Unraveling the Notion of “Fair Carbon”: Key Challenges for Standards Development

•Critical analysis of standard setting processes in the voluntary carbon market.•Focus on access and benefit-sharing as key components in notions of fair carbon.•Considers practical constraints shaping fairness outcomes within carbon projects.•Outlines role of standard-setting-organizations in broke...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:World development 2015-06, Vol.70, p.343-356
Main Authors: Howard, Rebecca Joy, Tallontire, Anne, Stringer, Lindsay, Marchant, Rob
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
access
Benefits
Carbon
carbon projects
Credit
Economic development
Emissions control
Emissions trading
Government and politics
NGOs
Nongovernmental organizations
standard setting organizations
Studies
sub Saharan Africa
voluntary carbon market
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Summary:•Critical analysis of standard setting processes in the voluntary carbon market.•Focus on access and benefit-sharing as key components in notions of fair carbon.•Considers practical constraints shaping fairness outcomes within carbon projects.•Outlines role of standard-setting-organizations in brokering access or exclusion. Standards organizations and NGOs have begun to refer to “fair carbon” projects, and “fairly traded” carbon credits. “Fairness” is a fuzzy notion, subject to multiple and competing interpretations. This paper draws on a framing used by standards organizations, which encompasses issues of access and benefits, to critically examine challenges and opportunities for achieving desired “fair” outcomes as discussed in the literature. Arising knowledge gaps are presented as a research agenda that explores what “fair carbon” means to multiple stakeholders; illuminates governance processes through which “fairness” is being standardized; and examines its implications within certified carbon projects.
ISSN:0305-750X
1873-5991
DOI:10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.02.008