad de sistemas de monitoreo de alta calidad para evaluar cuánto carbono está presente en los sistemas terrestres y cómo cambian con el tiempo. La elección del sistema a adoptar debe guiarse por la buena ciencia. Existe un creciente cuerpo de información científica y técnica sobre los métodos de medición de carbono basados en tierra y de teledetección. La idoneidad y comparabilidad de estos diferentes sistemas no se han evaluado completamente. Una revisión sistemática comparará los métodos de evaluación de las reservas de carbono y los cambios en las reservas de carbono en las categorías clave de uso de la tierra, incluidas las tierras forestales, las tierras de cultivo, los pastizales y los humedales, en los depósitos de carbono terrestre que se pueden contabilizar en virtud del protocolo de Kyoto (biomasa sobre el suelo, biomasa subterránea, madera muerta, basura y carbono del suelo). La evaluación del carbono en los productos de madera recolectada no se considerará en esta revisión. El desarrollo de estrategias de mitigación efectivas para reducir las emisiones de carbono y estrategias de adaptación equitativas para hacer frente al aumento de las temperaturas globales se basará en información científica sólida que esté libre de sesgos impuestos por intereses nacionales y comerciales. Una revisión sistemática de los métodos utilizados para evaluar las reservas de carbono y los cambios en las reservas de carbono contribuirá al análisis transparente de la ciencia compleja y, a menudo, contradictoria. Climate change and high rates of global carbon emissions have focussed attention on the need for high-quality monitoring systems to assess how much carbon is present in terrestrial systems and how these change over time. The choice of system to adopt should be guided by good science. There is a growing body of scientific and technical information on ground-based and remote sensing methods of carbon measurement. The adequacy and comparability of these different systems have not been fully evaluated. A systematic review will compare methods of assessing carbon stocks and carbon stock changes in key land use categories, including, forest land, cropland, grassland, and wetlands, in terrestrial carbon pools that can be accounted for under the Kyoto protocol (above- ground biomass, below-ground biomass, dead wood, litter and soil carbon). Assessing carbon in harvested wood products will not be considered in this review. Developing effective mitigation strategies to reduce carbon emissions and equitable adaptation strategies to cope with increasing global temperatures will rely on robust scientific information that is free from biases imposed by national and commercial interests. A systematic review of the methods used for assessing carbon stocks and carbon stock changes will contribute to the transparent analysis of complex and often contradictory science. ركز تغير المناخ وارتفاع معدلات انبعاثات الكربون العالمية الاهتمام على الحاجة إلى أنظمة مراقبة عالية الجودة لتقييم كمية الكربون الموجودة في الأنظمة الأرضية وكيفية تغيرها بمرور الوقت. يجب أن يسترشد اختيار النظام الذي يجب اعتماده بالعلم الجيد. هناك مجموعة متزايدة من المعلومات العلمية والتقنية حول طرق الاستشعار الأرضي وعن بعد لقياس الكربون. لم يتم تقييم مدى كفاية هذه الأنظمة المختلفة وقابليتها للمقارنة بشكل كامل. ستقارن المراجعة المنهجية طرق تقييم مخزونات الكربون وتغيرات مخزون الكربون في الفئات الرئيسية لاستخدام الأراضي، بما في ذلك أراضي الغابات والأراضي الزراعية والمراعي والأراضي الرطبة، في مجمعات الكربون الأرضية التي يمكن حسابها بموجب بروتوكول كيوتو (الكتلة الحيوية فوق الأرض والكتلة الحيوية تحت الأرض والحطب والقمامة وكربون التربة). لن يتم النظر في تقييم الكربون في منتجات الخشب المقطوع في هذه المراجعة. سيعتمد وضع استراتيجيات تخفيف فعالة للحد من انبعاثات الكربون واستراتيجيات التكيف المنصفة للتعامل مع ارتفاع درجات الحرارة العالمية على معلومات علمية قوية خالية من التحيزات التي تفرضها المصالح الوطنية والتجارية. ستساهم المراجعة المنهجية للطرق المستخدمة لتقييم مخزونات الكربون وتغيرات مخزون الكربون في التحليل الشفاف للعلوم المعقدة والمتناقضة في كثير من الأحيان.

