ADEQUACY OF CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION INITIATIVES IN LAOS AND CAMBODIA (COOL)

Research summary

The COOL project aimed to identify capacity development needs, provide practical policy recommendations and analyse the role of these initiatives in Finnish development policy, while keeping in mind the targets of sustainability, poverty reduction and equity. As it is likely that both global and national climate funding will increase in the future, it was important to analyse the impacts and obstacles of these, and means to improve implementation. The project included five case studies and data collection trips in Laos and Cambodia in 2010 and 2011, and two disseminating workshops, one in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and another one in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Also a final dissemination event was held in Finland to report the concluding outputs of the project.

Description

The research found that the possibility to reach multiple benefits has been the promise through which the integration of climate mitigation into development cooperation has been legitimised. However, the assesment and evaluation of the benefits has been generally weak in all of the studied mechanisms. The concept of multiple benefits requires explicit understanding of trade-offs in climate mitigation and development. The study found that small-scale projects, such as fuel efficient stoves, are a good example of
sustainable projects through VCM or EEP. On the other hand, large-scale CDM projects, such as hydropower, can have severe development trade-off effects. REDD+ in Cambodia and Laos should improve intergation of locals, as so far benefit-sharing with the local communities is inadequate.

Research info

Research title
ADEQUACY OF CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION INITIATIVES IN LAOS AND CAMBODIA (COOL)

Research timeline
1.10.2010 - 1.9.2012

Keywords
climate funding equity poverty reduction sustainlability

Region
Asia

Countries
Cambodia, Finland, Lao People's Democratic Republic

Institution
University of Turku (FFRC)
Turku School of Economics
Turku, Finland

Funding instrument
Ministry for Foreign Affairs (ICI, HEI-ICI, N-S-S)

Project budget
200,000 - 500,000 euros

Head of research
Jyrki Luukkanen

Research team
Jyrki Luukkanen, Mira Käkönen, Visa Tuominen, Otto Bruun, Kamilla Karhunmaa, Hanna Kaisti, Douangta Buaphavong, Sithong Thongmanivong, Try Thuon, Ponlok Tin

Partners
National University of Laos (NUOL); Ministry of Environment (MoE), Cambodia

Contact information
Jyrki Luukkanen
+358 50 3370 710
jyrki.luukkanen@utu.fi
Open link

Record last updated
28.5.2015