NGOs

GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs The GEF Council Consultation with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) meeting took place on 17 December 2018, at World Bank Headquarters in Washington, DC, US. Participants discussed the implications of the seventh replenishment of the GEF (GEF-7) and gender policies, among other agenda items. Victor Kawanga, GEF-CSO Network Chair, opened the GEF Council Consultation with CSOs, and introduced Nguavese Tracy Ogbonna, GEF-CSO Network Vice-Chair. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage from the 55th Meeting of the GEF Council. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary report of the meeting in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Leila Mead For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page CSO Dialogue with GEF CEO Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson, reflected on scientific reports released since the June 2018 GEF Assembly, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5ºC (SR15) and a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report released in October showing that the world has lost 60% of its biodiversity since 1970. She stressed that “all the signals are that we are not winning the battle against climate change and environmental degradation; the sense of urgency is becoming really strong.” She said GEF-7 offers “a very powerful instrument” to arrest the underlying causes of these trends, to catalyze transformational change through tackling food systems, sustainable forestry management, the energy transition, and making cities sustainable. She also stressed the importance of the CSO role in getting societies to change. Responding to questions posed by CSOs, Ishii: agreed that the private sector needs to be involved in projects from the design stage onwards; and stressed that the GEF is small compared to the size of the economic system that must be changed, so “all parties must be realistic in looking for ways the GEF can best play a catalytic role.” A view of the room during the opening session Victor Kawanga, Chair of GEF-CSO Network, and Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson Benke Dule, Sociedade Rural Brasileira, Brazil Lucy Mulenkei, Indigenous Information Network, Kenya Edna Kaptoyo, International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests, Kenya, and Fiu Mataese Elisara, Ole Siosioaga Society Incorporated, Samoa Civil Society Participation in GEF-7 Two panels convened to discuss issues related to CSO participation in GEF-7. The first discussed the implementation of the updated vision to enhance civil society engagement with the GEF. The second considered the evolving role of CSOs in GEF-7. On the updated vision to enhance civil society engagement, a panel, moderated by Nana Janashia, Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN), and Patricia Turpin, Environment Tobago, discussed the Updated Vision after one year of implementation. Pilar Barrera Rey, GEF Secretariat, outlined areas for enhanced engagement identified in the Updated Vision, and panelists provided their comments. Fiu Mataese Elisara, Regional Focal Point for the Pacific, highlighted civil society as a “collective voice” and key GEF partner. He called for a mechanism to enable countries and implementing agencies to support CSOs at the national and regional levels and for commensurate resources to improve CSO engagement with the GEF. Edna Kaptoyo, Small Grants Program (SGP) Indigenous Fellow and Indigenous Focal Point for Africa, called for better funding opportunities for indigenous peoples’ participation in GEF policies and processes, and cautioned that selection of indigenous participants by the GEF Secretariat goes against the principle of self-determination. During the discussion, participants considered possibilities for virtual participation and circulating CSO statements ahead of GEF Council meetings. On the evolving role of CSOs in GEF-7, Sarah Wyatt, GEF Secretariat, highlighted that two CSOs would be included in upcoming Expanded Constituency Workshops, and noted that, when CSOs can demonstrate a track record of results, they will get attention. Sydah Naigaga, CSO Network, highlighted the value of directing funding to the GEF NGO voluntary fund to ensure that national-level NGOs are involved in GEF-7. Yoko Watanabe, SGP, discussed the GEF-7 SGP, which she said will emphasize: strategic partnerships/platforms for community-based actions; incubation of innovative solutions and risk taking; a focus on critical landscapes and seascapes for larger impacts; and a focus on social inclusion in maximizing global environmental benefits. Giovanni Reyes, National Coalition of Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines, discussed a project through which indigenous peoples in the Philippines are mapping the remaining areas with pristine biodiversity levels. During the discussion, speakers highlighted the need for easy access to updated information about GEF projects in order to provide appropriate input. L-R: Fiu Mataese Elisara, CSO Network, Samoa; Patricia Turpin, Environment Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago; Nana Janashia, CENN, Georgia; Pilar Barrera-Rey, GEF Secretariat; and Edna Kaptoyo, International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forest Nana Janashia, CENN, Georgia GEF Council member Marita Olson, Sweden A view of the room during the presentation by Sarah Wyatt, GEF Secretariat Yoko Watanabe, Small Grants Programme Sarah Wyatt, GEF Secretariat Sydah Naigaga, Environmental Management for Livelihood Improvement Bwaise Facility, Uganda A participant asks a question of the panellists Connecting Environmental Impact and Gender Equality The panel discussion was moderated by Anar Mamdani, Alternate GEF Council member, Canada, and Gabriella Richardson-Temm, GEF Secretariat. Mamdani introduced the panel, and underscored the importance to Canada of actions to promote gender equality in GEF-7. Richardson-Temm introduced the evolution of GEF’s work on gender issues since 2012. A panel of CSO representatives discussed issues including: the different knowledge women can bring to the table; incentivizing and empowering women’s entrepreneurship; tapping the energy, skills and abilities of youth to become change agents in environmental policy; and the need to address women’s access to land, land rights and control of natural resources. They also considered the different vision and spirituality indigenous women can bring to addressing environmental problems; the important role women play in transmitting knowledge from one generation to another; and how a gender lens can make climate action more effective, more equitable and more sustainable. Participants also discussed: the need to involve religious and community leaders in raising awareness about gender in environmental policies; involving various stakeholders alongside women in environmental protection; addressing gender perceptions at the ground level; and the role of gender and climate justice tribunals. Participants highlighted challenges including: introducing clean cookstoves and involving women in chemicals and waste management in African countries; securing free prior informed consent from indigenous communities, particularly women; and building women’s capacity to participate in environmental work and sustainable development. Speakers also highlighted interlinkages among environmental, gender and health issues, and the role of partnerships with central and local governments. At the conclusion, panelists offered recommendations, including: GEF should make a conscious effort to develop a youth constituency and incentivize youth involvement; governments and donors should consider ways to encourage and inspire young women to engage in environmental issues higher than the local level; consider women as partners or allies, not objects or victims; find ways to translate science into local traditional knowledge; and encourage project boards to have gender balance. Moderator Mamdani summarized the session, noting, inter alia gender equity interacts with many issues, which should not be considered in silos, and the importance of taking onboard the perspectives offered by traditional knowledge and of creating platforms for women and girls to gain access to leadership. Françoise Clottes, GEF Secretariat, and Steve Gold, UN Development Programme (UNDP), discussed the launch of the publication ‘Women as Environmental Stewards: The Experience of the Small Grants Programme.’ L-R: Mgiavese Tracu Ogbonna, Women Environmental Programme, Nigeria; Muqdad Amee, Together to Protect Human and Environment Association; Platform on Disaster Displacement; Chibeze Ezekiel, Ghana; Viviana Elsa Figueroa, Indigenous Women's Biodiversity Network, Argentina; Ana Francisca Perez Conguache, Socia de la Red de Mujeres Indigenas y Punto Focal en Guatemala; Caroline Usikpedo-Omoniye, Niger Delta Women's Movement for Peace and Development; Anooradah Pooran, Mauritius; and Kame Westerman, Conservation International Launch of the report ‘Women As Environmental Stewards: The Experience of the Small Grants Programme’ Closing GEF-CSO Network Vice-Chair Ogbonna offered closing remarks, stressing the importance of learning and continuous capacity building for everyone, and political will, partnerships and women’s ownership of land among issues emphasized by participants. She closed the consultation at 4:31 pm. Lucy Mulenkei, Indigenous Information Network, Kenya, closed the session.  

