European Union

The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Wednesday, 10 May 2017: The Green Climate Fund and the Implementation of the Paris Agreement Greening with Jobs: Decent Work and Just Transition in the Paris Agreement Catalyzing the Implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions in the Context of the 2030 Agenda through South-South Cooperation Protecting Rights, Achieving Results: Indigenous Peoples, GCF-Funded Projects and Climate Solutions Accounting for Integrity: The Paris Agreement, International Aviation and Double Claiming Private-Sector Finance for Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage of selected side events at the Bonn Climate Change Conference, May 2017. Photos by IISD/ENB | Angeles Estrada Vigil For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page The Green Climate Fund and the Implementation of the Paris AgreementPresented by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) In this event, members of the GCF Board and representatives of National Designated Authorities (NDAs) implementing GCF-funded projects shared perspectives on GCF progress. An update on GCF operational developments in the first session was followed by experiences and challenges of engagement with the GCF in the second session. Carolina Fuentes, GCF, moderated the event.  Howard Bamsey, Executive Director, GCF, welcomed interest in the GCF’s work and outlined the Fund’s focus on implementing 43 Board-approved projects in 2017. Ayman Shasly, Co-Chair, GCF Board, concentrated on the GCF’s aim to “ignite a paradigm shift” towards reducing emissions and enabling climate-resilient development. Stressing the GCF’s role as the largest organization providing funding to developing countries for adaptation and mitigation action, he announced “great progress” towards the Board’s recently approved workplan. Shasly said that in 2017, the Board is scheduled to consider, inter alia: new funding proposals; potential accredited agencies; and matters relating to the formal replenishment process.  Announcing that the Fund has approved US$2.2 billion in funding for 43 projects, Clifford Polycarp, GCF, highlighted these projects’ mitigation impacts of 981 MtCO2eq and adaptation impacts reaching 281 million beneficiaries. He stressed the GCF’s aim for geographic balance and even split between adaptation, mitigation and cross-cutting initiatives.  Jeremiah Sokan, NDA, Liberia, detailed Liberian engagement with the GCF to date, including: GCF Readiness Support; National Adaptation Plans’ Readiness Support; and a US$50 million proposal currently proceeding through the Project Preparation Facility guidelines. He outlined Liberia’s principles of engagement with the GCF, including: a pragmatic programme planning approach; a transparent partnership with frequent consultation; and continuous engagement and communication.  Celine Dyer, NDA, Cook Islands, highlighted challenges small island developing States face in familiarizing themselves with the procedures, policies and regulations for GCF proposals with limited manpower and minimally detailed guidelines. She suggested a longer timeframe for preparation of readiness proposals and consideration of a streamlined approach similar to that of the Adaptation Fund.   Jukka Uosukainen, Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), underscored the need to enhance the linkages between the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism and the Financial Mechanism of the Convention. Reporting that the CTCN has received 180 technology and technical assistance requests from countries, he emphasized the importance of these requests’ potential to lead to high-quality proposals to the GCF. Uosukainen highlighted projects in Tonga, Ghana and Myanmar that have been piloted as readiness proposals.  During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: GCF bilateral agreements regarding privileges and immunities; mainstreaming principles of climate resilience and transformational change across sectors; obstacles to the roll out of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+) results-based finance; and no-objection procedures as a way to address questions of country ownership. (L-R): Carolina Fuentes, GCF; Clifford Polycarp, GCF; Ayman Shasly, Co-Chair, GCF Board; Howard Bamsey, Executive Director, GCF; Celine Dyer, NDA, Cook Islands; Jeremiah Sokan, NDA, Liberia; and Jukka Uosukainen, CTCN Ayman Shasly, Co-Chair, GCF Board (center), highlighted the GCF’s aim to be “truly innovative and transformational.” Clifford Polycarp, GCF (right), said that the GCF’s healthy accreditation pipeline “signals a great deal of interest” on the part of institutions. Jeremiah Sokan, NDA, Liberia, described Liberia’s engagement with the GCF as “a breath of fresh air.” Celine Dyer, NDA, Cook Islands, said that GCF proposals “added pressure on our existing systems.” Rutger de Witt Wijnen, GCF Contact: Sanghyun Kim | skim@gcfund.org Carolina Fuentes | cfuentes@gcfund.org More Information: http://www.greenclimate.fund/home Greening with Jobs: Decent Work and Just Transition in the Paris Agreement Presented by the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) This side event centered on a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work in the context of global climate change action, including collaboration between the UNFCCC and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in this area. It was moderated by Moustapha Kamal Gueye, ILO.  Kusum Lata, UNFCCC Secretariat, introduced the topic, highlighting the meeting of an ad hoc technical expert group to consider the two areas of the work programme on response measures taking place at the Bonn Climate Change Conference from 9-10 May 2017, and its focus on economic diversification and transformation, as well as just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs. Albert Altarejos Magalang, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippines, noted the key role of mining in his country and the need to engage with stakeholders to facilitate a shift towards a more environmentally sustainable economy. Alexandria Rantino, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia, discussed her country’s efforts to support a just transition, including through research and development tax breaks for businesses to help them move away from particular sectors, and the national employment service ‘jobactive,’ which connects jobseekers with employment opportunities. Underlining that “there are no jobs on a dead planet,” Anabella Rosemberg, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), highlighted ITUC’s work in raising awareness of adverse impacts of climate change on jobs, such as:  promoting green work places; inclusion of the “just transition” concept in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs); and forging linkages between Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on climate change and decent work. Norine Kennedy, US Council for International Business (USCIB), highlighted the importance of: involving the business community in NDC development; improving representation of developing country business communities in these discussions; and bringing jobs into the formal economy. In the ensuing discussion, participants considered, inter alia: how to ensure a just transition in a geographical area highly dependent on one industry; who should pay for such a transition; the fact that most green sectors are going to be male-dominated unless there are concerted efforts to address this; and the efforts of the European Trade Union Confederation to promote a “just transition fund” in the context of reform of the European Union’s Emissions Trading System, as well as the Confederation’s work to help members develop their own just transition strategies. Participants also highlighted the need for: communities to be able to shape their own future; companies to “show the world their plan for a 2°C world”; and social justice to guide climate change and employment work. Annabella Rosemberg, ITUC, explained that the idea of “just transition” emerged as an alternative to the “fake dichotomy” between jobs and the climate. Alexandria Rantino, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia, highlighted investments of AUS$43 million to support the Latrobe Valley community in Victoria towards a just transition following the closure of its Hazelwood coal power station. Kusum Lata, UNFCCC Secretariat, noted that the Paris Agreement is expected to affect many different employment sectors, albeit in different ways. Albert Altarejos Magalang, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippines (right), highlighted his country’s 2016 Green Jobs Act to support businesses in generating and sustaining green jobs. (L-R): Kusum Lata, UNFCCC Secretariat; Moustapha Kamal Gueye, ILO; Alexandria Rantino, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia; Albert Altarejos Magalang, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippines; Norine Kennedy, USCIB; and Anabella Rosemberg, ITUC Moderator Moustapha Kamal Gueye, ILO, emphasized that “just transition” is not an abstract concept, but refers to “real-life situations” that require solutions. Norine Kennedy, USCIB, stressed the need to bring together the different “camps” of business on the one hand, and employment on the other. Daniela Pedraza, Women’s Environment & Development Organization Contact: Kusum Lata (Organizer) | klata@unfccc.int  More Information: http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/green-jobs/publications/WCMS_432859/lang--ja/index.htm http://unfccc.int/cooperation_support/response_measures/items/10142.php https://www.stanleyfoundation.org/resources.cfm?id=1629 Catalyzing the Implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions in the Context of the 2030 Agenda through South-South Cooperation Presented by the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) This side event, moderated by William Agyemang-Bonsu, UNFCCC Secretariat, addressed South-South cooperation (SSC) and ways in which it can support implementation of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda. Agyemang-Bonsu noted that SSC provides an additional opportunity for developing countries to address the numerous implementation challenges they face in relation to the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda. Xiaohua Zhang, Southern Climate Partnership Incubator (SCPI), UN Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG), and Bernd Hackmann, UNFCCC Secretariat, launched a report on SSC in the areas of sustainable development and climate change, prepared jointly by the EOSG and the UNFCCC Secretariat. Zhang explained that the report discusses how SSC and triangular cooperation (TrC) can create co-benefits for the implementation of the Paris Agreement and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Noting that SSC is about complementary work as well as knowledge exchange, Hackman identified linkages between the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and SDGs and said most SDGs have already been included in many countries’ NDCs. On the way forward, they stressed the need to, inter alia: mainstream climate action into sustainable development strategies; consider NDCs as an entry point for SSC on climate action and sustainable development; and foster broader partnerships.   