African Group

The thirteenth session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF13) resumed on Wednesday, 9 May 2018, at UN Headquarters in New York. In the morning, delegates discussed the possible impact of UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) reform on the UNFF Secretariat and how the Forum is serviced. Delegates then turned to monitoring, assessment and reporting, including the proposed format and cycle for voluntary national reporting to UNFF and work by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) on a global core set of forest indicators. During lunch three side events were held: one hosted by Rwanda and the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC), on “Forest Ecosystems of Central Africa: The Unknown Lung of the Planet, Emerging issues, Challenges, and Prospects for the World”; a second hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Government of Switzerland on “Mobilizing Finance for Forests and REDD+: The Key Role of National Forests and REDD+ Finance Strategies”; and a third hosted by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Government of the Republic of Korea on “Forest Ecosystem Restoration and Biodiversity.” In the afternoon, delegates discussed means of implementation, with a focus on guidelines for the operation of the Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network (GFFFN) and proposed measures to increase its effectiveness and efficiency. For details on the day’s discussions and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) meeting coverage, provided daily digital coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from UNFF13. Photos by IISD/ENB | Ángeles Estrada Vigil For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Information on UN DESA Reforms Pertaining to UNFF Haitian Lu, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA); Manoel Sobral Filho, UNFF Director; Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob, UNFF13 Chair; and Moncef Khane, UNFF Secretary Michael Osakuade, Nigeria, for Africa Group Haitian Lu, UN DESA Davia Carty, Jamaica Avhashoni Renny Madula, South Africa Rob Busink, The Netherlands Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting The dais during the session UNFF13 Vice-Chair Maureen Whelan Patrick Kariuki, Kenya Afsa Kemitale, UNFF Secretariat Peter Csoka, FAO UNFF13 Vice-Chair Luciana Melchert Saguas Presas, and Rafael da Soler, Brazil   Jessica Carvajal, Colombia Marta Nuñez, NGO Major Group Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria Renato Morales, Argentina Means of Implementation Peter Gondo, UNFF Secretariat Hu Yuanhui, China   Manoel Sobral Filho, UNFF Director Lisa Prior, Executive Secretary, International Forestry Students' Association Jean Baptiste Havugimana, East African Community; Raymond Ndomba Ngoye, Executive Secretary, and Tite Tchuante, Central African Forests Commission Yoshiko Motoyama, Japan Thioye Djibril, Senegal Around the Venue    

The Bonn Climate Change Conference continued on Tuesday, with negotiations on some issues yielding preliminary agreement, and negotiations on other issues trying to find solutions to disagreements. Preliminary agreement, pending formal adoption by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA), was found on some issues, including: Capacity building under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, Coordination of support for the implementation of activities relating to mitigation actions in the forest sector by developing countries, including institutional arrangements, and Response measures. Throughout the day, several of the issues discussed under the SBI and SBSTA remained outstanding. The final plenaries for all the Subsidiary Bodies are scheduled for the last day of the conference, on Thursday, 10 May. Therefore, outstanding issues must be resolved on Wednesday. To address the many interrelated issues under the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP), a “joint” meeting convened to discuss adaptation communication and the transparency framework. Work under the PAWP also included continued discussions on the transparency framework, Article 6 (cooperative approaches), and information to be provided in advance by developed countries on their financial support. The long-term finance workshop continued to discuss experiences and lessons learnt from articulating and translating needs identified in country-driven processes into on the ground projects and programmes. The sixth Dialogue on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) started today, focusing on public awareness and international cooperation. The COP 23 Presidency held a session to report back on the Talanoas held as part of the Talanoa Dialogue on Sunday, 6 May. Many delegates expressed appreciation for the Dialogue’s format and atmosphere, noting its value in building trust between all stakeholders. For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily digital coverage, daily reports, daily videos, and a summary and analysis report from the Bonn Climate Change Conference - April/May 2018. