Non-state Coalition
NGOs
Content associated with NGOs
Summary report 14 November 2017
9th High Level Assembly of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC)
Highlights and images for 14 November 2017
Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference - November 2017
The Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference continued on Monday. Contact groups and informal consultations under the Conference of the Parties (COP), Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), and Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) met in the morning and afternoon. In the evening, the APA contact group met to consider all its substantive agenda items, and the closing plenaries of the SBI and SBSTA met, adopting several conclusions and decisions.
IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has providing daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference 2017. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page.
Informal Consultations throughout the Day
SBI informal consultations on the review of the functions of the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF)
Informal consultations on further guidance in relation to adaptation communication (APA agenda item 4)
Delegates huddle during informal consultations on matters relating to the global stocktake (APA agenda item 6)
Informal consultations on further matters except the Adaptation Fund (APA agenda item 8)
Civil Society Actions throughout the Day
Members of the Indigenous Peoples constituency hold a demonstration to "reclaim a space for indigenous peoples and protest their continued marginalization" in the negotiations
Representatives of ACT Alliance hand out chocolate coins, promoting the need for climate finance for adaptation
Representatives of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service demonstrate against the use of nuclear energy, saying it is not a solution to combating climate change
Representatives of CARE International hand out "care packages" that serve as "sweet policy recommendations"
Representatives of The Big Shift Global protest against the financing of fossil fuels, offering delegates the chance to put chocolate coins into either a green piggy bank representing green energy, or a brown piggy bank representing fossil fuels
Representatives of the Women and Gender constituency hold a tribute to honor women who have faced repression, persecution, threats, intimidation, violence, and even murder, in pursuit of the protection of human rights and the environment
APA Contact Group
Members of the Secretariat hand out the draft APA conclusions
Delegates from Costa Rica and Argentina
Delegates from Switzerland and Georgia
Delegates read the draft APA conclusions
APA Co-Chairs Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia, and Jo Tyndall, New Zealand
Sin Liang Cheah, Singapore, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 3 - mitigation section
Pieter Terpstra, Netherlands, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 8 - further matters, Adaptation Fund
Xiang Gao, China, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 5 - transparency framework
Julio Cordano, Chile, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 4 - adaptation communication
Peter Horne, Australia, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 7 - committee to facilitate implementation and promote compliance
Outi Honkatukia, Finland, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 6 - global stocktake
SBI and SBSTA Closing Plenaries
View of the dais during the SBI and SBSTA joint closing plenary
SBSTA Chair Carlos Fuller, Belize
Sidat Yaffa, The Gambia
SBI Chair Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland
Marianne Karlsen, Norway
Hamdhoon Mohamed, Maldives, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)
Adão Soares Barbosa, Timor-Leste
Patricia Soares Leite, Brazil
Elizabeth Pirth, Research and Independent NGOs (RINGOs)
Mathias Edetor, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs)
Jisun Hwang, Local Government and Municipal Authorities (LGMA)
Bjørn Gimming, Farmers
Ndivile Colia Mokoena, Women and Gender
Krishneil Narayan, Climate Action Network (CAN), and Tetet Nera Lauron, Climate Justice Now! (CJN!)
SBI Chair Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland; Katia Simeonova, UNFCCC Secretariat; SBSTA Chair Carlos Fuller, Belize; Wanna Tanunchaiwatana, SBSTA Coordinator; and Hanna Hoffmann, UNFCCC Secretariat
Around the Venue
Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean
Horacio Peluffo, UNFCCC Secretariat, speaks with a delegate
Delegates from the EU
Emmanuel Dumisani Dlamini, Swaziland
UN Security around the venue
Delegates from Argentina
SBSTA Chair Carlos Fuller, Belize (left) with members of the UNFCCC Secretariat
Delegates between sessions
Summary report 11 November 2017
Oceans Action Day
Highlights and images for 10 November 2017
Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference - November 2017
The Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference continued on Friday. In the morning, the facilitative sharing of views convened, followed by the multilateral assessment in the afternoon. Contact groups and informal consultations under the Conference of the Parties (COP), Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP), Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), and Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA), met throughout the day.
IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has providing daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference 2017. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page.