Omar Zemrag, Morocco, discussed NDC implementation in his country. He noted that the SDGs are already incorporated in Morocco’s sustainable development strategy, and underscored stakeholder mobilization through public-private partnerships (PPPs) and consultation platforms.  Claudia Octaviano Villasana, Mexico, shared SSC experiences from her country and called for new ways of cooperation, stressing the need to “scale up and innovate the way we do development.” She emphasized that Mexico was the first country to submit its NDC and mid-century strategy (MCS). Noting that Mexico promotes SSC by creating materials that can be shared globally, she gave numerous examples of SSC and TrC in her country, including an upcoming regional workshop on the design and elaboration of MCSs to be held in Mexico City in June 2017. Duduzile Nhlengethwa-Masina, Vice Chair, Technology Executive Committee (TEC), introduced the TEC’s work on SSC, including the forthcoming 2017 TEC policy brief on SSC and TrC on adaptation technologies, which recommends, inter alia: that multiple stakeholders work together; enhanced institutional support and linkages between climate change and other development areas; and better use of global mechanisms and international networks.  Vicente Paolo Yu III, Deputy Executive Director, South Centre, presented on the South Centre’s global landscaping survey of SSC on climate change to be finalized before the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 23). He noted that developing countries view SSC as a voluntary complement enhancing North-South cooperation that has a strong focus on shared economic growth and poverty reduction, while promoting the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the SDGs.  In the ensuing discussion, participants discussed, among other issues: ways for SSC to help integrate climate action into development strategies; SSC modalities; ways to facilitate knowledge exchange and sharing; and contextualizing the sustainable development-climate change nexus from the means of implementation perspective. (L-R): Claudia Octaviano Villasana, Mexico; Omar Zemrag, Morocco; Duduzile Nhlengethwa-Masina, Vice Chair, TEC; William Agyemang-Bonsu, UNFCCC Secretariat; Xiaohua Zhang, SCPI, EOSG; and Vicente Paolo Yu III, Deputy Executive Director, South Centre Xiaohua Zhang, SCPI, EOSG, launched an EOSG/UNFCCC Secretariat joint report on SSC in the areas of sustainable development and climate change. Bernd Hackmann, UNFCCC Secretariat, and Claudia Octaviano Villasana, Mexico William Agyemang-Bonsu, UNFCCC Secretariat (center), said SSC can support the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda. Omar Zemrag, Morocco, highlighted stakeholder mobilization through PPPs and consultation platforms in his country. Duduzile Nhlengethwa-Masina, Vice Chair, TEC, elaborated on the TEC’s planned further work on SSC, including the development of a good practice guide on South-South practical learning on adaptation technologies. Claudia Octaviano Villasana, Mexico, noted that Mexico promotes SSC by creating materials on ecosystem-based adaptation that can be shared globally.     Contact: Bernd Hackmann | BHackmann@unfccc.int  William Agyemang-Bonsu (Moderator) | Agyemang-Bonsu@unfccc.int More Information: http://unfccc.int/2860.php https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-m2oy1bnLzp5vQEdO1l4WWxwhAJpX7na Protecting Rights, Achieving Results: Indigenous Peoples, GCF-Funded Projects and Climate SolutionsPresented by the Tebtebba Foundation and the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) In this event, moderated by Alain Fréchette, RRI, participants discussed indigenous peoples’ growing concerns that the Global Climate Fund (GCF) is failing to consider their rights in its current portfolio of projects.Noting that indigenous peoples and local communities account for over a third of the world’s population and are responsible for a quarter of the carbon stored in tropical forests, Fréchette emphasized the importance of indigenous peoples for the realization of “effective and lasting solutions as part of the GCF.”  Anne Perrault, RRI, outlined her organization’s recent analysis of the GCF project approval process, noting that “now is a good time” to assess if projects are achieving the GCF objectives to shift to low-emission and climate-resilient development. She addressed key issues, including: application of standards; identification and categorization of risk; free, prior and informed consent; consultation and participation; and monitoring and grievance mechanisms.  Stanley Kimaren Ole Riamit, Executive Director, Indigenous Livelihoods Enhancement Partners (ILEPA), underscored that the situation of indigenous peoples presents unique challenges that “state-centered and state-driven climate financing approaches do not adequately address.” He identified shortcomings in GCF engagement with indigenous peoples, including: lack of recognition of indigenous peoples as an independent constituency with active observer status; failure of GCF interim safeguard standards to align with current best practices with respect to indigenous peoples’ rights and concerns; and GCF funding modalities that prohibit indigenous peoples’ access to funding. Grace Balawag, Tebtebba, presented on community-based monitoring and information systems (CBMIS), including: participatory mapping; resource inventories; conscious direct observation; and interviewing and focus groups. She emphasized that CBMIS is an important community tool for indigenous peoples’ empowerment and meaningful participation in planning, implementation and monitoring of project impacts.  Clifford Polycarp, GCF, stressed that the Fund aspires to remain a “continuously learning institution” and ensure that its policies and standards are “state of the art.” Acknowledging the need for transparency, he said that the GCF has added covenants to its assessments requiring entities to engage in broader stakeholder engagement.  During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: the GCF’s “fit-for-purpose” accreditation system; challenges in reaching consensus on the GCF Board; and the logic of post-mitigation risk categorization. Responding to concerns about challenges of access to and delays in disbursement of GCF funding, Polycarp emphasized the GCF’s efforts to: close policy gaps; accelerate disbursement of funds; and accelerate capacitation of countries and entities. Grace Balawag, Tebtebba Foundation; Stanley Kimaren Ole Riamit, Executive Director, ILEPA; Anne Perrault, RRI, and Alaine Fréchette, RRI Anne Perrault, RRI, said that, without recognition of rights, we “won’t have the just development that the GCF is promoting.” Stanley Kimaren Ole Riamit, Executive Director, ILEPA, stressed that indigenous peoples “need to engage with the policy process.” Grace Balawag, Tebtebba, said that participatory mapping “builds ownership over community plans.” Clifford Polycarp, GCF, said that accredited local entities “might be best suited to finding projects that benefit indigenous peoples.” Sasha Middleton, MEPA Trust, intervenes during the discussion Contact: Raymond de Chavez (Organizer) | raymond@tebtebba.org Alain Fréchette (Moderator) | afrechette@rightsandresources.org More Information: http://rightsandresources.org/en/#.WRMpsxN95E4 http://tebtebba.org/ Accounting for Integrity: The Paris Agreement, International Aviation and Double ClaimingPresented by the the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) and Carbon Market Watch This side event addressed ways to ensure that emission reductions used by airlines to comply with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) are not also counted by governments toward meeting their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Aki Kachi, Carbon Market Watch, moderated the event.  Introducing CORSIA, Andrew Murphy, T&E, explained that the offsetting scheme consists of three phases: a pilot phase from 2021-2023 and a first phase from 2024-2026, both of which are voluntary; and the 2027-2035 mandatory phase. Noting that 68 states have signed up for CORSIA, Murphy identified CORSIA’s “to-do list,” including to: expand participation in CORSIA to close the 2020 emissions gap; identify effective enforcement measures; and support developing states in implementing CORSIA. He called for a “global scheme that would be as uniform as possible.”  Christina Jane Hood, International Energy Agency (IEA), focused on avoiding double counting under the Paris Agreement, outlining challenges including the diversity of NDCs, the use of different metrics and NDCs’ reliance on a target year whereas markets operate in a continuum.  Calling for robust accounting of international transfers, Lambert Schneider, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), explained how double counting is addressed by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and voluntary standards. He pointed out that while double issuance and double use are avoided, double claiming remains unaddressed. Schneider concluded that double claiming is a major risk for CORSIA, which can be addressed through adjustments, but requires action by CORSIA as well as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  Alex Hanafi, EDF, addressed the role of transparency in making climate agreements work, noting that, while CORSIA and the Paris Agreement fall under different international processes, they relate to the same goals. He said lessons from other environmental markets include the need for: public disclosure of operators’ annual emissions and offset obligations; transparent and accurate tracking of each uniquely identified emission unit; and an open decision-making process. Hanafi emphasized that integrity of the Paris Agreement depends on CORSIA transparency.  