Leo has a background in climate change science and policy, and a longstanding interest in the implications of climate change on developing countries.  His research interests include: understanding how carbon markets and energy technologies can be made more beneficial for the poor; understanding how policy processes at the international level, such as payments for reduced deforestation, can be translated into pro-poor national policy processes, and; identifying how climate change impacts can most efficiently and effectively be taken into account in development policy processes. In the last two years has worked on a range of projects including inter alia work with the Indonesian government on the development of policies to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation; analysis supported by the Norwegian government of the options for effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in a Copenhagen climate agreement in 2009; research on carbon offsets and linkages to rural development in Uganda and India; and analysis of the linkages between biofuels and poverty reduction. Prior to joining ODI in 2006 Leo worked as a consultant focusing on UK sustainable development and climate change policy. He holds a BA in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and an MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College .

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Briefing Papers and Natural Resource Perspectives
Risk and responsibility in Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation ODI Forestry Briefing 15
Investment in reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) in developing countries relies on the ability to guarantee effective maintenance of forest cover over long timeframes, while also avoiding negative social and environmental repercussions. Given the complex and often unpredictable drivers of deforestation in developing countries, risk reduction is therefore of paramount importance. This paper looks at how REDD transaction mechanisms between buyers and sellers might be established and the implications that risk reduction mechanisms might have for different stakeholders in developing countries. It focuses on the likely implications for the interests and welfare of the forest-dependent poor.
Leo Peskett and Zoe Harkin		December 2007
The implications of carbon financing for pro-poor community forestry ODI Forestry Briefing 14
The emergence of new financing mechanisms associated with the rise of carbon markets brings potential for increased investment in forestry. This paper explores the implications of these mechanisms for community forestry and suggests ways in which such finance may contribute to the pro-poor outcomes of community forestry. The paper also provides an opportunity for those working on the design of carbon financing mechanisms to draw on the experience of community forestry in structuring appropriate benefit systems. The main focus of the discussion is on 'Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation'(REDD).
Cecilia Luttrell, Kate Schreckenberg and Leo Peskett		December 2007
Can standards for voluntary carbon offsets ensure development benefits? ODI Forestry Briefing 13
Increasing concerns about climate change are fuelling growth in the market for carbon offsets. Carbon offsets are purchased by individuals and organisations from schemes that claim to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere. This paper explores how emerging standards covering the voluntary carbon markets can address multiple aims of carbon offsetting and sustainable development and how they might be best designed to bring benefits for developing countries.
Cecilia Luttrell, Leo Peskett and Mari Iwata		July 2007
Biofuels, Agriculture and Poverty Reduction Natural Resource Perspective 107
The development of biofuels has generated vigorous debate on economic and environmental grounds. Our attention here is on its potential impacts on poverty reduction. The potential is large, whether through employment, wider growth multipliers and energy price effects. But it is also fragile: it will be reduced where feedstock production tends to be large scale, or causes pressure on land access, and its success can be undermined by many of the same policy, regulatory or investment shortcomings as impede agriculture. Whilst some of the factors facilitating, and impacts of, biofuels can be tracked at global level, its distributional impacts are complex, and point to the need for country-by-country analysis of potential poverty impacts.
Leo Peskett, Rachel Slater, Chris Stevens and Annie Dufey		June 2007
Can payments for avoided deforestation to tackle climate change also benefit the poor? ODI Forestry Briefing 12
Avoided deforestation is a hot topic in climate change circles. Using financial incentives to reduce rates of deforestation and forest degradation in tropical countries has much to commend it, as deforestation is a major contributor to climate change. It might also offer additional benefits, including protecting the livelihoods of forest dependent populations
Leo Peskett, David Brown and Cecilia Luttrell		November 2006
Making voluntary carbon markets work better for the poor: the case of forestry offsets ODI Forestry Briefing 11
The volume of private finance flowing through the voluntary carbon market has increased significantly over recent years, with an eight-fold rise from around five million to 43 million dollars between 2004 and 2005 alone (Capoor and Ambrosi 2006). A significant proportion of these funds is destined for the developing world. What is likely to happen to all this money? Will it be used to the benefit of the developing world, providing new opportunities for growth and poverty reduction, or will it be used to satisfy commercial and industrial interests in the north, to the detriment of southern interests?
Leo Peskett, Cecilia Luttrell and David Brown		November 2006
Others
Making REDD work for the poor Policy Brief
Thispaper outlines how the design of REDD could influence its poverty implications and the key requirements for ensuring that REDD works for the poor. It summarises the findings of the full report ‘Making REDD Work for the Poor’
Leo Peskett et al		October 2008
Making REDD work for the poor Report
by Leo Peskett,David Huberman, Evan Bowen- Jones, Guy Edwards and Jessica Brown

