European Union

The Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference continued on Monday. Contact groups and informal consultations under the Conference of the Parties (COP), Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), and Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) met in the morning and afternoon. In the evening, the APA contact group met to consider all its substantive agenda items, and the closing plenaries of the SBI and SBSTA met, adopting several conclusions and decisions. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has providing daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference 2017. 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. Informal Consultations throughout the Day SBI informal consultations on the review of the functions of the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) Informal consultations on further guidance in relation to adaptation communication (APA agenda item 4) Delegates huddle during informal consultations on matters relating to the global stocktake (APA agenda item 6) Informal consultations on further matters except the Adaptation Fund (APA agenda item 8) Civil Society Actions throughout the Day Members of the Indigenous Peoples constituency hold a demonstration to "reclaim a space for indigenous peoples and protest their continued marginalization" in the negotiations Representatives of ACT Alliance hand out chocolate coins, promoting the need for climate finance for adaptation Representatives of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service demonstrate against the use of nuclear energy, saying it is not a solution to combating climate change Representatives of CARE International hand out "care packages" that serve as "sweet policy recommendations" Representatives of The Big Shift Global protest against the financing of fossil fuels, offering delegates the chance to put chocolate coins into either a green piggy bank representing green energy, or a brown piggy bank representing fossil fuels Representatives of the Women and Gender constituency hold a tribute to honor women who have faced repression, persecution, threats, intimidation, violence, and even murder, in pursuit of the protection of human rights and the environment APA Contact Group Members of the Secretariat hand out the draft APA conclusions Delegates from Costa Rica and Argentina Delegates from Switzerland and Georgia Delegates read the draft APA conclusions APA Co-Chairs Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia, and Jo Tyndall, New Zealand Sin Liang Cheah, Singapore, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 3 - mitigation section Pieter Terpstra, Netherlands, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 8 - further matters, Adaptation Fund Xiang Gao, China, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 5 - transparency framework Julio Cordano, Chile, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 4 - adaptation communication Peter Horne, Australia, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 7 - committee to facilitate implementation and promote compliance Outi Honkatukia, Finland, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 6 - global stocktake SBI and SBSTA Closing Plenaries View of the dais during the SBI and SBSTA joint closing plenary SBSTA Chair Carlos Fuller, Belize Sidat Yaffa, The Gambia SBI Chair Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland Marianne Karlsen, Norway Hamdhoon Mohamed, Maldives, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Adão Soares Barbosa, Timor-Leste Patricia Soares Leite, Brazil Elizabeth Pirth, Research and Independent NGOs (RINGOs) Mathias Edetor, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs) Jisun Hwang, Local Government and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Bjørn Gimming, Farmers Ndivile Colia Mokoena, Women and Gender Krishneil Narayan, Climate Action Network (CAN), and Tetet Nera Lauron, Climate Justice Now! (CJN!) SBI Chair Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland; Katia Simeonova, UNFCCC Secretariat; SBSTA Chair Carlos Fuller, Belize; Wanna Tanunchaiwatana, SBSTA Coordinator; and Hanna Hoffmann, UNFCCC Secretariat Around the Venue Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean Horacio Peluffo, UNFCCC Secretariat, speaks with a delegate Delegates from the EU Emmanuel Dumisani Dlamini, Swaziland UN Security around the venue Delegates from Argentina SBSTA Chair Carlos Fuller, Belize (left) with members of the UNFCCC Secretariat Delegates between sessions

The Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference continued on Monday. Contact groups and informal consultations under the Conference of the Parties (COP), Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP), Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), and Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) met throughout the day. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has providing daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference 2017. 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. High-level Opening of Global Climate Action Participants during the session Jerry Brown, Governor of California, US Bertrand Piccard, Solar Impulse Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Indigenous Peoples' Caucus Feike Sijbesma, CEO, Royal DSM Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul, Republic of Korea Gale Rigobert, Minister of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, Saint Lucia Karien Van Gennip, CEO, ING Bank France Informal Consultations throughout the Day Informal consultations on matters relating to capacity building SBSTA informal consultations on issues relating to agriculture Delegates huddle outside the informal consultations on response measures SBSTA informal consultations on the technology framework under Article 10.4 of the Paris Agreement SBI informal consultations on matters relating to the least developed countries Meeting of the Presiding Officers of the SBI, SBSTA, and APA with Heads of Delegations View of the dais during the session APA Co-Chairs Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia, and Jo Tyndall, New Zealand SBSTA Chair Carlos Fuller, Belize SBI Chair Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland Patrick Suckling, Australia, on behalf of the Umbrella Group Johanna Lissinger Peitz, EU Walter Schuldt Espinel, Ecuador, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Chen Zhihua, China Ravi Prasad, India Dedication of the De Brum Meeting Room Photograph of the late Tony De Brum, former climate Ambassador of the Marshall Islands and founder of the High Ambition Coalition Bruce Kijiner, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine, Marshall Islands Tuaoi Uepa, Pacific Climate Warrior Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner, Marshall Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna, Cook Islands Amena Yauvoli, COP 23 Fiji Presidency Barbara Hendricks, Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany Around the Venue Delegates huddle informally between sessions UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Richard Kinley, former UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, Mission 2020 Jerry Brown, Governor of California, US, speaks with Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Governor of California, US Mary Robinson, The Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice Peter Betts, EU, speaks with Trigg Talley, US President Hilda Heine, Marshall Islands Andrew R. Yatilman, Office of Environment and Emergency Management, Federated States of Micronesia, and Marion Henry, Department of Resource and Development, Federated States of Micronesia Nazhat Shameem Khan, COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1-2 Presidency, speaks with a delegate Marcela Main Sancha, Secretary to the COP/CMP Obed Baloyi, South Africa, speaks with a delegate Nick Nuttall, UNFCCC Secretariat

