You are viewing our old site. See the new one here

published by IISD, the International Institute for Sustainable Development
in cooperation with the UNFCCC Secretariat.
Special Report on Selected Side Events at COP 11 & Kyoto Protocol COP/MOP 1
28 November - 9 December 2005 | Montréal, Canada
UNFCCC
Analysis of the Side Events from
COP 11 & Kyoto Protocol COP/MOP 1
HTML
PDF
ASCII
Daily Web Coverage & Daily Reports:
Archive
Mon 28 Nov
Tue 29 Nov
Wed 30 Nov
Thu 1 Dec Fri 2 Dec Sat 3 Dec Mon 5 Dec Tue 6 Dec Wed 7 Dec Thu 8 Dec Fri 9 Dec
HTML
PDF
ASCII

Events convened on Friday, 9 December 2005

Regional governments moving against climate change – Trans-Regional Alliance

Presented by the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development

Esther Larrañaga, Minister for Environment and Planning, Government of the Basque Country, Spain, called for greater regional control over climate policies, allowing local specificities to be taken into account. She added that in the age of globalization, regions have an important role to play as they are aware of local realities.

Salvador Mila, Minister for Environment and Housing, Catalonia, Spain, described the Catalan Energy Plan, which intends to decouple growth from energy consumption, noting there are many gains to be achieved, especially in transportation and use of energy-efficient appliances. He described the importance of innovations in sustainable forest management and agriculture in minimizing emissions.

Bert De Wel, Flemish Environment and Nature Council, Belgium, described the participation of civil society in developing a long term strategy for climate change mitigation, including a declaration of intent and shared objectives.

Ernst Christoph Stolper, Sustainable Development Division, Government of North Rhine Westphalia, Germany, elaborated on a policy paper committing regional governments to promote renewable energy and regional instruments capable of enhancing de-carbonization, such as public procurement and education. He demonstrated the information sharing benefits achieved through the introduction of an internet portal.

Edoardo Croci, Bocconi University, Lombardy, Italy, presented the results of a study on the simulated impacts of carbon dioxide emission trading in his region. The model predicted minor emission reductions that may hinder productivity and growth, and cause fuel switching. He called for capacity building for industry on emission trading.

Moreno Muzelli, Tuscany Region, Italy, presented the San Rossore Initiative, aimed at broadening the scope of the EU ETS. He described obstacles currently precluding the participation of medium-sized firms, such as lack of industry awareness and high costs, and outlined the San Rossore Initiative’s actions in that respect.

Steve Drummond, CO2e, presented a broker’s perspective on emissions trading, noting that price curves associated with emissions permit trading follow a predictable path once supply catches up with an initially greater demand.

Discussion: participants debated the relative merits of permit trading and carbon taxation. One panelist remarked that if a firm’s behavior does not change, the permit trading system may have the consequences of a tax, from the firm’s point of view.

Esther Larrañaga, Minister for Environment and Planning, Government of the Basque Country, Spain, described her region’s sectoral GHG emissions targets, and their strategy for sustainable development, energy, and climate policy
Steve Drummond, CO2e, noted that mainly big players are participating in the emissions trading system at present. He encouraged policy makers to make the transition from big speeches to big action
Contacts:
Esther Larranaga <e-larranaga@ej-gv.es>
Bert De Wel <bert.de.wel@minaraad.be>
Ernst Christoph Stolper <stolper@munlv.nrw.de>
Edoardo Croci <edoardo.croci@unibocconi.it>
Moreno Mugelli <moreno.mugelli@regione.torana.it>
Steve Drummond <sdrummond@CO2e.com>

Adaptive policy making for agriculture, water resources, and climate

Presented by the International Development Research Center, IISD and TERI

John Drexhage, IISD, noted that climate change is essentially about development in the context of environment and economy.

Simon Carter, International Development Research Center, explained that adaptation to climate change consists of people making changes critical to their own development, and provided examples such as mangrove rejuvenation by communities in Cambodia. He then introduced an IISD-TERI project focusing on adaptive policies.

Hank Venema, IISD, described the IISD-TERI project that examines the specific characteristics and mechanisms of adaptive policies and instruments.