Current projects
The REDD Net Programme
REDD Net aims to build capacity of southern civil society to champion the interests of the poor in the area of REDD (‘Reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation'). It will build this capacity through the development of a REDD practitioner network, facilitating the two-way transfer of knowledge within the practitioner community through the sharing of field experiences and pilot activities, and the development of tools to help shape REDD policies and projects on a global scale.
Leo Peskett		Jul 2009 - Jun 2012
European development policy and climate change
CCEF is part of a European wide consortium aiming to improve EU policy-makers and other societal sectors' shared understanding of emerging challenges facing EU development policy and external action.
Leo Peskett, Natasha Grist, Neil Bird and David Brown		April 2008 - October 2010
Carbon Offsets: Researching Opportunities for poor rural communities
Over the last two years, there has been a growing interest in carbon offsetting through the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and voluntary credit schemes. The number of CDM projects increased exponentially between 2002 and 2006 and, as of October 2007, there were 803 registered projects, and approximately 2,000 more are at the validation stage <more>
Leo Peskett, David Brown and Jessica Brown		June 2008 - July 2009
Voluntary carbon markets and the poor
Research aiming to identify ways in which the voluntary carbon markets might be made more beneficial for the poor.
Leo Peskett		2006-present
Design of a Climate Change Innovation Programme (CCIP) for India
n response to the growing importance of climate change in DFID’s strategic priorities, DFID India plans to create a Climate Change Innovation Programme (CCIP). The goal of CCIP is to strengthen the resilience of India’s poor to climate change. The purpose is approaches tested to help the poor adapt to climate change and to access opportunities in the carbon market.
Leo Peskett and Priya Deshingkar		July 2007 - December 2007

Completed projects
REDD Options Assessment Report
ODI is a member of a small team of expert analysts to conduct the analysis of proposed options for critical elements of the REDD component of a post-2012 UNFCCC agreement.
Leo Peskett, David Brown, Jessica Brown		December 2008 - March 2009
Making REDD work for the poor
The main objective of this project is to improve and build on the REDD-PEP background paper and to further refine the analysis of the social implications of REDD. It is hoped that this work will serve as the basis for developing principles, criteria and indicators that could guide best practice for pro-poor REDD activities
Leo Peskett and Cecilia Luttrell		February - June 2008
New Global Environmental Funds
The purpose of this study is to obtain all pertinent information and to present an analysis of recent developments and trends in global environmental finance.
Neil Bird and Leo Peskett		February - June 2008
Support to the Government of Indonesia Working Group on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Indonesia (REDD)
ODI's Climate Change, Environment and Forests Programme is providing advice and support to the Working Group on REDD in Indonesia. The Working Group was established by the Ministry of Forests and contributes to the development of an Indonesian Forest Climate Alliance (IFCA).
Leo Peskett		August - December 2007
Review of the Miombo community land use and carbon management pilot project
The aim of the pilot project 'Miombo community land use and carbon management' (financed by the EC) is to develop forestry and land use practices that promote sustainable rural livelihoods in participation with rural communities in a way that raises living standards and to asses the potential of these activities to generate verifiable carbon emission reductions.
Kate Schreckenberg and Leo Peskett		March 2008 - May 2008