Angelica Romero, Chile, presented her country’s perspective, emphasizing the need for robust accounting and avoiding double counting. Stressing the need for transparency, she called for monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems to secure tracking of emission units from purchase to transfer, use and surrender. Romero reported on roundtable discussions held in Chile among ICAO and Paris Agreement negotiators to develop a working MRV system. Kelsey Perlman, Carbon Market Watch, said that addressing double counting is a burden-sharing exercise for the UNFCCC and ICAO. She emphasized the need to ensure that transfers of emission units are of high integrity, and that there is comparable treatment among peers. Perlman called for: clarity on accounting; and correct oversight and transparency of effort and implementation, which are required for “proper ambition.”  In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: double claiming in voluntary standards; the future of the CDM and potential “gray zones” when double counting cannot be assessed; ways to ensure that airlines buy quality units; implications of offsetting permanent emissions with non-permanent ones; and ways to ratchet up ambition. (L-R): Andrew Murphy, T&E; Christina Jane Hood, IEA; Lambert Schneider, SEI; Alex Hanafi, EDF; Angelica Romero, Chile; and Kelsey Perlman, Carbon Market Watch Lambert Schneider, SEI, observed that the diversity of NDCs and Cancun pledges poses practical challenges for applying adjustments. Alex Hanafi, EDF, and Angelica Romero, Chile Kelsey Perlman, Carbon Market Watch (right), noted that addressing double counting is a burden-sharing exercise for the UNFCCC and ICAO. Aki Kachi, Carbon Market Watch, moderated the side event. Contact: Daniel Francis | dfrancis@edf.org  Andrew Murphy | andrew@transportenvironment.org  More Information: https://www.edf.org/ https://www.transportenvironment.org/ Private-Sector Finance for Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation in Sub-Saharan AfricaPresented by the SouthSouthNorth Projects Africa (SSN Africa) and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) This event, moderated by Richard Klein, SEI, considered the scope for private sector finance to support mitigation and adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and presented initial findings of the Private-Sector Finance for Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa (PRINDCISSA) project. Characterizing southern Africa’s severe multi-year drought as “likely the new normal,” John Thorne, SSN, underlined that private sector investment will be needed to take adequate climate change mitigation and adaptation action. He highlighted sovereign risk, in particular from exchange rate fluctuation, as a key challenge to such investments, and identified Ethiopia’s policy environment and South Africa’s renewable energy programme as being amenable to investment. Stephan Hoch, Perspectives Climate Change, discussed research on different approaches taken to involve the private sector through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the Climate Investment Funds and the Green Climate Fund. He underlined the need to understand how the rules of these mechanisms can be adjusted to African circumstances “where not enough resources are arriving where they are most needed.” Nella Canales, SEI, highlighted agriculture as an adaptation priority in SSA countries’ NDCs. Among emerging findings of the PRINDCISSA project, she noted: the need for additional detail on how governments want private actors to become involved beyond what is currently provided in NDCs; and the need for further work on how to establish “win-win” public-private partnerships. Xolisa Ngwadla, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), noted that most projects comprise a blend of public and private funding, and underlined the importance of appreciating the different development and economic contexts facing SSA countries. Sara Gräslund, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), highlighted that while Sweden’s grant support remains substantial, her country is additionally mobilizing private climate finance, including through guaranteeing financing partners’ investment risk. The ensuing panel discussion was moderated by Axel Michaelowa, Perspectives Climate Change. Among other issues, panelists identified the need to: learn from success factors of existing projects, such as the Africa Adaptation Initiative, and improve coordination between different initiatives; ensure local markets are not undermined by an emphasis on international investment; and experiment and “take some risks” with different instruments in order to catalyze adaptation investments. Participants also identified: the UNFCCC negotiating process as an “enabler” to allow countries to develop policies informed by the global discourse; the CDM as amenable to innovation; and auctioning as an approach that can significantly lower renewable energy costs. (L-R): Axel Michaelowa, Perspectives Climate Change; Sara Gräslund, SIDA; Nella Canales, SEI; Xolisa Ngwadla, CSIR; Stephan Hoch, Perspectives Climate Change; and John Thorne, SSN. Xolisa Ngwadla, CSIR, recommended considering how multilateral financing bodies, such as the GCF, can contribute to already-existing national disaster relief funds to support farmers in SSA. Nella Canales, SEI, noted that, when it comes to adaptation interventions, the private sector plays a role in all aspects of the value chain. Axel Michaelowa, Perspectives Climate Change; Stephan Hoch, Perspectives Climate Change; Nella Canales, SEI; Richard Klein, SEI; and Sara Gräslund, SIDA John Thorne, SSN, stressed the potential efficiency advantages of private sector capital. Axel Michaelowa, Perspectives Climate Change, and Sara Gräslund, SIDA Contact: Claire Mathieson  | claire.mathieson@southsouthnorth.org  Nella Canales | nella.canales@sei-international.org More Information: https://www.sei-international.org/projects?prid=2238

The Bonn Climate Change Conference continued Tuesday. In the morning, the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) contact group and Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) plenary convened. Contact groups and informal consultations convened throughout the day. Several mandated events convened throughout the day. Two Technical Expert Meeting (TEMs) on mitigation, focusing on city-level collaboration to achieve emission reductions and sustainable development, and on innovative policy and technology solutions for sustainable urban development. Other mandated events included the meeting of the Technical Expert Group on the impact of the implementation of response measures. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided digital coverage, daily reports and a summary and analysis report from the Bonn Climate Change Conference - May 2017. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) Contact Group View of the dais during the APA contact group APA Co-Chair Jo Tyndall, New Zealand APA Co-Chair Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia Raed Albasseet, Saudi Arabia Felipe Ferreira, Brazil Collin Beck, Solomon Islands Ravi Prasad, India Chen Zhihua, China Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) Plenary View of the dais during the SBI plenary Chan-Woo Kim, Republic of Korea, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) SBI Chair Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland Simone Borg, EU Gebru Jember, Ethiopia, speaking on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 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) Ndivile Colia Mokoena, Women and Gender Ceris Jones, Farmers Alberto Saldamando, Indigenous Peoples Sara Kupka, Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Roundtable Discussions among Parties in Relation to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement Panel speakers (L-R): Amy Steen, UNFCCC Secretariat; Co-Facilitator Hugh Sealy, Maldives; Co-Facilitator Kelley Kizzier, EU; and Phillip Eyre, UNFCCC Secretariat Delegates participate in roundtable discussions Contact Groups throughout the Day SBI/Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) contact group on the implementation of response measures SBSTA contact group on the modalities for the accounting of financial resources (Paris Agreement Article 9.7) Arrangements for Intergovernmental Meetings (AIM) Workshop View of the panel during the in-session workshop on opportunities to further enhance the effective engagement of non-party stakeholders with a view to strengthening the implementation of the provisions of decision 1/CP.21. Inia Seruiratu, Minister of Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, and High-Level Climate Champion, Fiji UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Kalyani Raj, All India Women’s Conference, Women and Gender Walter Schuldt-Espinel, Ecuador, on behalf of the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs)  Ulrik Lenaerts, EU Norine Kennedy, US Council for International Business, Business and Industry NGOs (BINGO) Yunus Arikan, Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), LGMA Marcos Montoiro, UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Technical Expert Meeting (TEM) on Mitigation Delegates gather for the TEM on mitigation, innovative policy and technology solutions for sustainable urban development Stella Gama, Technology Executive Committee Winfried Damm, GIZ Proklima Xiaomei Duan, Far East BRT Planning Company, China Johnny Stuen, Municipality's Waste-to-Energy Agency, City of Oslo, Norway Around the Venue A delegate reviews the schedule at the start of the day Delegates from Tajikistan Issa Aliyev, Azerbaijan, and Talieh Wögerbauer, Austria Yunus Arikan, ICLEI, and Kimo Goree, Vice-President, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa speaks with Oleg Shamanov, Russian Federation Maesela Kekana and Alf Wills, South Africa Delegates read the IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) website and daily report to keep track of negotiations Delegates between sessions Amjad Abdulla, Maldives

