Prof. Raoni Rajão , PhD Laboratory of Environmental Services Management (LAGESA) - Coordinator

1. BECCS: options for brazilREDD alert: the contested ascent of the programme on reducing emissions from deforestation in Brazil Engenharia de Produção Prof. Raoni Rajão, PhD Laboratory of Environmental Services Management (LAGESA) - Coordinator Engineering School Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG)

2. Research Problem • REDD+: PES aiming at at Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation; • Research aims: understand the process of institutionalization of REDD+ by uncovering the logics of the different actors involved; • Methodology: interpretive policy analysis based on interviews with key stakeholders (diplomats, policy-makers, scientists, NGOs, farmers, local population). ?

3. Short History of REDD+ • 2006: Stern Review Report (UK Government) • “Curbing deforestation is a highly cost-effective way to reduce emissions […] this could get underway very quickly”. • 2007-9: During a research about deforestation control policies, REDD wascited by policy-makers and members from NGOs as “the” solution: • Add economic value to the “standing forest” vs inefficient command & control policies; • Economic efficient way to tackle climate change. • 2008: Amazon Fund is created and Norway pledges to donate $ 1 billion by 2015 => policy-makers report that this money could be use to kick-start REDD; • 2010: REDD seems eminent “We are going to need lots of consultants in order to be able to implement REDD. It is coming soon and it will be big” (Official from a UN body); • 2010: REDD is “tropical forests’ best hope” (The Economist).

4. Short History of REDD+ • 2011-2012: REDD struggles to gain life within the COPs: • COP-17, Durban, 2011: REDD gains a multisource model (in contrast to the large-scale, CDM-like cap & trade approach it was hoped for); • COP-18: REDD negotiations halt over technical and financial disagreements; • 2012: Supporters change position • CIFOR recognizes that implementation is harder than anticipated; • “REDD has turned yellow” (IPCC scientist); • “REDD is not the salvation […] it will never be something involving large amounts of money” (Key Brazilian policy-maker) • Key NGO start to look for alternatives to diverge attention (and funds): ex. LERD

5. Short History of REDD+ • 2011-2012: REDD pilot projects show problems: • Four years after its creation, Amazon Fund has been able to distribute only 9% of the money it received from donors (Norway shows discontentment); • Cases involving Carbon Cowboys emerge; • NGOs and local groups present REDD+ more as a curse than as a bless.

6. Short History of REDD+

7. Towards an Institutional Understanding • What has happened? How REDD turned from “the solution” to “not the salvation”? • In other words, why is the institutionalization processes of REDD apparently halting? • Neo-Institutional theory in organizations: • Scott (1995)

8. Towards an Institutional Understanding • Social action (including institutionalization) guided by competing institutional logics (Rajão & Hayes, 2009); • Institutionalization start out as vague ideas and become more concrete via the establishment of norms, rules and technologies (Hasselbladh & Kallinikos, 2000); • Institutionalization is the “contested ascent from abstract to concrete” (Blackler & Regan, 2006).

9. Institutional Logics of REDD+ • Market + Conservation/Carbon (M+C): • REDD+ as a strictly economic mechanism: change behavior by providing profitable sustainable alternatives • Aim to find effective (measurable CO2 reductions) and efficient (low cost) solution to tackle climate change • Governance + Development (G+D): • REDD+ as a way to induce sustainable development via state interventions • Aim to improve the livelihood of the local population and increase economic output • In an ideal world M+C and G+D operate in synergy

10. Institutional Logics of REDD+

11. Institutional Logics of REDD+ • In practice there are increasing tensions between these institutional logics as REDD+ is translated into concrete rules:

12. Conclusion • Early consensus concerning REDD in Brazil related to the initial vagueness of the concept: • Supporters from different sides had their own interpretation/logic of how REDD would fit their agenda; • Vagueness contributed to (the illusion) of consensus. • As REDD started it ascent into “concreteness” the different between institutional logics started to emerge: • Became evident the “incommensurability” of different logics; • The future success of REDD’s institutionalization hinge two possible paths: • Flexibility: a “boundary object” that it may mobilize a specific local uses while maintaining an superficial common use and identity: • Problems with scope, overlaps and lack of central control. • Expansive learning: untie the deadlock through self-understanding, criticism and change: • Challenge basic assumptions (and logics) of the actors involved

13. Thank you for your attention. Raoni Rajão rajao@ufmg.br

14. Short History of REDD+