Bangkok, 20 January 2015

Workshop on Development of a Decision Support Tool on Forestry and Climate Change Policy Formulation

John Costenbader, Climate Focus

Starting questions

Role of national forest/climate policy process

Lessons for Success

What are some reasons why we develop policies and laws?

Suggestions:

Framing goals / responses to problems

Charting plan for country

What happens if we don’t follow a process, or if process is

unclear?

Suggestions:

Confusion

Little/no national ownership or ‘buy-in’ of policy

Weak chances of implementation

What are some ways policies and laws can be developed?

Suggestions:

participatory,

iterative,

authoritarian,

international support/influence,

top down-bottom up, etc.

What are common oversights of policies and laws in their development?

Suggestions:

implementation capacity,

the situation in the field,

cross-sectoral issues, or

budget availability.

Policies with a rigid development process are typically less implemented.

Penalties and fines;

Regulations and standards;

Voluntary and information based systems;

Price instruments;

Quantity instruments;

Public investment;

Research, development and demonstration.

Suggestions:

Need for clear guidance on critical issues in climate and

forestry

Identifies & prioritizes needs, responses, goals

Promotes balance between needs & stakeholders – e.g.,

Mitigation vs. adaptation

Various sectors

Environment vs. economic growth/poverty alleviation

Suggestions:

Various approaches possible

Policy can stand alone or be incorporated into laws or

planning documents

“Less is More” – concise texts usually best

Focus on results/outcomes rather than means

Transparent participation to ensure ownership

Time span depends on size of policy, w/ periodic review

Involve all key stakeholders in policy development

Suggestions:

Policy = blueprint for forest/climate action

Cohesive clear outline for national forest/climate work

Guiding vision for country

Manage expectations while keeping country on task

Integrates low-emissions development goals with powerful driving forces in country (business case)

Suggestions:

Ad hoc decision

Unilateral decree

Other stages of process:

Brainstorming (green/white papers)

‘How-to’ planning (action plans, strategies)

Detailed sectoral policies (REDD, adaptation, MRV)

Law (legislation & regulations)

Policy Law

Adoptable by different proceduresaccording to each situation

Adoptable by legislature or executiveunder rules of law or Constitution

Amended by bodies adopting policy, via own procedures

Constitution and parliament/congress establishes amendment procedures

Non-legally binding Legally binding

Specifies visions, goals, & process Specifies rights & duties based on policy vision or goals

Can be generally worded (more adaptable later) & applies to government agencies

Must be precisely worded (to allow for administrative & judicial decisions) & applied universally

Soft responses for non-compliance Administrative & judicial responses punish non-compliance

Suggestions:

Suggestion:

Suggestions:

• Agenda Setting: Recognition of a problem demanding government attention (definition, evaluation, acceptance and discarding of policy options).

• Policy Formulation/Decision-making: exploring options to address the problem (appraisal, dialogue, formulation, and consolidation).

• Policy Implementation: Putting final decision into practice.

• Policy Evaluation: Assessing (& re-assessing) effectiveness of a public policy in terms of perceived intentions and results.

Suggestions:

• extent of forest resources

• forest biological diversity;

• forest health and vitality;

• productive functions of forest resources;

• protective functions of forest resources;

• socio-economic functions of forests;

• legal, policy and institutional framework

Suggestions:

• Agriculture sector

• Energy sector

• Forest sector

• Water sector

• Transportation & Infrastructure sector

• Cross-Cutting Issues:

– Adaptation

– Mitigation

:

Suggestions:

• Balancing trade-offs (sectors; mitigate & adapt)

• Cyclical review processes (built-in flexibility of policy to respond to new understandings)

• Implementation, review & accountability mechanisms

• Senior leadership & key stakeholders engaged

• Multi-level governance/implementation mechanisms (all ministries & subnational govts)

• Clear national targets to drive action & attract finance

Thank you for listening

John Costenbaderj.costenbader@climatefocus.com