Moderated by Reverend William Somplatsky-Jarman, Presbyterian Church, US, this session considered the position of the inter-faith community on how to address the “climate crisis.” Calling climate change a moral and ethical issue, he introduced the WCC, a worldwide fellowship of 349 churches, noting it has followed the climate debate since 1988 and has attended every Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC. Participants then watched a video on a 2010 trip to Tuvalu taken by WCC representatives about the impacts of climate change on the island.  

Sister Jayanti Kirpalani, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, UK, emphasized humans have forgotten the sanctity of life and that through consumerism they no longer value their inner being and spirit. She stressed the need for awareness, respect and compassion towards the human family, as well as the power of prayer. She expressed the need to consider history and historical doctrines when addressing current challenges.

Emphasizing the nature of their “inter-faith” presence at the COP, Archbishop Seraphim Kykkotis, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa, Zimbabwe and Angola, underscored that caring for creation is emphasized in the sacred texts of most religions. The faith community, he said, should demand urgency from the negotiators and re-emphasized the term “climate crisis” as central.  

Father John Brinkman, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, spoke about equity, ethics and survival, quoting various spiritual writers. He stated that religions are historically drivers of, and participants in, important societal transitions. Today, he noted, there is a separation of the human community from the Earth community. Speaking on equity, Father Brinkman stated that the idea of equity has been reduced to “national aspirations,” with developing and developed countries understanding it in different ways and creating a blame game. He encouraged a more profound sense and transcendence of the meaning of equity and noted without ethical insights to guide the way, considerations of equity will be reduced from “ideas to ideology” and “concepts to conflict.”

During discussions, participants addressed the following topics: the engagement of churches in the political debate on climate change; encouraging a “human family” perspective instead of country perspectives; climate denial in the US among some parts of the faith community; population growth and the Catholic Church’s position on family planning; how to better balance consumerism with conservation to manage resources effectively; and how to restore hope in the UNFCCC process.

Michelle Orfei, ICCA, moderated this panel, which addressed the significant role that chemically-based building products can play to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.

Sebastian Gallehr, e5, introduced e5 as an “agitation platform” for low-carbon technology industries, noting the side event aimed to provide an industry perspective, that differed from usual industry views, on addressing emissions reduction challenges. Participants then watched a video outlining the global chemical industry’s development of a Buildings Technology Roadmap.

Yousef Alyousef, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), discussed energy efficiency initiatives and policies in Saudi Arabia, highlighting challenges to the uptake of energy efficiency activities in the region including cultural, economic, technical and institutional barriers.

Ahmed Al-Hazmi, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), Saudi Arabia, presented on policies for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement in buildings, addressing: the current situation in the Gulf; policies already in place; and industry contributions to these efforts. Highlighting that residential energy consumption in the region is significant, particularly for air conditioning, he outlined measures to address efficiency and emissions including regional policies, national green building councils and market-based policies such as the Clean Development Mechanism.

Griffin Thompson, Department of State, US, spoke on the actions within the UNFCCC to respond to energy efficiency and renewable energy technology needs, particularly through activities to accelerate the development and transfer of technology. He described two such initiatives, the Technology Mechanism and the Climate Technology Centre and Network, and outlined their structures and goals.

Russel Mills, ICCA and the Energy and Climate Change Leadership Group, spoke on industry contributions to energy efficiency in buildings and GHG reductions. He discussed: the opportunities to achieve efficiency gains in buildings; the potential gains from better chemistry, pointing to both innovative products and training for people; and cooperation opportunities, including through the ICCA Buildings Technology Roadmap.

Peter Haas, Global Center for Efficiency of Resources and Materials (GCERM), discussed industry’s contribution to GHG emissions savings, particularly through the energy efficient design of new methods and materials. Among the technologies and chemical processes he discussed was the potential for parallel computing centers to achieve energy and GHG reductions.

Kolja Kuse, TechnoCarbonTechnologies, presented potential energy efficiency gains that could be achieved through developments in material efficiency, particularly innovations in multi-layer mineral composite materials for construction and building. He described two specific products that combined stone with fiber and resin, leading to lighter materials and requiring less production energy: MineralCompositeTechnology (MCT®) and CarbonFiberMineral (CFM®).

During discussions, participants considered: life-cycle assessments and post-use waste implications of these new technologies; public awareness campaigns for energy efficiency; industrial benchmarking; working with value-chain partners to reduce end-use emissions of products; the types of policies, including on intellectual property protection, needed to support the development and use of these materials technologies; partnerships of small innovative companies with large commercial partners on these technologies; investments required to move these technologies from R&D to commercial viability; how to accelerate the chemical industry’s shift away from a reliance on petrochemicals; and the need for global carbon pricing.

Moderated by Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, Vice-Chair, Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), this event discussed the relationship between GHG and aerosol emissions, their effects on temperature, and the effects of addressing short-lived climate pollutants.

IPCC Chair Rajendra Pachauri, via video, said research on air quality impacts have to be examined, modeled and addressed at the local level, saying that most climate mitigation actions have co-benefits of improving air quality.

