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Europe Frames UN Forest and Climate Negotiations
The collapse of the formal UN talks in Copenhagen left accounting rules for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) hanging. Without any decision, environmental groups, campaigning hard at Copenhagen against the logging loophole, were left wondering about the state of play: had they sown enough doubt about this approach that it could be seriously challenged and pushed back this year? Was it a fait accompli, with even developing countries willing to swallow this bitter pill in order to simply move on?
Two recent communications from the EU have confirmed that the environmental integrity of LULUCF accounting rules is still very much in question, and therefore still attainable. The communications focus on the problem of poor environmental integrity in LULUCF accounting rules and explicitly identify the need to choose between historic and projected reference levels for forest management.
First, the European Parliament adopted this text on February 10, 2010: The European Parliament, 20. Calls for the environmental effectiveness of Annex I emissions reduction targets to be the guiding principle as regards the EU approach to international accounting rules for forest management and LULUCF, to flexible mechanisms and to the banking of any overachievement during first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol towards post-2012 targets;
Yesterday, the European Commission released its communication, International climate policy post-Copenhagen: Acting now to reinvigorate global action on climate change" is out now.
The communication highlighted LULUCF rules as having the potential to further erode the weak emission reduction targets coming out of Copenhagen:
Accounting rules for land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) emissions from developed countries: While the EU has no difficulties in matching these requirements, it is an issue of particular importance for major forestry countries outside the EU and environmentally critical. The current rules under the Kyoto Protocol, if continued, would entail lowering the actual stringency of the current emission reduction pledges and imply that reductions can be claimed without additional actions, which brings no real environmental benefit. In an extreme scenario, the worst-case LULUCF accounting rules would weaken the real level of ambition of developed countries by up to an additional 9% in relation to 1990. This would mean that for the lower end of the pledges we would in fact allow for an increase in developed country emissions of 2.6% above 1990 levels and for the higher end of the pledges we would only see a 2% reduction in relation to 1990.
The Commission's staff working document supporting this communication explicitly observes that the question of whether reference levels are based on historic data or projections as one of the key unresolved issues in LULUCF (section 1.2.3, page 7):
1.2.3.
Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry
Accounting rules for Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) will have an important impact on the level of ambition of the target of several Annex I Parties. Developed countries’ emission reduction targets can therefore not be finalised until the future LULUCF rules have been agreed and taken into account
In addition, important parameters still need to be discussed and agreed such as
- the way to set the reference level (based on historic data or projections),
- cap, and
- threshold for the eligibility of force majeure events;
The communication from the European Commission also concedes that we may need to wait for the UN meeting in South Africa at the end of 2011 to sew up a new legally binding treaty. A focus on getting key decisions in place this year should give the breathing room required to fix the LULUCF negotiations and close the logging loophole.
United Steelworkers have ratified a 4 year agreeement with Canfor
United Steelworkers (USW) members employed by Canfor in 15 operations in the BC northern and southern interior regions have ratified a four-year collective agreement, retroactive to June 30, 2009.
Members in USW Locals 1-424, 1-427 and 1-405 voted in majority favour of the agreement that was reached on February 22, 2010.
The agreement provides union members with an unprecedented expansion of seniority retention and improved severance in the event of a partial or permanent plant closure.
The union's BC Interior Bargaining Committee will utilize the Canfor agreement to be a basic pattern agreement for negotiations with West Fraser and employer associations CONIFER (the Council on Northern Interior Forest Labour Relations) and the IFLRA (Interior Forest Labour Relations Association, which represent employers in the northern and southern interiors, respectively.
The Canfor-USW agreement provides wage increases of 2% in years 3 and 4, protects the members' Long Term Disability Plan and includes strong health and safety language. Improved life insurance and medical travel coverage are also part of the settlement as well as assistance for apprentices.
The agreement also includes an innovative employee investment model linked to a direct payback schedule and potential profit sharing.
The USW, Canada's largest industrial union, represents about 11,000 forest workers in the BC Interior.
Source: United Steelworkers
Posted by ForestTalk.comCatalyst Paper proposes a plan that will see the Elk Falls paper mill restart
Catalyst Paper has announced that it resubmitted a proposal to the union that could allow for the restart of the Elk Falls paper mill at a labour cost, all in, of approximately $40 per hour.
This reflects current market realities and includes changes to wages and benefits similar to those already implemented with management and staff employees. The company also indicated that, to date, 63% of eligible hourly workers at the Elk Falls operation have elected the severance option arising from indefinite curtailment of the mill since February 2009.
"With a competitive cost structure, there could be a future for Elk Falls mill and to that end we presented employees with a proposal that could lead to the restart of two specialty paper machines at the mill," said Richard Garneau, president and chief executive officer. "Nonetheless, we also recognize that electing to take severance is a personal choice.
