European Union

L-R: Ma Xinmin, China, in conversation with Matthías Pálsson, Iceland The informal working group on area-based management tools (ABMTs) discussed global, regional, and hybrid approaches, focusing on: •    the decision-making process; •    consultation; and •    institutional arrangements. The informal working group on environmental impact assessments (EIAs), facilitated by René Lefeber, the Netherlands, focused on: •    relationships with other agreements; and •    criteria and thresholds. 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 reports and daily web coverage from BBNJ IGC 1. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report from the meeting.   Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page L-R: ABMTs Informal Working Group Facilitator Alice Revell, New Zealand; Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS; and Valentina Germani, UNDOALOS Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group Margo Deiye, Nauru, on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) Ninsemon Kida Rose, Côte d'Ivoire Martín Mainero, Argentina Pablo Arrocha Olabuenaga, Mexico Arianne Etuk, Bahamas, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Viviana Tinoco, Costa Rica Ariel Cayanan, the Philippines Isauro Torres, Chile Lucía Solano, Colombia Sergey Leonidchenko, Russian Federation Kate Neilson, New Zealand ABMTs Informal Working Group Facilitator Alice Revell, New Zealand IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore EIA Informal Working Group Facilitator René Lefeber, the Netherlands Emad Morcos Mattar, Egypt, on behalf of the G-77/China Wini Broadbelt, EU Tetsuya Yoshimoto, Japan Sydnei Cartwright, Bahamas, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) L-R: EIA Informal Working Group Facilitator René Lefeber, the Netherlands; Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS; Michele Ameri, UNDOALOS; and Fernando Cabrera Díaz, UNDOALOS James Waweru, Kenya Ismail Raushan Zahir, Maldives, on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Dhisadee Chamlongrasdr, Thailand Lionel Yee Woon Chin, Singapore Jung So-hyun, Republic of Korea Renato Leonardi, Brazil Coumba Gaye, Senegal Carlos Mata, Uruguay Susan Whelan, Holy See Asha Challenger, Antigua and Barbuda, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) L-R: EIA Informal Working Group Facilitator René Lefeber, the Netherlands; and Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS View of the Informal Working Group on ABMTs in session  

As the Bangkok Climate Change Conference draws to a close, the draft APA Co-Chairs' text is distributed to delegates The Bangkok Climate Change Conference closed on Sunday, 9 September, with negotiators concluding this session's work to advance the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP) — the details required to operationalize the 2015 Paris Agreement. The PAWP is scheduled for adoption at the Katowice Climate Change Conference (COP 24) in December 2018. This is widely considered a challenging task. At the beginning of their week in Bangkok, COP 23 President Frank Bainimarama warned countries that “frankly, we are not ready for Katowice.” Following the conclusion of informal consultations in the morning, the contact group of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) met in the early afternoon. After some debate on how to reflect possible additional matters for the PAWP to address, the group adopted its draft conclusions.Closing plenaries of the APA, the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) convened in the afternoon, with each body adopting identical conclusions. Parties made “uneven” progress across the different agenda items. Outcomes under PAWP negotiating items are captured in the annexes to their conclusions as “the Bangkok outcome,” as well as in a 307-page “PAWP compilation.” In their conclusions, the APA, SBI, and SBSTA agree on a way to progress work intersessionally, notably that: their Presiding Officers should prepare a joint reflections note addressing progress made at this session, and identifying ways forward, “including textual proposals,” to help advance parties’ deliberations towards the PAWP; and the purpose of this joint note is to address all PAWP matters so as to ensure their “balanced and coordinated” consideration and facilitate successful completion of the PAWP at COP 24. The note is due by mid-October 2018 in order to inform political discussions scheduled for the “pre-COP” meeting from 24-27 October 2018 in Krakow, Poland. The Conference was gaveled to a close at 7:57 pm following a joint APA-SBI-SBSTA plenary to hear country and observer statements. APA Co-Chair Tyndall declared: “Katowice, here we come!” IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from the Bangkok Climate Change Conference - September 2018. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has publish a summary and analysis report from the Conference.   Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Informal Consultations throughout the Day APA informal consultations on adaptation communication guidance SBI/SBSTA contact group on response measures SBSTA informal consultations on the technology framework APA informal consultations on mitigation Delegates huddle during the SBSTA contact group on modalities for the accounting of financial resources (Agreement Article 9.7) APA informal consultations on issues related to the Adaptation Fund APA transparency framework family photo APA global stocktake family photo APA Co-Facilitators family photo APA Contact Group APA Co-Chair Jo Tyndall, New Zealand Delegates read the revised APA Co-Chairs' draft text Delegates discuss the draft text Delegates from Saudi Arabia Delegates from India Andrew Neustaetter, US Chen Zhihua, China Franz Perrez, Switzerland Majid Shafie-Pour, Iran Joint Closing Plenary of APA, SBI and SBSTA View of the dais during the joint closing plenary Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Helmut Hojesky, EU Patrick Suckling, Australia, speaking on behalf of the Umbrella Group Laura Juliana Arciniegas Rojas, Colombia, speaking on behalf of the Independent Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC) Yoo Yeonchul, Republic of Korea, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) Amjad Abdulla, Maldives, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Gebru Jember Endalew, Ethiopia, speaking on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Mohamed Nasr, Gabon, speaking on behalf of the African Group Maesela Kekana, South Africa, speaking on behalf of Brazil, South Africa, India, and China (BASIC) Reinaldo Salgado, Brazil, speaking on behalf of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay Nedal Katbeh-Bader, Palestine  Nanna Birk, Women and Gender Lhavanya Dharmalinga, Environmental NGOs (ENGOs) Around the Venue  Renilde Ndayishimiye, Burundi Hugh Sealy, Barbados Delegates from the Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs) Seyni Nafo, Mali, and Delphine Eyraud, France, SBSTA Co-Facilitators for modalities for the accounting of financial resources (Agreement Article 9.7) Nurul Quadir, Bangladesh, and Nora Hamed Alamer, Bahrain APA Co-Chairs Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, and Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia A delegate reads the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) to keep track of negotiations Alex Saier, UNFCCC Secretariat; Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary; and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Rueanna Haynes, Saint Kitts and Nevis International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) ENB team covering the Bangkok Climate Change Conference: Elaine Limjoco, the Philippines; Natalie Jones, New Zealand; Katie Browne, US; Cleo Verkuijl, Zimbabwe/the Netherlands; Aaron Cosbey, Canada; Jen Allan, Canada; and Kiara Worth, South Africa  

A Thai fisherwoman describes how climate change is impacting her livelihood, as part of the global 'Rise for Climate' mobilization On Saturday, the Bangkok Climate Change Conference continued for its penultimate day of negotiations on the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP). Countries discussed issues related to, inter alia: common timeframes for nationally determined contributions (NDCs); market and non-market approaches; accounting of financial resources; response measures; adaptation communication; the Adaptation Fund; possible additional PAWP items; the global stocktake; and implementation and compliance. In the afternoon, heads of delegation met with the Presiding Officers of 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 briefing by the Incoming COP Presidency on preparations and arrangements for COP 24 in Poland also took place. Negotiations are scheduled to continue and conclude on Sunday. 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 web coverage and daily reports from the Bangkok Climate Change Conference - September 2018. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has publish a summary and analysis report from the Conference.   Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Informal Consultations throughout the Day SBSTA informal consultations on matters related to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (market and non-market approaches) APA informal consultations on further guidance in relation to adaptation communication APA informal consultations on implementation and compliance SBI informal consultations on modalities and procedures for a public registry (adaptation communication) Delegates huddle during the SBI/SBSTA informal consultations on the report of the Adaptation Committee and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) SBI informal consultations on common timeframes for NDCs SBI/SBSTA contact group on response measures View of the dais during the APA informal consultations on further matters except the Adaptation Fund Briefing by the Incoming COP 24 Presidency Marcela Main Sancha, Secretary to the COP, and Adam Guibourgé-Czetwertyński, Incoming COP 24 Presidency, during the briefing Satryo Bramono Brotodiningrat, Indonesia Joseph Teo Choon Heng, Singapore Gertraud Wollansky, EU Yungratna Srivastava, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs) Delegates during the briefing Global 'Rise for Climate' Mobilization Members of civil society gather outside the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) as part of the global 'Rise for Climate' mobilization, calling on leaders to commit to building a fossil free world that puts people and justice before profits Thai fishers and farmers hold signs indicating how climate change is affecting their livelihoods Participants in the event march to the UNESCAP building Participants urge delegates to 'rise for climate' and take a stand for climate justice in the negotiations Youth from Thailand join in the action Around the Venue SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France, speaks with Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt Jacob Werksman, EU, speaks with Trigg Talley, US Helmut Hojesky, Austria, speaks with a delegate Maesela Kekana and Richard Sherman, South Africa Members of civil society consult informally SBI Chair Emmanuel Dlamini, eSwatini Groups huddle throughout the day as the negotiations continue Taras Bebeshko, Ukraine Marcela Main Sancha, Secretary to the COP Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary (right) Andrei Pilipchuk, Belarus Bishwa Nath Oli and Maheshwar Dhakal, Nepal Delegates from the EU Paul Oquist Kelley, Nicaragua, speaks with delegates from the Latin America region Isabel Di Carlo Quero, Venezuela, and Philip Weech, the Bahamas Delegates between sessions Nanna Birk, Bridget Burns, Taily Terena, and Ndivile Mokoena, Women and Gender Harjeet Singh, ActionAid International, and Lina Dabbagh, Climate Action Network (CAN) International (left)  

