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Second report on the Contribution of the Colombian Carbon Market Projects to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

REDD+, F/R and Energy Sectors 2023

Medio ambiente

Introduction

This report presents, through aggregate indicators, the contribution of the carbon market projects of the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), Forestation and Reforestation (F/R) sectors and the energy sector, to the achievement of the sustainable development goals. To this end, indicators associated with the main sustainable development objectives contributed by the projects in these sectors were built and applied. The detailed description of the methodology used to construct the indicators is presented in Annex 1 at the end of this report.

The analysis was based on ASOCARBONO’s database of 168 certified GHG mitigation projects for the three prioritized sectors. The time period taken as a reference for this study was from 2015 to 2022. Taking these criteria as a reference, for the period, a total of 97 projects from the following sectors were analyzed: REDD+: 39 projects, F/R : 37 projects and Energy: 21 projects.

For the construction of the indicators in these projects, the information contained in the project design documents (PDD), verification reports and summaries published in the carbon standards was used, information corresponding to projects that were not taken into account for the first report and data on the 2022 indicators were updated. In addition, specific information was designed and collected in the forms sent and completed by project developers/owners.

How do carbon market projects contribute to the achievement of the main sustainable development goals?

The carbon market projects of the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), Forestry and Reforestation (F/R) sectors and the energy sector contribute especially to the following eight (8) SDGs:

The forestation and reforestation projects of the carbon market in Colombia include silvicultural, agroforestry or silvopastoral systems implementing sustainable production activities of agricultural, livestock and raw materials products. In this way they contribute to improving the food security of families and achieving the second sustainable development goal of ending hunger, achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Contribution to the national goal: Carbon projects in the AFOLU sector ensure the sustainability of food production systems and apply resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production.

Contribution indicators to SDG 2:

2021

(18 projects)

2022

(26 projects)

2021

(20 projects)

2021

 (11 projects)

2022

(19 proyectos)

39.169 families
40.903 families
72%
57%
77%
Number of families benefited by carbon market projects Average participation (%) of property owners in carbon revenuesProportion (%) of income that is invested in activities with social benefit

The forestation and reforestation projects of the carbon market in Colombia include silvicultural, agroforestry or silvopastoral systems implementing sustainable production activities of agricultural, livestock and raw materials products. In this way they contribute to improving the food security of families and achieving the second sustainable development goal of ending hunger, achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Contribution to the national goal: Carbon projects in the AFOLU sector ensure the sustainability of food production systems and apply resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production.

Contribution indicators to SDG 2:

2021

(Report of 12 F/R projects)

2022

(Report of 34 F/R projects)

2021

(Report of 3 F/R projects)

2021

(Report of 3 F/R projects)

55.134 hectares
389.403 hectares 
69,569 m3 of wood
3,900 liters of milk
Area with sustainable agricultural activitiesAmount of sustainable food and agricultural raw materials

Projects to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) conserve and restore forests and ecosystems that provide important water ecosystem services for water regulation and quality, contributing to achieving the sixth sustainable development goal of guaranteeing availability and sustainable management. of water and sanitation for all.

Contribution to national target: Contribution to SDG indicator 6.6 – protect and restore freshwater water ecosystems, including forests, mountains, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes. Additionally, as co-benefits of the projects, purification systems are developed in the communities, which contributes to the goal of achieving 100% drinking water coverage by 2030.

Contribution indicators to SDG 6:

2021 

(2 projects)

2022 

(3 projects)

2021 

(2 projects)

2022 

(3 projects)

389.944 ha
401.618 ha
63.328 ha
67.605 ha
Area (ha) protected from water-related ecosystems by carbon market projects during the period.Area (ha) established or restored with water-related ecosystems by carbon market projects during the period.

Energy sector projects increase renewable energy sources or increase energy efficiency to reduce demand for energy generated from fossil fuel sources, contributing to achieving the seventh sustainable development goal of guaranteeing access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and sustainable energy. modern for everyone.

Contribution to the national goal: carbon markets contribute to the 27% of companies that, by 2022, consume energy generated by non-conventional sources (SDG Corporate Tracker, 2022).

Contribution indicators to SDG 7:

2021

(14 energy projects)

2022

(21 energy projects)

2021

(14 energy projects)

2022

(14 energy projects)

43.758,64 Gwh
54.491,18 Gwh
2.262 MW
2.372 MW
Amount of energy generated with renewable sources by carbon market projects during the analyzed period.Amount of energy generated with renewable sources by carbon market projects during the analyzed period.

Carbon market projects in Colombia generate income, energize various sectors of the economy and are a source of formal and quality employment both in cities and in the countryside, contributing to the eighth objective of promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth. , full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Contribution to the national goal: direct contribution, through the generation of new jobs, to the reduction of the unemployment rate which was, by July 2023, 9.8%.

Contribution indicators to SDG 8:

2021 2022 2021 2022 2021 2022

40.307

64.338

3.156

4.617

2.302

2.838
Number of equivalent jobs created during the period analyzed. Number of full-time jobs created during the period analyzed. Number of part-time jobs created during the period analyzed.

All projects in the Colombian carbon market contribute directly to the reduction of emissions or the removal of greenhouse gases, mitigating climate change and contributing to the thirteenth sustainable development goal of adopting urgent measures to combat climate change and its effects.

Contribution indicators to SDG 13:

20212022

2021

(Reporte de 48 proyectos 48 F/R)

7.960.508 tCO2eq
12.884.642 tCO2eq 
495,953 tCO2
Amount of verified greenhouse gas emissions reductionsAmount of removals due to greenhouse gas sinks

In Colombia there are REDD+ projects that restore and protect marine and coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves, contributing to the fourteenth sustainable development goal of conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Contribution to the national goal: Increase in the number of hectares of restored and protected marine areas, contributing to the national goal of achieving a quality index of protected marine waters between acceptable and optimal of 100% by 2030 (DNP, 2022).

Contribution indicators to SDG 14:

20212022

2021

(Report of 2 REDD+ projects)

7.129 hectares7.788 hectares7 hectares
Area (ha) conserved with marine-coastal ecosystems by carbon market projects during the periodEstablished or restored area with marine-coastal ecosystems

Projects to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and those for reforestation and afforestation conserve and restore forest ecosystems and promote the sustainable use of forests. Likewise, the areas conserved by these projects are home to a wide variety of species, including some that are threatened in the country. In this way they contribute to achieving the fifteenth sustainable development goal of protecting, restoring and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably managing forests, combating desertification, halting and reversing land degradation and halting the loss of biodiversity.

Contribution to the national goal: the conserved hectares contribute directly to the goal of reducing natural deforestation of 0 net ha/year by 2030. Regarding threatened species, Colombia has 1,302 species in some degree of threat, that is, the market projects They are conserving 47.24% of species in this category (MADS, 2023).

Contribution indicators to SDG 15:

2021202220212022
2.659.368 hectares6.780.504 hectares10.000 hectares10.000 hectares
Area (ha) conserved of forest ecosystems by carbon market projects during the periodArea (ha) conserved with mountain ecosystems by carbon market projects during the period
2021 2022 2021 2022
397 615 No data 5.017.826 USD
Number of threatened species conserved by carbon market projects Investment (USD) in carbon market projects during the period
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