"We hope the remaining employees want and will be given the chance to return to work and to continue to live in the community. We appreciate the Campbell River Mayor has shown strong commitment to preserving jobs through an agreement in principle that would address Class 4 property tax sustainability. And, while there are no guarantees that we will be able to overcome fibre supply shortages or acquire the customer orders necessary to restart, we know the outcome for this mill and community if nothing is done," he added.
Hourly employees at Elk Falls are represented by Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) locals 630 and 1123. Approximately 225 hourly workers have taken this option with an average severance payout of $57,000 per employee.
Source: Catalyst Paper
Posted by ForestTalk.comCHINA LOGS ANOTHER BIG INCREASE
Softwood lumber prices were up in both North America and Europe in the 4Q, but it was more the result of lower inventory levels and reduced production rather than an increase in demand, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. The hot market for lumber last year was China, which increased imports by 75% thereby passing Japan as the largest importer in Asia. (more…)
SFI Marks 2,000 Chain-of-Custody Certified Locations
International Forexst Industries / SFI WASHINGTON - The independent Sustainable Forestry Initiativer (SFIr) program - one of the world’s leading third-party forest certification programs - continues to grow exponentially, recently achieving 2,000 chain-of-custody certified locations. (more…)
The Real Climategate: Conservation Groups Align with World's Worst Polluters
Carbon fat cat companies could share at least €3.2 billion by 2012
[R-M: Sandbag's report is here: http://bit.ly/bI9MKi]
Sino-Forest to host Fourth Quarter & Year-end 2009 Earnings Call on Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Growing Money on Trees
Catalyst Paper proposes restart plan for Elk Falls paper mill
Brigl & Bergmeister appoints new Managing Director
Boise Inc. Announces Pricing of Senior Notes Offering
Western Forest Products mill in Nanaimo may move to Harmac site
Western Forest Products currently leases land from the Nanaimo Port Authority for its downtown mill. The mill has been closed for a year.
Talks are now underway that may see that downtown mill move to the site of the Harmac pulp mill that is located on 500 hectares of land at Duke Point. Then the mill could be set up as an employee-owned model similar to Harmac's.
The workers at the Western Forest Products mill are represented by the United Steelworkers, but the Harmac site is represented by the Pulp, Paper and Workers of Canada union.
Darrel Wong, president of the United Steelworkers Local 1-1937, which represents WFP's workers in Nanaimo, said there are a number of contentious issues that would have to be dealt with first, including union certification. He said that with all the issues involved there is only a "remote possibility" that the plan will move forward.
Arnold Bercov, president of the Pulp, Paper and Workers of Canada (PPWC), Local 8, which represents workers at Harmac, said the plan could see Western Forest Products supply the mill and remain a part of the management of the operation. Nanaimo Forest Products, who own Harmac, would supply the land for the mill and the workers would buy into the operation and become part owners.
If the project proceeds, the mill could also be a vital source of wood fibre for Harmac.
Bercov said the original plan called for moving Western Forest Products's closed Ladysmith mill (whose workers are represented by PPWC) to the Harmac site, but after discussions with WFP a decision was made to focus on WFP's downtown mill.
Read more:
Unions in talks to move Western Forest Products mill to Harmac site (Vancouver Sun)
Chile quake may cut forestry exports 15 pct-
Fraser Papers Announces Name for the New Specialty Papers Business: Twin Rivers Paper Company
Fraser Papers Inc. has announced that the specialty papers business, to emerge from creditor protection under the company's restructuring proposal, will be named "Twin Rivers Paper Company".
The new specialty papers business will consist of the integrated pulp, energy and paper operations in Edmundston, New Brunswick and Madawaska, Maine, as well as two lumber mills located in Plaster Rock and Juniper, New Brunswick. The new company name is reflective of the location of the pulp and paper operations at the confluence of the Madawaska and Saint John Rivers.
"The new name was generated from an employee suggestion process and reflects a number of key characteristics we think are appropriate for the company. These include pride in our northern location and community, combined with the natural attributes of sustainability and strength that we associate with these two rivers," said Jeff Dutton, President and COO of Fraser Papers.
The new name, Twin Rivers Paper Company, is being introduced to employees and customers but will not be used officially until the sale of the specialty papers business is completed, expected in early April, following final court approvals in both Canada and the United States.
Source: Fraser Papers
Posted by ForestTalk.comCommunity Forestry and Livelihoods of the Poor: A Political Ecology of Forest Resource Scarcities
There is wider issue that why the poor become victims not only of environmental degradation but also from environmental improvements is central in community forestry programme. Based on the study of three community forestry user groups of Dhankuta district of eastern development region of Nepal I argue that there is social heterogeneity and resource diversity in the groups that has been given less attention in the programme. Also, there is differentiation of resource endowments and entitlements among different categories of the groups.
Tetra Pak net sales grow to (euro)8.95 billion in 2009
Logset gear up in the UK
Logset Oy have recently announced that they have entered into a new distribution agreement with their current Southern UK dealer, RJ Fukes Forestry Services. (more…)
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