Trude Storelvmo, Yale Climate and Energy Institute (YCEI), noted aerosols in the atmosphere affect how much heat is absorbed by the atmosphere versus reflected back into space. She underscored that the strength of the aerosol cooling effect almost counterbalances the greenhouse effects of GHGs. She noted aerosol emissions are being reduced due to air quality concerns, which may accelerate warming.

Thomas Leirvik, YCEI, said the observed net effect of GHG emissions and atmospheric aerosols is atmospheric temperature and discussed the implications of increasing solar radiation due to the reduction in air pollution since the 1990s. He noted that this reduction increases climate change. He emphasized that current climate models underestimate the trends in solar radiation and will therefore underestimate temperature increases.

Nick Nuttall, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), discussed the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants, saying the Coalition aims to reduce or address: landfill methane emissions; hydrofluorocarbons; heavy-duty vehicles; brick production; and oil and gas flaring. He highlighted the health benefits, and increases in food production due to reductions in ground level ozone, as well as climate benefits.

Kevin Tu, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noted that 70% of China’s energy mix is currently coal-based, and stressed the importance of international coal trade dynamics, saying China went from being the largest coal exporter to the largest coal importer. He emphasized the need for China to optimize their air pollution and carbon emission reductions together.

Ainsley Lloyd, Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy (YCELP), spoke for Angel Hsu, YCELP, discussing environmental indicators. She highlighted the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), noting the framework for the 2012 EPI focuses on environmental health and ecosystem vitality.

During discussions, panelists addressed whether the Climate and Clean Air Coalition will deliver on its objectives and identified possibilities for driving progress further. Storelvmo noted controversy in her field on the climate impacts of reducing black carbon and raised the possibility that it would take attention away from CO2 emissions reductions. Nuttall stressed that the co-benefits mean that countries should be addressing these issues regardless of climate benefits and emphasized that these actions are additional to CO2 reductions. Other participants raised the issue of hydrochlorofluorocarbon banks and the possible use of certain aerosols in geo-engineering projects.

Moderated by Florence Daviet, WRI, participants at this informal event discussed the elements of national safeguard systems, looking at the needs of individual countries. Daviet asked participants to address the key design elements required for a safeguard system to be implemented.

Crystal Davis, WRI, discussed four elements for the design of a safeguard system. She noted: goals are necessary to create a “floor” for social and environmental concerns; the functions of the systems should anticipate potential risks and opportunities of REDD+; and rules and institutions need to be set up to support the system, with new institutions created to address identified gaps.

Noting the involvement of Indigenous Peoples in the safeguards discussions in his country, Roger Muchuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), said that the DRC’s framework strategy on REDD+ includes limited safeguard measures. He highlighted key elements for the safeguard system to succeed, particularly measures related to the creation of an independent multi-stakeholder body, including that it: be scaled up, with a mission to consider national, sub-national and local levels of implementation; be part of the monitoring and reporting process; establish a plan for information exchange, education and awareness raising; and be provided with financing.

Natalie Untersteu and André Costa Nahur, Brazil, shared Brazil’s experience. Untersteu noted that Brazil’s initial consideration of principles and criteria for REDD+ implementation evolved into a discussion on safeguards. She underscored the importance of a bottom-up approach for the safeguard system to succeed. On monitoring, Nahur noted the need for the safeguards systems to incorporate a complaints mechanism that is accessible to local communities.

Bernadinus Steni, Funding Instrument Working Group Task Force, Indonesia, highlighted that the key elements for safeguard design are: institutions; legal aspects; legitimacy, to ensure they are in line with national and international safeguards; and finance. Iwan Wibisono, Funding Instrument Working Group Task Force, Indonesia, noted that Indonesia recognizes the need for more than one safeguard system.

Josefina Brãna, Mexico, gave a brief history of Mexico’s participation in REDD+ work, noting its involvement in the Cancún process on REDD+, and commenting the country is now embarking on a participatory process to gather information. She highlighted challenges involved in this, including identifying the “right” stakeholders to give input into the process.

During discussions, participants considered: tenure right conflicts and how to assess REDD+ payments owed to areas experiencing these conflicts; the pre- and post-implementation costs of the safeguard systems; linking safeguard information systems and national forestry management systems; the need for the systems to be well-managed but simple and “intelligent”; the need to establish rules for stakeholder dialogues; and the importance of local-level actions feeding into national level policy.

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 State of Qatar. This issue has been written by Jennifer Lenhart, Tallash Kantai, Kate Neville and Anna Schulz. The Digital Editor is Kate Harris. The Editor is Liz Willetts <liz@iisd.org>. The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. Support for the publication of ENBOTS at the Doha Climate Change Conference - November 2012 has been provided by the State of Qatar. 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 the Doha Climate Change Conference - November 2012 can be found on the Linkages website at http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop18/enbots/. The ENBOTS Team at the Doha Climate Change Conference - November 2012 can be contacted by e-mail at <anna@iisd.org>.