Informal Consultations throughout the Day
Informal consultations on APA agenda item 7, modalities and procedures for the committee to facilitate implementation and promote compliance
APA informal consultations on item 6, global stocktake
Informal consultations on the joint annual report of the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN)
Informal consultations on national adaptation plans (NAPs)
SBSTA informal consultations on the local communities and indigenous peoples platform
Informal consultations on APA agenda item 4, further guidance on adaptation communication
SBI Facilitative Sharing of Views and the Multilateral Assessment
SBI Chair Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland, chaired the session
Andrei Pilipchuk, Belarus
María Victoria Chiriboga, Ecuador
Diana Harutyunyan, Armenia
Jaivardhan Ramanlal Bhatt, India
Rehab Ahmed Hassan Ahmed, Sudan
Ricardo Fernandez, EU
Xing Fan, China
APA Co-Chairs' Dialogue with Observer Organizations
View of the dais during the session
APA Co-Chairs Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, and Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia
Nathan Thanki, Climate Justice Now! (CJN!), Environmental NGOs (ENGOs)
Kalyani Raj, Women and Gender
Chih Chie Sung, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs)
Majda Dabaghi, Business and Industry NGOs (BINGOs)
Li Shuo, Climate Action Network (CAN), ENGOs
Anabella Rosemberg, Trade Union NGOs (TUNGOs)
Bjørg Vårli Håland, YOUNGOs
Around the Venue
Delegates between sessions
Stella Gama, Malawi, speaks with Benito Müller, Oxford Climate Policy
A young delegate in the venue
Delegates from Europe
Delegates from the Arab world
Delegates gather between sessions
Ismail El Gizouli, Sudan
Interviews conducted in the venue
Delegates speak informally
UN Security around the venue
Milañ Loeak, Marshall Islands
In the park between the Bula and Bonn Zones, an art installation titled 'Unbearable' depicts the climate crisis, including a 'freedom to pollute' sculpture of the US Statue of Liberty, and bronze sculptures of climate refugees
Highlights and images for 8 November 2017
Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference - November 2017
The Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference continued on Wednesday. In the morning, the Presidency convened an open dialogue among NGO constituency representatives and parties, and a technical workshop on ways to increase the efficiency and transparency of the budget process met. Informal consultations under the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), and the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) throughout the day.
IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has providing daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference 2017. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page.
The Presidency's Open Dialogue between UNFCCC NGO Constituency Representatives and Parties
View of the dais during the session
Frank Bainimarama, COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1-2 President
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa
Lucas Di Pietro, Argentina
Anabella Rosemberg, Trade Union NGOs (TUNGOs)
Archie Young, UK
Ceris Jones, Farmers
Juan Carlos Arredondo Brun, Mexico
Yungratna Srivastava, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs)
Deo Saran, Fiji
Facilitators Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, Fiji, and Benito Müller, Oxford Climate Policy
Brendina Drollet, Cook Islands
Paul Oquist Kelley, Nicaragua
Yunus Arikan, Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMAs)
Shradha Shreejaya, Women and Gender
Naoyuki Yamagishi, Environmental NGOs (ENGOs)
View of the room during the session
Contact Groups and Informal Consultations throughout the Day
Informal consultations on APA agenda item 3, further guidance in relation to the mitigation section of the Paris outcome
Delegates gather for the informal consultations on APA agenda item 7, modalities and procedures for the committee to facilitate implementation and promote compliance
SBI informal consultations on coordination of support for the implementation of activities in relation to mitigation actions in the forest sector by developing countries
Informal consultations on APA agenda item 4, further guidance on adaptation communication
SBSTA informal consultations on local communities and indigenous peoples platform
Informal consultations on APA agenda item 6, matters relating to the global stocktake
Civil Society Action
Members of civil society demonstrate outside the conference area
Around the Venue
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa, and Nazhat Shameem Khan, COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1-2 Presidency
Frank Bainimarama, COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1-2 President, and Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, Fiji
Lorena Aguilar, Costa Rica (centre)
Hoesung Lee, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Chair (centre)
Kava, a traditional Fijian drink, is available at the venue
ENBOTS selected side events coverage for 8 November 2017
Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference - November 2017
The following events were covered by IISD Reporting Services on Wednesday, 8 November 2017:
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Addressing Marine and Coastal Zone Management in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Implementation in Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Linking Mitigation and Adaptation Efforts for Sustainable Development
Integrated Observations for Mitigation and Adaptation & Practical Support to Parties
Climate-related Human Mobility: Connecting the Dots to Implement the Paris Agreement
Forests Country Showcase
Slow Onset Impacts, Fast Action: Multisectoral Responses to Climate Change
Addressing Uncertainties in Estimating GHG Emissions and Removals in the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses (AFOLU) Sector to Strengthen Land Management Impacts
5 Years of Experiences Gained from the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM): Lessons Learned and Way Forward
IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) Meeting Coverage, will provide daily web coverage from selected side events at the UN Climate Change Conference - November 2017.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Ángeles Estrada and Herman Njoroge Chege
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Addressing Marine and Coastal Zone Management in the Red Sea and Arabian GulfPresented by the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA)
This session, moderated by Ziad Abu Ghararah, Secretary General, PERSGA, showcased national-regional collaborative efforts for applying ecosystem approaches in the implementation of NDCs. Participants considered examples of marine and coastal zone management measures in the region, and highlighted ways through which PERSGA supports its member states in implementing ecosystem-based conservation measures.