As the 'Katowice Climate Package' is adopted, Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, takes a giant leap for climate action The Katowice Climate Change conference continued on Saturday, a day after its scheduled close. Delegates engaged in consultations throughout the day to finalize the decisions for the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP).The plenary convened at 9:30 pm to consider the decisions. CMA 1-3 was gavelled to a close on Sunday morning at 12:33 am. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily reports, daily web coverage, and a summary and analysis from the Katowice Climate Change Conference – December 2018.   Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Closing Plenary UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa arrives in plenary Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, arrives in plenary Delegates stand at the beginning of plenary and hold a minute of silence in honour of Bernarditas Muller, Philippines Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa As the 'Katowice Climate Package' is adopted, Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, invites heads of delegation to the podium Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, thanks delegates for their help in achieving the 'Katowice Climate Package' Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, European Commission Franz Perrez, Switzerland, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) Amjad Abdulla, Maldives, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Patrick Suckling, Australia, speaking on behalf of the Umbrella Group Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Mohamed Nasr, Gabon, speaking on behalf of the African Group Ravi Prasad, India, speaking on behalf of Brazil, South Africa, India, and China (BASIC) Albara Tawfiq, Saudi Arabia, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group Gebru Jember Endalew, Ethiopia, speaking on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Gurdial Singh, Malaysia, speaking on behalf of the Like-minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) Zakir Hossain, Farmers Shaila Shahid, Women and Gender Joint statement on behalf of Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs) Delegates Consult Informally Delegates from the EU, US, Australia, and Switzerland Delegates from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the COP 24 Presidency Delegates from Switzerland and Norway Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, speaks with Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland Ministers from Luxembourg and Spain speak with delegates from the EU and Norway Delegates huddle during the final stages of negotiations UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Martin Frick, UNFCCC Secretariat Kimmo Tiilikainen, Minister for Housing, Energy, and the Environment, Finland Pieter Terpstra, the Netherlands, and Philip Weech, Bahamas Katarzyna Snyder, COP 24 Presidency Mehmet Emin Birpınar, Turkey Family Photos UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa poses for a photo with the delegation from Mexico The COP 24 Presidency Family photo of the UNFCCC Secretariat Family photo of negotiators working on ex-ante finance transparency (Article 9.5) Family photo of negotiators working on the transparency framework Family photo of negotiators for the transparency framework from the G-77/China Tribute to Bernarditas Muller After learning of her passing, delegates pay tribute to Bernarditas Muller, Philippines, who was recognised for her commitment and dedication to the UNFCCC, a 'legend within the process' Around the Venue SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France Seyni Nafo, Mali, and Zaheer Fakir, South Africa Delegates read the latest draft of text Jo Tyndall, New Zealand Issa Bado, International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF) Matt McGrath, BBC Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary Staff around the venue  

Members of civil society sing Michael Jackson's 'Earth Song' on the steps of the venue, reminding delegates that there are only 12 years left to limit global warming to 1.5°C On Friday, the Katowice Climate Change Conference was scheduled to close. Delegates spent the day reviewing the latest iteration of text produced in the ministerial meeting, or Sejmik, that met throughout the day.As of 9:30 pm, the meeting had yet to end. Follow @IISDRS on Twitter, or return to this website, for updates. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily reports, daily web coverage, and a summary and analysis from the Katowice Climate Change Conference – December 2018.   Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Meetings with the UN Secretary-General UN Secretary-General António Guterres returns to Katowice to lend support for a successful outcome UN Security UN Secretary-General António Guterres with President Andrzej Duda, Poland UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa A bilateral meeting is held between UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President Andrzej Duda, Poland Kevin O'Hanlon, Deputy Chief, Department of Safety and Security, UN (right), with the Polish Police Commissioner UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Mohamed Nasheed, former President of Maldives A meeting held between UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga, Tuvalu, and representatives from Maldives, Grenada, and Marshall Islands Hussain Rasheed Hassan, Minister of Environment and Energy, Maldives; Mohamed Nasheed, former President of Maldives; Simon Stiell, Minister of Climate Resilience, the Environment, Forestry, Fisheries, and Disaster Management and Information, Grenada; and David Paul, Minister of the Environment, Marshall Islands UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa UN Secretary-General António Guterres meets with observer organizations Informal Consultations throughout the Day Delegates huddle informally Majid Shafiepour, Iran, speaks with delegates Miriam Medel García, UNFCCC Secretariat Delegates review the draft text Meetings continue behind closed doors Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, holds a press conference to update delegates about the status of negotiations Civil Society Demonstrations Representatives from the Millennials Energy Delegation in a performance about the relation of man and nature in ancient China and across its eight different dynasties The Fossil of the Day is awarded to the country "blocking progress the most" at COP 24 Members of civil society participate in a 'climate strike' In the largest civil society demonstration at COP 24, hundreds of people gather on the steps, asking delegates 'which side are you on' and saying that they 'stand with people, not polluters' Demonstrators silently march out of the venue, calling for an urgent outcome at COP 24 Around the Venue The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) team covering COP 24: Katie Browne, US; Natalie Jones, New Zealand; Jennifer Bansard, Germany/France; Jen Allan, Canada; Beate Antonich, Germany; Mari Luomi, Finland/UAE; and Kiara Worth, South Africa Delegates from Gabon, South Africa, and Egypt Delegates from Cuba Hayrapet Hakobyan, Armenia UN Security around the venue Laurence Tubiana, CEO, European Climate Foundation Marcela Main Sancha, Secretary to the COP Delegates from Saudi Arabia Delegates from the Pacific region Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs) family photo Delegates from Indonesia wear masks to raise awareness about the plight of orangutans Delegates from South Africa  

