Highlights and images for 1 October 2018

Summary

 

Highlights for Monday, 1 October 2018

Participants listening to the opening remarks from President Moon Jae-in, Republic of Korea

The 48th session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-48) opened on Monday, 1 October, with a statement from IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee, who welcomed delegates to “one of the most important meetings in IPCC history.” He highlighted the first-ever joint meeting of the Panel’s three Working Groups (WGs), which will consider, line-by-line, the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) for the IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C (SR15). Speaking via video, President Moon Jae-in, Republic of Korea, recognized the IPCC’s contributions to reinforcing global action to safeguard environmental justice and democracy through its scientific endeavors. Elena Manaenkova, Deputy Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), noted the increasing influence of the IPCC and the WMO. Jian Liu, Chief Scientist, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), praised the IPCC for its efforts to transform itself to more directly provide a scientific basis for climate action. Youssef Nassef, Director, Adaptation Programme, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), explained the report’s relevance to UNFCCC processes, including the transparency framework and the global stocktake (GST). Kim Eunkyung, Minister of Environment, Republic of Korea, noted the SR15 would provide a “stepping stone” towards achieving the Paris Agreement’s long-term goal. The Panel then heard reports from the Ad Hoc Task Group on Finance (ATG-Finance) , as well as progress reports on:

  • the International Conference on Climate Change and Cities;
  • the Expert Meeting on Assessing Climate Information for Regions;
  • the Expert Meeting on Short-Lived Climate Forcers; and
  • the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFI).

In the afternoon, the first Joint Meeting of Working Groups I, II and III met to begin consideration of SR15. Delegates attended a reception hosted by the Government of the Republic of Korea in the evening.

IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) meeting coverage, is providing daily web coverage, as well as a summary and analysis from IPCC-48.

 

Photos by IISD/ENB | Sean Wu

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Opening Ceremony
Hoesung Lee, IPCC Chair, giving opening remarks
Jian Liu, Chief Scientist, UNEP
Elena Manaenkova, Deputy Secretary-General, WMO
Delegates from Saudi Arabia in discussions
Kim Jong-Seok, Adminstrator, Korea Meteorological Administration
Youssef Nassef, Director of Adaptation Programme, UNFCCC
A view of the opening ceremony
Opening Session
Abdalah Mokssit, Secretary of the IPCC
The dais during the opening session
Youba Sokona, ATG-Finance Co-Chair
Thelma Krug, ATG-Finance Co-Chair
US delegates consulting at IPCC-48's opening session
Michihiro Oi, Japan
Markku Rummukainen, Sweden
Kim Sewon, Republic of Korea
Martine Vanderstraeten, Belgium
Kiyoto Tanabe and Eduardo Calvo Buendia, TFI Co-Chairs
Delegates from the US consulting with WG III Co-Chair Jim Skea
Afternoon Session
The dais during the Joint Session of Working Groups I, II and III
Panmao Zhai, WG I Co-Chair, China
Valérie Masson-Delmotte, WG I Co-Chair, France

Saudi Arabia and Tanzania raising their flags

Ayman Shasly, Saudi Arabia
José Romero, Switzerland
Birama Diarra, Mali
Trigg Talley, US
Aída Velasco Munguira, Spain
José Romero and Andreas Fischlin, Switzerland, in discussions
Around the Venue