Ahmed Khalil, PERSGA, explained that his organization focuses on the conservation of the marine environment in the region; and pointed to a recent agreement with the Islamic Development Bank to cooperate on providing support for ecosystem-based management projects.
Islam Taha Mohamed, PERSGA, pointed to various web-based tools, such as an environmental sensitivity database, pollution load and oil trajectory models, and an integrated regional system on fisheries, which enhances knowledge exchange among countries in the Red Sea region.
Axel Michaelowa, Managing Director, Perspectives GmbH, focused on blue carbon to, inter alia, delineate methodological approaches to measuring adaptation benefits, building on indicators of “saved wealth” and “saved health.”
Christian Voolstra, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), outlined activities at KAUST, particularly the Red Sea Research Center on ocean science and the blue economy in Saudi Arabia. He described the Red Sea as KAUST’s “largest laboratory,” characterized by deep, warm water, a lack of fresh water input, nutrient poor and oxygen deficient. He said these extreme conditions make it a “model ocean of the future.” Highlighting the blue economy as the way forward, he outlined key focus areas for KAUST, including conservation and restoration of mangrove, seagrasses and saltmarsh ecosystems. On coral bleaching, he explained that this phenomena is regional in scope, with the northern Red Sea hardly experiencing any bleaching, which provides a window of opportunity to study coral reef resilience.
Daniele Daffonchio, KAUST, discussed KAUST’s work on: the preservation of coastal intertidal ecosystems; ecological connectivity; Red Sea mangroves mapping; Red Sea blue carbon sequestration and stocks; and mangrove microbiomes.
Khaled Abdullah Al-Abdulkader, Saudi Aramco, highlighted his company’s experience in marine environmental protection and research in collaboration with KAUST. He highlighted: a management framework for fisheries resources in the Gulf; mangrove transplantation efforts, which resulted in two million trees being planted; and the Aramco Biodiversity Park, as an example of the company’s engagement in environmental conservation.
L-R: Khaled Abdullah Al-Abdulkader, Saudi Aramco; Daniele Daffonchio, KAUST; Christian Voolstra, KAUST; Ziad Abu Ghararah, PERSGA; Ahmed Khalil, PERSGA; Islam Taha Mohamed, PERSGA; and Axel Michaelowa, Perspectives GmbH
Christian Voolstra, KAUST, outlined activities at KAUST, particularly the Red Sea Research Center on ocean science and the blue economy in Saudi Arabia.
Ziad Abu Ghararah, Secretary General, PERSGA, moderated the session.
Axel Michaelowa, Managing Director, Perspectives GmbH, said the most effective way to harness the potential of blue carbon is to conserve existing mangrove forests and seagrass beds rather than opt for costly restoration measures.
Daniele Daffonchio, KAUST, discussed the preservation of coastal resources in the Red Sea.
Ahmed Khalil, PERSGA, pointed to the Red Sea’s great richness in marine biodiversity, including corals and marine mammals such as dugongs.
Islam Taha Mohamed, PERSGA, illustrated the importance of web-based tools in providing a knowledge base for evidence-based conservation measures.
Khaled Abdullah Al-Abdulkader, Saudi Aramco, highlighted his company’s experience in marine environment protection and research in collaboration with KAUST.