As the Talanoa Dialogue draws to a close, Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, thanks Frank Bainimarama, COP 23 President, for bringing the Fijian tradition of Talanoa into the negotiation process,   The Katowice Climate Change Conference continued on Wednesday, with most negotiations happening at the ministerial level. For some issues, ministers conducted open-ended consultations, while for others ministers and delegations engaged in more informal settings. The Presidency’s texts were released in the afternoon for most issues. In the evening, two heads of delegation meetings convened.The Talanoa Dialogue concluded its political phase. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated "it is time for consensus,” and called for “compromise, as our last best chance to stop run-away climate change." He further cautioned, that failing to do so would "not only be immoral, it would be suicidal.” At the conclusion of the Talanoa Dialogue, COP 23 President Frank Bainimarama and COP 24 President Michał Kurtyka launched the Talanoa Call for Action. For more details on the day's events and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB). IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily reports, daily web coverage, and a summary and analysis from the Katowice Climate Change Conference – December 2018. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page High-level Segment Delegates during the high-level segment Wallace Cosgrow, Minister of Environment, Energy, and Climate Change, Seychelles Lina Dolores Pohl Alfaro, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, El Salvador Ricardo José Lozano Picón, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Colombia Mokoto Francis Hloaele, Minister of Energy and Meteorology, Lesotho Simon Stiell, Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment, Forestry, Fisheries, and Disaster Management and Information, Grenada Heryck Rangel, Minister of People's Power for Ecosocialism, Venezuela Informal and Presidency Consultations throughout the Day Presidency's open-ended ministerial consultations on finance Delegates huddle during informal consultations on linkages between the Technology Mechanism and the Financial Mechanism Presidency's open-ended ministerial consultations on transparency Closing of the Talanoa Dialogue Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President Frank Bainimarama, COP 23 President UN Secretary-General António Guterres UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Inia Seruiratu, Minister of Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, and National Disaster Management, Fiji Sławomir Mazurek, Deputy Minister of the Environment, Poland Xiaofeng Guo, China Doris Leuthard, Switzerland Members of NGO constituencies (L-R): Ching Wen Yang, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs); Taily de Faria Marcos Terena, Women and Gender; Mariano Sanz Lubeiro, Trade Union NGOs (TUNGOs); Michael Lazarus, Research and Independent NGOs (RINGOs); Cor Lamers, Local Government and Municipal Authorities (LGMAs); Naw Ei Ei Min, Indigenous Peoples; Bjørn Gimming, Farmers; and Sandeep Chauhan, Business and Industry NGOs (BINGOs) Michael Lazarus, RINGOs Ching Wen Yang, YOUNGOs Taily de Faria Marcos Terena, Women and Gender Sandeep Chauhan, BINGOs The 'People's Seat' is present during the session, representing the millions of stories collected digitally As the Talanoa Dialogue draws to a close Frank Bainimarama, COP 23 President, and Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, stand with Timoci Naulusala, Fiji, and Hanna Wojdowska, Poland, representing the future generations Civil Society Demonstrations Representatives of the Jubilee South Asia Pacific Movement share stories of how climate change impacts food, land, and water in different regions around the world, and call on delegates to include the protection of human rights in the negotiations Representatives of ACT Alliance and Christian Aid call for greater financing for developing countries by staging an interactive game where delegates 'roll the dice' to see what outcomes they can achieve in the negotiations High Ambition Coalition Press Conference Representatives and Ministers hold a press conference to announce the revival of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) to step up ambition David Paul, Minister of the Environment, Marshall Islands, and Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, European Commission A journalist takes notes during the briefing Delegates flood the hallway to enter the event Around the Venue UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa and UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrive in plenary Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, and Todd Stern, World Resources Institute (WRI) Al Gore, Climate Reality Project Derek Hanekom, Minister of Tourism, South Africa Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs, China UN Secretary-General António Guterres Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, Belgium, holds up his '1.5°C' tie during a Climate Action Network (CAN) International press conference Panel speakers during a high-level event (L-R): Ingrid Hoven, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany; Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Netherlands; Emma Howard Boyd, Chair, Environment Agency UK; Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Naoko Ishii, CEO, the Global Environment Facility (GEF); and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Delegates from the African Group Members of the COP 24 Presidency and UNFCCC Secretariat Delegates from the EU Co-facilitators and Secretariat from the informal consultations on transparency Franz Perrez, Switzerland, speaks with members of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) Around the exhibition area  

L-R: Adrian Fenton, Fiji and International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD); Nilesh Prakash, Fiji; Anne Hammill, IISD and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network; Patricia Fuller, Ambassador for Climate Change, Canada; and Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister, Fiji, and COP 23 President The following events were covered by IISD Reporting Services on Wednesday, 12 December 2018: Launch of Fiji’s First National Adaptation Plan Forests First – From 10 Years REDD+ to the Full Scope of Nature-Based Climate Solutions Speeding up the Cooldown: Scaling up Regenerative Solutions to Climate Change Clean and Renewable Energy, and Energy Efficiency Photos by IISD/ENB | Natalia Mroz / Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Launch of Fiji’s First National Adaptation Plan Presented by the Government of Fiji in collaboration with the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network L-R: Adrian Fenton, Fiji and IISD; Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister, Fiji, and COP 23 President; Patricia Fuller, Ambassador for Climate Change, Canada; and Anne Hammill, IISD and NAP Global Network This side event convened to launch and illustrate Fiji’s new NAP, which sets out the country’s long-term ambitions for building the island’s resilience to climate change, and was developed with support from the NAP Global Network. Moderator Ilisapeci Vakacegu, Fiji, opened the event. Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister, Fiji, and COP 23 President, highlighted that the first Fijian NAP encompasses a holistic adaptation strategy with a vision to achieve a climate-resilient development pathway, which enables Fiji to anticipate, reduce, and manage environmental and climate risks caused by climate variability. He underscored the need to address Fiji’s challenges, citing the devastating impact of the 2016 Tropical Cyclone Winston, including through: ensuring a systematic approach in all decision-making processes, with a focus on fisheries, biodiversity and agriculture; strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration; relocating communities threatened by sea level rise; and mobilizing adequate resources for adaptation. Stressing the need to address the root causes of climate change, Bainimarama said that Fiji and the Marshall Islands were the first two nations in the world to commit to increase their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). He concluded by highlighting his hope that this NAP will become an unstoppable force for accelerating climate action in the country and beyond. Patricia Fuller, Ambassador for Climate Change, Canada, said that the country assisted small island developing states (SIDS) and coastal regions combat the impacts of climate change during its G7 Presidency in 2018. She highlighted Canada’s commitment on climate finance totalling CAD 2.65 billion over five years, as a way to increase collective commitment to and actions on climate change in developing countries. She highlighted Canada’s CAD 4 million contribution to the NAP Global Network to help facilitate peer learning and exchange, build capacities of developing countries to implement NAPs, and promote implementation of the Paris Agreement. She added that Canada has also provided CAD 30 million to the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) for adaptation projects, administered by the Green Environment Facility (GEF), and an additional CAD 10 million to support the improvement of early warning systems in some of the most vulnerable communities. Fuller underscored the importance of addressing the health of oceans, saying that oceans play an important role in “regulating” the global climate system. Congratulating Fiji for the launch of their NAP, she called for enhanced continued support for implementing the NAP, which, she said, would be a great input to the Talanoa Dialogue. Anne Hammill, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the NAP Global Network, presented on the importance of the NAP processes as the foundation for transformation, addressing the urgency of acting upon adaptation through driving coordination and scaling up actions. She outlined the NAP Global Network’s work on: facilitating sustained South-South peer learning and exchange; supporting national-level action by providing technical support to countries; enhancing bilateral cooperation; and communications and knowledge production. Noting that more than 116 countries have joined the NAP Global Network and that 31 countries have received direct technical support, Hammill stressed the Network’s crucial role in the NAP development process and its implementation. She concluded by highlighting that Fiji’s ambition to develop its NAP demonstrates how countries can move from vision to defining priorities on adaptation. Adrian Fenton, Fiji and IISD, stressed that the NAP document was developed through extensive consultation with Fijians, and reflects their priorities for adaptation action that will preserve Fiji’s society, economy, and way of life. He outlined its five priorities on: climate change management; horizontal integration; vertical integration; climate change awareness and knowledge; and resource mobilization. He also described the NAP development process, which involved multi-stakeholder consultations in Fiji, facilitated identification of adaptation challenges in local communities, and gaining common understanding among stakeholders that adaptation entails ensuring the resilience of communities. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the NAP becomes a catalogue for all climate actions contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the ensuing discussion, panelists, responding to a question about the important linkages of the Fiji’s NAP with other areas such as desertification, explained that relevant international frameworks, such as the Sendal Framework for Disaster Risk Management and Biodiversity Action Plans, are already integrated into Fiji’s NAP. In concluding remarks, Shivanal Kumar, Fiji, thanked all partners for their contribution to the successful launch of Fiji’s NAP, and called for further support to deliver its effective implementation. Frank Bainimarama, COP23 President and Prime Minister, Fiji Patricia Fuller, Ambassador for Climate Change, Canada Anne Hammill, IISD and NAP Global Network Adrian Fenton, Fiji and IISD Moderator Ilisapeci Vakacegu, Fiji Shivanal Kumar, Fiji A participant takes a photo Participants listen to the presentations Participants at the event CONTACTS Ziona Eyob, IISD | zeyob@iisd.ca MORE INFORMATION http://www.napglobalnetwork.org/ Forests First – From 10 Years of REDD+ to the Full Scope of Nature-Based Climate Solutions Presented by the UN-REDD Programme Posted by IISD Reporting Services on Thursday, 13 December 2018 The side event presented forests as the leading front in nature-based climate solutions, building on 10 years of wide-ranging work around REDD+. Informed by the expertise of practitioners in a variety of fields, the event highlighted partnerships for transformative policy reform, innovative financial instruments, and emerging technologies that contribute to forest conservation and restoration. Mario Boccucci, Head, UN-REDD Programme Secretariat, moderated the event. Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), noted that forests constitute the most powerful and cost-effective solution to climate change, stressing that in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, actions to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity at the community level must be accelerated and scaled up. She mentioned that one quarter of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions comes from land use, highlighting its capacity to be part of the solution through carbon sequestration. Semedo underscored that halting deforestation and fostering sustainable management of forests is important for meeting SDGs 13 (climate action) and 15 (life on land), and stressed the importance of sharing information and experiences, innovations in technology and finance, and partnership, and called for unlocking the potential for nature-based climate solutions sooner rather than later. Fabiola Muñoz Dodero, Minister of Environment, Peru, noted that REDD+ puts the focus on the important values that forests provide for people and systems, and brings civil society, indigenous peoples and other relevant stakeholders together to work towards a common goal. She highlighted that REDD+ projects have helped Peru finalize their process of land titling for indigenous peoples. She highlighted that in Peru’s climate agenda, forests take up half of the discussions and underscored that managing forests creates shared value for the people, especially to communities involved in its management. She noted that sustainable investment is needed, and expressed her hope that forests can be a central part of political discussions in the coming years in Peru. Sveinung Rotevatn, Deputy Minister for Climate and Environment, Norway, stressed that there is no solution to climate change without improving the way forests and land are used, pointing to an opportunity to reduce GHG emissions across all landscapes. He noted that the technologies for protecting forests are known and cost-effective but need to be scaled up through enhanced public policies, land regulations and fiscal incentives. He stressed the need for global agrobusiness to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains and the need to keep governments and businesses accountable. David Saah, Associate Professor and Director of Geospatial Analysis Lab, University of San Francisco, noted that the challenges related to the collection of forest and land-use data include image resolution from satellites, getting field access, and the mapping of complex environments. He noted that with new technologies, these challenges can be tackled by analyzing remote sensing data from one location by one person. He explained that the accessibility of data has been increased and introduced the Collect Earth Online platform, which allows to better capture forest inventories, collect transparent reference data, create land cover maps, and summarize and distribute those data. Roselyn Fosuah Adjeh, Ag. Director Climate Change Directorate at Forestry Commission, Ghana, talked about South-South cooperation and shared experiences with other countries in