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Executive Secretary's Meeting with Observer Organizations Participants during the meeting with the Executive Secretary UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Juan Carlos Jintiach and Thin Yu Mon, Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPO) Wael Hmaidan, Climate Action Network (CAN) International Gunnar Steinsholt, Trade Union NGOs (TUNGOs) Norine Kennedy, Business and Industry NGOs (BINGOs) Joséphine Raynauld and Sofia Kabbej, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs) Gillian Nelson, Harjeet Singh, and Eddy Pérez, CAN Bridget Burns, Women and Gender Halldór Thorgeirsson, UNFCCC Secretariat Marilyn Averill, Research and Independent NGOs (RINGOs) Report Back from Talanoa Dialogue Participants during the report back of the Talanoa Dialogue Amena Yauvoli, Fiji Sylwia Waśniewska, COP 24 Presidency, Poland  Tui Cavuilati, Fiji Emma Rachmawaty, Indonesia Marianne Karlsen, Norway Christina Paradiso, Canada Stephanie Lee, New Zealand Balisi Justice Gopolang, Botswana, speaking on behalf of the African Group In-Session Workshop on Long-Term Finance Participants during the in-session workshop on long-term finance Nathaniel Blama, Environmental Protection Agency, Liberia Co-Facilitator Janine Coye-Felson, Belize Alexander Linke, German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) Co-Facilitator Stefan Schwager, Switzerland Participants discuss finance-related matters in break-out groups Espen Ronneberg, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Alexander Linke, GIZ Milena Gonzalez Vasquez, Global Environment Facility (GEF) Secretariat Kamel Djemouai, Advisor to the African Group, records ideas Sixth Dialogue on Action for Climate Empowerment ACE family photo Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, and COP 23 President, Fiji SBI Chair Emmanuel Dlamini, Swaziland Pramisha Thapaliya, YOUNGOs Jamie Clarke, Climate Outreach Maria Nailevu, DIVA for Equality Informal Consultations Throughout the Day Coordination of support for the implementation of activities relating to mitigation actions in the forest sector by developing countries, including institutional arrangements family photo Ex-ante transparency of climate finance family photo APA agenda item 8: informal consultations on issues except the Adaptation Fund Public registry on Agreement Article 7.12 (adaptation communications) SBI informal consultations on capacity-building for developing countries Around the Venue UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Outi Honkatukia, Finland, and Stefan Schwager, Switzerland Delegates from YOUNGOs confer Todd Stern, World Resources Institute (WRI), and Jacob Werksman, EU Delegates from Austria and Luxembourg Security staff around the venue Niklas Höhne, New Climate Institute, speaks to the press A delegate reviews the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) website and daily to keep track of negotiations

With the first week of negotiations coming to a close, one of the day's key events was the joint stocktaking plenary by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA). A Gender Dialogue also convened, and the Paris Committee on Capacity-Building (PCCB) held a meeting. The main focus in the negotiations remained on the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP), which needs to be finalized by COP 24. A range of topics were taken up during the day, including finance, adaptation, mitigation, market and non-market approaches, response measures, and the transparency framework. Negotiating groups also met to discuss various other issues on the SBSTA and SBI agendas, including arrangements for intergovernmental meetings, agriculture, and research and systematic observation. For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily digital coverage, daily reports, daily videos, and a summary and analysis report from the Bonn Climate Change Conference - April/May 2018. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Gender Dialogue View of the panelists during the Gender Dialogue Una May Gordon, Jamaica Anne Barre, Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF) Rita Mishaan, PCCB Piotr Dombrowicki, Executive Board of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Young Hee Lee, Adaptation Fund Board Secretariat Sadya Ndoko, UNFCCC Secretariat Verona Collantes, UN Women Maia Tskhvaradze, Advisory Board of the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) Karina Larsen, CTCN Claudia Octaviano and Stella Gama, Technology Executive Committee (TEC) Thiago de Araújo Mendes, Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) Participants during the discussion High-level Champions’ Dialogue with Observer Organizations View of the dais during the High-Level champion's dialogue with observers Martin Frick, UNFCCC Secretariat Inia Seruiratu, Minister of Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, and High-Level Climate Champion, Fiji Chair Ceris Jones, Farmers Clara von Glasow, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs) Inga Fritzen Buan, Climate Action Network (CAN) Informal Consultations Throughout the Day APA informal consultations on Agreement Article 3, mitigation SBI informal consultation on matters relating to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) SBI