Stephan Barg, IISD, noted that an adaptive policy is one that is robust in the face of foreseen circumstances, and adaptable to unforeseen circumstances. He presented a Canadian case study of Crow Rates, a subsidy for grain transportation.

Ulka Kelkar, TERI, outlined changes in India’s crop insurance scheme as an example of adaptive policy.

Agus Sari, Pelangi, Indonesia, emphasized that an adaptive policy has to be process-based and bottom-up driven.

Frank Pinto, UNDP, noted some of the GEF adaptation activities, and highlighted that greater recognition has been accorded to adaptation at this COP.

Discussion: participants discussed the need for an adaptation regime within the convention that can link with national actions.

Ulka Kelkar, TERI, noted that the crop insurance policy in India has matured from a comprehensive insurance scheme to a weather index scheme that protects the overall income of the farmer instead of a specific crop yield
Simon Carter, IDRC, explained that when poor people contribute to their own development they control their future
L-R: Simon Carter, IDRC, Stephan Barg, IISD, Ulka Kelkar, TERI, and Hank Venema, IISD
Contacts:
John Drexhage <jdrexhage@iisd.ca>
Simon Carter <scarter@idrc.ca>
Stephan Barg <sbarg@iisd.ca>
Hank Venema <hvenema@iisd.ca>
Ulka Kelkar <ulkak@teri.res.in>
Agus Sari <apsari@pelangi.or.id>
Frank Pinto <frank.pinto@undp.org>
Preety Bhandari <preetyb@teri.res.in>

Arab Initiatives on renewable energy

Presented by Jordan

Sigmar Gabriel, Minister of Environment, Germany, noted that the side event is the first presented by an Arab country. He stated that Arab countries are influenced by climate change through lowered precipitation levels and sea-level rise. He stressed the Arab world’s leading role in renewable energy use and called for enhanced cooperation in this field.

Malek Kabariti, National Energy Research Center, described the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC) as an important step towards a sustainable and peaceful world, using wind, hydro, biomass and geothermal energy optimization between Europe, north Africa and the near east.

Anwar Noaman, Ministry of Water and Environment, Republic of Yemen, discussed renewable energy potential in his country and recommended the establishment of a regional center for sustainable development.

Faouzi Senhaji, Research Group on Energy and Environment (GERER), described ongoing renewable energy development in Morocco, highlighting a solar energy project currently under CDM validation, which provided photovoltaic electricity to 110,000 houses.

Khaled Irani, Minister of Environment, Jordan, emphasized the potential of renewable energy in north Africa and the near east region, noting on-the-ground projects related to environmental, social and economic development. He encouraged regional and international cooperation in the field of renewable energy.

L-R: Malek Kabariti, (NERC), Khaled Irani, Minister of Environment, Jordan, and Sigmar Gabriel, Minister of Environment, Germany, discussed Arab initatives on renewable energy
L-R: Mohammad Salamat, DESA, Malek Kabariti, (NERC), Khaled Irani, Minister of Environment, Jordan, and Sigmar Gabriel, Minister of Environment, Germany
Contacts:
Malek Kabariti <malek.kabariti@nerc.gov.jo>
Anwar Abdulaziz Noaman <anwar.noaman@undp.org>
Faouzi Senhaji <f.senhaji@jav.ca.ma>
Khaled Irani <minister@moenv.gov.jo>
Mohammad Reza Salamat <salamat@un.org>

Lessons learnt from emissions trading implementation

Presented by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research

Karoline Rogge, Institute Systems and Innovation Research, reviewed the EU ETS, and identified lessons learned including: harmonizing definitions; reducing transaction and compliance costs; increasing transparency; avoiding disincentives for innovation; and providing the long term security needed by investors.

Regina Betz, University of New South Wales, Australia, reviewed monitoring guidelines and lessons learned during the EU ETS initial phase including: identifying and closing loopholes; reducing burdens on very small emitters; aligning verification systems to avoid competitive distortions; and developing more user-friendly versions of legal texts.