Africa, stating that Ghana has had successes through learning experiences. She noted that these partnerships have helped them build a national forest monitoring system, and strengthen political will. She gave an example of lessons learned from Sudan’s progress in putting in place structures to enhance the gum arabic value chain and highlighted Ghana’s commitment to produce a win-win scenario, where the production of cocoa is intensified while keeping the forests healthy by addressing land-use planning at the subnational level and raising the profile of farmers. Pierre Rousseau, Senior Strategic Advisor for Sustainable Business, BNP Paribas Bank, introduced the Tropical Landscape Finance Facility, based on a cooperation between BNP Paribas and UN Environment, which helps Indonesia promote economic development and contribute to the country’s climate targets under the Paris Agreement. It does this by offering long-term finance to projects and companies that stimulate green growth, increase resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He noted that the purpose of the Facility is to improve livelihoods based on deforestation-free, economically-viable business models. He said that in terms of collaborative financing, bringing all actors together is a challenge. He explained that long-term investors are interested in the project because it helps them manage risk, and that blended finance can upgrade the rating of bonds up to AAA status and sell it to funds. He also highlighted the Sustainable India Finance Facility, wich supports the Zero Budget Natural Farming project in Andhra Pradesh where six million farmers are moving to zero fertilizer use, and stressed the need for good data in this regard. He concluded pointing to a pipeline of USD 15 billion of projects and said financing can reallocate money to the appropriate project. In the ensuing discussion, panelists responded to questions on traditional knowledge being an important component of the discussions, the costs of information and data, the sustainability of technologies, and capacity building. One panelist noted that there are no personal costs involved in data usage since data is provided for free, with the expectation that it will be used for the greater good. In concluding remarks, Boccucci noted that now is time to turn ambitions into actions incrementally, and that radical transformation at scale is urgent. Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, FAO Fabiola Muñoz Dodero, Minister of Environment, Peru Moderator Mario Boccucci, Head, UN-REDD Programme Secretariat Speakers listen to introductory remarks Sveinung Rotevatn, Ministry of Climate and Environment, Norway L-R: Mario Boccuci, Head, UN-REDD Programme Secretariat; Roselyn Fosuah Adjeh, Ag. Director Climate Change Directorate at Forestry Commission, Ghana; Pierre Rousseau, Senior Strategic Advisor for Sustainable Business, BNP Paribas Bank; David Saah, Associate Professor and Director of Geospatial Analysis Lab, University of San Francisco David Saah, Associate Professor and Director of Geospatial Analysis Lab, University of San Francisco Roselyn Fosuah Adjeh, Ag. Director Climate Change Directorate at Forestry Commission, Ghana Pierre Rousseau, Senior Strategic Advisor for Sustainable Business, BNP Paribas Bank A participant takes notes at the event Participants pose questions Pierre Rousseau, Senior Strategic Advisor for Sustainable Business, BNP Paribas Bank; David Saah, Associate Professor and Director of Geospatial Analysis Lab, University of San Francisco CONTACTS Florian Eisele, UN-REDD | florian.eisele@un.org MORE INFORMATION http://www.un-redd.org/ Speeding up the Cooldown: Scaling up Regenerative Solutions to Climate Change Presented by Biovision, IFOAM-Organics International, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), Regeneration International and Shumei International L-R: Hans Herren, President, Biovision Foundation, Switzerland; Mercedes López Martinez, Director, Vía Orgánica, Mexico; Moderator Precious Phiri, Founding Director, EarthWisdom Consulting Co., Zimbabwe; André Leu, International Director, Regeneration International, Australia; Barbara Hachipuka Banda, Founder and Director, Natural Agriculture Development Programme, Zambia; and Shamika Mone, Treasurer, Organic Farming Association of India (OFAI) This event focused on showcasing concrete “shovel-ready” solutions and frameworks to accelerate carbon sequestration, food sovereignty and biodiversity preservation. Panelists discussed efforts to scale up agroecology, consumer campaigns, true cost accounting and policy change to create resilient communities and ecosystems. Precious Phiri, Founding Director, EarthWisdom Consulting Co., Zimbabwe, moderated the event, noting that the solution to climate change lies in collective action. Shamika Mone, Treasurer, OFAI, said that India views climate change as a Western problem, but stressed that science points to global anthropogenic climate change. She underscored that the awareness in the country needs to be raised to ensure that people link climate change with food insecurity, water shortages, and relocations due to sea-level rise in coastal communities. Pointing to chronic drought in more than 100 districts and related farmer suicides, she drew attention to a water conservation “peoples’ movement” to address water shortages, and called attention to the role of rice paddies in controlling temperature. She highlighted the reintroduction of traditional rice varieties, noting that local governments are providing funding to small scale farmers to return to traditional organic paddy farming, with climate co-benefits. André Leu, International Director, Regeneration International, Australia, explained the urgency of climate change in the agriculture sector, stressing that at 1°C of warming, the earth is already experiencing unprecedented heat waves and flooding events. He underscored that the soil is the second largest CO2 reservoir after the ocean, and underlined the need to sequester 17Gt of carbon per year. He described pasture cropping, which increases soil nutrients while also sequestering 80Gt of carbon per year. He also highlighted Biologically Enhanced Agricultural Management (BEAM) which can be applied at any level of agriculture and has high sequestration potential; and drew attention to regenerative or holistic grazing, noting that all these agricultural practices would reverse climate change. Mercedes López Martinez, Director, Vía Orgánica, Mexico, noted the there is no civilization without migration, but highlighting that current migration is also due to climate impacts, which have an impact on food security, poverty, and unemployment. She shared experiences of aligning migration with regeneration practices, noting that these projects employ migrants in agroecological projects in the Chiapas region and elsewhere, noting that these traditional agricultural practices are organic and sustainable. She highlighted regenerative projects that are replicable, as they generate income, and offer social regeneration by strengthening the community fabric. Stating that the African farmer is overlooked, Barbara Hachipuka Banda, Founder and Director, Natural Agriculture Development Programme, Zambia, she stressed the need for more investment in agriculture. She shared that there was a lack of access to farming inputs and that women were excluded from the development conversations before her organization partnered with Shumei International, and highlighted partnerships with Regeneration International to enhance climate co-benefits, as well as address poverty and hunger. Noting that many times there is a lack of community ownership, she stressed that the “community is the project” and is the change factor in the whole climate change-agriculture equation. She described the no-cost farming initiative servicing over 5000 farmers in Zambia, the Gambia and Malawi, that encourages natural agriculture methods including mulching, land management, and