  L-R: Melanie Virtue, Convention on Migratory Species Secretariat; Takehiro Nakamura, UN Environment Programme; and Charlotte Salpin, UNDOALOS Delegates at the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) continued to exchange views in an informal working group on capacity building and technology transfer (CB&TT). The informal working group on area-based management tools (ABMTs) started its work, focusing on: •    objectives; •    process; and •    relationship with other instruments. 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 reports and daily web coverage from BBNJ IGC 1. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report from the meeting.   Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page L-R: CB&TT Informal Working Group Facilitator Olai Uludong, Palau; Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS; Alice Hicuburundi, UNDOALOS; Vita Onwuasoanya, UNDOALOS; and Stefan Kuuskne, UNDOALOS Fred Sarufa, Papua New Guinea Mohamed Lamine Sidibe, Guinea Margo Deiye, Nauru, on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) Yagya Raj Poudyal, Nepal Dhia Hamad Ajel, Iraq Matthías Pálsson, Iceland Rishy Bukoree, Mauritius Renato Leonardi, Brazil Sibylle Vermont, Switzerland Alain De Comarmond, Seychelles Pablo Arrocha Olabuenaga, Mexico CB&TT Informal Working Group Facilitator Olai Uludong, Palau L-R: IGC President Rena Lee and Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS ABMTs Informal Working Group Facilitator Alice Revell, New Zealand Beverly Wade, Belize, for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM ) Ma Xinmin, China Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Viet Nam Mamadou Diallo, Senegal Martin Zvachula, Federated States of Micronesia View of the IGC Informal Working Group in session Kate Neilson, New Zealand John Brincat, EU Kjell Kristian Egge, Norway Cristóbal Hernández Castillo, Chile Jihyun Lee, Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat Desirée Eve Maaño, the Philippines Sofia Tsenikli, Greenpeace Carlos Mata, Uruguay Michael Lodge, Secretary-General, International Seabed Authority Kent Bressie, International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) L-R: ABMTs Informal Working Group Facilitator Alice Revell, New Zealand; Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS; Valentina Germani, UNDOALOS L-R: Harriet Harden, Yubing Shi, Nichola Clark, Robin Warner, and Carole Durussel, Australian National Center for Ocean Resources and Maritime Security (ANCORS)  

Serge Segura, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France, and co-Chair of the side event, responding to a panelist Options on Approaches, Modalities, and Strategies on Capacity Development for a New International Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Presented by the Government of France, Permanent Mission of Barbados, Global Ocean Forum/International Coastal and Ocean Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, and Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation This side event showcased a policy brief on capacity development by a multi-author, multi-stakeholder group led by the Global Environment Facility / Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN / Global Ocean Forum (GEF/FAO/GOF) Project on ‘Strengthening Global Capacity to Effectively Manage Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.’ Panelists discussed finance and clearinghouse mechanisms as well as modalities to link global, regional, and national actions. Side event co-Chairs Juliette Babb-Riley, Permanent Mission of Barbados, and Serge Segura, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France, opened the event. Babb-Riley recognized the role of capacity building in small island developing States (SIDS), and welcomed the policy brief that supported the event. Segura expressed optimism on a strong agreement on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) and noted the importance of capacity building to the management of marine protected areas (MPAs) and environmental impact assessments (EIAs). Biliana Cicin-Sain, President, Global Ocean Forum, highlighted that capacity building can serve as an enabler of other major topics under a new agreement on BBNJ. She discussed financing capacity building for BBNJ, outlining public, philanthropic, and innovative sources, but lamented that the UN Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS), without a standing financial mechanism, is reliant on voluntary contributions. The policy brief, 'Capacity Development as a Key Aspect of a New International Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ),' Cicin-Sain flagged, also reviews clearinghouse mechanisms that can link global institutions to regional and national levels. She underscored that the multi-stakeholder group behind the policy brief stands ready to support parties’ information needs. Atsushi Sunami, President, Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan, described capacity