Hannah McCaughey, Baker and McKenzie Australia, said emerging legal issues include, inter alia: financial services regulations; tax policy; the nature of licenses; and tax treatment.

Regina Betz, University of New South Wales, Australia, reviewed new schemes for creating environmental markets in Australia and concluded that they are not as developed as the EU system. She said cheap coal has reduced incentives for energy efficiency and that the renewables price is so low it creates no incentive to trade.

Karoline Rogge, Fraunhofer Institute for systems and Innovation Research
Hannah McCaughey, Baker and McKenzie
Regina Betz, Center for Energy and Environmental Markets
L-R: Karoline Rogge, Fraunhofer Institute for systems and Innovation Research, Hannah McCaughey, Baker and McKenzie, and Regina Betz, Center for Energy and Environmental Markets reviewed lessons from recent studies of the EU ETS and several approached to environmental markets in Australia
Contacts:
Karoline Rogge <k.rogge@isi.fraunhofer.de>
Regina Betz <r.betz@unsw.edu.au>
Hannah McCaughey <hannah.mccaughey@bakernet.com>
Sina Wartmann <s.wartmann@ecofys.de>

Argentine cities sing together to warn against climate change

Presented by the Argentinean Foundation of Etoecology

Karina Espanyol, Argentinean Foundation of Etoecology, emphasized the role of education in reversing environmental degradation and called for raising intellectual and spiritual levels amongst civil society. She noted that Etoecology is the study of a being’s behavior in its environment, and that her organization seeks to support concrete actions such as water purification and planting of native trees.

She played a sample of “A Song to Nature”, which is set to the tune of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. She emphasized the use of song to pacify Mother Nature, which has become angered by fossil fuel emissions polluting her being.

She recalled that Mother Nature has already demonstrated her capacity to retaliate for such actions through the infliction of natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina.

She drew attention to their efforts regarding communitarian gardens, educational workshops, and participation in the UNFCCC as an official observer.

Discussion: participants remarked that there is a paucity of good protest songs to be sung at environmental demonstrations, that celebrate mother nature.

Karina Espanyol, Argentinean Foundation of Etoecology noted that the celebration of nature is an ancient rite, and that recognition of nature as the work of the creator is something that all religions can agree on
More information:
http://etoecologia.org.ar/
Contacts:
Karina Espanyol <karinaespanol@gmail.com>
Etoecologia <info@ etoecologia.org.ar>
This publication has been made possible with the kind support of the
UNFCCC Secretariat. Future coverage is contingent upon
support from donors.
The Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the side (ENBOTS) © <enb@iisd.org> is a special publication of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in cooperation with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat. This issue has been written by Andrew Baldwin, Asmita Bhardwaj, Alice Bisiaux, Robynne Boyd, Twig Johnson, Ph.D., and Peter Wood. The photographer is Leila Mead. The Digital Editor is Diego Noguera. The Editor is Lisa Schipper, Ph.D. <lisa@iisd.org>. The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. Funding for the publication of ENBOTS at UNFCCC COP 11 & Kyoto Protocol COP/MOP 1 is provided by the UNFCCC Secretariat. The opinions expressed in ENBOTS are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and funders. Excerpts from ENBOTS may be used in non-commercial publications only with appropriate academic citation. For permission to use this material in commercial publications, contact the Director of IISD Reporting Services at <kimo@iisd.org>. Electronic versions of issues of ENBOTS from UNFCCC COP 11 & Kyoto Protocol COP/MOP 1 can be found on the Linkages website at http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop11/. The ENBOTS Team at COP 11 and COP/MOP 1 can be contacted at its office at the conference venue (room 342) or by e-mail at <alice@iisd.org>.

Back to daily coverage
Click the above button to go back to our ENB main coverage


Digimarc and the Digimarc logo are registered trademarks of Digimarc Corporation.  The "Digimarc Digital Watermarking" Web Button is a trademark of Digimarc Corporation, used with permission.


! Please e-mail the Digital editor should you have any questions regarding the content of this page.

| Back to Linkages home | Visit IISDnet | Send e-mail to ENB |
© 2005,  IISD. All rights reserved.