utilizing cooperative models to enhance market access. She said drawing down carbon needs to be based on the partnerships and infrastructure support to push the initiative to scale and really make a difference. Hans Herren, President, Biovision Foundation, Switzerland, discussed success factors for implementation, noting the need for momentum to drive the positive changes we hear about. He highlighted the Push-Pull Technology which reintroduces ecosystem services that have been replaced by machines. Stressing that the soil is a solution to the raising temperatures as well as food security, he said that once the soil is healthy the land becomes more resilient to drought and flooding. Outlining success factors for upscaling change in the climate-agriculture sphere, he called for: an inclusive process, which is needs-driven and multi-stakeholder in nature; long-term programmes as opposed to short-term projects, which points to a need for transformation policy; and partnerships among NGOs that pool resources together to implement common goals of food security. He stressed that agriculture and food systems are the key to achieving climate change goals, but lamented that the UNFCCC process will take years to get “just the paperwork in order” and called for a paradigm shift in our approach to climate change, by connecting Nationally Determined Contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals. In the discussion, participants, inter alia, queried the role of corporations in regenerative practices; called for information on how to measure farmers’ contribution to carbon sequestration; and highlighted the need for value-chain fairness to ensure farmers get a fair price. L-R: Moderator Precious Phiri, Founding Director, EarthWisdom Consulting Co., Zimbabwe; Shamika Mone, Treasurer, OFAI; Mercedes López Martinez, Director, Vía Orgánica, Mexico; Barbara Hachipuka Banda, Founder and Director, Natural Agriculture Development Programme, Zambia; Hans Herren, President, Biovision Foundation, Switzerland; and André Leu, International Director, Regeneration International, Australia Moderator Precious Phiri, Founding Director, EarthWisdom Consulting Co., Zimbabwe Shamika Mone, Treasurer, OFAI Mercedes López Martinez, Director, Vía Orgánica, Mexico André Leu, International Director, Regeneration International, Australia Barbara Hachipuka Banda, Founder and Director, Natural Agriculture Development Programme, Zambia Hans Herren, President, Biovision Foundation, Switzerland Daniele Cesano, Global Climate Action Florence Reed, Sustainable Harvest International Participants listen to Barbara Hachipuka Banda’s address CONTACT Brianne Chai-Onn | chaionnb@shumei-international.org MORE INFORMATION https://attend-emea.broadcast.skype.com/en-US/2a6c12ad-406a-4f33-b686-f78ff5822208/3e5459a4-610c-4420-a53c-ce44effe1b35/player?cid=4sqxjsfjgrivvxbtjegevc7zgfptvtdftp57eldaqu7an52ajsoq&rid=EMEA (click on join the event) http://shumei-international.org/speed-up-the-cool-down-scaling-up-regenerative-solutions-to-climate-change/ http://www.biovision.ch http://www.shumei-international.org http://www.ifoam.org http://www.regenerationinternational.org Clean and Renewable Energy, and Energy Efficiency Presented by the State of Qatar A family photo of the Qatar delegation This event concerned the impacts of climate change in Qatar as well as various efforts which have been made by state and private partners to drive a transition towards renewable energy and energy efficiency across the country, given that, at present, Qatar maintains oil and gas as significant presences in its energy mix. Mohammed Al-Bader, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar, moderated the event.  Veronica Bermudez, Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), presented on the potential effects of climate change on energy security in Qatar, as well as the research and development initiatives which have worked to mitigate negative impacts. Qatar, she noted, has a large energy sector, primarily concerned with oil and gas and noted the importance of reducing the country’s dependence on thermally-generated electric power by developing a clean energy portfolio. In particular, she described solar photovoltaics (PV) as a viable solution to this challenge, given that the country-level profiles of energy consumption are well-suited to the supply of solar power theoretically available. Raising the country’s target for 20% PV adoption by 2030, she said that water desalinization is a significant driver of energy demand in Qatar, and that any low-carbon energy pathway needs to account for its presence. Abdul Aziz Al-Hammadi, Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA), presented on the theoretical demand for solar energy use in the Qatari energy mix. He mentioned that renewables’ presence has risen rapidly in the global energy landscape, and that solar PV will be more competitive and reach grid parity by 2030; meanwhile, fossil fuels will then no longer be profitable because of increased social and technical costs. He outlined Qatar’s commitments to: diversify its energy sources; decrease its dependency on natural gas; and lower its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. He also described the construction of a mega solar plant near Al-Kharsaa, which is projected to have a capacity of 700 MW by 2022. Al-Hammadi also described the issuance of a renewable energy policy, which will include feed-in tariffs for private citizens, and concluded by mentioning Qatar’s continued commitment to the creation of a renewable energy portfolio which can satisfy the needs of its citizens. Maksymilian Kochanski, Research and Innovation Centre Pro-Akademia, Poland, reported back on the results of a research project concerning smart cities and behavioural changes as efforts to generate energy efficiency. He said that the “Step By Step” project was a pan-European project to encourage energy conservation behaviours by presenting homeowners with data about what practices their neighbours were adopting to reduce their energy use, thereby creating social pressure to adopt energy-efficient practices. The study found that after one year, one-third of commitments towards these practices were still being upheld. He explained the theory of social “nudges,” where behavioral change can be achieved not by imposing rules, but merely by informing citizens of the impacts of their actions and how they stand in comparison to their neighbours. The project concluded that: adopting energy-efficient home practices did make a significant difference in energy-related bills; increased knowledge in the community; avoided CO2 emissions; and lowered costs related to morbidity which would have occurred from the additional pollution. In other words, he explained, "it is possible to get a real decrease in energy consumption by using social pressure to put energy efficiency first." Abdulhadi Nasser Almarri, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar, gave a presentation which explored recent efforts on the governmental level related to climate change adaptation and mitigation. He began by presenting Qatar’s National Climate Policy, detailing its objectives to: diversify economic pathways; reduce GHG emissions; create a new, dedicated department on climate change; and raise public awareness. He listed different adaptation measures being considered, including: greening and landscaping efforts; building wastewater treatment infrastructure; and increased coastal zone management efforts. He also described Qatar’s recent mitigation efforts, including: reducing gas flaring during extraction processes; an increased focus on renewable energy production; energy efficiency and reduction efforts; and carbon capture and sequestration efforts. Almarri concluded by presenting Qatar’s Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement, highlighting its vision to “achieve socio-economic development with the basis of social justice and balanced cooperation between private and public activity.”  