informal consultation on review of the effective implementation of the CTCN APA informal consultations on Agreement Article 8, Adaptation Fund Joint SBSTA, SBI, and APA Stocktaking Plenary View of the dais during the stocktaking plenary APA Co-Chairs Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, and Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia SBI Chair Emmanuel Dlamini, Swaziland Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Franz Perrez, Switzerland, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France Gebru Jember, Ethiopia, speaking on behalf of the LDCs Amjad Abdulla, Maldives, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Patrick Suckling, Australia, speaking on behalf of the Umbrella Group Tomasz Chruszczow, COP 24 Presidency, Poland, and Incoming COP 24 President Michal Kurtyka, Poland Mohamed Nasr, Gabon, speaking on behalf of the African Group Ravi Prasad, India Majid Shafie-Pour, Iran, speaking on behalf of the Like-minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) Ayman Shasly, Saudi Arabia, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group Eduardo Silva, Chile, speaking on behalf of the Independent Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC) Boriana Kamenova, EU Civil Society Demonstration Members of civil society demonstrate in the corridors to illustrate two pressing forces on negotiators: extreme weather events and fossil fuel lobbyists. The demonstrators called for more attention to be paid to civil society and for negotiators to accelerate climate action 'before it is too late.' Around the Venue Tomasz Chruszczow, COP 24 Presidency, Poland, and Trigg Talley, US Andrew Rakestraw, US, Xiang Gao, China, and Santhosh Manivannan, Singapore Carlos Fuller, Belize, Lidia Wojtal, Climatekos, and SBI Chair Emmanuel Dlamini, Swaziland Olga Alcaraz, Josep Xercavins, Gisela Torrents, and Laia Segura, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain Sandra Boitumelo Motshwanedi, South Africa, and Neoka Naidoo, CAN  Delegates from CAN encourage delegates to 'step up' their NDC contributions Talieh Wögerbauer, Austria Natsumi Yoshida, Arunima Hakhu, and Kalyani Raj, Women and Gender Dominic Efosa Idaghe, World Conference Center Bonn staff Delegates between sessions Delegates enjoy a moment in the sun

The Bonn Climate Change Conference continued on Tuesday, with negotiations on the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP) as the day's main focus. Topics discussed included finance, mitigation, transparency, global stocktake, adaptation and the committee to facilitate the Paris Agreement's implementation and promote compliance. These discussions took place under the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA), the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) through various contact groups and informal consultations. Negotiations also took place on other items under the SBI and SBSTA. Issues discussed included technology, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the Adaptation Committee, research and systematic observation, and reporting. In addition, three workshops took place throughout the day, on: economic modeling tools related to the work programme on response measures; the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples (LCIP) Platform; and education, training, public awareness, public participation and public access to information to enhance actions under the Paris Agreement (ACE). For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily digital coverage, daily reports, daily videos, and a summary and analysis report from the Bonn Climate Change Conference - April/May 2018. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page APA Contact Group View of the dais during the APA contact group Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China APA Co-Chairs Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia, and Jo Tyndall, New Zealand Amjad Abdulla, Maldives, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Mohamed Nasr, Gabon, speaking on behalf of the African Group Patrick Suckling, Australia, speaking on behalf of the Umbrella Group Mona Al-Attas, Saudi Arabia, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group Collin Beck, Solomon Islands APA family photo Multi-stakeholder Workshop of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples (LCIP) Platform Frank Ettawageshik, National Congress of American Indians, opens the session with a prayer UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Roberto Múkaro Borrero, Indigenous Peoples Organization Representative and Co-Moderator Participants stand during the opening prayer Alberto Saldamando, Indigenous Environmental Network Walter Schuldt Espinel, Ecuador Karoliina Anttonen, Finland Juan Carlos Jintiach Arcos, Ecuador Geert Fremout, EU Grace Balawag, Indigenous Leader Tebtebba SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Indigenous Peoples Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) Workshop Participants gather during the ACE workshop Ana Maria Kleymeyer, ACE Workshop Facilitator Adriana Valenzuela, UNFCCC Secretariat Deo Saran, ACE Workshop Facilitator Laura Maanavilja, EU Participants form break-out