On Sunday, 12 November 2017, IISD Reporting Services covered the following side event: Fast Action on Short-Lived Climate Pollutants to Keep Warming Well Below 2⁰C (Climate and Clean Air Awards Ceremony) The following events were covered by IISD Reporting Services on Monday, 13 November 2017: Implementing Paris and the SDGs through Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform and Taxation: Country Best Practices Early Lessons from GEF-Integrated Approach Pilots: Increasing Impact in GEF-7 Filling the Void: US State-Driven Climate Leadership SDG11: Women Leaders on Making Human Settlements Inclusive, Sustainable and Resilient Catalyzing Implementation of the Paris Agreement through the Regional Collaboration Centres IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) Meeting Coverage, will provide daily web coverage from selected side events at the UN Climate Change Conference - November 2017. Photos by IISD/ENB | Ángeles Estrada \ For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Fast Action on Short-Lived Climate Pollutants to Keep Warming Well Below 2⁰C (Climate and Clean Air Awards Ceremony) Hosted by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Dan McDougall, CCAC Secretariat, introduced the Climate and Clean Air Awards ceremony, explaining that the Awards are designed to “recognize exceptional contributions and actions to implement projects, programmes, policies and practices that reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs),” which is key to improving air quality and providing health benefits. Noting that the Secretariat received 38 nominations and 14 were shortlisted, he said the winners and nominees demonstrate real climate action. Youba Sokona, Vice-Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), presented Outstanding Policy Awards to: the State of California for establishing the most comprehensive and strongest set of targets on SLCPs in the US; and the National Petroleum Authority of Ghana for its action to reduce vehicle emissions. Edmund Gerald Brown Jr., Governor of California, accepted the award on behalf of his state, noting that California’s short-term strategy will increase success in getting heat trapping gases under control. Hassan Tampuli, CEO, National Petroleum Authority of Ghana, said that his company put restrictions on sulfur contents in imported diesel, permitting local companies to produce to slightly higher levels until 2020. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, WWF and former Minister of Environment, Peru, noting the relationship between climate, clean air and health, introduced the next three awards. He presented: Sameer Maithel, Director, Greentech Knowledge Solutions, with the award for Individual Achievement, for his efforts to reduce black carbon in India’s brick sector; Marcelo Mena Carrasco, Minister of Environment, Chile, with the Honorary Award for Individual Achievement, for his efforts to reduce air pollution in his country; and the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) with the Transformative Action award, for its initiative to “conduct checks of real-world emissions of diesel cars in the US.” Maithel explained that the unprecedented population rise in his region had led to an increased demand for housing and infrastructure and, subsequently, bricks. He urged increasing the profile of clean technology in the sector, as it has environmental benefits, and provides affordable housing and sustainable jobs. Mena Carrasco noted that air pollution is an environmental justice issue that is often overlooked in the climate agenda, and said that it was reduced by 51% in the last four years in his country. Nic Lutsey, ICCT, accepted the award on behalf of his organization, explaining that their tests helped to reveal that Volkswagen vehicle emissions were 15-35 times higher than the US standard. He applauded the CCAC for funding technical research in this regard. Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40 Cities, took the podium to present: Öresundskraft Kraft & Varme AB with the Innovative Technology Award for its work on District Cooling in Helsingborg, Sweden; and Durban (eThekwini) Municipality, South Africa with the Honorary Award for Innovative Technology for its Durban Landfill Conservancies project. Gustaf Wiklund, Öresundskraft Kraft & Varme AB, explained that his organization sourced heat from the chemical industry, and less than 5% of its energy is from fossil fuels. Ntombifuthi Zamathomaya Maluleka, City of Durban, said that it takes dedicated officials to recognize a problem and drive it into action, and noted her city’s climate and air solutions were born out of smart and innovative planning and development. Helena Molin Valdes, Head of the CCAC Secretariat, moderated the concluding discussion, where panelists and audience members engaged on the best way to move the SLCP agenda forward within COPs, including by questioning how to measure them, proposing new metrics and describing lessons learned. Ricardo Lara, State Senator for California, joined the panel and noted that SLCPs need to be elevated to a global discussion and to the human level to ensure that they are not ignored. L–R: Sameer Maithel, Director, Greentech Knowledge Solutions; Marcelo Mena Carrasco, Minister of Environment, Chile; Gustaf Wiklund, Öresundskraft Kraft & Varme AB; Ntombifuthi Zamathomaya Maluleka, City of Durban; Nic Lutsey, ICCT; Hassan Tampuli, CEO, National Petroleum Authority of Ghana; and Ricardo Lara, State Senator for California Dan McDougall, CCAC Secretariat, said that reducing dangerous air pollutants is key to improving air quality. Tiy Chung, CCAC Secretariat, introduced the Climate and Clean Air Awards ceremony. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, WWF, noted the relationship between climate, clean air and health. Youba Sokona, Vice-Chair, IPCC, presented the Outstanding Policy Awards. An audience member documents a photo-op. Öresundskraft Kraft & Varme AB, put together a video on their experience in District Cooling. Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40 Cities, highlighted the importance of innovative technologies in mitigating SLCPs. Helena Molin Valdes, Head of the CCAC Secretariat, said that the Secretariat would be back next year with new winners. Audience members and panelists watch the Awards ceremony. L-R: Sameer Maithel, Director, Greentech Knowledge Solutions, and Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, WWF Marcelo Mena Carrasco, Minister of Environment, Chile, explained that “we want clean air and we believe in climate hope.” Nic Lutsey, ICCT, noted that “with a strategic project, no matter how small, you can change the world.” Gustaf Wiklund, Öresundskraft Kraft & Varme AB, said that he was “truly honored” to be given the People’s Choice Award. Ntombifuthi Zamathomaya Maluleka, City of Durban, said that it was “not easy to implement such a costly project, but we are already taking account of lessons learned.” Representatives from the National Petroleum Authority of Ghana with IPCC Vice-Chair Youba Sokona L-R: Ricardo Lara, State Senator for California; Edmund Gerald Brown Jr, Governor of California; and Youba Sokona, Vice-Chair, IPCC   Contact: Tiy Chung (CCAC Secretariat) | tiy.chung@unep.org More Information: www.ccacoalition.org Implementing Paris and the SDGs through Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform and Taxation: Country Best PracticesPresented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Finland, Denmark, Climate Parliament and University of Eastern Finland In this session, participants discussed practical country and international efforts to remove fossil fuel subsidies and invest in renewables, public transport and energy efficiency. Peter Wooders, IISD, moderated the panel. Welcoming participants, he said more than US$425 billion is spent each year on fossil fuel subsidies, both on the production and consumption side, and introduced the idea of clean energy subsidy swaps. In opening remarks, Kimmo Tiilikainen, Minister for Housing, Energy and the Environment, Finland, noting that fossil fuel subsidy reform is an important cross-cutting issue, reported on actions undertaken to address it by his country, including: a tax on carbon emissions; legislation to be proposed to phase out coal in energy production by 2030; electric vehicle purchase subsidies; and a 30% target for renewable content in all fuel sold. He urged coherence across sectors, including regarding climate and trade policy. Eva Svedling, State Secretary for Climate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden, in a keynote, reported on her country’s policies, including: a new climate policy framework with a goal of net zero emissions by 2045; and a carbon tax in place since 1991, which has led to emission reductions of 25% under 1990 levels. Noting that removing fossil fuel subsidies “cold turkey” is challenging, he emphasized that a carbon tax can be implemented step-by-step to ensure a smooth transition without jeopardizing energy security or support for the poorest. Edgar Gutiérrez-Espeleta, Minister of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica, urged a long-term perspective to considering climate change within the context of the SDGs. He called for an end to political “short-termism” and neoliberal thinking. He also reported that his country is constructing a long-term low emission and resilience development strategy. He added that carbon pricing policies are expanding to include an annual levy on emissions from vehicles and industrial boiler. He concluded by noting the need to improve measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems to facilitate carbon pricing implementation. Monica Araya, Founder, Costa Rica Limpia, highlighted the importance of connecting climate policy processes with “the people.” She said that to win over citizens, a combination of education, inspiration and empowerment is required. Reporting on the work of her organization, she described education efforts and policy reports. She urged being able to speak in fiscal language in order to win over finance policymakers, describing the importance of combating myths with evidence-led arguments. Thorsten Herdan, Germany, explaining the economic rationale behind carbon pricing, said that without a worldwide price on carbon the Paris Agreement goals will never be achieved. He emphasized the importance of making people part of the clean energy transition and providing alternative livelihoods, saying that “any other approach will not work.” He described developments in German renewable energy subsidies and urged creating a market where “the price tells the truth.” During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed questions on, among other things: dealing with the disproportionate effects to low-income communities of rising energy costs; how to reform fossil fuel subsidies in Australia; and combatting indirect subsidies. Aupito Wiliam Sio, Minister for Pacific Peoples, New Zealand, in closing remarks, said his country is “determined to do the right thing” including by becoming carbon neutral by 2050, establishing a climate commission and supporting fossil fuel subsidy reform. He explained that New Zealand is located in the Pacific, where some countries are fighting for their survival. Reporting on efforts to reform fossil fuel subsidies in the World Trade Organization (WTO), he welcomed a French initiative to discuss this issue at the EU level, and invited participants to a side event to be held at the WTO Ministerial Conference in December 2017. L-R: Kimmo Tiilikainen, Minister for Housing, Energy and the Environment, Finland; Peter Wooders, IISD; Edgar Gutiérrez-Espeleta, Minister of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica; Monica Araya, Founder, Costa Rica Limpia; and Thorsten Herdan, Germany Kimmo Tiilikainen, Minister for Housing, Energy and the Environment, Finland, said that action on fossil fuel subsidy reform in all sectors is needed to achieve the SDGs and the Paris Agreement goals. Eva Svedling, State Secretary for Climate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden, said subsidies free up resources to invest in sustainable development, health, education and social welfare. Monica Araya, Founder, Costa Rica Limpia, said “because we are a small country, we have to think big,” describing their vision for a fossil free country. Edgar Gutiérrez-Espeleta, Minister of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica, said that to date his country’s fuel tax has financed the reforestation of more than 728,000 hectares. L-R: Peter Wooders, IISD; Edgar Gutiérrez-Espeleta, Minister of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica; Monica Araya, Founder, Costa Rica Limpia; and Thorsten Herdan, Germany Peter Wooders, IISD, said fossil fuel subsidy reform is a country-driven opportunity to generate fiscal space so countries can spend what they want. Thorsten Herdan, Germany, said “we need to take the people with us” in phasing out coal. Contact: Katariina Kovalainen (Finland) | katariina.kovalainen@ym.fi Sanjay Kumar (Climate Parliament) | sanjay@climateparl.net Anette Ejersted (Denmark) | anney@efkm.dk Harro van Asselt (University of Eastern Finland) | harro.vanasselt@uef.fi More Information: www.ym.fi www.climateparl.net www.efkm.dk www.uef.fi https://www.iisd.org/topic/subsidies Early Lessons from GEF Integrated Approach Pilots (IAPs): Increasing Impact in GEF-7Presented by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) In this event, moderated by Gustavo Fonseca, GEF, participants considered the scale of global environmental challenges, addressing the importance of supporting broad coalitions of committed stakeholders and innovative and scalable activities. Discussions showcased progress for the IAPs and how early lessons learned from the GEF-6 replenishment could be used to enhance programmes in the GEF-7 replenishment for the period 1 July 2018 through 30 June 2022. David Rodgers, GEF, welcomed participants and introduced the discussion. In opening remarks, Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF, explained the IAPs, a new program for GEF-6 from 2014-2018, addressing key drivers of environmental degradation and focusing on key lessons to integrate all environmental spheres related to the GEF. She added that IAPs are relevant for sharing knowledge on the most successful projects, which will inform the GEF-7 replenishment process. She stressed three areas for moving IAPs forward: silos must be avoided; IAPs should be country-driven; and best practices on private sector participation must be integrated into the GEF work programme. Fenrec Toth, Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), GEF, spoke on the science of integrated approaches, noting the interlinkages between multiple environmental challenges, such as biodiversity and land degradation, as well as climate change. He emphasized institutional fragmentation as a major barrier for integrated solutions, and recommended systems thinking as the most appropriate method to maximize multiple benefits related to GEF projects. He added that this method identifies not only scientific issues but also tackles drivers of environmental degradation through a social science lens. He said that the theory of change could be implemented if a robust participatory method is conducted, and called for the use of common indicators when comparing project outcomes. Fonseca invited panelists to consider the IAP Progress Report, stressing the need to address the root causes of environmental degradation instead of its effects. He highlighted the need to include the private sector as part of the solution in order to deliver solutions at the scale of current environmental threats. Agnes Yobterik, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Kenya, discussed an IAP on fostering sustainability and resilience for food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. She explained that the IAP became attractive to her country as it speaks to Kenya’s aspirations on sustainable conservation, which seeks greater community participation. Kenya’s Vision 2030, she explained, focuses on a cleaner and safer environment for people and explored a pilot programme targeting water funds in coastal areas, relevant due to its payments for ecosystem services benefiting local communities and preserving watersheds. She explained that the two main objectives of the programme were to ensure the project’s sustainability and means to institutionalize these water funds, as well as to develop national capacity to continue to monitor the benefits of this programme. Mariline Diara, Ministry of Environment and the Sustainable Development, Senegal, discussed sustainable cities, stressing food security, traffic, energy security, and implementation of projects in selected cities in Senegal. She highlighted cooperation with the World Bank in the north of her country to address coastal erosion and recommended focusing on resilience building in coastal zones as a “matter of survival.” During the debate, participants raised questions on, inter alia: how to include health dimensions in announced pilots; how to deal with commodities and the private sector; and future projects and criteria to engage with IAPs related to cities. One health, one panelist responded noting the problems with malaria and confirmed that this disease is increasingly perceived as related to climate change due to the increase in temperatures and breeding areas for water-borne diseases. In closing, Fonseca spoke on next steps towards GEF-7, noting the need to increase projects’ impacts, largely by scaling up private sector engagement with the fund and highlighted efforts to address health themes within the GEF, such as through the elimination of persistent organic pollutants.  