development efforts by non-governmental organizations, largely from developed countries, which primarily target individuals. He noted the efforts focus on short-term training and fellowships, but that long-term support and raising capacities at institutional or societal levels is essential, thus collaboration is needed. Marjo Vierros, Global Ocean Forum, pointed participants to a document on capacity building, technology transfer, and the questions in the president’s aid to discussions. She noted that the document organizes material from the policy brief in accordance with those questions. Alice Revell, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand, underscored the need for making the technical assistance available for SIDS more easily accessible, as well as the importance of comparative studies of different options. Marc Richir, European Commission, said the EU is working to improve the international governance of oceans as there are many projects underway. Given multiple financing mechanisms and funding streams, he noted a need to strengthen synergies and coordination. He emphasized the importance of defining what a “clearinghouse mechanism” actually means. Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, stressed that knowledge science is not necessarily intuitive, and that we need to be at the cutting edge of science. Developing countries, he noted, need to understand well the issues so that they can discuss and fully participate in the process. Mehdi Remaoun, Permanent Mission of Algeria and Coordinator of the African Group, underlined that unless well-suited clearinghouse mechanisms for developing countries are set in place, the new BBNJ instrument will not work. He emphasized that both mandatory and voluntary financial resources are needed. T. Suka Mangisi, Permanent Mission of Tonga, presented the “Joint Committee” partnership based at UN headquarters in New York that allows all SIDS to get involved. Italy, Austria, Luxembourg, and Spain are supporting this mechanism through which SIDS submit BBNJ-related projects that can then receive support for implementation, he described. Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), mentioned that even though the UN General Assembly (UNGA) mandated several trust funds, they are currently either depleted or close to depletion. Thus, voluntary financial contributions, both for the participation of developing countries in the negotiation process and implementation, are needed.  Árni M. Mathiesen, FAO, underlined the need for multiple, flexible clearinghouse mechanisms at all levels – local, national, regional, and global. Haiwen Zhang, China Institute for Marine Affairs, stressed the need for investment in research on deep sea issues, as well for capacity building for knowledge sharing. Tomas Anker Christensen, Chief Advisor to the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, emphasized that four of the targets under SDG 14 (on oceans) are maturing in 2020, and are highly relevant to the BBNJ discussions. He mentioned that Peter Thomson, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, is currently rallying support for capacity building to achieve the respective targets. In the ensuing discussion, participants raised issues related to, inter alia, the need for data collection, sustainable financing mechanisms, and needs assessments for different continents. Event panelists Haiwen Zhang, China Institute for Marine Affairs, emphasized the importance of research and knowledge sharing for creating and implementing a successful BBNJ instrument Tomas Anker Christensen, Chief Advisor to the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, emphasized the link between BBNJ and SDG 14 (on oceans) Biliana Cicin-Sain, President, Global Ocean Forum, distinguished between individual, institutional, societal capacity, and described capacity needs expressed by national and regional leaders Atsushi Sunami, President, Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan, presented an example of sustainable management of coral reef and island ecosystems in Palau Participants in the event Marjo Vierros, Global Ocean Forum, on the panel discussing country and regional perspectives Juliette Babb-Riley, Permanent Mission of Barbados, co-Chaired the side event Alice Revell, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand, spoke about making assistance for SIDS more accessible Marc Richir, European Commission, emphasized the need for better coordination between existing mechanisms of international oceans governance Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, said UNESCO understands technology as data, knowledge, and infrastructure Mehdi Remaoun, Permanent Mission of Algeria, emphasized that without sufficient financial resources, it will not be possible to implement the BBNJ instrument T. Suka Mangisi, Permanent Mission of Tonga, presented the “Joint Committee” partnership as a successful mechanism for SIDS supported by Italy, Austria, Luxembourg, and Spain Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), underscored the need to allocate financial resources from the beginning of the process to allow universal participation Árni M. Mathiesen, FAO, emphasized that sufficient resources are key to successful implementation, as case studies show that results are much better where the needs for resources are met The Global Ocean Forum Team and the OPRI/Sasakawa Peace Foundation Team CONTACT Biliana Cicin-Sain | bilianacicin-sain@globaloceans.org Name goes here | email address Name goes here | email address MORE INFORMATION https://globaloceanforum.com/ URL goes here URL goes here