With an understanding of the legal landscape surrounding climate law, including the evolving Kyoto Protocol rules and frameworks and the carbon markets itself, we are often engaged to assist in training governments and the private sector as well as to develop tools that create capacity within the marketplace. We have performed a variety capacity-building work around the world to educate local project developers, their lawyers and financiers on the CDM process and rules.
This work has included:
- Drafting the "Legal Issues Guidebook to the Clean Development Mechanism" for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), designed to provide a practical introduction for developing countries to legal issues arising from the CDM
- Preparing the online CDM Rulebook and commentary, a comprehensive online database for the rules surrounding the CDM (www.cdmrulebook.org)
- Drafting a report to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat on CDM barriers and opportunities in the Pacific and on renewable energy frameworks
- Conducting the RELaw Assist Project, sponsored by the Australian Federal Government in conjunction with the Chinese Renewable Energy Industry Association
- Assisting with the development of national climate laws and policy, including advising on national climate change strategy for China and the establishment of Designated National Authorities (DNAs) in a number of Non-Annex 1 countries
- Conducting the CDM CAPSSA project, sponsored by the European Commission, and directed at capacity building amongst the private sector in Southern Africa (Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia)
- Undertaking workshops for the United Nations Environment Programme in Asia on climate change and renewable energy
- Advising the UN Foundation and the Clinton Foundation on participation in the carbon markets