The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Tuesday, 9 May 2017: Making Paris Work: Leveraging the Expertise of Non-Party Stakeholders to Design the Paris Rulebook Climate Action to Address Loss and Damage of Vulnerable Populations and Build Resilience Long-term Strategies for 1.5ºC New Approaches for Analyzing and Visualizing the Integrity of the Global Climate Governance Regime Coping with Climate Change in Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Aligning Adaptation Strategies with Comprehensive Climate Risk Management Making the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) Work for People and the Planet IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage of selected side events at the Bonn Climate Change Conference, May 2017. Photos by IISD/ENB | Angeles Estrada Vigil For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Making Paris Work: Leveraging the Expertise of Non-Party Stakeholders to Design the Paris RulebookPresented by the University of Lapland, the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, and the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) In this panel, participants shared their views on the positive role of non-state actors in designing a cohesive, robust and effective Paris rulebook. Harro van Asselt, UEF and Stockholm Environment Institute, moderated the event. Achala Abeysinghe, Chair, Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group, drew attention to the short time frame for negotiations on the Paris rulebook. Recognizing the key role that non-party stakeholders play, she identified three key processes they should support: expert review, national reporting and submission of relevant information to tackle barriers to implementation. She emphasized that “the Paris Agreement is just an empty shell without the rulebook.” Sébastien Duyck, University of Lapland, emphasized the importance of the next 18 months for the design of the Paris rulebook. He highlighted potential roles for non-state actors in the transparency framework, including: enhancing trust among parties; strengthening the capacity to assess potential gaps; and providing incentives for parties to deliver on NDCs. Yamide Dagnet, World Resources Institute (WRI), introduced the Project for Advancing Climate Transparency (PACT), a consortium of experts from developed and developing countries working to advance the development of robust and effective transparency and accountability rules and processes for the Paris Agreement. She agreed that the Paris Agreement could result in an “empty shell” and encouraged non-party stakeholders to contribute to “ratcheting up” ambition. Offering reasons for African support of transparency, Sam Ogallah, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), cited: a history of double-counting and mistrust; the special circumstances of developing countries which require international support to implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs); and the need for accountability and transparency in the delivery of NDCs. He emphasized that the Paris rulebook is key to effective implementation of NDCs in Africa. Monica Echegoyen, Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT), outlined ICAT’s collaboration with agencies and institutions to develop tools for transparency and capacity building. She stressed the present as the best moment to build bridges between the Secretariat, parties, and non-state actors. Dimitrios Zevgolis, Directorate-General for Climate Action, European Commission, underlined the importance of a robust and effective transparency scheme. He lauded practitioners and scientists for producing documentation and driving discussion outside the formal negotiations. He pointed to the level of “granularity” provided by civil society organizations as critical to parties’ information gathering. During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: direct work with civil society organizations via sharing platforms; the impact of transnational governance initiatives; and whistle-blowing mechanisms. Dimitrios Zevgolis, Directorate-General for Climate Action, European Commission, noted that non-state actors are the “watchdogs of transparency and ambition.” Sam Ogallah, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, questioned “why transparency? For who and by whom?” Harro van Asselt (center), University of Eastern Finland and Stockholm Environment Institute, said that now is a critical juncture for discussion of non-state actors and the Paris rulebook. Yamide Dagnet, World Resources Institute, said that “without transparency, it will be very difficult to build trust between countries.” Achala Abeysinghe, Chair, Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group, underscored that the LDC group pushed for the “highest possible ambition” in the Paris Agreement. Sébastien Duyck, University of Lapland, underscored that umbrella references are insufficient to elaborate the role of non-state actors. (L:R): Achala Abeysinghe, Chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) group; Yamide Dagnet, World Resources Institute; Sam Ogallah, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance; Harro van Asselt, University of Eastern Finland, Stockholm Environment Institute; Sébastien Duyck, University of Lapland; Dimitrios Zevgolis, Directorate-General for Climate Action, European Commission Monica Echegoyen, Initiative for Climate Action Transparency, said that national governments need guidance on how to engage with non-state actors. Lukas Hermwille, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy Contact: Sébastien Duyck (Organizer) | sebastien.duyck@ulapland.fi Harro van Asselt (Moderator) | harro.vanasselt@uef.fi More Information: http://www.wri.org/our-work/project/project-advancing-climate-transparency-pact Climate Action to Address Loss and Damage of Vulnerable Populations and Build ResiliencePresented by the World Food Programme (WFP) This event, moderated by Martin Frick, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), concentrated on ways to address loss and damage in vulnerable communities, building resilience and enhancing food security, and provided examples of best practices. Noting that the Paris Agreement’s preamble contains a “strong mention” of food security, Frick stated that, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), climate change is expected to increase the risks of hunger and malnutrition by 20% by 2050, with Africa and Asia most affected. He outlined loss and damage and resilience initiatives, including: the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts (WIM); the Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape (A2R) initiative; and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Nurul Quadir, Bangladesh, noted that his country’s government is: providing agricultural loans to farmers affected by flash floods, along with food “until the next harvest;” investing in researching new varieties of rice that can tolerate salinity and flooding; and working on early warning systems that would increase lead time.  Pepetua Latasi, Tuvalu, stressed that the fisheries sector is the main driver of her country’s economy, noting that climate change affects tuna fisheries in Tuvalu’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as tuna’s migration patterns change with the rising ocean temperatures. She highlighted climate change impacts that increase farmers’ vulnerabilities, such as sea level rise, droughts, salt water intrusion and inundation. Latasi emphasized Tuvalu’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), noting ongoing efforts to assess loss and damage through early warning systems and meteorological data. Clifford Mahlung, Jamaica, stated that smallholder farmers in his country, who comprise a significant part of the economy, face numerous climate change impacts, including hurricanes, drought and flooding. He highlighted the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), and said that making money available to those affected immediately after disasters strike is a challenge.  Describing insurance as a “major intervention” that can help vulnerable communities, Lucy Nganga, Kenya, highlighted the index-based Kenya Livestock Insurance Programme (KLIP). She explained that, since insurance premiums in vulnerable areas are higher than elsewhere in the country, the government covers 50% of the cost. Nganga also stressed the need for data that insurance companies can use. In the ensuing discussion, participants considered, inter alia: the difficulty of accessing international funding to enhance resilience of vulnerable communities; ways to address climate-induced conflicts in pastoralist communities; the need for location-specific data; national risk reduction strategies by 2020 in line with the Sendai Framework for DRR; infrastructure resilience; and non-economic loss and damage. In conclusion, Frick stressed the need to: address the interdependence of international, national and grassroots resilience action; use and improve existing data; develop regional and programmatic approaches; and make available fast and easily accessible international funding. (L:R): Nurul Quadir, Bangladesh; Martin Frick, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO); Pepetua Latasi, Tuvalu; Clifford Mahlung, Jamaica; and Lucy Nganga, Kenya Martin Frick, FAO, highlighted the importance of innovative loans and insurance systems, and investment in research and development. Clifford Mahlung, Jamaica, highlighted the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) in his region. Nurul Quadir, Bangladesh, emphasized the need to address food security as “a hungry man is an angry man.” Lucy Nganga, Kenya, stressed the need for location-specific data. Pepetua Latasi (center), Tuvalu, outlined the property registration system in her country, which aims to collect data to define the baseline for assessing infrastructure resilience. Contact: Katiuscia Fara (Coordinator) | katiuscia.fara @wfp.org More Information: http://www1.wfp.org/ Long-term Strategies for 1.5ºCPresented by Climate Action Network (CAN) International, CAN Europe and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) European Policy Office This session, moderated by Ulriikka Aarnio, CAN Europe, discussed options for limiting the global average temperature rise to 1.5ºC and the importance of developing national long-term climate strategies towards achieving this goal. Bill Hare, Climate Analytics, discussed the required emissions reductions for limiting global warming to 1.5°C and the implications this would have for policy makers. Among key messages, he noted that: the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C temperature limit should be understood in the context of a “global average annual increase in temperature above the pre-industrial average” over a 20-year period; investors and policy makers should reconsider the role of coal in the energy mix; and accelerated deployment of renewables would not avoid the need for negative CO2 emissions. Stressing that “2050 is now,” Paula Caballero, World Resources Institute (WRI), outlined the benefits of developing long-term climate strategies, including: avoiding lock-in of emissions; informing NDCs, development planning and short-term decisions; realizing financial savings; and fostering innovation by providing the private sector with the right signals. Imke Lübbeke, WWF European Policy Office, presented findings of the MaxiMiseR project, which assesses the Low-Carbon Development Strategies of EU Member States, taking into account factors such as ambition, actionability, process and public transparency, stakeholder participation, and monitoring plans. Tom van Ierland, Directorate General for Climate