Le changement climatique et les taux élevés d'émissions mondiales de carbone ont attiré l'attention sur la nécessité de systèmes de surveillance de haute qualité pour évaluer la quantité de carbone présente dans les systèmes terrestres et son évolution dans le temps. Le choix du système à adopter doit être guidé par une bonne science. Il existe un nombre croissant d'informations scientifiques et techniques sur les méthodes de mesure du carbone au sol et par télédétection. L'adéquation et la comparabilité de ces différents systèmes n'ont pas été pleinement évaluées. Un examen systématique comparera les méthodes d'évaluation des stocks de carbone et des changements des stocks de carbone dans les principales catégories d'utilisation des terres, y compris les terres forestières, les terres cultivées, les prairies et les zones humides, dans les réservoirs de carbone terrestres qui peuvent être pris en compte dans le protocole de Kyoto (biomasse aérienne, biomasse souterraine, bois mort, litière et carbone du sol). L'évaluation du carbone dans les produits ligneux récoltés ne sera pas prise en compte dans cette revue. L'élaboration de stratégies d'atténuation efficaces pour réduire les émissions de carbone et de stratégies d'adaptation équitables pour faire face à l'augmentation des températures mondiales reposera sur des informations scientifiques solides et exemptes de biais imposés par les intérêts nationaux et commerciaux. Un examen systématique des méthodes utilisées pour évaluer les stocks de carbone et les variations des stocks de carbone contribuera à l'analyse transparente d'une science complexe et souvent contradictoire. El cambio climático y las altas tasas de emisiones globales de carbono han centrado la atención en la necesidad de sistemas de monitoreo de alta calidad para evaluar cuánto carbono está presente en los sistemas terrestres y cómo cambian con el tiempo. La elección del sistema a adoptar debe guiarse por la buena ciencia. Existe un creciente cuerpo de información científica y técnica sobre los métodos de medición de carbono basados en tierra y de teledetección. La idoneidad y comparabilidad de estos diferentes sistemas no se han evaluado completamente. Una revisión sistemática comparará los métodos de evaluación de las reservas de carbono y los cambios en las reservas de carbono en las categorías clave de uso de la tierra, incluidas las tierras forestales, las tierras de cultivo, los pastizales y los humedales, en los depósitos de carbono terrestre que se pueden contabilizar en virtud del protocolo de Kyoto (biomasa sobre el suelo, biomasa subterránea, madera muerta, basura y carbono del suelo). La evaluación del carbono en los productos de madera recolectada no se considerará en esta revisión. El desarrollo de estrategias de mitigación efectivas para reducir las emisiones de carbono y estrategias de adaptación equitativas para hacer frente al aumento de las temperaturas globales se basará en información científica sólida que esté libre de sesgos impuestos por intereses nacionales y comerciales. Una revisión sistemática de los métodos utilizados para evaluar las reservas de carbono y los cambios en las reservas de carbono contribuirá al análisis transparente de la ciencia compleja y, a menudo, contradictoria. Climate change and high rates of global carbon emissions have focussed attention on the need for high-quality monitoring systems to assess how much carbon is present in terrestrial systems and how these change over time. The choice of system to adopt should be guided by good science. There is a growing body of scientific and technical information on ground-based and remote sensing methods of carbon measurement. The adequacy and comparability of these different systems have not been fully evaluated. A systematic review will compare methods of assessing carbon stocks and carbon stock changes in key land use categories, including, forest land, cropland, grassland, and wetlands, in terrestrial carbon pools that can be accounted for under the Kyoto protocol (above- ground biomass, below-ground biomass, dead wood, litter and soil carbon). Assessing carbon in harvested wood products will not be considered in this review. Developing effective mitigation strategies to reduce carbon emissions and equitable adaptation strategies to cope with increasing global temperatures will rely on robust scientific information that is free from biases imposed by national and commercial interests. A systematic review of the methods used for assessing carbon stocks and carbon stock changes will contribute to the transparent analysis of complex and often contradictory science. ركز تغير المناخ وارتفاع معدلات انبعاثات الكربون العالمية الاهتمام على الحاجة إلى أنظمة مراقبة عالية الجودة لتقييم كمية الكربون الموجودة في الأنظمة الأرضية وكيفية تغيرها بمرور الوقت. يجب أن يسترشد اختيار النظام الذي يجب اعتماده بالعلم الجيد. هناك مجموعة متزايدة من المعلومات العلمية والتقنية حول طرق الاستشعار الأرضي وعن بعد لقياس الكربون. لم يتم تقييم مدى كفاية هذه الأنظمة المختلفة وقابليتها للمقارنة بشكل كامل. ستقارن المراجعة المنهجية طرق تقييم مخزونات الكربون وتغيرات مخزون الكربون في الفئات الرئيسية لاستخدام الأراضي، بما في ذلك أراضي الغابات والأراضي الزراعية والمراعي والأراضي الرطبة، في مجمعات الكربون الأرضية التي يمكن حسابها بموجب بروتوكول كيوتو (الكتلة الحيوية فوق الأرض والكتلة الحيوية تحت الأرض والحطب والقمامة وكربون التربة). لن يتم النظر في تقييم الكربون في منتجات الخشب المقطوع في هذه المراجعة. سيعتمد وضع استراتيجيات تخفيف فعالة للحد من انبعاثات الكربون واستراتيجيات التكيف المنصفة للتعامل مع ارتفاع درجات الحرارة العالمية على معلومات علمية قوية خالية من التحيزات التي تفرضها المصالح الوطنية والتجارية. ستساهم المراجعة المنهجية للطرق المستخدمة لتقييم مخزونات الكربون وتغيرات مخزون الكربون في التحليل الشفاف للعلوم المعقدة والمتناقضة في كثير من الأحيان.