Ferenc Toth, STAP, GEF, noted the importance of systems thinking to deal with complexities linked to environmental projects. David Rodgers, GEF, welcomed participants. Gustavo Fonseca, GEF, emphasized the need to scale up private sector engagement within the Fund. Mariline Diara, Ministry of Environment and the Sustainable Development, Senegal, noted the importance of protecting coastal areas for livelihoods in Senegal.   Agnes Yobterik, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Kenya, said “we need to share lessons” to improve developing countries’ experiences with the GEF. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF, declared the need for collective thinking to maximize co-benefits of sustainability.     Contact: Camila Perez Gabilondo (GEF) | cperezgabilondo@thegef.org More Information: www.thegef.org Filling the Void: US State-Driven Climate LeadershipPresented by the US Climate Alliance In this side event, governors from the US discussed their commitments on clean energy, pollution control and emission reductions. Christiana Figueres, Mission 2020, moderated the panel. Kate Brown, Governor of Oregon, US, noted concerns that climate impacts will exacerbate already existing economic disparities in low-income communities, communities of color, tribal communities and rural communities in her state. She outlined measures her state government has taken on water, fire prevention and transportation. Describing the development of a carbon pricing strategy, she stressed the importance of collaborating with these communities and “bringing them to the table” to achieve prosperity for all. Terry McAuliffe, Governor of Virginia, US, noting that recent electoral successes in his state affirmed clean environment policies, outlined his use of executive orders to implement climate policies including offshore wind, energy efficiency and solar energy. He stressed the need to “lean in” using executive action and strategies for electoral change. He called for US citizens to “come out and vote” in the US midterm elections in order to “get control of Congress” for federal action on climate. Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington, noting that his state is renowned for innovation, creativity and invention, said climate change is “the largest economic opportunity since the invention of the steam engine” and that states and companies, which invent green technologies, will be “the greatest wealth creators since the Medicis.” Outlining key innovations made in his state, he highlighted clean energy’s potential for job creation. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Governor of California, stressed that climate change needs to be communicated as a health issue, saying that “we need to talk about smog, pollution, death and illnesses” when arguing for the need to address the climate threat. He noted that emphasizing climate change as a health issue has a greater chance to trigger action than the intangible “sea-level rise” message. He also focused on the need to forge cross-party coalitions, saying that “we all breathe the same air – there is no Republican air and Democrat air.” He called for a shift in climate communication towards planetary health, job creation, national security and pollution. Jerry Brown, Governor of California, highlighted the Global Climate Action Summit to be held in September 2018, which will bring together subnational actors including cities, states and corporations to discuss their climate commitments and action plans. He noted the legacies of former governors, saying that California’s vehicle-emissions rules came about as the result of a team effort. During discussions, Figueres posed questions on the role of US subnational actors in engaging with federal government and the necessity of strong political signals from the US in order to move the climate negotiations forward. In response, Inslee stressed that the US Climate Alliance is in Bonn “to make the world aware that Donald Trump cannot stop us,” highlighting that state governments are already taking action on the ground. He underscored that if the US Climate Alliance, which is committed to the Paris Agreement, was a separate nation it would constitute the third largest economy in the world. Brown noted that “all of us working together” can have a much greater impact than working alone. He said that even if the US is temporarily on the sidelines, “that doesn’t mean we should stop and let the world go to hell,” calling on all other countries to “carry the ball.” Schwarzenegger stressed the “tremendous power” of local governments, calling for states and local governments to have a seat at the table in UN decision-making processes. In closing remarks, Figueres characterized the Paris Agreement as a unidirectional highway leading everyone to a decarbonized global economy by 2050, and said that “even if one vehicle is parked on the sidelines other vehicles should keep their eyes on their own lane.” Kate Brown, Governor of Oregon, said that climate change legislation needs to help reduce disparities and make sure that communities can thrive “regardless of zip code, skin color and immigration status.” Jerry Brown, Governor of California, called on national and local governments to “do as much as you can, wherever you are.” Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington, said state governments are not subnationals but “supernationals” because “we are going to lead the US away from climate denial and to a new industrial revolution of jobs.” Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Governor of California, said “we should not rely on national governments” because “the greatest movements started with people from the grassroots up.” Terry McAuliffe, Governor of Virginia, said there is a new “blue wall” on the East Coast of the United States “and that is the Commonwealth of Virginia.” Christiana Figueres, Mission 2020, asked the panelists about bottom-up actions in their states. Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington Jerry Brown, Governor of California, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Governor of California L-R: Terry McAuliffe, Governor of Virginia; Christiana Figueres, Mission 2020; Kate Brown, Governor of Oregon; and Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington Contact: Aimee Barnes (US Climate Alliance) | Aimee.Barnes@gov.ca.gov More Information: www.usclimatealliance.org SDG11: Women Leaders on Making Human Settlements Inclusive, Sustainable and ResilientPresented by C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Moderated by Laurence Tubiana, European Climate Foundation (ECF), this high-level side event discussed gender issues and inclusiveness as key variables for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and implementing the Paris Agreement. Hilda Heine, President, the Marshall Islands, spoke on the necessity of education, emphasizing decentralized cooperative modes of leadership, such as group learning activities in her country, to empower women and climate champions. In a keynote speech, Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Mayor of Malmö, Sweden, emphasized the need to include cities in decision making and declared her city’s commitment to implement the SDGs, saying that “climate change is about the faith of humanity.” Mary Robinson, President, Mary Robinson Foundation, said the event is a great start for the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, launched by the High-Level Champions at COP 22. She underscored the vitality of bottom-up approaches, which can take into account the “real needs” of vulnerable populations. In a second panel discussion, Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat, moderated the session and praised the panel’s emphasis on gender inclusiveness and human settlements. Célestine Ketcha Courtès, Mayor of Bangangté, Cameroon, recalling low numbers of women in positions of power in Africa, highlighted that women suffer the most without reliable energy in many poor areas. Helen Fernández, Mayor of Caracas, Venezuela, emphasized the value of democracy as a key ingredient for sustainability and noted the challenges of single parenting in her country which she said affects a significant proportion of women. Montserrat Mir Roca, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), highlighting the need for equal pay between men and women, explained her organization’s commitment to 50/50 gender equality in internal jobs, which is followed up by legally binding rules. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF, describes GEF support to cities, noting the need for holistic urban planning, multi-stakeholder engagement, and city-to-city learning platforms. Kate Brown, Governor of Oregon, US, emphasized moral and economic imperatives to overcome gender gaps and described efforts in her state to expand clean energy, which can bring new jobs and training opportunities for the most vulnerable. Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany, declared that the future of the Paris Agreement will be played out in cities and emphasized the need to localize the SDGs and enhance spatial planning according to sustainable principles. Maria Helena Langa, Mayor of Mandlakazi, Mozambique, highlighted lack of knowledge about accessing funding as the major obstacle to making cities more resilient. She suggested capacity building and institutional coordination as means to improve the distribution of finance. Barbara Kreissler, Philips Lighting, underscored energy efficiency as the most effective way to accelerate energy solutions and save resources, which could be invested in other areas such as infrastructure and education. In closing, Tubiana commended the energy of all the panelists on the “100% women panel” and their leadership. Women unite to promote climate resilient cities. Maria Helena Langa, Mayor of Mandlakazi, Mozambique, noted knowledge gaps to access funds at the city level. Laurence Tubiana, ECF, praised the energy of the "100% women panel." Hilda Heine, President, the Marshall Islands, called for enhanced learning opportunities for women. Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Mayor of Malmö, Sweden, recalled that "green economy is also profitable." Helen Fernández, Mayor of Caracas, Venezuela, declared that "power ambitions" in Venezuela are detrimental to her country and called for a democratic movement to regain force. Célestine Ketcha Courtes, Mayor of Bangangté, Cameroon, emphasized the dangers of power shortages for women's safety in Africa. Mary Robinson, President, Mary Robinson Foundation, said "after all, development is about people." Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, the GEF, said "cities are at the forefront of our work." L-R: Maria Helena Langa, Mayor of Mandlakazi, Mozambique; Kate Brown, Governor of the State of Oregon, US; Ingrid Gabriela Hoven; and Barbara Kreissler, Philips Lighting Contact: Emmanuelle Pinault (C40 Cities) | epinault@c40.org More Information: http://www.c40.org Catalyzing Implementation of the Paris Agreement through the Regional Collaboration Centres Presented by the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) This session presented strategic institutional partnerships and on-the-ground regional initiatives by the UNFCCC and its partners in the Regional Collaboration Centres (RCCs) in Bangkok, Kampala, Lomé, Panama and St. George’s. The session also included the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). James Grabert, UNFCCC Secretariat, emphasized that in the context of a changing environment that is increasingly facing the threats of climate change, national and regional institutions must coordinate and enhance local cooperation on climate resilience. Isabelle Melançon, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change, Government of Quebec, announced contributions pledged by her government, among several others, to build capacity for francophone governments to implement their Paris commitments. She said her government is proud to participate and to create a carbon price in the global economy, thereby contributing to fighting climate change. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President, IGES, recalling the establishment of the first RCC in 2015, elaborated on the in-country training, and regional dialogues on Paris Agreement Article 6 (cooperative approaches) and the market mechanisms in the Paris Agreement. He pledged further support, particularly with implementing Nationally Determined Contributions through enhancing the capacity to track them. Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary, emphasized of translating the policies and mandates from the Secretariat into implementable practices. L-R: Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary; James Grabert, UNFCCC Secretariat; Isabelle Melançon, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change, Government of Quebec; and Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President, IGES Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary, said it is critical to “turn the work from the conference rooms into practice.” James Grabert, UNFCCC Secretariat, applauded the work of the RCCs in building capacity within countries. Isabelle Melançon, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change, Government of Quebec, shared on progress made in implementing REDD+ actions in the forestry sector. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President, IGES, stressed the importance of partnerships to accelerate REDD+ implementation. Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary, and Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President, IGES, signed an MoU to signal continued cooperation on RCCs.     Contact: William Otieno (UNFCCC Secretariat) | wotieno@unfccc.int More Information: www.unfccc.int  

The Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference continued on Saturday. Contact groups and informal consultations under the Conference of the Parties (COP), Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP), Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), and Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) met throughout the day. In the afternoon, the COP Presidency held an informal stocktaking plenary to hear updates from all subsidiary bodies. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has providing daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference 2017. 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. Informal Consultations throughout the Day Informal consultations on further matters, except Adaptation Fund (APA agenda item 8) Informal consultations on further guidance on adaptation communication (APA agenda item 4) Delegates huddle during the SBI informal consultations on coordination of support for the implementation of forest activities SBSTA informal consultations on the technology framework under Paris Agreement Article 10.4 SBI/SBSTA informal consultations on impact of the implementation of response measures Delegates celebrate the agreement of draft conclusions in the SBI informal consultations on ways of enhancing the implementation of education, training, public awareness, public participation and public access to information to enhance actions under the Paris Agreement Delegates huddle during the informal consultations on further guidance in relation to the mitigation section of the Paris outcome (APA agenda item 3) Informal Stocktaking Plenary by the COP 23 President Delegates gather in plenary for the informal stocktaking Delegates from Mexico Delegates speak informally before the start of the session Delegates from Egypt Nazhat Shameem Khan, COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1-2 Presidency View of the dais during the session Frank Bainimarama, COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1-2 President APA Co-Chairs Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, and Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia Sergey Kononov, APA Coordinator SBI Chair Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland SBSTA Chair Carlos Fuller, Belize Walter Schuldt Espinel, Ecuador, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Amjad Abdulla, Maldives, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Gebru