Action, European Commission, discussed the EU’s 2050 low-carbon roadmap developed in 2011. He noted that its targets can be achieved with existing technologies, and stressed the importance of covering all sectors and identifying intermediate milestones. Ilka Wagner, Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), Germany, introduced the German Climate Action Plan 2050, which aims for carbon neutrality by mid-century. She highlighted that all ministries will be asked to propose measures to achieve the plan’s targets and broad civil society participation in the plan’s development. In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: the ‘2050 pathways platform’ launched at the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 22), which aims to support those seeking to devise long-term climate and sustainable development plans; concerns about the desirability and technological feasibility of bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), given issues related to biodiversity loss, land-use conflicts and water supply; long-term planning as a skill that must be learned; and the “fundamental need” to ensure long-term climate planning is accessible to developing countries. Bill Hare, Climate Analytics, highlighted “very real differences” in impacts and risks between 1.5°C and 2°C global warming scenarios. Ulriikka Aarnio, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, moderated the event. Ilka Wagner, Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), Germany, noted that adaptation and sustainable development strategies form a “next step” to her country’s 2050 mitigation strategy. Tom van Ierland, Directorate General for Climate Action, European Commission, welcomed the upcoming Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C noting the need to better understand the science surrounding this temperature limit. Paula Caballero, World Resources Institute (WRI), underlined that, “the more we delay, the more difficult the transition will be.” Participants during the side event (L-R): Bill Hare, Climate Analytics; Ulriikka Aarnio, CAN Europe; Paula Caballero, WRI; Imke Lübbeke, WWF European Policy Office; Tom van Ierland, Directorate General for Climate Action, European Commission; and Ilka Wagner, BMUB, Germany Contact: Gillian Nelson (Organizer) | gnelson@climatenetwork.org Eddy de Neef (Organizer)| eddy@caneurope.org More Information: http://climatenetwork.org/publication/can-position-national-long-term-strategies-sustainable-development-and-decarbonization www.maximiser.eu/ New Approaches for Analyzing and Visualizing the Integrity of the Global Climate Governance RegimePresented by the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM-VU), and the University of Melbourne In this panel, participants shared and discussed new approaches for analyzing and visualizing connections between UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) bodies and institutions, cooperative initiatives and non-state actors. Tim Cadman, Griffith University, moderated the event. Cadman introduced a theoretical basis for analyzing the climate regime as an “integrity regime.” Outlining characteristics of institutional integrity systems, he stressed that the more comprehensive a regime’s governance values, the greater its legitimacy. He also noted that a lack of clarity on the UNFCCC’s institutional architecture contributes to a perceived lack of transparency around the UNFCCC’s institutional sub-components and activities. Oscar Widerberg, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, outlined preliminary results of network mapping of the connections between non-state and sub-national actors in the climate regime. He highlighted ‘Connect-it,’ a new project which visualizes collaborative climate actions and provides a tool to discover individual and corporate initiatives. Concentrating on equity and human rights as key governance values in the climate regime, Kate Dooley, University of Melbourne, stressed that differing interpretations of how these values should be implemented leads to “sticking points” in negotiations. She underscored that equity is operationalized through the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR). Lisa Elges, Transparency International, delivered preliminary results of a comparative assessment of the accountability mechanisms of four UNFCCC climate funds. She drew attention to the chains of actors involved in the delivery of climate finance. Elges stressed that clear efforts to establish accountability mechanisms “at the top” of these funds are critical to strengthening institutional governance, providing anti-corruption and development benefits and setting the stage for greater reform. Klaus Radunsky, Austrian Federal Environment Agency, thanked the scientific community for its contribution to the development of the Paris Agreement’s enhanced transparency framework. He noted the importance of taking stock of transparency mechanisms, and identifying weaknesses and areas for improvement. Celebrating the Paris Agreement’s “reasonably high standard of integrity,” he stressed continuing opportunities for improvement while the rulebook remains under development. During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: the need for a conflict-of-interest policy in the climate change regime; the utility of tools to visualize and analyze governance regimes; and centrality measures as decision-support tools. (L-R): Tim Cadman, Griffith University; Oscar Widerberg, Vrije Universitiet Amsterdam; Lisa Elges, Transparency International; Kate Dooley, the University of Melbourne; Klaus Radunsky, Austrian Federal Environmental Agency Oscar Widerberg, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, is mapping the role of non-state and sub-state actors in the climate regime. Klaus Radunsky, Austrian Federal Environment Agency, lauded the role of the scientific community in improving transparency. Kate Dooley, the University of Melbourne, regretted that human rights are not yet formally incorporated into the global climate regime. Lisa Elges, Transparency International, said that “accountability might be an afterthought” in climate financing. Contact: Tim Cadman (Moderator)  | t.cadman@griffith.edu.au More Information: https://www.climateregimemap.net https://www.routledge.com/Governing-the-Climate-Change-Regime-Institutional-Integrity-and-Integrity/Cadman-Maguire-Sampford/p/book/9781138216440 Coping with Climate Change in Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Aligning Adaptation Strategies with Comprehensive Climate Risk Management Presented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII) This side event, moderated by Vera Scholz, GIZ, addressed strategies for coping with climate change in the SIDS and ways to link and coordinate adaptation and climate risk management strategies. Noting that adaptation and disaster risk management (DRM) are treated separately at the institutional level, Scholz called for consideration of ways to align adaptation and risk management, and for defining the role of civil society in this process.   Highlighting his country’s membership in the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and the Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Group, Emmanuel de Guzman, the Philippines, noted the Philippines’ microinsurance system benefits nearly 30 million people, but said it was far from providing universal coverage to people at risk. De Guzman said South-South and triangular cooperation could help today’s initiatives reach hundreds of millions. Sönke Kreft, Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII), introduced the initiative, noting that MCII aims to use insurance for the benefit of vulnerable people and nations. He explained that insurance goes beyond the immediate effect of payout, being part of comprehensive climate risk management. Outlining MCII’s seven principles for benefitting the poor, including comprehensive needs-based solutions, client value, affordability and accessibility, Kreft discussed the initiative’s work with the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF). Orville Grey, Jamaica, outlined his country’s efforts to build resilience by enhancing adaptive capacity in all sectors. He reported that Jamaica’s Climate Change Policy Framework mainstreams climate change “across the board.” He called for finding alternatives to insurance, noting that people on the ground are often unable to afford it. Clarence Samuel, Marshall Islands, identified the need to stimulate risk insurance in other vulnerable countries through the V20. He observed that indirect insurance is not a good tool to cover recurrent events, such as drought, and suggested exploring other options. Philipp Knill, Germany, observed that insurance schemes in Africa and Latin America are relatively young and identified the need to engage the private sector. He said progress on mitigation is required to enable progress on adaptation and resilience. Dustin Schinn, Global Environment Facility (GEF), said the GEF has supported holistic management of adaptation through the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), which together comprise a US$1.5 billion programme. On DRM, he highlighted the importance of reducing people’s vulnerability and exposure in the first place. Sven Harmeling, CARE International, highlighted a community perspective on increasing resilience, citing a CARE International project in Peru addressing the risks associated with glacial melting. He stressed the need to identify capacities on the ground to help people prepare for and manage emergencies. In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: issues associated with relocation of people from zones no longer fit for human habitation; building codes and their enforcement; and criteria for selecting projects for funding. (L-R): Sven Harmeling, CARE International; Philipp Knill, Germany; Orville Grey, Jamaica; Dustin Schinn, Global Environment Facility (GEF); and Vera Scholz, GIZ Sönke Kreft, MCII, said climate risk does not only affect people, citing a decrease in Jamaica’s credit rating as an example. Clarence Samuel, the Marshall Islands; Sven Harmeling, CARE International; and Philipp Knill, Germany Orville Grey, Jamaica, called for finding alternatives to risk insurance as many people on the ground are unable to afford it. Philipp Knill, Germany, reported on the V20 Dialogue with High-Level G20 representatives held in April 2017 where ministers discussed risk management and capacity building in vulnerable countries. Participants during the side event Contact: Vera Scholz (Moderator) | vera.scholz@giz.de Lea Thin | lea.thin@giz.de Michael Zissener | zissener@ehs.unu.edu More Information: https://www.giz.de/en/html/index.html