groups to discuss ACE-related topics Informal Consultations Throughout the Day SBSTA informal consultations on Annex I parties' reporting under the Convention, relating to greenhouse gas inventories, biennial reports, and national communications SBSTA contact group on financial resources provided and mobilized through public interventions in accordance with Paris Agreement Article 9.7 Informal consultations on further guidance on adaptation communication (APA agenda item 4) SBI informal consultation on Paris Agreement Article 9.5, matters related to climate finance SBSTA informal consultations on rules, modalities, and procedures for the mechanism established by Paris Agreement Article 6.4 Around the Venue Nicole Wilke, Germany, and Johanna Lissinger-Peitz, Sweden APA Co-Chairs Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia, and Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, speak with Trigg Talley, US, and Patrick Suckling, Australia Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Indigenous Peoples Delegates speak informally Anne Maletjane, UNFCCC Secretariat Halldór Thorgeirsson, UNFCCC Secretariat Benito Müller, Oxford Climate Policy Security staff around the venue A delegate makes a recording of statements Collin Beck, Solomon Islands

On Monday, parties at the Bonn Climate Change Conference focused on launching substantive work by establishing negotiating groups. Plenary meetings of the three main negotiating bodies, the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) made good progress, with each body working through its agenda without major disagreements. In the evening, the three bodies held a joint plenary to hear statements from parties and observer organizations. In the afternoon, several of the negotiating groups held their first meetings and started substantive negotiations on issues such as agriculture, technology, finance, market and non-market mechanisms, and adaptation. Throughout the day, a training workshop also took place to consider economic modelling tools related to the work programme on response measures. Its aim was to understand and quantify the cross-border impacts of climate-related policies (i.e., response measures). For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily digital coverage, daily reports, daily videos, and a summary and analysis report from the Bonn Climate Change Conference - April/May 2018. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page SBSTA Opening Plenary View of the dais during the SBSTA opening plenary SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Ian Fry, Tuvalu Chen Zhihua, China Abdalah Mokssit, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Delegates during the SBSTA opening plenary SBI Opening Plenary View of the dais during the SBI opening plenary SBI Chair Emmanuel Dlamini, Swaziland Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary Thiago de Araújo Mendes, Chair of the Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications for Non-Annex I Parties (CGE) Aderito Manuel Fernandes Santana, São Tomé and Príncipe Adão Soares Barbosa, Timor-Leste APA Opening Plenary View of the dais during the APA opening plenary APA Co-Chairs Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, and Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa speaks with APA Co-Chairs Jo Tyndall and Sarah Baashan, and Sergey Kononov, APA Coordinator Joint Session for Statements View of the dais during the joint session for statements Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Boriana Kamenova, EU Mohamed Nasr, Gabon, speaking on behalf of the African Group Franz Perrez, Switzerland, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) Patrick Suckling, Australia, speaking on behalf of the Umbrella Group Majid Shafie-Pour, Iran, speaking on behalf of the Like-minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) Gebru Jember, Ethiopia, speaking on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaking on behalf of the Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CfRN) Amjad Abdulla, Maldives, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Isabel Di Carlo Quero, Venezuela, speaking on behalf of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) SBI/SBSTA In-forum Training Workshop SBI/SBSTA in-forum training workshop on the use of economic modelling tools related to the areas of the work programme on response measures Alicia Bagasra, New Zealand Bert Saveyn, EU Morgenie Pillay, South Africa Co-Facilitator Andrei Marcu, Panama Ama Essel, Ghana Contact Groups and Informal Sessions Throughout the Day SBSTA contact group on matters relating to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement SBSTA informal consultations on the Nairobi Work Programme (NWP) Informal consultations on Koronivia joint work on agriculture Around the Venue Members of the UNFCCC Secretariat gather on the podium SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France, speaks with Kishan Kumarsingh, Trinidad and Tobago Delegates speak informally Delegates read the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) curtain raiser to prepare for the start of the meeting Delegates between sessions Delegates speak informally