Group of 77 and China

The eighteenth meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (ICP-18) opened on 15 May 2017 at the UN Headquarters in New York, under the theme: “The effects of climate change on oceans.” In the morning, delegates heard opening remarks from: Co-Chairs Gustavo Meza-Cuadra and Kornelios Korneliou; Stephen Mathias, Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs; Thomas Gass, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), on behalf of Wu Hongbo, UN DESA; Shifaana Thowfeequ, Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), on behalf of Acting Under-Secretary General Heidi Schroderus-Fox; Peter Thomson, President of the UN General Assembly; and Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole (AHWGW) Juliette Babb-Riley and Carolyn Schwalger. In the afternoon, Co-Chair Korneliou introduced the informal session, a discussion panel on “the effects of climate change on oceans, including environmental, social and economic implications.” Delegates heard presentations on: findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report and preparations for the Sixth Assessment; ecosystem services and climate change, including thermal adaptation; climate projections and predictions: challenges and possible solutions; the effects of climate change on the coasts of a highly vulnerable and Megadiverse Country: the case of Colombia; effects of climate change on the oceans (via webcast); and oceanic impacts on regional climate and the Argo Programme. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report in English and French from the 18th Meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page View of the dais Co-Chair Kornelios Korneliou, Cyprus Peter Thomson, President of the UN General Assembly Thomas Gass, Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) Shifaana Thowfeequ, UN Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) Stephen Mathias, Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Co-Chair Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, Peru Juliette Babb-Riley, Co-Chair, Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole (AHWGW) Margo Deiye, Nauru, on behalf of Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) Carmen Mifsud, Malta, speaking for the EU Carolyn Schwalger, Co-Chair, AHWGW Diedre Mills, Jamaica Isaías Medina Mejías, Venezuela Andi Eka Sakya, Indonesia Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group Luis Oña Garcés, Ecuador, on behalf of the G-77/China Lucía Raffin, Argentina Tevita Suka Mangisi, Tonga Sesselja Sigurðardóttir, Iceland Kate Neilson, New Zealand Luke Daunivalu, Fiji Delegates from Indonesia Presentations View of the panel during the afternoon session Ko Barrett, Vice-Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Françoise Gaill, Committee for Marine and Coastal Research, France Fangli Qiao, Government Secretary General and Deputy Director General, First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, China Philip Sutton, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, New Zealand Francisco Armando Arias Isaza, Institute of Marine Research, Colombia Elva Escobar Briones, National Autonomous University of Mexico, talked about the effects of climate change on the oceans (via webcast) Around the Venue Sphere Within a Sphere, by Arnaldo Pomodoro Non-Violence, by Fredrik Reuterswärd A view of Long Island City, Queens from the UN Headquarters

The Bonn Climate Change Conference continued on Saturday. Informal consultations met throughout the day to discuss issues under the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA), the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). In the afternoon, the APA contact group met to facilitate interaction between parties and representatives of the Adaptation Committee, the LDC Expert Group (LEG), the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). A joint informal plenary of the SBI, SBSTA and APA also convened in the afternoon. Among mandated events, the multilateral assessment met during the morning and the first meeting of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building met throughout the day. 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 Special Event with the UN Deputy Secretary-General View of the dais during the special event Salaheddine Mezouar, COP 22 / CMP 12 President UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Nazhat Shameem Khan, Fiji, incoming COP 23 / CMP 13 Presidency UN Security during the event Hussein Alfa Nafo, Mali, speaking on behalf of the African Group Simone Borg, EU Walter Espinel, Ecuador, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Gebru Jember, Ethiopia, speaking on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Jorge Arturo Cabrera Hidalgo, Guatemala, speaking on behalf of the Independent Association for Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC) Patrick Suckling, Australia, speaking on behalf of the Umbrella Group Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) Multilateral Assessment Delegates gather for the second day of multilateral assessments Anna Broadhurst, New Zealand André Weidenhaupt, Luxembourg Trigg Talley, US Patrícia Soares Leite, Brazil Ana Danila, EU Jaivardhan Ramanlal Bhatt, India UN Deputy Secretay-General Meeting with Observers UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed holds a roundtable discussion with observers Wael Hmaidan, Climate Action Network (CAN) International UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed Informal Consultations and Contact Groups throughout the Day APA informal consultations on further matters except the Adaptation Fund SBI contact group on arrangements for intergovernmental meetings APA informal consultations on adaptation communications APA informal consultations on the global stocktake Civil Society Demonstration Members of civil society demonstrate in the hallways, calling on delegates to 'step up' to close the emissions gap Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) Contact Group View of the dais during the APA contact group APA Co-Chair Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia Georg Børsting, Co-Chair, Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) Clifford Mahlung, Co-Chair, Adaptation Committee Beth Lavender, Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) Member Ayman Shasly, Co-Chair, Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board Xolisa Ngwadla, South Africa Laura Juliana Arciniegas Rojas, Colombia, speaking on behalf of AILAC Kulthoum Motsumi, Botswana, speaking on behalf of the African Group Joint Informal Plenary of SBI, SBSTA and APA on the Paris Agreement Linkages View of the dais during the joint informal plenary SBI Chair Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland APA Co-Chair Jo Tyndall, New Zealand SBSTA Chair Carlos Fuller, Belize Liang Pei, China Ian Fry, Tuvalu Adão Soares Barbosa, Timor-Leste Around the Venue UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed arrives at the venue UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed with Salaheddine Mezouar, COP 22 / CMP 12 President and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa A meeting is held between the UN Deputy Secretary-General, the UNFCCC Executive Secretary and the COP 22 / CMP 12 Presidency Inia Seruiratu, Minister of Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, and High-Level Climate Champion, Fiji, and Hamza Tber, COP 22 / CMP 12 Presidency UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed with delegates from Africa Trigg Talley, US, speaks with delegates Delegates from Grenada Delegates from Germany, Norway, Poland and Australia meet between sessions Delegates speak informally Yorio Ito, Japan, and Zaheer Fakir, South Africa Delegates from Papua New Guinea