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) has emerged as a promising climate change mitigation mechanism in developing countries. In order to identify the enabling conditions for achieving progress in the implementation of an effective, efficient and equitable REDD+, this paper examines national policy settings in a comparative analysis across 13 countries with a focus on both institutional context and the actual setting of the policy arena. The evaluation of REDD+ revealed that countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America are showing some progress, but some face backlashes in realizing the necessary transformational change to tackle deforestation and forest degradation. A Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) undertaken as part of the research project showed two enabling institutional configurations facilitating progress: (1) the presence of already initiated policy change; and (2) scarcity of forest resources combined with an absence of any effective forestry framework and policies. When these were analysed alongside policy arena conditions, the paper finds that the presence of powerful transformational coalitions combined with strong ownership and leadership, and performance-based funding, can both work as a strong incentive for achieving REDD+ goals. Key policy insightsThe positive push of already existing policy change, or the negative stress of resource scarcity together with lack of effective policies, represents institutional conditions that can support REDD+ progress.Progress also requires the presence of powerful transformational coalitions and strong ownership and leadership. In the absence of these internal drivers, performance-based funding can work as a strong incentive.When comparing three assessments (2012, 2014, 2016) of REDD+ enabling conditions, some progress in establishing processes of change can be observed over time; however, the overall fluctuation in progress of most countries reveals the difficulty in changing the deforestation trajectory away from business as usual. The positive push of already existing policy change, or the negative stress of resource scarcity together with lack of effective policies, represents institutional conditions that can support REDD+ progress. Progress also requires the presence of powerful transformational coalitions and strong ownership and leadership. In the absence of these internal drivers, performance-based funding can work as a strong incentive. When comparing three assessments (2012, 2014, 2016) of REDD+ enabling conditions, some progress in establishing processes of change can be observed over time; however, the overall fluctuation in progress of most countries reveals the difficulty in changing the deforestation trajectory away from business as usual.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) has emerged as a promising climate change mitigation mechanism in developing countries. In order to identify the enabling conditions for achieving progress in the implementation of an effective, efficient and equitable REDD+, this paper examines national policy settings in a comparative analysis across 13 countries with a focus on both institutional context and the actual setting of the policy arena. The evaluation of REDD+ revealed that countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America are showing some progress, but some face backlashes in realizing the necessary transformational change to tackle deforestation and forest degradation. A Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) undertaken as part of the research project showed two enabling institutional configurations facilitating progress: (1) the presence of already initiated policy change; and (2) scarcity of forest resources combined with an absence of any effective forestry framework and policies. When these were analysed alongside policy arena conditions, the paper finds that the presence of powerful transformational coalitions combined with strong ownership and leadership, and performance-based funding, can both work as a strong incentive for achieving REDD+ goals. Key policy insightsThe positive push of already existing policy change, or the negative stress of resource scarcity together with lack of effective policies, represents institutional conditions that can support REDD+ progress.Progress also requires the presence of powerful transformational coalitions and strong ownership and leadership. In the absence of these internal drivers, performance-based funding can work as a strong incentive.When comparing three assessments (2012, 2014, 2016) of REDD+ enabling conditions, some progress in establishing processes of change can be observed over time; however, the overall fluctuation in progress of most countries reveals the difficulty in changing the deforestation trajectory away from business as usual. The positive push of already existing policy change, or the negative stress of resource scarcity together with lack of effective policies, represents institutional conditions that can support REDD+ progress. Progress also requires the presence of powerful transformational coalitions and strong ownership and leadership. In the absence of these internal drivers, performance-based funding can work as a strong incentive. When comparing three assessments (2012, 2014, 2016) of REDD+ enabling conditions, some progress in establishing processes of change can be observed over time; however, the overall fluctuation in progress of most countries reveals the difficulty in changing the deforestation trajectory away from business as usual.

Wood charcoal is generally viewed as a rudimentary form of energy. It is often understood in terms of its role of providing rural poor populations with basic energy needs, and/or the contribution its production makes to local forest degradation. More recently, the potentially much larger impact of urban demands on natural resources is attracting attention. Rural/urban supply chains are becoming an important research focus as nations try to start aligning with international environmental agreements by providing more honest environmental data regarding deforestation and associated emissions. This paper presents results from quantitative and qualitative research investigating the commercial charcoal supply chain servicing the metropolitan area of Lima, the capital of Peru. Long-term conservation initiatives protecting the species algarrobo (Prosopis spp.) were found to have caused a leakage effect in which the species shihuahuaco (Dipteryx spp.) from the Amazon region of Ucayali is compensating for the reduced production of algarrobo charcoal. Charcoal production in the urban area of Pucallpa, Ucayali is estimated to be more than eighty times the official figures, the vast majority of which goes to service the thousands of chicken brasseries in Lima. Commercial Amazonian charcoal is produced predominantly from sawmill by-product, and thus not found to be a direct threat to the rainforest. However, reduced availability of the by-product of the preferred species shihuahuaco to charcoal producers raises concern that this species is being heavily overexploited in the region.