Contact:
Nathalie Parra | media@ksa-climate.com
More Information:
https://www.ksa-climate.com/ksa-side-events
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Implementation in Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Linking Mitigation and Adaptation Efforts for Sustainable DevelopmentPresented by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB)
This session, moderated by Vera Scholz, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), centered on examples of cross-sectoral cooperation that foster linkages between mitigation and adaptation action on the ground. Participants discussed, inter alia, financial and capacity building needs SIDS, and the need to move to long-term, climate-smart investments.
Pointing to the special responsibility of G20 countries to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary, BMUB, praised SIDS for making ambitious mitigation pledges in their NDCs. He further pointed to the long-standing partnership between Germany and SIDS, highlighting cooperation on political approaches such as supporting the 1.5ºC goal, and on technical cooperation such as through the International Climate Initiative
Bruce Kijiner, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Marshall Islands, highlighted the good progress his country has made in NDC implementation, especially in relation to increasing solar energy capacity and addressing questions of energy efficiency.
Trevor Thompson, Grenada, emphasized the importance of legislative instruments to open the energy market to competition and foster renewable energy production, and pointed to the momentum created by the reestablishment of the National Climate Change Committee.
Soenke Kreft, Executive Director, Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII), recalled his organization’s mission to find tangible solutions for unavoidable climate change impacts, and highlighted that it successfully brought insurance products to two Caribbean countries, with others being close to approval.
Karsten Sach, Germany, described the consultation process that led to the adoption of his country’s Climate Action Plan 2050 and underlined the importance of opening up institutions to stakeholder input in designing decarbonization pathways.
Espen Ronneberg, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), emphasized SPREP’s role as a regional organization providing technical support for national measures, including the preparation of national communications and project proposals to the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund.
In the ensuing discussion, participants discussed, inter alia: the potential for regulatory frameworks at the regional level to accelerate and efficiently foster the uptake of climate friendly technology at the national level; the importance of stakeholder inclusion and ownership of solutions by local communities; and the potential of fiscal reforms, especially on fossil fuel subsidies, to achieve transformation.
L-R: Vera Scholz, GIZ; Bruce Kijiner, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Marshall Islands; Karsten Sach, Germany; Soenke Kreft, Executive Director, MCII; Trevor Thompson, Grenada; and Espen Ronneberg, SPREP
Soenke Kreft, Executive Director, MCII, pointed to the growing demand for climate risk insurance products and highlighted that a significant number of NDCs mention such schemes.
Karsten Sach, Germany, underlined the need for policy coherence across all sectors to achieve a deep transformation.
During the discussion, a representative of Green Budget Europe indicated that the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development provides training workshops on fiscal policy reform.
Trevor Thompson, Grenada, highlighted the need for capacity building to ensure that local communities have the skills to maintain technologies that have been installed with international support.
Vera Scholz, GIZ, and Bruce Kijiner, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Marshall Islands
Espen Ronneberg, SPREP, emphasized the need to adapt climate solutions to the small scale of island economies.
Contact:
Julia Schweigger (BMUB) | julia.schweigger.extern@bmub.bund.de
More Information:
www.bmub.bund.de/en/topics/climate-energy/climate/
www.international-climate-initiative.com/en/?iki_lang=en
Integrated Observations for Mitigation and Adaptation & Practical Support to PartiesPresented by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) and the Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC)
This session, moderated by Stephen Briggs, GCOS Steering Committee, centered on the role of new technology in supporting parties to mitigate and adapt to climate change, including through access to climate observations, data records and information sharing.
In his opening remarks, Andrea Tilche, European Commission, explained that GEO is a system improving open access to and interoperability of Earth observations, fulfilling efforts to enhance climate data across the world.
Paul Becker, Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), discussed the national implementation of GEO and GCOS activities in Germany. He emphasized that these tools can support the implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and highlighted: learning opportunities; improvement of national policies and data sharing; and GEO’s contribution to the Global Forest Observations Initiative.
Jouni Heiskanen, Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS), spoke on GHG sinks, natural carbon cycles, and how fossil fuel emissions affect these natural processes. He argued that ICOS enhances data at the regional level, and noted its overarching goal of coordinating observations globally.
Kiyoto Tanabe, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), spoke on the “2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National GHG Inventories.” Focusing on satellite data, he noted efforts of over 200 scientists working on the refinement of the Guidelines with regards to improving verification methods, especially on Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU).