http://www.climate-insurance.org/home/ Making the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) Work for People and the PlanetPresented by Germanwatch, Association Actions Vitales Pour Le Developpement Durable (AVD) and Réseau Action Climat - France (RAC-F)  This event focused on civil society perspectives on AREI launched at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 21). It was moderated by Lutz Weischer, Germanwatch. Jens Klawitter, Germanwatch, introduced AREI and its working structure, highlighting the initiative’s aim to harness the African continent’s renewable energy potential. He noted that 19 recent projects approved in Conakry, Guinea, had raised critical questions about whether AREI criteria were being bypassed and whether the projects are new and additional. Augustine Njamnshi, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), highlighted the results of a recent African Coalition for Sustainable Energy Access (ACSEA) survey on African civil society organizations’ (CSOs) perspective on AREI. Among key findings, he noted respondents’ views that African civil society should have a voting power in the AREI Steering Committee, and their desire to see Northern CSOs bring the positions of African CSOs to the attention of Northern states. Aïssatou Diouf, Réseau Climat et Développement, underlined the need to ensure AREI “is truly African-led to meet the needs of African people,” recommending capacity building, awareness raising, and increased transparency of pipeline and approved projects to this end. Stressing “the future has to be renewable-energy based,” Paul Alain Nana, AVD, presented on projects in Cameroon to raise awareness among young people about sustainable development and renewable energy, including through renewable energy field visits. Seyni Nafo, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), emphasized that AREI is a product of the “new African climate diplomacy,” in which the continent “does not victimize itself, but takes its destiny into its own hands.” He highlighted four additional initiatives led by African heads of states, on: adaptation, the Sahel region, the Congo Basin, and islands, that also form part of this vision. Among recommendations for the way forward for AREI, Frank Fass-Metz, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany, included: maintaining a high level of political commitment in African countries; a need to identify implementation priorities; and the need to mobilize private sector investment. In the discussion, panelists and participants discussed the manner in which the AREI Board had chosen its recent 19 recent projects, with one participant positing these had been approved “in contempt of the initiative’s principles,” while others urged caution in characterizing the Board’s decision-making in this way in the absence of sufficient information. (L-R): Paul Alain Nana, AVD; Augustine Njamnshi, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA); Lutz Weischer, Germanwatch; Aïssatou Diouf, Réseau Climat et Développement; Seyni Nafo, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN); and Frank Fass-Metz, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany Augustine Njamnshi, PACJA, questioned “why is Africa still in darkness as far as energy is concerned?” and called for AREI to integrate stakeholder involvement in its activities to realize its intended results. Lutz Weischer, Germanwatch, moderated the event. Frank Fass-Metz, BMZ, Germany, welcomed the “productive process” of engagement between African countries and donor countries in the run-up to AREI’s development. Among recommendations for AREI, Seyni Nafo, Chair of the AGN, highlighted finalization of the initiative's governance framework and multi-stakeholder engagement with African countries. Contact: Marc Beckmann (Organizer) | marc.beckmann@germanwatch.org Jean Paul Brice Affana Affana (Organizer) | jeanpaulaffana@yahoo.fr Lucile Dufour (Organizer) | lucile@rac-f.org More Information: http://germanwatch.org/en/download/18246.pdf http://www.arei.org/

The Bonn Climate Change Conference opened on Monday, 8 May. During the day, the opening plenaries of the 46th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 46) and Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 46), as well as of the third part of the first session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA 1-3) took place. Recalling the “unprecedented and swift” entry into force of the Paris Agreement, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa observed that the political momentum continues and stressed the urgency of the task to ensure the full and transparent implementation of the Agreement. In the afternoon, a roundtable on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (cooperative approaches) and a Technical Expert Meeting (TEM) on mitigation, focusing on urban and land use issues, met. Contact groups and informal groups on several items also met in the afternoon. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided digital coverage, daily reports and a summary and analysis report from the Bonn Climate Change Conference - May 2017. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) Plenary View of the dais during the SBSTA plenary Gebru Jember, Ethiopia, speaking on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) SBSTA Chair Carlos Fuller, Belize Abdullahi Majeed, Maldives, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Oleg Shamanov, Russian Federation Ayman Shasly, Saudi Arabia Juan Carlos Arredondo Brun, Mexico, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) Carola Iñiguez, Ecuador, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Harry Vreuls, EU Rita Mishaan, Guatemala Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo Massoud Rezvanian Rahaghi, Iran Prerna Bozman, Third World Network, Environmental NGOs Kate Cahoon, Women and Gender Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) Plenary View of the dais during the SBI plenary SBI Chair Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland Nazhat Shameem Khan, Fiji, Incoming COP 23 / CMP 13 Presidency UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Mohamed Nasr, Egypt Adérito Manuel Fernandes Santana, São Tome and Príncipe, reporting on behalf of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) Felipe Ferreira, Brazil Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) Plenary View of the dais during the APA plenary APA Co-Chairs Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia, and Jo Tyndall, New Zealand Franz Perrez, Switzerland, speaking on behalf of the EIG Chen Zhihua, China, speaking on behalf of Brazil, South Africa, India and China (BASIC) Hussein Alfa Nafo, Mali, speaking on behalf of the African Group Marcia Levaggi, Argentina, speaking on behalf of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay Patrick Suckling, Australia, on behalf of the Umbrella Group Mehmet Emin Birpınar, Turkey Sven Harmeling, Climate Action Network (CAN) International, Environmental NGOs Jonas Haller, Youth NGOs Gunnar Steinsholt, Trade Union NGOs Roundtable Discussions among Parties in Relation to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement Amy Steen, UNFCCC Secretariat; SBSTA Chair Carlos Fuller; Co-Facilitator Hugh Sealy, Maldives; and Co-Facilitator Kelley Kizzier, EU Delegates participate in roundtable discussions Technical Expert Meeting (TEM) on Mitigation (L-R) Manuel Araujo, Mayor, Quelimane, Mozambique; Nick Nuttal, UNFCCC Spokesperson; Martin Frick, Director, Climate and Energy Division, FAO; Toby Hedger, UNFCCC Secretariat; and Victoria Novikova, UNFCCC Secretariat Krishna Chandra Paudel, Nepal Simone Lovera, Global Forest Coalition Alberto Saldamando, Indigenous Environmental Network Nick Nuttall, UNFCCC Secretariat Ramamurthi Sreedhar, Environics Trust Around the Venue Delegates between sessions SBI Chair Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland (right) Aziz Mekouar, Morocco, COP 22 / CMP 12 Presidency Delegates watch proceedings from the balcony Delegates from Nepal Kishan Kumarsingh, Trinidad and Tobago, speaks with delegates Ayman Shasly, Saudi Arabia, speaks with Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Monday, 8 May 2017: Technical Briefing: Climate Change and the Rights of the Child CDM and NDCs – the Way Forward Update on the Implementation of the 2017 Workplan of the Standing Committee on Finance Implementing the Paris Agreement – Perspectives from Developing Countries Advancing the Paris Agreement at All Levels: Lessons from Local, Regional and National Governments RegionsAdapt: Regional Governments as Key Actors in Climate Change Adaptation IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage of selected side events at the Bonn Climate Change Conference, May 2017. Photos by IISD/ENB | Angeles Estrada Vigil For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Technical Briefing: Climate Change and the Rights of the Child Presented by the COP Presidency This session, moderated by Aziz Mekouar, COP 22/CMP 12 Presidency, saw panelists discuss the adverse impacts of climate change on children, with related legal obligations and developments under the Paris Agreement and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). In a video message, Joanna Sustento, the Philippines, related the trauma of Typhoon Haiyan, during which she lost both her parents. Identifying the typhoon as a “sign of what is to come,” she underlined the need to ensure such climate injustices are not passed on to children and future generations. Marilena Viviani, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Geneva Liaison Office, stressed that climate change undermines multiple rights under the UNCRC, and highlighted the ongoing development of the Paris Agreement “rulebook” as an opportunity to holistically embed human and child rights. Salaheddine Mezouar, COP 22/COP 12 President, stressed the need to preserve children’s day-to-day wellbeing and their ability to “dream of a better world,” and encouraged civil society’s continued work on this topic. Sharing findings from a 2016 General Discussion on “Children’s Rights and the Environment,” Mikiko Otani, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Member, highlighted that states have substantive, procedural and heightened legal obligations in relation to children’s rights and climate change. Benjamin Schachter, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), identified conclusions from an OHCHR study on ​the impacts of climate change on the rights of the child, including on the need to: ensure children’s rights are integrated into climate change action; empower children to participate in children’s policy making; and guarantee effective remedies when harm is suffered. Nazhat