Further supplementary memorandum submitted
by the Department for International Development
NOTE ON
DEFRA/DFID INITIATIVES RELATING
TO REDUCTION
OF CARBON
DIOXIDE EMISSIONS
IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES
1. DFID/DEFRA have a number of initiatives
ongoing that are related to reduction of carbon dioxide emissions
in developing countries. These initiatives are grouped around
four main work areas:
— Cross departmental coordination and
working;
— Influencing the international agenda;
— Knowledge and research projects;
A brief outline of each of the work areas is given
below.
Cross Departmental Coordination and Working
2. A cross departmental working group related
to energy efficiency and climate change, The Energy Efficiency
and Developing Countries Working Group was set up in 1997. Since
its launch, the group has expanded to include representatives
from FCO and DTI. The main emphasis of the group is on taking
a strategic approach to wide policy issues relating to climate
change and developing countries.
Influencing the International Energy and Climate
Change Agenda
3. DFID is engaged in the international
climate change negotiations under the UNFCCC. We work closely
with DEFRA, the UK lead department, to ensure that development
issues are sufficiently integrated into UK and EU positions, thereby
influencing UN decisions. DFID is also represented on the UNFCCC
Least Developed Countries Expert Working Group, a sub committee
of the UN framework that focuses on climate change and development
policy issues. DFID is engaged with the developing international
debate on the clean development mechanism and how this relates
to mainstream development work. This will inform a coherent policy
in due course.
Knowledge and Research Projects
4. DFID has a number of ongoing knowledge
and research projects which address issues related to promoting
clean energy use in developing countries. These include:
i. Encouraging CDM energy projects to
aid poverty alleviation. Being carried our by University of
Surrey, Centre for Environmental Strategy, the purpose is "To
contribute to the design of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
so that poverty focused projects are encouraged to provide some
capacity building in host countries (Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania)
in order to implement these small scale projects under the CDM."
ii. Moving Towards Emissions Neutral
Development. Being carried out by EcoSecurities, the purpose
is "To work with small-medium developing country (Bangladesh,
Colombia, Ghana and Sri Lanka) governments and key stakeholders
in defining needs for CDM frameworks to optimise developmental
benefits and to provide DFID and other Donors with guidance on
how to assist this process."
iii. Development of Simplified procedures
for CDM Small Scale projects—The project aims to develop
a simplified system of "fast track" small scale projects
that would provide organisations with incentives to carry out
small scale CDM projects. The results will feed into EU discussions
on the procedures for the CDM.
Country Projects
5. A number of projects are ongoing within
country programme that are aimed at energy efficiency. Ongoing
projects include:
— Andhra Pradesh Power Sector Restructuring
Programme—Reform of the state electricity utility aimed
at commercial viability and reduced losses.
— Orissa Rural Community Electricity
Supplies Project —Reducing technical and commercial losses
on rural electricity systems through establishing formal commercial
arrangements for customers, including proper metering and billing.
This is resulting in a substantial reduction in electricity wastage.
DFID is in partnership with the private sector owner and operator
of the utility.
— China - GEF Energy Efficiency Project—The
Energy Conservation Project will support the introduction of a
market-based approach to financing energy conservation investments,
energy performing contracting, which has the potential to overcome
some of the major impediments to energy conservation in China.
Secondly, the project will support the introduction of a new energy
information program, providing consumers with information on financially
attractive energy conservation investments.
— Kyrgyzstan Tariff Policy Project
State Property Fund—implementation of an energy policy tariff
policy which ensures long term financial sustainability and takes
account of the GoK's social, environmental and commercial objectives.
— Clean Energy Network: Reducing Fuel
Poverty and Building Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe
and the newly independence States - the project aims to reduce
fuel poverty and increase family energy use efficiency, thereby
improving the lives of poor people.
Department for International Development
May 2002
| 
