YasunÃ-ITT Initiative

The Yasuni -ITT Initiative is an internationally active non-governmental organization (NGO ) with the aim of promoting the reduction of emissions by the non-exploitation of fossil fuels, biodiversity protection and social development in Yasuni National Park.

In 2007, the Ecuadorian government proposed that the oil reserves of the ITT field ( named after the three in drilling discovered oil wells ishpingo, Tambococha and Tiputini ) in the Yasuni National Park to keep forever under the earth, to preserve the unique biological diversity and the non-contacted indigenous peoples who live in this area, respect. In return, the government demanded an international solidarity compensation amount to cover at least 50 % of the lost revenue. In August 2010, Ecuador concluded an agreement with the Organization of the United Nations. Industrial nations are to make compensation payments, which account for about half of the revenue that could achieve Ecuador through the sale of the estimated 850 million barrels of oil for the waiver of Ecuador 's export revenue. The money will be paid into a UN trust fund. An agreement with the potential donor countries is still pending.

Background

With oil production in the Amazon region of Ecuador was founded in 1967 and started doing hardly taken regardless of the nature or the indigenous peoples of the region. The Yasuni-ITT Initiative is a radical political change ( turning point ), the use of alternative renewable energy sources, sustainable management of natural resources and protection of the human rights of uncontacted peoples has given priority. This effort needs international support and solidarity for new options of sustainable and participatory development.

The new constitution, which implies that the promotion of non-renewable natural resources such as petroleum prohibited in protected areas, was adopted by September 2008. The total production from the time before that was so non-inferior to this restriction. In the future, new promotion projects can be carried out only with the express approval of the Parliament. This shows that Ecuador has now embarked on the path of environmental protection, under which the Yasuní - ITT Initiative is to be settled.

Objectives and advantages of the Yasuní - ITT Initiative

Avoidance of 407 million tonnes of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. This creates a new modality to avoid greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, oil and gas reserves are left in a socially and ecologically highly sensitive areas in developing countries in the world.
Preservation of the extraordinary wealth of biological species recognized by UNESCO as a worldwide unique Yasuni National Park, and in the remaining 39 protected areas and indigenous and Afro- Ecuadorian territories of Ecuador; these include one of the largest reservoirs of biological diversity worldwide.
Respect for indigenous cultures of the non-contacted peoples of the Yasuni National Park.
Social development in the areas of influence of the project with the health and education programs and sustainable jobs.
Support for the transition of Ecuador from a petroleum-based promotion extractive economy to a sustainable development model with broad use of renewable energy sources, respect for diversity and social equality. In the next 30 years, one billion tons of CO2 emissions are avoided and mitigated by the conservation of ecosystems, reforestation and development of clean energy sources.

Ecuador is striving to change the existing policy and in the new Constitution (Article 407) of 2008, except in exceptional cases promotion activities prohibited in protected areas. With the Yasuní - ITT Initiative a solid financial and institutional basis for an effective and lasting protection of these areas is to be created. In addition, not a compensation, but a solidarity contribution for common international objectives in the fight against climate change, conservation of biodiversity and sustainable human development is required.

Importance of the initiative

The initiative is unique in its kind, as it combines three fundamental objectives: reduction of emissions by the non-exploitation of fossil fuels, biodiversity protection and social development. The proposals of the other countries mentioned above focus on the protection of tropical forests through the REDD mechanism (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation ), with which they are seeking financial compensation for reducing deforestation while protecting biodiversity and preventing emissions. Some proposals also involve afforestation, reforestation, agro- forest economic measures and the protection of indigenous peoples. The Ecuadorian proposal is the only one that covers the four dimensions mentioned ( non-exploitation of fossil fuels, alternative energy development, protection of biodiversity and indigenous peoples, as well as equitable development ) and matching.

The proposals of the countries mentioned always access back on existing mechanisms such as CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) or REDD or voluntary emissions trading. The ITT Initiative is looking for new protection measures that go beyond the Kyoto Protocol.

Procedure

Even citizens be involved in the drafting of the initiative and the decision on the projects to be financed with. The initiative itself has several stages:

The first and current aims to gain international acceptance for this innovative proposal.