Khan, Ambassador and Chief Negotiator for COP-23, Fiji, said the Fijian COP 23 Presidency intends to bring an inclusive and participatory approach to its role, and will seek to ensure coherence with other multilateral processes. Marilena Viviani, UNICEF Geneva Liaison Office Salaheddine Mezouar, COP 22/CMP 12 President   A view of the dais during the presentation of Joanna Sustento, the Philippines Nazhat Khan, Ambassador and Chief Negotiator for COP 23, Fiji, regretted that in many cultural contexts, children are not invited to participate in any policy decisions. Benjamin Schachter, OHCHR Aziz Mekouar, COP 22/CMP 12 Presidency, Salaheddine Mezouar, COP 22/COP 12 President, Benjamin Schachter, and OHCHR, Marilena Viviani, UNICEF Geneva Liaison Office Contact: Merouane Touali (Senior Adviser to the President, National Human Rights Council, Morocco) | m.touali@cndh.org.ma More Information: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/HRAndClimateChange/Pages/RightsChild.aspx http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRC/Pages/Discussion2016.aspx CDM and NDCs – the Way ForwardPresented by the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) This side event, moderated by Dirk Forrister, CEO and President, International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), concentrated on the relationship between the CDM under the Kyoto Protocol (KP) and countries’ NDCs under the Paris Agreement, and on the CDM’s role in contributing to mitigation objectives under the Paris Agreement. Frank Wolke, Chair, CDM Executive Board, noted that the CDM “exceeded expectations” in generating 1.7 billion tons of CO2eq in emission reductions since its inception, and called for identifying synergies among the CDM and NDCs so that the mechanism could continue to contribute to holding the global temperature rise to below 2°C.  Welcoming work on adapting the CDM to the future, Forrister said business investors need regulatory frameworks and platforms. He noted that the CDM has the potential to operate at a much greater scale and help countries determine their NDCs. Stephan Hoch, Managing Director Germany, Perspectives Climate Change, addressed: CDM as a monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) toolkit; the mitigation potential of the CDM pipeline; and programmatic approaches for scaling up mitigation action. He urged for an “orderly transition” from the KP to the Paris Agreement in order to harness the mitigation potential of the CDM, and safeguard confidence in and scale up UNFCCC mechanisms. Stressing the need to raise ambition to reach the 2°C or 1.5°C temperature goal under the Paris Agreement, Romeo Bertolini, NDC Partnership, emphasized the need for: effective climate instruments, such as carbon pricing, to enable higher ambition; country-driven as well as global processes to ensure transparency and avoid double counting; and initiatives to enhance countries’ capacity to develop carbon pricing. Daniel Rossetto, Managing Director, Climate Mundial, focused on the interaction between the CDM and NDCs, identifying four options: full repeal of the CDM and its replacement with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (mechanism to contribute to mitigation and sustainable development); independent development of Article 6 and effective abandonment of the CDM; retaining the CDM in parallel to Article 6; and managed transition into Article 6. Emphasizing the importance of private sector engagement, he cautioned against ex post adjustments of regulatory frameworks. Karen Holm Olsen, UNEP DTU Partnership, addressed the transition to voluntary action under the Paris Agreement. She noted associated challenges, including the lack of an “intrinsic connection” to domestic emission reduction commitments, failure to gain global endorsement of offsetting, and the “identity crisis of voluntary markets” due to the risk of double counting.  In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: linking the CDM with the Green Climate Fund; integrating sustainable development into Article 6 implementation; and the need to identify business-as-usual baselines reflected in NDCs. In conclusion, Arthur Rolle, Vice-Chair, CDM Executive Board, stressed the role of market mechanisms for NDCs’ achievement and said the CDM could be of value in parallel with NDCs. He noted the need for clarity on ways to link the CDM and NDCs, and ensure the CDM’s continued value after 2020. Stephan Hoch, Managing Director Germany, Perspectives Climate Change, outlined programmatic approaches for scaling up mitigation action by addressing CDM methodologies, the gap between the current NDCs and what is required to meet the 2°C or 1.5°C goal, and combinations of technologies. Frank Wolke, Chair, CDM Executive Board, and Karen Holm Olsen, UNEP DTU Partnership Dirk Forrister, CEO and President, IETA, hoped for a new mechanism under the Paris Agreement that would elaborate on the CDM. Arthur Rolle, Vice-Chair, CDM Executive Board, said market mechanisms have a clear role for the achievement of NDCs. Dirk Forrister, CEO and President, IETA; Arthur Rolle, Vice-Chair, CDM Executive Board; Frank Wolke, Chair, CDM Executive Board; Karen Holm Olsen, UNEP DTU Partnership; Daniel Rossetto, Managing Director, Climate Mundial; Romeo Bertolini, NDC Partnership; and Stephan Hoch, Managing Director Germany, Perspectives Climate Change Contact: Frank Wolke (Coordinator) | frank.wolke@ubad.de Dirk Forrister (Moderator) | forrister@ieta.org Niclas Svenningsen | nsvenningsen@unfccc.int More Information: http://unfccc.int/2860.php Update on the Implementation of the 2017 Workplan of the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF)Presented by the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Georg Børsting, Co-Chair, SCF, moderated the panel. Panelists outlined the SCF’s progress under its mandates in 2017 and its preparation for the third biennial assessment submission in 2018. Bernarditas Muller, Co-Chair, SCF, stated that the main work of the Committee is to improve coherence and coordination in delivery of climate change financing. She underscored the increased complexity of financial mechanisms under the Paris Agreement, and called for “enhanced financing for enhanced action.” She highlighted forest financing as a particularly important challenge for the Committee to address. Outi Honkatukia, Co-Facilitator, SCF, stated that the Committee is working towards preparing the 2018 biennial assessment under the mandate of the Conference of the Parties (COP). She highlighted the Committee’s “onion approach” to presenting its methodology and improving understanding of climate finance flows. She emphasized the Committee’s aims to improve data coverage and quality and to better grasp investment needs and plans related to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Randy Caruso, Co-Facilitator, SCF, underscored monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) as a core function of the Committee. He said that the SCF expects concrete results on improving MRV systems in the first round of biennial reporting. He underscored developing countries’ request for better guidelines to report the assistance they have received.  Ismo Ulvila, SCF Member, outlined the goals of the forum on “Mobilizing Finance for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure,” tentatively scheduled for September 2017. He said that the forum will provide a platform for exchange of information, exploration of lessons learned through case studies and in-depth discussion among different practitioners. Børsting reported that the updated guidelines for the sixth review of the Financial Mechanism were adopted at the 22nd session of the COP to the UNFCCC (COP 22), and underscored the Committee’s aim to finalize the review at COP 23. Børsting also emphasized that the Committee was encouraged to build on the same methodology and criteria used in the fifth review of the Financial Mechanism in future reviews. During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: delayed disbursements of the Green Climate Fund (GCF); efforts to reduce reporting burdens for developing countries; the bifurcated transparency system for developed and developing countries; and sources of information available to the SCF. Bernarditas Muller, SCF Co-Chair, stated that the main work of the SCF is to improve coherence and coordination in delivery of climate change financing. Randy Caruso, Co-Facilitator, SCF, and Outi Honkatukia, Co-Facilitator, SCF   Participants during the side event Georg Børsting, Co-Chair, SCF, moderated the panel. Participants during the side event Panel (L-R): Ismo Ulvila, SCF Member, Georg Børsting, SCF Co-Chair; Bernarditas Muller, SCF Co-Chair; Randy Caruso, SCF Member; Outi Honkatukia, SCF Member; and Hussein Alfa Nafo, SCF Member Contact: Liza Leclerc (Organizer) | lleclerc@unfccc.int Georg Børsting (Moderator) | georg.borsting@mfa.no More Information: http://unfccc.int/cooperation_and_support/financial_mechanism/ standing_committee/items/6877.php Implementing the Paris Agreement - Perspectives from Developing CountriesPresented by the Third World Network (TWN) and South Centre This session, moderated by Mariama Williams, South Centre, heard presentations from China and India, as well as other members of the G-77/China discuss implementation of the Paris Agreement, and related challenges. Ravi Prasad, Chief Negotiator, India, stressed that the Paris Agreement enhances implementation of the Convention, and should therefore respect equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. He highlighted a “huge gap” between current finance commitments and what is required to translate Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) into reality. Chen Zhihua, Director of International Negotiations, China, highlighted his country’s intention to fully implement the Paris Agreement “no matter what happens.” He noted the importance of: respecting the principles of the Convention; maintaining the Paris Agreement’s nationally determined structure; flexibility for developing countries; balance between different elements; a facilitative and constructive approach to implementation; and pre-2020 action. Bernarditas Muller, Climate Finance Coordinator, G-77/China, provided a historical overview of the climate negotiations, stressing the need for: means of implementation; investments in adaptation despite a lack of revenue returns; and monitoring, reporting and verification of support. In the ensuing question-and-answer session, panelists raised, inter alia: a desire for the US to stay in the Paris Agreement, and for any gaps left by the US to be filled by Annex-I countries; and concerns that a lack of US mitigation action will “condemn present and future generations.” They also discussed the need: for any international forums working on climate change, including the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization, to take into account the principles of the Convention; to ensure developing countries are not burdened with unnecessary additional guidelines; and for transparency modalities under the Paris Agreement to be differentiated.  