Title of paper

5. Conclusion

Summing up, it became evident that countries fulfilling criteria for attracting foreign direct investment also attract CDM investors. Since there are no financial incentives for investing in long-lasting alternatives to conventional energy production while there are incentives for investing in the most efficient greenhouse gas reduction (Jaeger, 2011: 47), countries with poorer infrastructure, industry, destiny of population, inefficient administration and low electrification will be disadvantaged by attracting CDM investors. Most problematic, this market related consequence contradicts the CDM claim of development being the “major aim of the CDM” (The Namibian, 9 Jul 2009).

The UNFCCC recognizes African countries as “being especially vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, including countries with low-lying coastal areas and those to desertification and drought”. At the same time, Africa’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is fairly insignificant, “being 50-100 times less than Europe’s and 100-200 times less than America’s” (Mapaure, 2013: 246). Namibia is even a net sink for CO₂. But instead of profiting from CDM, only few investments are made, because African countries represent a low reduction potential, polluting only 3.75% of the emissions worldwide (Jaeger, 2011: 57).

Since the generation of CERs is the major aim of both, the investors as well as the hosting countries, little interest persists in true sustainable development and it is highly disputed if a market based system, in which the generation of profit has the highest value, is suitable to promote green development. Despite a vast potential for renewable energy production, it seems as if Namibia does not have the best starting point to profit from CDM on a large scale. It remains to hope that Namibia is not discouraged by such circumstances. Energy for Future might be a role model in this regard. Despite being unsuccessful in their CDM efforts, they continue to develop and run their bush-to-energy project to fuel their cement fabric with sustainable biomass.

6. References

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Is Nuclear Power the Solution to Climate Change?

By Bertchen Kohrs