The second is to ensure the political support of the Ecuadorian society. To this end, the following is provided:

Statewide dissemination of the initiative in various social sectors (indigenous and Afro- Ecuadorian communities, academics, production, local authorities) in order to achieve their support and active participation
Develop mechanisms so that Ecuadorian citizens can contribute to the initiative financially.
Consultations with indigenous Amazonian peoples to ensure the satisfaction of the needs of the non-contacted peoples, but do not touch the self-imposed isolation conditions of Tagaeri and Taromenane.
Creation of a citizens' oversight with representatives of various social groups, whose task it is to ensure compliance with the commitments undertaken by the initiative.
Appointment of a representative of civil society, participates on the board of the International Trust Fund.
Promote communication and networking with citizens throughout the world who want to support this initiative in their countries.

Failure of the initiative

On August 16, 2013 Ecuador's President Rafael Correa announced in a televised address that the ITT blocks are released for oil drilling. He attributed this to the failure of the international community to provide the expected financial resources. At the time of promulgation of only about $ 335 million were promised and have actually been paid only 13.3 million. The premiums paid will now be repaid. Beginning of October 2013 the Parliament voted by 108 votes to 25, the government 's proposal to allow drilling for oil under certain conditions.

Support

The project was supported publicly by various internationally recognized personalities, including Desmond Tutu, Rigoberta Menchu , Jody Williams and Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize; Rita Levi Montalcini, Nobel Prize Laureate in Physiology and Medicine; of the former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev (former USSR), Felipe González ( Spain), Fernando Henrique Cardoso (Brazil), Ricardo Lagos ( Chile ); Prince Charles ( UK) and Danielle Mitterrand (Head of Foundation France Libertés ). In addition, the German Bundestag has the initiative formally - with the unanimous support of all parties represented there - endorsed; as well as the European Union and other international organizations such as, inter alia, Environment Programme (UNEP ), the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC), the Andean Community ( CAN), the Andean Development Corporation (CAF ), the Organization of American States ( OAS) and civil society organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN).

Remuneration of the Yasuní - ITT Initiative to Germany

Both German -governmental organizations, as well as numerous NGOs have contacts with the Yasuní - ITT Initiative.

After the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Heidemarie Wieczorek- under Zeul had until 2009, the project still supports public and had also made a financial contribution in view, this support was formally rejected that 2010 under the new Development Minister Dirk Niebel.

On July 4, 2011, an online petition has been filed, which has the support of the project by the German Federal Government as a target.

The OroVerde Rainforest Protection Foundation stated in 2012 also support the initiative publicly. However OroVerde has also highlighted some weaknesses that lie to the organization that the initiative applies only to a small part of the national park and its oil resources. In addition, the Value Measurement of the forest is not the appropriate reference to the price of oil. OroVerde calls, therefore, to promote the initiative Yasuní -ITT - combined with clear requirements to eliminate the above shortcomings.

A replicable model

The proposal of permanent non- exploitation of fossil fuel resources in environmentally and / or culturally fragile areas, opened the Yasuní - ITT Initiative a mechanism for the prevention of greenhouse gas emissions, with the participation of developing countries.

The countries eligible for this new mechanism in question should meet the following conditions:

They should be among the developing countries. A most attractive aspect of this mechanism is that the same three objectives: combating climate change, protection of biodiversity and the fight against poverty and inequality. The initiative promotes sustainable development.
It should be either mega diversity countries between the north and the Tropic of Capricorn, where the largest concentration of tropical forests is located. In these countries, is the world's largest biodiversity.
You should have large deposits of fossil fuels in biologically and culturally highly sensitive areas.

Among the countries that simultaneously satisfy these conditions are: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Guatemala ( very topical: Laguna del Tigre project ), Madagascar, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines and Venezuela. The Environment Programme (UNEP ) has 19 countries of the world listed as a mega diverse.

Bibliography

Greenberg, J. & Kefauver, S. & Stimson, H. & Yeaton, C. & Ustin, S. ( 2005): Survival analysis of a neotropical rainforest using multitemporal satellite imagery. In: Remote Sensing of Environment. 96 (2): 202-211.
Ministerio del Ambiente Ministerio de Relaciones & Exteriores, Comercio e Integración (2007): Yasuní - ITT Initiative. The major proposal of a small country. 29-44.
Leah Temper and Joan Martinez Alier: The oil should remain in the ground, Le Monde Diplomatique on 9 May 2008

YasunÃ­-ITT Initiative