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A Brief Analysis of the
UNFCCC COP-10 Side Events
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In contrast to
previous meetings of
the Conference of
the Parties (COP),
the side events at
COP-10 took place in
the context of a new
reality—the Kyoto
Protocol’s imminent
entry into force.
While side events at
earlier COPs often
remained somewhat
speculative in
nature due to the
Protocol’s uncertain
future, Russia’s
recent ratification
has made the climate
policy process more
certain. Although
the decision from
Moscow last month
was seldom noted
during side event
discussions, it
clearly acted as a
powerful
undercurrent
galvanizing
discussions on
concrete steps for
implementation, as
well as options for
post-2012
mechanisms.
In general, the side
events at COP-10
were characterized
by a constructive
atmosphere and
consensus on the
need for significant
reductions in
greenhouse gas
emissions. However,
side event
participants
presented different
options on how to
achieve this. This
brief analysis takes
stock of the main
issues and trends
that emerged from
the rich palette of
COP-10 side events,
focusing in
particular on views
expressed regarding
the Clean
Development
Mechanism (CDM),
adaptation and the
post-2012 era.
LEARNING FROM 10
YEARS OF
IMPLEMENTATION
With the celebration
of the tenth
anniversary of the
UNFCCC’s entry into
force, COP-10’s side
events provided a
forum for reviewing
successes and
challenges in
implementation. A
particular focus
fell on the National
Communications
process and the CDM.
Participants
recognized the
benefits of the
non-Annex I Parties’
National
Communications
process in providing
a foundation of
information as the
basis for further
action and improving
methodologies.1
On a more critical
note, the CDM
process came under
fire from members of
the financial and
business community,
who criticized the
CDM approval
procedures for being
overly complex,2
and balked at the
tools and
methodologies for
establishing
additionality
recently approved by
the CDM Executive
Board.3
Frustration was also
expressed at the
CDM’s narrow scope
and the slow
progress of the CDM
Executive Board in
approving CDM
projects, with one
participant
suggesting that the
number of yearly
project approvals
should be measured
in thousands rather
than just a few
dozen.4
Other presenters
cautioned against
prejudging the CDM
process before it
has a chance to
mature. However,
constructive debate
seldom occurred
between proponents
of different views,
since the majority
of panels were
composed of
like-minded
individuals with
common agendas. The
competition between
different developing
countries and
regions in promoting
themselves as
leaders in, and
suitable locations
for, CDM projects
certainly suggests
that non-Annex I
countries value the
potential offered by
this process to
drawn in additional
revenues.5
ADAPT OR SINK
Robust scientific
data highlighting
the inevitability of
major climate change
in the next century,
and particularly
evidence of
significant climate
change in the Arctic
and of sea level
rise, has clearly
helped build
consensus on the
urgency of
adaptation measures.6
In this respect,
side events provided
an opportunity to
further elaborate on
possible steps,
which were also
considered by
negotiators during
an in-session
workshop on
adaptation. Several
organizations and
countries presented
their strategies and
programmes on
ongoing adaptation
activities during
side event
discussions,7
highlighting the
immediate importance
of adaptation for
small island States,
coastal regions and
high mountain
ecosystems
confronted with
melting glaciers.
However, the side
events did more than
just provide a stage
for presenting
ongoing activities:
they also
contributed to a
learning process
regarding the
climate community’s
understanding of the
language, concepts,
and on-the-ground
realities of
adaptation to
climate change. One
particular aspect
that emerged was the
need for better
communication
between the climate
and disaster
management
communities, as well
as the need for
funding, which was
also discussed by
negotiators through
the issue of
guidance for
allocation of
adaptation funds.8
In spite of the
urgency, though,
some COP-10
participants
informally suggested
that, while
developing countries
are eager to engage
in adaptation
activities with
support from Annex I
countries, they
remain reluctant to
package this with
the post-2012
commitments demanded
by some Annex I
countries.
WHERE DO WE GO
FROM HERE?
While formal
negotiations on the
design of the
post-2012 era will
not begin until
2005, various
political actors
hastened to make
tentative bids to
influence the
agenda, and used
side events as an
opportunity to
promote their
preferred “concept
models” for the
future climate
regime.9
Various design
options were
discussed for
greenhouse gas
emissions
reductions,
including sectoral
approaches,
converging
mechanisms,
voluntary
agreements,10
clean technologies,11
cap-and-trade
systems, and binding
national targets.
Encouraging examples
of concrete actions
to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions,
particularly at the
municipal and state
level, showed that
the future of the
climate regime may
also lie in strong
local and regional
initiatives.12
Participants
explored the
implications of the
launch of the EU’s
Emissions Trading
Scheme (EU ETS),13
raising the
likelihood of
linkages with carbon
markets in Canada,
Norway and Japan.
Participants
expressed confidence
regarding the growth
potential of the
carbon market, and
considered how the
EU ETS will interact
with the Kyoto
Protocol through the
Linking Directive in
allowing the use of
emission credits
from Joint
Implementation and
CDM projects.