Participants also raised: the challenge of ensuring low-carbon industrialization without any historical examples; the need to bridge financing costs so that new technologies can be rapidly adopted; the difficulty of considering “de-growth” approaches when many developing country citizens are still living below the poverty line; and the important role of technology and addressing consumption patterns in this context. Panel (L-R): Chen Zhihua, Director of International Negotiations, China; Ravi Prasad, Chief Negotiator, India; Mariama Williams, South Centre; Bernarditas Muller, Climate Finance Coordinator, G-77/China Ravi Prasad, Chief Negotiator, India Bernarditas Muller, Climate Finance Coordinator, G-77/China Chen Zhihua, Director of International Negotiations, China Mariama Williams, South Centre Contact: Mariama Williams (Organizer) | williams@southcentre.int Yvonne Miller (Organizer) | ymiller@twngeneva.ch More Information: http://www.southcentre.int http://www.twn.my/climate.htm Advancing the Paris Agreement at All Levels: Lessons from Local, Regional and National GovernmentsPresented by the ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI)/Lead International Sam Bickersteth, CDKN, moderated the panel. He initiated discussion with a call for systematized thinking about the integration of non-state actors, including cities and local governments, into Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) implementation processes.  Maryke van Staden, ICLEI, underlined that integrating subnational entities into NDC implementation will require regularized procedures and a system of communication. She emphasized the potential of local governments to enhance NDC activities and raise ambition levels.  Stephen King’uyu, Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Kenya, recalled the development of Kenya’s National Climate Change Act, which became law in 2016. He cited Kenya’s leverage of mature sub-national processes as key to establishing sustainable coordinating structures for climate planning.  Ephraim Mwepya Shitima, Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Zambia, said that Zambia’s finalization of its NDC in 2015 led directly to a national policy on climate change in 2016. He underscored a sense of momentum around NDC implementation in developing countries. Lisa Leberhausen, Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), Germany, highlighted Germany’s long-term climate strategy, ‘Climate Action Plan 2050,’ as an example of supporting local and subnational governments as climate actors. Noting the importance of dialogue, she said that “engagement fosters ownership.” Stefan Wagner, City of Bonn, emphasized new models of multi-level cooperation and bottom-up implementation. He pointed to the success of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, an initiative that includes more than 7,000 local and regional authorities across 50 countries. He said that the Covenant helps subnational governments gain recognition, share best practices and fund local governments.  Neil Bird, Overseas Development Institute, emphasized that meeting NDC targets will depend on national priorities. He noted that one way to secure integration of NDCs with national development planning is to ensure that they address the needs of vulnerable groups.  Emelia Holdaway, Ricardo Energy & Environment, observed that demand from developing countries for progress on NDC implementation is strong. Underscoring the importance of stakeholder engagement and institutional organization, she outlined actions that developing countries can take to reduce barriers to implementation. She concluded that NDC projects should be selected strategically to secure long-term buy-in and cooperation across government entities.  During discussions, participants addressed, inter alia: community involvement in NDC implementation; the role of civil society and other non-state actors; the City of Bonn’s Climate Ambassadors programme; and strengthening local government capacity. Ephraim Mwepya Shitima, Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Zambia, highlighted seven sectors the Zambian government has prioritized for NDC implementation. Stephen King’uyu, Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Kenya Stefan Wagner, City of Bonn, underscored Bonn’s commitment to a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. Maryke van Staden, ICLEI, (second from left) underscored the importance of in-country context when designing vertical integration of NDC commitments. Lisa Leberhausen, Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany, said that Germany’s ‘Climate Action Plan 2050’ includes more than 400 strategic measures. Emelia Holdaway, Ricardo Energy & Environment, said that NDCs are starting points that countries should build upon and strengthen. Panel (L-R): Stefan Wagner, City of Bonn; Sam Bickersteth, CDKN; Maryke van Staden, ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability; Stephen King’uyu, Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Kenya; Ephraim Mwepya Shitima, Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Zambia; and Emelia Holdaway, Ricardo Energy & Environment Contact: Sam Bickersteth (Moderator) | sam.bickersteth@cdkn.org Claire Monkhouse (Organizer) | claire.m.monkhouse@pwc.com More Information: http://www.iclei.org/ RegionsAdapt: Regional Governments as Key Actors in Climate Change AdaptationPresented by the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development (nrg4SD) This event, moderated by Sara Kupka, nrg4SD, focused on the role of regional governments in enhancing climate change adaptation action. Noting that the need for increased adaptation action is recognized in the Paris Agreement’s global goal on adaptation, Kupka stressed the need for a multi-stakeholder approach. She highlighted the ‘RegionsAdapt 2016 Report: An assessment of risks and actions’ as an opportunity to share information on adaptation policies and programmes and to encourage others to do the same.  Gamini Thilakasiri, Minister of Agriculture, Agrarian Development, Irrigation, Industries and Environment of Western Province Government, Sri Lanka, highlighted the International Conference on Climate Change 2017 held in his country, and said regional governments can make a major contribution by implementing the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. Sirpa Hertell, Deputy Chair of the Commission for Environment, Energy and Climate Change, European Committee of the Regions, presented the European Union’s perspective on the role of cities and regions in adaptation policies and policy formulation, calling for greater recognition of these actors. She urged for stronger institutional and financial support to regions, noting they are key partners in meeting the Paris Agreement’s objectives.  Griet Verstraeten, Policy Advisor on Climate Adaptation, Government of Flanders, Belgium, discussed the Flanders climate change adaptation policy, which includes measures for industry and services, and implements global measures, such as raising awareness. Joana Setzer, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, London School of Economics, Member of the Board of Advisors to nrg4SD, addressed the challenges transnational networks are expected to face in the “post-Paris” framework, including: data reporting; the relative novelty of policy issues on the agenda of subnational government and transnational networks; and the need to continue to catalyze, support and steer subnational and transnational initiatives. Idil Boran, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, York University, Canada, stressed the need to expand the pool of climate change actors in the implementation phase of the Paris Agreement through inclusiveness and vertical integration. She highlighted the importance of building trust among regional governments and parties and non-party actors, and identified conflicting interests and disparities of representation among actors as barriers to building trust. In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed: trust as an institutional feature embedded in practice; future reporting and verification scenarios; an ecosystem-based approach to regional action on adaptation; and expectations from the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 23) in terms of progress on regional governments’ engagement. Moderator Sara Kupka, nrg4SD; noted that the need for increased adaptation action is recognized by the global goal on adaptation reflected in the Paris Agreement. Joana Setzer, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, London School of Economics, Member of the Board of Advisors to nrg4SD, identified transnational networks’ functions, including: connecting cities and regions in their fight against climate change; knowledge exchange; political and financial, and mitigation and adaptation support; national and international advocacy; and reporting and verification. Idil Boran, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, York University, Canada, emphasized the need to work on inclusiveness of various actors in the implementation phase of the Paris Agreement. Gamini Thilakasiri, Minister of Agriculture, Agrarian Development, Irrigation, Industries and Environment of Western Province Government, Sri Lanka, highlighted the International Conference on Climate Change 2017 held in his country.   Moderator Sara Kupka, nrg4SD, Sirpa Hertell, Deputy Chair of the Commission for Environment, Energy and Climate Change, European Committee of the Regions; Gamini Thilakasiri, Minister of Agriculture, Agrarian Development, Irrigation, Industries and Environment of Western Province Government, Sri Lanka; Griet Verstraeten, Policy Advisor Climate Adaptation, Government of Flanders, Belgium; and Idil Boran, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, York University, Canada Sirpa Hertell, Deputy Chair of the Commission for Environment, Energy and Climate Change, European Committee of the Regions, called for greater recognition of regions and cities in adaptation policies as well as in policy formulation. Griet Verstraeten, Policy Advisor Climate Adaptation, Government of Flanders, Belgium, discussed the Flanders climate change adaptation plan. Participants during the side event Contact: Sara Kupka (Moderator) | skupka@nrg4sd.org More Information: http://www.nrg4sd.org/