Highlights for Wednesday, 26 June 2019
In a civil society demonstration focused on loss and damage, youth representatives warn about the dangerous impacts of climate change and call for urgent action to be taken to protect future generations.
On the penultimate day of the Bonn Climate Change Conference, much remained unresolved. Huddles and high-level engagement became the modus operandis of the day.Parties continued to discuss issues, from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on 1.5°C to the budget, with limited progress. Discussions on the reporting formats that will operationalize the enhanced transparency framework under the Paris Agreement moved along in closed-door sessions. The Chair of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) held a two-hour meeting with the heads of delegations to try to work out remaining issues before the closing plenaries tomorrow. Similarly, the budget inched toward agreement as time started to run out.While delegates worked on brackets and re-worked text on the screen, other participants engaged in action-oriented exchanges to share lessons and catalyze new actions. A special event titled “Driving Change Together-Special Joint Event on Multilevel Action” focused on e-mobility and adaptation. The Thematic Expert Meeting on Adaptation wrapped up today, with participants continuing to grapple with the question of how to engage the private sector in building resilience to the effects of climate change while safeguarding local communities.A third special event, new for the UNFCCC and convened by the Paris Committee for Capacity-building and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OCHCR), focused on the implications of climate change for the full enjoyment of human rights.Looking ahead to the Santiago Climate Change Conference, several participants worried that the COP may become bogged down in the technical details of the issues discussed here, many of which reflect deep political divides. But some delegates noted that political guidance could help negotiators, and help build momentum on climate action before the Paris Agreement’s start date in 2020.For more details on the day's events and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB).
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2019, which is now available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
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Consultations throughout the Day
Delegates gather for the SBSTA informal consultations on matters relating to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Delegates huddle during the SBSTA informal consultations on research and systemic observation.
SBI/SBSTA informal consultations on matters relating to the forum on the impact of the implementation of response measures serving the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement.
SBI informal consultations on arrangements for intergovernmental meetings.
Delegates stand against the walls and sit on the floor during the SBSTA informal consultations on the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C.
SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France (far right), consults with the Co-Facilitators and Secretariat during the SBI/SBSTA informal consultations on terms of reference for the 2019 review of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts (WIM)
Members of the G-77/China huddle outside of the informal consultations on methodological issues under the Paris Agreement.
Technical Expert Meeting on Adaptation
At the start of the Technical Expert Meeting on Adaptation (TEM-A), delegates begin with playing a version of the game 'rock-paper-scissors' as a way to highlight the difficulties of achieving a coordinated approach between different stakeholders. Throughout the day, four sessions were held: adaptation planning and financing at different scales; financing commercialization of adaptation technology solutions; financial instruments to mobilize private sector engagement in climate resilience; and outlook to the remaining 2019 technical examination process on adaptation.
Jaime Webbe, Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN)
Moderator Donna Mitzi Lagdameo, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre
Shiv Seewoobaduth, Mauritius
Rebecca Nadin, Overseas Development Institute (ODI)
Gebru Endalew, Ethiopia
Crispus Mugambi, CARE International
Special Joint Event - Driving Change Together
High-level speakers for the special joint event Driving Change Together - Multilevel Action Focusing on E-Mobility and Adaptation.
Ashok-Alexander Sridharan, Mayor of Bonn
Ion Cîmpeanu, Romania
Martin Frick, Senior Director for Policy and Programme Coordination, UNFCCC Secretariat, moderated the session.
Maciej Mazur, Polish Alternative Fuels Association
Sandra Leticia Guzman Luna, Mexico
Local municipal authorities and the high-level speakers take a family photo before breaking out into two discussion groups focused on adaptation and e-mobility.
COP 25 Presidency Meeting with Observers
Carolina Schmidt, Minister of the Environment, Chile, and COP 25 President-designate
Henrique Fernandes, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs)
Felipe Andres Gutierrez, Climate Justice Now!
Bridget Burns, Women and Gender
Sandra Maria Hanni, Business and Industry NGOs (BINGOs)
Building Capacity for Integrating Human Rights into Climate Action
Panel speakers during the event
Iván José Véjar Pardo, COP 25 Presidency
Sébastian Ducyk, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
Benjamin Schachter, OHCHR, and Jennifer Hanna, Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB)
Estebancio Castro Diaz, Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform Facilitative Working Group (LCIPP FWG)
Notes are taken during three break out groups focused on: how the integration of human rights and related themes contribute to more effective climate policies and to higher ambition in terms of mitigation and adaptation; identifying the key capacity-building needs and gaps of different stakeholders; and what key capacity-building solutions and good practices exist that can be replicated.
Civil Society Demonstrations
As the WIM negotiations struggle to reach textutal agreement, members of YOUNGO demonstrate in the corridors, highlighting the severe health impacts that will be felt with an increase of temperature and call for developed countries to listen to the needs of developing countries, and to open up new streams of finance to address climate change.
Delegates 'die' due to the severe health impacts that will be experienced at extreme temperatures.
UN interns demonstrate outside the building calling for better labor rights and pay.
Around the Venue
A delegate watches the live schedule to keep track of the day's events.
Budget Co-Facilitators Talieh Wögerbauer, Austria, and Kishan Kumarsingh, Trinidad and Tobago
Carolina Schmidt, Minister of the Environment, Chile, and COP 25 President-designate, arrives at the venue.
A delegate reads the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) to keep track of the negotiations.
Delegates read the draft conclusions during the IPCC consultations.
Delegates from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia consult informally.
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Indigenous Peoples
Conference staff around the venue.