The Bonn Climate Change Conference continued on Thursday. Informal consultations met throughout the day to discuss issues under the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA), the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). The APA contact group met during the afternoon to take stock of progress. Several mandated events also met, including: an in-session workshop to develop possible elements of the gender action plan under the UNFCCC; two Technical Expert Meetings (TEMs) on mitigation, focusing on attracting private sector investors and business solutions for ambitious mitigation actions in land use and building partnerships to accelerate implementation; and the first meeting of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building. 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 Technical Expert Meeting (TEM) on Mitigation: Private Sector Engagement Panel speakers for the TEM on mitigation, focused on attracting private sector investors and business solutions for ambitious mitigation actions in land use Katia Simeonova, UNFCCC Secretariat Matthew Reddy, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Theo de Jager, World Farmers' Organization Conor Lennon, WBCSD Romano De Vivo, Syngenta Participants during the session First Meeting of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB) Members of the PCCB Rita Mishaan, Guatemala Co-Chair Mohamed Nbou, Morocco Co-Chair Matti Nummelin, Finland Marzena Chodor, Poland Crispin d'Auvergne, Saint Lucia Mahawan Karuniasa, Indonesia Richard Mfumu Lungu, Zambia Renilde Ndayishimiye, Burundi Participants during the session Informal Consultations throughout the Day APA informal consultations on adaptation communications APA informal consultations on the global stocktake APA informal consultations on modalities, procedures and guidelines for the transparency framework APA informal consultation on further matters In-Session Workshop: Gender Action Plan under the UNFCCC On the second day of the in-session workshop focused on gender, participants broke out into small groups to discuss a variety of themes, including capacity building, gender-responsive implementation, gender balance and participation, and monitoring and reporting. Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) Contact Group Delegates gather for the APA contact group APA Co-Chair Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia APA Co-Chair Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, and Co-Facilitator for agenda item 8 - other matters Andrew Rakestraw, US, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 5 - transparency framework Beth Lavender, Canada, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 4 - adaptation communications Peter Horne, Australia, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 7 - committee to facilitate implementation and promote compliance Pieter Terpstra, the Netherlands, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 8 - further matters, Adaptation Fund Jacob Werksman, EU Ilze Prūse, Latvia, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 6 - global stocktake Gertraud Wollansky, Austria, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 3 - mitigation Walter Espinel, Ecuador, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Raed Albasseet, Saudi Arabia, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group Majid Shafie-Pour, Iran, speaking on behalf of the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) Dina Spörri, Switzerland, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) APA family photo Civil Society Demonstration Members of civil society line the stairs calling for nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to go up, reminding delegates they must not 'back out' of their commitments Around the Venue Ian Fry, Tuvalu Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Marcela Main Sancha, UNFCCC Secretariat Members of civil society meet in the corridors Teresa Jane Hannaway, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the youngest delegate attending the meeting Jukka Uosukainen, Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), speaks with SBSTA Chair Carlos Fuller, Belize Delegates between sessions Delegates meet informally

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/