Title: Is the United Nations' REDD scheme conservation colonialism by default?

Authors: James Goodman, Ellen Roberts

Addresses: Social and Political Change Group, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia. ' Climate Campaigner, Friends of the Earth Australia, P.O. Box 222, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia

Abstract: The paper assesses Australian aid programmes to Indonesia that are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation. It is envisaged that reductions in deforestation will generate a stock of UN recognised carbon credits for Indonesia. The Australian government hopes to offset 50% of its own emissions by buying up international carbon credits, and has a direct interest in securing access to these exceptionally cheap Indonesian credits. Local organisations in Indonesia oppose this type of aid, and the offset schemes it promotes, which they say benefits high-emitting industrialised countries and promotes corporate interests over their livelihoods.

Keywords: climate change; carbon credits; deforestation; carbon colonialism; Australia; aid programmes; Indonesia; greenhouse gases; GHG emissions; United Nations; REDD.

DOI: 10.1504/IJW.2010.038733

International Journal of Water, 2010 Vol.5 No.4, pp.419 - 428

Published online: 24 Feb 2011 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article