In Q&A sessions throughout the event, panelists answered questions about: other oil-producing countries’ CO2 emissions; the dynamics of water desalinization and electricity production; whether solar PV production fits to supply Qatar’s energy demands; technical specifications of solar farms; the factors which can influence energy demand; and the necessary transition measures between high- and low-carbon energy systems. L-R: Veronica Bermudez, QEERI; Abdulhadi Nasser Almarri and Ahmed Mohammad Al Sada, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar; Abdul Aziz Al-Hammadi, KAHRAMAA; and Maksymilian Kochanski, Research and Innovation Centre Pro-Akademia Moderator Mohammed Al-Bader, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar Veronica Bermudez, QEERI Mohcine Bakhat, Morocco Abdul Aziz Al-Hammadi, KAHRAMAA Justice Zvaita, Zimbabwe Maksymilian Kochanski, Research and Innovation Centre Pro-Akademia Khalid Ahmed Abdelhafez, Sudan Abdulhadi Nasser Almarri, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar Panelists and participants during the event Panelists receive tokens of appreciation from Ahmed Mohammad Al Sada. Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar Participants from Sudan during the discussion A bird’s eye view of the Qatar pavilion during the event CONTACTS Mohammed Al-Bader | mobader@mme.gov.qa MORE INFORMATION http://www.mme.gov.qa/cui/index.dox?siteID=2 Around the Venue

Highlights for Tuesday, 11 December 2018 Members of the African Group consult informally between sessions Posted by IISD Reporting Services on Wednesday, 12 December 2018 The Katowice Climate Change Conference continued on Tuesday, opening with the political phase of the Talanoa Dialogue. It met throughout the day in 21 ministerial roundtables, to share stories that could help raise climate ambition.The Presidency continued to convene consultations on issues central to the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP), including: Mitigation/nationally determined contributions (NDCs); Adaptation; Global stocktake; Technology; Agreement Article 6 (cooperative approaches); Implementation and compliance committee; and Response measures. In the evening, COP 24 President Michał Kurtyka convened a stocktaking where he reported “insufficient progress.” With only three days of negotiations left, he appointed ministers to consult with parties to reach consensus on the outstanding issues. For more details on the day's events and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB). IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily reports, daily web coverage, and a summary and analysis from the Katowice Climate Change Conference – December 2018. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Talanoa Dialogue Opening Meeting View of the dais during the opening meeting of the Talanoa Dialogue Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Frank Bainimarama, COP 23 President IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee Laurent Fabius, COP 21 President Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, COP 20 President Delegates during the session Henryk Kowalczyk, Minister of the Environment, Poland Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Indigenous Peoples Ragna Árnadóttir, Landsvirkjun, Iceland Inia Seruiratu, Minister of Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, and National Disaster Management, and High-level Climate Champion, Fiji Ministers participate in high-level 'Talanoas' throughout the day Presidency Consultations throughout the Day Presidency consultations on technology Presidency consultations on compliance and implementation Presidency consultations on Agreement Article 6 (cooperative approaches) Family photo of negotiators working on the transparency framework Presidency's Stocktaking View of the dais during the stocktaking Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, and Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia Paul Watkinson, France Emmanuel Dlamini, eSwatini Yassmin Abdelaziz, Minister of Environment, Egypt Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety, Germany Gender Day High-level Event Martin Frick, UNFCCC Secretariat Princess Abze Djigme, Burkina Faso Teresa Ribera, Minister for the Ecological Transition, Spain, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa stands with the winners of the UN Climate Action Award Materials on display around the venue discussing gender related issues APA Co-Chairs' Dialogue with Observer Organizations Delegates during the dialogue Moderator Lina Dabbagh, Climate Action Network (CAN) International APA Co-Chairs Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, and Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia Hwei Mian Lim, Women and Gender Christian Holz, CAN International Presidency's Briefing to Observer Organizations Delegates during the session Artur Lorkowski, COP 24 Presidency Moderator Yunus Arikan, Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMAs) Tracy Bach, Research and Independent NGOs (RINGOs) Keyon Rostamnezhad, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs) Civil Society Demonstrations Members of the Indigenous Peoples constituency advocate for the rights of indigenous people to be respected and included in the 'Paris Agreement Rulebook' Youth from Easter Island perform a traditional dance to remind delegates of the important role that youth and indigenous people play in addressing climate change Members of Plant-for-the-Planet hand out chocolates to give delegates energy for the long negotiations Around the Venue UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa speaks with Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, European Commission A delegate poses for a photo with Frank Bainimarama, COP 23 President Members of the IPCC and the COP 23 Presidency Rachel Kyte, Special Representative of UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll), speaks with a delegate Laurent Fabius, COP 21 President, speaks with IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa speaks with Frank Bainimarama, COP 23 President Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Indigenous Peoples Catherine Stewart, Canada Delegates meeting informally Delegates between sessions Aerial views of the Earth

The following event were covered by IISD Reporting Services on Tuesday, 11 December 2018: Transformational Changes Required for a 1.5ºC World City Champions from Asia: China-Japan-Korea Joint Climate Research Initiative towards Zero Carbon Photos by IISD/ENB | Natalia Mroz / Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Transformational Changes Required for a 1.5ºC World Presented by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) L-R: Bernhard Stormyr, Yara International; Raphaël Edou, Deputy-Mayor, Cotonou, Benin, and Former Minister of Environment, Benin; Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF; Johan Rockström, Stockholm Resilience Centre and Stockholm University; and Moderator Jeremy Oppenheim, SYSTEMIQ The side event presented on what is needed for landscapes and cities to be compatible with the 1.5ºC goal. Panelists presented their visions of the systemic transformations compatible with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Jeremy Oppenheim, SYSTEMIQ, moderated the event. Naoko Ishii, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson, GEF, underscored the importance of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5ºC (SR15), stressing that transformation is needed in all aspects of society. She noted that humans have become the dominant economic forces putting pressure on ecological systems to a breaking point. Elmar Kriegler, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, presented on the key findings of the IPCC SR15, noting that the transition across all sectors in limiting warming to 1.5ºC is being done at an unprecedented scale that involves behavioral change and new technologies. He highlighted that no single successful pathway exists to reaching the 1.5ºC goal and urged embedding transformational change in the sustainable development agenda to make it politically acceptable and incentivize it. Fabiola Muñoz, Minister of the Environment, Peru, highlighted the need for vulnerable countries to develop synergies and expand their collaboration with NGOs, indigenous peoples and the private sector. She stressed that decision making has to become more efficient and faster through open dialogue with stakeholders.                