Looking ahead,
COP-10 delegates
recognized the need
for interaction with
non-climate-related
processes, including
the upcoming session
of the Commission on
Sustainable
Development and the
review meeting of
the Barbados
Programme of Action
for Small Island
Developing States.
While formal
recognition of some
of these linkages
was played down
during COP-10
negotiations due in
part to US concerns,
participants in the
side events clearly
showed a commitment
to building on these
links between
various environment
and
development-related
fora, including
through information
sharing.14
In fact, in spite of
the “patchy”
progress on this
issue in COP-10’s
formal discussions,
it seems likely that
the meeting’s side
events may well have
contributed to
increasing awareness
of the fact that a
successful future
climate change
regime requires
strong links with
other sustainable
development issues—a
message many no
doubt hope filters
through to official
talks in the near
future.
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1
“Presentations by Brazil and China of their Initial
National Communications,” presented by the Governments
of Brazil and China, 10 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/10dec.html.
2 “Global greenhouse gas register: Results
and new challenges,” presented by the World Economic
Forum, 9 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/9dec.htm;
“Business perspectives on CDM additionality and
baselines,” presented by the Business Council for
Sustainable Energy, 13 December 2004, http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/13dec.html;
“Lessons learnt from CDM implementation in the ASEAN
energy sector,” presented by the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations, 16 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/16dec.htm
3 “CDM Executive Board: Question and answer
session,” presented by the UNFCCC Secretariat, 7
December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/7dec.html
4 “Finance for carbon solutions: The CDM from
the financial sector perspective,” presented by the
Insurance Initiative and UNEP, 15 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/15dec.html;
“Community forest management as an efficient, additional
carbon sequestration strategy,” presented by
Environnement et développement du Tiers-Monde, 17
December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/17dec.htm
5 “Lessons learnt from CDM implementation in
the ASEAN energy sector,” presented by the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations, 16 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/16dec.htm;
“CDM in Latin America: A way already paved for
investments,” presented by the Government of Peru, 10
December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/10dec.html
6 “Latest climate change results from the
Hadley Centre,” presented by the Hadley Centre, 14
December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/14dec.html;
“Global warming and human rights: The case of the
Arctic,” presented by the Center for International
Environmental Law, 15 December 2004, http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/15dec.html;
“Arctic Climate Impact Assessment,” presented by the
Government of Iceland, 13 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/13dec.html
7 “Mainstreaming adaptation in development:
Idealistic or realistic?,” presented by the Institute
for Global Environmental Strategies, 11 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/11dec.html;
“Adaptation in OECD countries,” presented by the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development,
15 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/15dec.html.
8 “Disaster reduction and climate change –
opportunities for synergy,” presented by the
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, 10
December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/10dec.html;
“Assistance by the Global Environment Facility to
address capacity building and adaptation,” presented by
the Global Environment Facility, 8 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/8dec.html.
9 “Options for a post-2012 global climate
regime,” presented by the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, 16
December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/16dec.htm;
“Options for the second commitment period of the Kyoto
Protocol,” presented by the Government of Germany, 16
December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/16dec.htm;
“Options and insights: Advancing the international
climate effort,” presented by the Pew Center, 13
December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/13dec.html;
“Voice of non-governmental organizations,” presented by
Climate Action Network, 9 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/9dec.htm.
10 “US climate action: Progress in Congress,
States, and business,” presented by the US Climate
Action Network, 16 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/16dec.htm;
“Innovative partnerships to address climate change,”
presented by the US Government, 14 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/14dec.html;
“Business perspectives on a long-term international
policy approach,” presented by the International Chamber
of Commerce, 9 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/9dec.htm
11 “Facts and trends to 2050: Energy and
climate change,” presented by the World Business Council
for Sustainable Development, 14 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/14dec.html;
“Climate change: Issues and approaches,” presented by
the International Petroleum Industry Environmental
Conservation Association, 14 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/14dec.html;
“Climate friendly technologies: Roles of the government,
business and the finance sector,” presented by the
International Center for Environmental Technology
Transfer, 10 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/10dec.html;
“Energy perspectives on climate change,” presented by
the International Energy Agency, 13 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/13dec.html
12 “Cities for climate protection: Mayors
fight global warming,” presented by the International
Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, 13 December
2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/13dec.html;
“The climate change and air quality nexus,” Presented by
the International Council for Local Environmental
Initiatives, 14 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/14dec.html;
“The Climate Group: Global Leaders for climate
solutions,” Presented by the Climate Group, 15 December
2004, http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/15dec.html;
“Update on climate actions in the US States,” presented
by the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use
Management, 11 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/11dec.html.
13 “The EU emissions trading system and the
Linking Directive: What will it deliver?,” Presented by
the International Emissions Trading Association, 15
December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/15dec.html.
14 “Disaster reduction and climate change –
opportunities for synergy,” presented by the
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, 10
December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/10dec.html;
“Interlinkages between multilateral environmental
agreements,” presented by the United Nations University,
16 December 2004,
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop10/enbots/16dec.htm |
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