Jember, Ethiopia, speaking on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Liliam Ballón Sánchez de Amézaga, Peru, speaking on behalf of the Independent Alliance of Latin America and the Carribean (AILAC) Majid Shafie-Pour, Iran, speaking on behalf of the Like-minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) Patrick Suckling, Australia, on behalf of the Umbrella Group Nicole Wilke, EU Ayman Shasly, Saudi Arabia Civil Society Actions throughout the Day Members of civil society hold up a 'Noah's Ark,' encouraging delegates to stick to the Paris Agreement Eric Meyer, Generation Atomic, sings an operatic ballad outside the venue about the benefits of nuclear energy in climate action Around the Venue APA Co-Chair Jo Tyndall, New Zealand APA Co-Chairs, UNFCCC Secretariat, and COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1-2 Presidency UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa speaks with members of the UNFCCC Secretariat Wanna Tanunchaiwatana, SBSTA Coordinator, and SBSTA Chair Carlos Fuller, Belize Frank Bainimarama, COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1-2 President Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary (centre) Joseph Africano Bartel, South Sudan Rueanna Haynes, Saint Kitts and Nevis Aziz Mekouar, Morocco, COP 22/CMP 12/CMA 1 Presidency, speaks with Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, Democratic Republic of the Congo Christiana Figueres, former UNFCCC Executive Secretary Delegates from Samoa and Tuvalu Hussein Alfa Nafo, Mali, speaks with a delegate UN Security around the venue Delegates from Brazil and Saudi Arabia Delegates speak informally Beto Blush, Climax Brasil Delegates from the Stockholm Environment Institute and Oxfam International

The following events were covered by IISD Reporting Services on Saturday, 11 November 2017: Moving Beyond Coal after Paris: Can the US and the EU Retire Their Coal Plants in Time to Deliver on Paris Targets? Accelerating the Urban Transformation: Financing and Implementing Infrastructure Projects in Cities and Regions Shifting Personal Mobility through Innovations in Transport Technologies, Systems and Planning Sustainable Mobility in a Changing Climate Because the Ocean Matters IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) Meeting Coverage, will provide daily web coverage from selected side events at the UN Climate Change Conference - November 2017. Photos by IISD/ENB | Ángeles Estrada and Herman Njoroge Chege For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Moving Beyond Coal after Paris: Can the US and the EU Retire Their Coal Plants in Time to Deliver on Paris Targets?Presented by the European Climate Foundation (ECF) This event, moderated by Laurence Tubiana, CEO, ECF, discussed opportunities for, and challenges to, moving global economies away from coal. Panelists emphasized the need to mobilize civil society and discussed cases in Germany and the UK, noting that coal is a global issue. Panelists also recalled the impacts of climate change on the most vulnerable populations and called for a fair coal transition to improve human and environmental health.  Michael Bloomberg, Bloomberg Philanthropies, emphasized that coal remains one of the leading causes of death and disease worldwide, and noted that 800,000 people, three times that of Bonn’s population, die from its effects every year. He focused on good policy examples to reduce coal use, and announced positive advancements resulting from market forces, and from companies, communities, cities and states that want to save money and protect their health. He stressed that these forces are shaping a carbon-free world.  Adair Turner, Chairman, Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET), said that although people are increasingly aware of coal’s negative impacts on the environment, faster action is necessary, if the Paris Agreement’s targets are to be taken seriously. He emphasized the importance of convincing major developing economies that coal is a fuel “from the past” and that it is economically advantageous to move away from it.  Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary, German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), recalled Germany’s progress on renewable energy, declaring that the “commitment is there.” He affirmed that carbon neutrality is possible and that this can be achieved in the next two decades. Flasbarth concluded by praising the German society for making the decision to move away from coal. Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director, Greenpeace International, in explaining her organization’s strong stance acting against coal, noted its devastating effects on human health. She underscored the need for more advocacy campaigns and declared that the transition away from coal must be “managed,” referring to the need to ensure job creation in this coal-free economy. She concluded by urging civil society to mobilize in order to make this “revolution” relevant for citizens.  In the ensuing debate, participants stressed, among other things: the importance of long-term plans; the role of civil society engaging in the transition away from coal; the EU as a leader in addressing climate change, in the context of rising social conflicts in the region; tools for decarbonization; and nuclear energy. L-R: Michael Bloomberg, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Laurence Tubiana, CEO, ECF; Jochen Flasbarth, German State Secretary, BMUB; Adair Turner, Chairman, INET; and Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director, Greenpeace International Laurence Tubiana, CEO, ECF, said that “we are mobilized to move away from coal, that’s why we are at COP 23.” Michael Bloomberg, Bloomberg Philanthropies, declared “the truth of the matter is we are leading the way despite our federal government.” Adair Turner, Chairman, INET, explained that the clean energy transition is about “simple math” and political commitment. Jochen Flasbarth, German State Secretary, BMUB, said “we have to do it in the right away,” noting changing perceptions with respect to the urgency of moving away from coal. Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director, Greenpeace International, declared: “facts are clear, it’s the power dynamics that hold us back.”       Contact: Katrin Riegger (European Climate Foundation) | katrin.riegger@europeanclimate.org More Information: www.europeanclimate.org Accelerating the Urban Transformation: Financing and Implementing Infrastructure Projects in Cities and Regions Presented by the C40 Cities Finance Facility In this session, panelists discussed the needs of cities, project developers and financiers in the preparation of bankable and sustainable city development projects to reduce carbon emissions and build climate resilience. Moderator Ani Dasgupta, Global Director, World Resources Institute (WRI) Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, said this is a challenging task that requires ambitious approaches, a range of partnerships and effective project preparation support to deliver sustainable infrastructure. Vera Rodenhoff, BMUB, noted that, as the biggest carbon emitters with ever-increasing populations, cities need to attract greater attention since sustainable infrastructure can enable or disable the needed transformation to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goals. She emphasized the need for stakeholders to talk to one another and at all levels, and complement one another. Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), suggested that the trend of decentralizing climate governance does not yet include climate finance, and there is a gap in understanding this topic, particularly in the Global South. He noted C40’s objective of trying to capture and share the knowledge coming out of a small number of cities. Watts said that this would ensure a quick adoption of lessons learned and getting city project approval, and added that through his organization, cities receive crucial assistance in project preparation. Gerry Muscat, European Investment Bank (EIB), identified the main challenges in accelerating climate finance availability, including: the lack of financially sustainable and mature projects submitted; the lack of technical assistance and support available to bring these projects to maturity; and the credit-worthiness of many local governments. Joachim Fritz, German Development Agency (GIZ), recalled many years of infrastructure development experience without “getting the finance right” in the local infrastructure development space. He attributed this to a lack of properly prepared and planned projects, mainly due to capacity shortage and inappropriate utilization of technical expertise. Sarah Ward, Head of Cape Town Energy and Climate Change, describing experiences in her city with green bonds financing and refinancing many projects, warned that investing in adaptation projects will not necessarily “make a city greener.” She elaborated on challenges in South African cities, saying the government has abandoned the renewable energy trajectory for more lucrative nuclear power development deals. Maryke van Staden, Director of Bonn Centre for Local Climate Action and Reporting (carbonn Center), emphasized the importance of project preparation support and in developing greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories. She noted the benefits of local city networks such as ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability and C40 in taking good concepts and developing them into strong investable projects. Christophe Dossarps, CEO, Sustainable Infrastructure Foundation (SIF), cautioned against simply increasing project preparation facilities without improving the quality of the data and other aspects. He urged developing a standard for infrastructure project preparation, without which the security of the investment is at risk. Tania Rödiger-Vorwerk, German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), closed the session and highlighted key aspects of finance, including to: continue financiers’ support to cities for capacity building; enhance project linkages; and reduce financial risks, such as fiscal governance and the borrowing power of cities. L-R: Vera Rödenhoff, BMUB; Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40; Joachim Fritz, GIZ; Sarah Ward, Head of Cape Town Energy and Climate Change; Gerry Muscat, EIB; Maryke van Staden, carbonn Center; and Christophe Dossarps, CEO, SIF Gerry Muscat, EIB, urged panelists to “find the key that will unlock” the door between national and local fiscal relations. L-R: Moderator Ani Dasgupta, Global Director, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities   Christophe Dossarps, CEO, SIF, said cities and regions need to use the same language when communicating with national governments. Joachim Fritz, GIZ, noted that the local city network is “hitting the nail on the head” with improving project preparation facilities. James Alexander, Head of the C40 Cities Finance Facility, said mayors do not just want a reduction in emissions, but they also want to increase jobs and improve livelihoods. Sarah Ward, Head of Cape Town Energy and Climate Change, suggested the city’s obsession with clean audits has compromised the ability to get innovative projects “off the ground.” Maryke van Staden, carbonn Center, stressed the need to “connect the dots” with all actors involved when developing infrastructure development projects. Contact: Aris Moro (C40 Cities Finance Facility) | amoro@c40cff.org More Information: www.c40cff.org Shifting Personal Mobility through Innovations in Transport Technologies, Systems and PlanningPresented by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) In this side event, panelists explored shifting personal mobility, with a particular geographic focus on urban areas and examples from both the Global North and South. Clayton Lane, CEO, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), moderated the session. In his introduction, he called for an integrated approach to the transport transformation, focusing on automation, electrification and shared mobility, emphasizing the value of compact city planning. Bronwen Thornton, Walk21, underscored the important role that walking plays in transport and in the climate agenda. Regarding urban planning, she explained that density, connectivity and destinations will result in walking by default. Noting that the transport sector has been slow to adopt walking, she said that walkability around transit stations increases ridership. She concluded that people on foot are the indicator for quality of life in cities, and urged to put walking at the forefront to solutions. Pierre Serne, MobiliseYourCity (MYC) partnership, highlighted the work of his organization, which was created to assist in the planning of sustainable urban mobility in cities in the Global South. He said their mission was based on the belief that investing in Southern cities was more valuable than investing in Northern ones, as population growth and urban transportation are larger and have more climatic impacts in the former. He added that small investments in planning have rapid and substantial effects on reducing climatic impacts.  Mauricio Rodas, Mayor of Quito, recalled the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Development (Habitat III), which his city hosted in 2016. He explained that Quito has an integrated mobility scheme, which includes: a metro that moves 400,000 people per day; a cable car to reach mountain villages; and expanded bike lanes including electric bikes. He added that his city, along with 11 others, has signed a pledge to buy zero emissions buses by 2025. He called to incorporate transit transformations into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).  Pex Langenberg, Vice Mayor of Rotterdam, stated that his city is committed to working with the Paris Agreement towards becoming a resilient city. He explained that Rotterdam is working towards zero emissions transport, focusing on e-mobility (with 2000 charging points in the city), which also provides a healthy environment through improved air quality. He highlighted Rotterdam’s holistic approach to sustainability, noting specifically a bike-friendly environment, electric and hydrogen transit, and an attractive city environment. Gunnar Heipp, Munich Transport Corporation (MVG), noted the progress transport has made in gaining traction at climate summits. He referred to the UITP’s Declaration on Climate Leadership, launched prior to COP 21, aiming to reduce emissions from the public transit sector, which received 300 pledges from 110 members worldwide. He called for walkable cities and urged participants to seek existing information particularly through UITP.  During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: ways to catalyze finance for public transportation; interventions that can take place at the different stages of development; cycling policy in Quito; and waste from energy transport.  In closing, Lane emphasized three outstanding conclusions from the session: the importance of local action in transforming transport in cities; the need for holistic and integrated approaches; and the value of replicable and scalable solutions. Pex Langenberg, Vice Mayor of Rotterdam, explained that “the only way to move people from car use to bikes, is to make the car more expensive.” L–R: Clayton Lane, CEO, ITDP; Gunnar Heipp, MVG; Pierre Serne, MYC; Pex Langenberg, Vice Mayor of Rotterdam; and Bronwen Thornton, Walk21 Mauricio Rodas, Mayor of Quito, said that Quito’s transport system is responsible for 56% of the city’s emissions. Pex Langenberg, Vice Mayor of Rotterdam, explained that “the only way to move people from car use to bike, is to make the car more expensive.” Gunnar Heipp, MVG, said that citizens should pay for the waste they use, which will motivate them to champion for policy change. Bronwen Thornton, Walk21, recommended to avoid moving walkers to public transit, but instead “reward them by improving the facilities they use.” Contact: Philip Turner (UITP) | philip.turner@uitp.org More Information: www.uitp.org Sustainable Mobility in a Changing ClimatePresented by the World Bank, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the Sustainable Mobility for All (Sum4All) Initiative Moderated by Laura Tuck, World Bank, this event discussed mobility as a central element to transform global economies and help the most vulnerable live in a more sustainable world considering that the transport sector contributes 23% of GHG emissions.  