Johan Rockström, Stockholm Resilience Centre and Stockholm University, highlighted that, according to scientific evidence, resilience is crucial. He stressed that tipping points are a reality and the need to define planetary boundaries. He noted that a transformation will become a reality if civil society and business coordinate in a constructive way. He also emphasized the need for planetary stewardship, highlighting the efforts of some countries to decouple economic growth from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adopt a price for carbon. Raphaël Edou, Deputy-Mayor, Cotonou, Benin, stated that the municipality of Cotonou has designed a climate action plan for the city to tackle climate change, including mitigation and adaptation, with a wide range of stakeholders involved in its implementation. He noted that close collaboration with the private sector is needed and said an integrated approach was the best way to address the issue. Bernhard Stormyr, Yara International, noted that humans are “chewing away” at natural resources and expressed the need to work towards a vision of healthy people on a healthy planet. He noted that his organization has developed precision farming technologies that support farmers by reducing the amount of fertilizer while increasing yields, and urged for changing the business logic on how farmers are incentivized. Moderator Oppenheim highlighted that people need to understand the implications of their consumption patterns, and urged the creation of real ownership of work plans in communities by local populations. In the ensuing discussion, panelists responded to questions on: the viability of spreading regenerative agroecology practices to mitigate climate change; the role of the scientific community in propagating information to the policy community; incentives for sequestering carbon in agriculture; and the configuration of urban development for sustainable cities. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF Moderator Jeremy Oppenheim, SYSTEMIQ Fabiola Muñoz, Minister of the Environment, Peru Elmar Kriegler, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Bernhard Stormyr, Yara International Johan Rockström, Stockholm Resilience Centre and Stockholm University A participant asks a question to the panel Raphaël Edou, Deputy-Mayor, Cotonou, Benin, and Former Minister of Environment, Benin A view of the room during the event CONTACT Christian Hofer, GEF | chofer@thegef.org MORE INFORMATION https://www.thegef.org/ City Champions from Asia: China-Japan-Korea Joint Climate Research Initiative towards Zero Carbon Presented by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) and National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), in collaboration with the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC), Korea Environment Institute (KEI), Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China (MEE), Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ), and Ministry of Environment, Korea (MOEK) Launch of the joint report on local governments’ climate actions towards decarbonization and sustainable development: L-R: Moderator Junichi Fujino, IGES; Sang-In Kang, KEI; Yang Xiu, NCSC; Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs, China; Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President, IGES; and Xu Huaqing, Director-General, NCSC The event, moderated by Junichi Fujino, IGES, illustrated a joint research initiative between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea on decarbonization and sustainable development in cities across the three countries, including efforts to support low carbon and sustainable development in other Asian cities, such as Iskandar, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President, IGES, stressing the role of cities in taking practical actions to reduce CO2 emissions, said that the event highlights best practices in cities from China, Republic of Korea, Malaysia and Japan. Xu Huaqing, Director-General, NCSC, noting the need for cities to set more ambitious emissions targets, said that the Chinese government supports low-carbon energy systems and sustainable lifestyles in more than 80 cities. Frank Rijsberman, Director-General, GGGI, said that climate change is a key driver for most Asian cities moving towards sustainable energy use, finding solutions on air pollution and sustainable lifestyle, and contributing to a circular economy. Moderator Junichi Fujino, IGES, announced the launch of two joint reports, including cases studies, on local governments’ climate actions towards decarbonization and sustainable development. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President, IGES, citing the inclusion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Japan’s new Fifth Basic Environment Plan, stressed the concept of a regional, circular and ecological sphere that helps integrate social, environmental and economic approaches. Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs, China, noted the recent progress in China’s efforts on low-carbon technology and circular economy, said that the future of the China-Japan-Korea environmental collaboration will be “more pragmatic and effective,” and suggested joint work on carbon pricing and low-carbon technologies. Yang Xiu, NCSC, said the NCSC helps cities achieve a low-carbon transition through policy guidance, building platforms for knowledge change, and supporting projects, citing pilot projects in Wuhan, Zhenjiang and Shenzhen. Sang-In Kang, KEI, said that 72% of non-industrial GHG emission reductions are under the authority of local governments in Korea, and highlighted efforts in advancing low-carbon science and technology in Gwangju Metropolitan City, Suwon City and Jeju Province. A second panel, moderated by Ho Chin Siong, UTM, shared various urban climate strategies and actions towards decarbonization, introduced by: Datuk Hj. Mahadi bin Che Ngah, Executive Director of Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Malaysia; Dato’ Omairi bin Hashim, Senior Vice President of Putrajaya Corporation, Malaysia; Yeom Tae-young, Mayor of Suwon City, Republic of Korea; Jiang Kejun, Energy Research Institute (ERI); Eri Nakajima, Vice Governor of Nagano Prefecture, Japan; and Toshiyuki Yamazoe, Toyama City, Japan. In his concluding remarks, Yoshiaki Harada, Minister of the Environment, Japan, stressed the important role of cities in decarbonization, noting that the three countries are doing their best to accelerate the region’s efforts to move from vision to action. Cho Myung-rae, Minister of the Environment, Republic of Korea, concluded by calling for this joint research project among three countries to lead collaborative efforts on environmental cooperation as a whole. Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs, China Xu Huaqing, Director-General, NCSC Yang Xiu, NCSC, and Frank Rijsberman, Director-General, GGGI Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President, IGES Launch of the joint report: L-R: Moderator Junichi Fujino, IGES; Sang-In Kang, KEI; Yang Xiu, NCSC; Frank Rijsberman, Director-General, GGGI; Xu Huaqing, Director-General, NCSC; and Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President, IGES Participants listen to Xie Zhenhua’s address CONTACT Junichi Fujino, IGES | fujino@iges.or.jp Loon Wai Chau, UTM | lwchau@utm.my MORE INFORMATION https://www.iges.or.jp/en/index.html http://www.utm.my/ Around the Venue