In the opening remarks, Nancy Vandycke, World Bank, presented key findings of the Global Mobility Report 2017. She stressed how mobility is under pressure in a changing world, where pollution takes a toll on citizens’ health, and highlighted fragmentation in the transport sector and the need to avoid duplication of work. Saying that “the transport we have today is not the one we want,” she called for more united advocacy, action and financing to make “sustainable mobility for all” a reality. She also emphasized the need to reposition the sector as a solution for regional integration and sustainability, health improvement and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) synergies. She announced efforts to develop a global roadmap of actions, private financiers and a list of country champions.  Through a video message, Jean Todt, UN Special Envoy for Road Safety, said that transportation is a key avenue to move implementation of the Paris Agreement forward. Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management and Meteorological Services, Fiji, called for equitable, safe and greener mobility, while praising the Sum4All initiative. He stressed the need for factual evidence to convince decision makers to act on transport to go “further, faster, together” adding that small island developing states (SIDS) are highly dependent on more efficient modes of transportation. He said technology must be scalable and linked to technical examinations, and that designing new transport policies presents economic opportunities.  Young Tae Kim, Secretary-General, International Transport Forum (ITF), emphasized the need for transportation to be inclusive, socially oriented, technically driven, cleaner, safer and security oriented. Speaking about ITF’s work, he declared that his organization is the only one to cover almost all types of transportation, noting the need to avoid duplication of work. He emphasized institutional challenges in decision making on transportation, lamenting that “in reality” coordination remains problematic due to conflicts of interest between central and local governments.  Christian Labrot, President, International Road Transport Union (IRU), said the report provided a key opportunity to conduct cooperative work with all transport stakeholders. Noting that the transport sector is at a crossroads given the need to act on climate change, he said that new technologies can help the sector to meet its new target of a 30% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030. On challenges, he indicated the need to recognize the role of commercial vehicles as polluters, especially in a globalized economy. He highlighted the importance of training for transport operators on new safety standards and more efficient fuel use practices. Tetsuya Tanaka, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), congratulated the four Global Mobility Report goals of safe, accessible, clean and secure transport, and said that while safety cannot be compromised to cut emissions, ICAO members have agreed on a carbon off-setting scheme from 2020 onwards.  Jose Matheickal, International Maritime Organization (IMO), provided his views on the Global Mobility Report, and considered the “right approach to track progress” on the transport sector. He said that some areas might need more data, noting that shipping is not an easy area for data collection. He noted successful public-private partnerships within the maritime sector and said that new global roadmaps can ensure better synergies among key stakeholders.  In the ensuing debate, panelists raised challenges related to: the need to balance economic growth with cleaner transportation; clean technologies; the relationship between climate change and sustainable mobility; lack of cooperation among air, maritime and road transportation; and weak implementation of global targets at the national level. L-R: Laura Tuck, World Bank; Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management and Meteorological Services, Fiji; Christian Labrot, President, IRU; Young Tae Kim, Secretary General, ITF; Jose Matheickal, IMO; and Tetsuya Tanaka, ICAO Young Tae Kim, Secretary General, ITF, asked whether “we can really apply one solution to all countries,” suggesting that behavior change is also needed to achieve eco-friendly mobility. Christian Labrot, President, IRU, declared mobility is an issue of freedom, above all. Laura Tuck, World Bank, noted financial constraints to decarbonize transportation around the world in a united manner.   Jose Matheickal, IMO, recalled the specificities of the maritime sector when curbing emissions. Contact: Nancy Vandycke (World Bank) | nvandycke@worldbank.org More Information: www.sum4all.org Because the Ocean MattersPresented by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile In this side event, panelists explored the importance of oceans, highlighting three components: the scientific background; mobilization of non-state actors to protect the oceans; and the implementation of ocean-related climate change actions. Eduardo Silva Besa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chile, moderated the session.  Lisa Levin, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, emphasized that carbon emissions are changing the climate on land, but that the ocean is probably the planet’s greatest mitigator. She added that one quarter of excess CO2 is absorbed by oceans and this has had a negative impact on ecosystems. Levin highlighted findings from her research, which examined how oceans are incorporated into NDCs, explaining that 70% of all NDCs mention them, including all but one SIDS. She called for establishing climate conferences to educate children around the world about the importance of oceans.  Françoise Gaill, Tara Expeditions, presented the work of her organization, in which researchers travel the ocean by ship to understand phytoplankton, which, she said, was “the world’s most important ecosystem.” She noted that collaboration with many institutions sequenced more than 40 billion genes, with coverage in 2000 press articles in more than 140 countries. She highlighted the Ocean and Climate Platform was established based on these efforts.  Julie Horowitz, Office of Washington Governor Jay Inslee, explained that the West Coast States in US and British Columbia in Canada established the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification, which includes a coalition of governments and affiliate members. She said that they created a toolkit with examples of how to advance each of their overarching strategies. She also noted Washington’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification, a comprehensive state level effort with 42 recommendations. Semisi Meo, Conservation International (CI), noted three new pieces of legislation that have been adopted in his country, Fiji, to protect marine areas. He said that civil society organizations, not the state, have established marine protected areas around his country, which includes species management and has been up-scaled into government policy. He added that his organization has successfully led community-based adaptive management on oceanic areas.    Enrique Icka, Toki, Rapa Nui, Easter Island, highlighted his country’s connection to the ocean, pointing to its population of 9,000, pointed to polluted underground water reservoirs and said 9500 liters of diesel is consumed daily. He drew attention to Toki, a sustainable earth music school founded to connect young generations on the island with their heritage and culture, saying that art is the vehicle for change and the expression of the soul. He concluded that he envisioned his country as a center of sustainability and inspiration, as they have a climate change adaptation plan, a waste management plan known as EcoKuhane, strategic alliances and a sustainability center.  During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed coral bleaching and how to empower youth to address climate change. Françoise Gaill, Tara Expeditions, said her organization conducted public outreach and education based on its research. Julie Horowitz, Office of Washington Governor Jay Inslee, said that “we cannot wait to tackle hard problems, and we need to build the political support to make needed changes.   Enrique Icka, Toki, Rapa Nui, said “we need to connect again to the earth.” Lisa Levin, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, stated that 93% of the excess heat caused by climate change has been absorbed by the ocean.   Contact: Eduardo Silva Besa (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chile) | esilvab@minrel.gob.cl More Information: www.scripps.ucsd.edu www.minrel.gob.cl Around the Venue