Masanobu Kimura, Japan, spoke on how satellite data can support national climate mitigation planning. He noted that the GHG Observing Satellite (GOSAT) allows higher accuracy in detecting anthropogenic emissions and explained that this tool can assist other parties in reporting progress on NDC implementation under the Paris Agreement transparency framework.
Tim Oakley, UK, addressed the GCOS Cooperation Mechanism, which supports parties in mitigating and adapting to climate change. He said that this mechanism responds to the need to provide capacity building and improve expert networks. He referred to training workshops for technicians and activities on telecommunications, giving the example of Chad, which has benefited from the GCOS system since 2017.
Simon Eggleston, GCOS, reported on a programme in Fiji resulting from a COP 22 decision, which addresses: upper air measurements; precipitation; increased costs in remote areas; and procurement. Explaining the global importance of upper air observations, he said that the quality of the models predicting meteorological conditions vary drastically. He emphasized ongoing work on sustainable funding, communications, transport, national precipitation observations and training that will be presented at COP 24 by SPREP, the World Meteorological Organization, the Pacific Islands Conservation Initiative and the Pacific Meteorological Council.
Barbara Ryan, GEO, emphasized the importance of partnerships to scale up data solutions at the international and national levels. She underscored the need for accessibility of data in all areas: land, oceans and space. She said that increasing capacity in data measurement and measurement frequency are important. She further emphasized the vitality of open data platforms, lamenting that a high number of governments still refuse to share information.
During closing remarks, Carolin Richter, GCOS Director, declared that “we are family” to highlight the collaborative work of all presented projects and invited continued financial support to these initiatives.
In the ensuing discussion, participants debated, among other issues: low-cost options for precipitation observations; challenges to replace existing measurement technology with cheaper options; the global benefits of local measurements; adaptation needs of developing countries; and plans for observations in oceans.
L-R: Paul Becker, DWD; Jouni Heiskanen, ICOS; Kiyoto Tanabe, IPCC; Masanobu Kimura, Japan; Tim Oakley, UK; and Simon Eggleston, GCOS.
Tim Oakley, UK, highlighted the need to invest in adaptation measures to overcome increasing natural disasters in remote areas.
Participants during the event
Masanobu Kimura, Japan, noted inter-agency use of GOSAT in his country.
Simon Eggleston, GCOS, focused on climate observation benefits, particularly in Africa.
Stephen Briggs, GCOS Steering Committee, declared “it’s great how much we can achieve when we don’t worry about who gets the credit,” to illustrate the need for continued partnerships.
Barbara Ryan, GEO, highlighted international collaboration as the way forward to improve data accessibility and advocated for open data platforms to “close the information gap.”
L-R: Carolin Richter, GCOS, and Barbara Ryan, GEO
Participants debate, among others, low-cost options for precipitation observations.
Contact:
Barbara Ryan (GEO) | bryan@geosec.org
Carolin Richter (GCOS) | crichter@wmo.int
Masatoshi Kamei (RESTEC) | kamei@restec.or.jp
More Information:
www.public.wmo.int/en/programmes/global-climate-observing-system
www.restec.or.jp/en
Climate-related Human Mobility: Connecting the Dots to Implement the Paris AgreementPresented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
In this side event, panelists explored the topic of human mobility in climate change sharing lessons learned. Moderator Madeline Garlick, UNHCR, noted the timeliness of the session given that the Task Force on Displacement is underway.
Renate Held, IOM, noted the issue of climate-related mobility has increased in prevalence at recent COPs. She underscored the need to focus on programme and project development to address the issue and empower practitioners and policymakers to take action. She urged, in light of complex challenges, support to states to address it coherently, and proposed holding capacity-building sessions at the national level.
Rima Al Azar, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), shared the experience of a FAO community-driven development project in Nepal, where people most vulnerable to migration, including women, learned agriculture activities. She recommended investment in sustainable agriculture as it addresses root causes of migration, such as poverty and food insecurity.
Meredith Byrne, International Labour Organization (ILO), underscored that national development planning and regional discussions would boost resilience and address loss and damage, including through skills development. She added that these measures, along with migration through regular pathways, would help to facilitate decent work.
Ben Schachter, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), recommended that the Task Force and the international community promote human rights policy coherence throughout the development agenda. He elaborated that parties are obligated to ensure the dignity, safety and human rights of climate migrants.
Barbara Bendandi, UN Convention on Combatting Desertification (UNCCD), explained that since September 2017, 3.2 million people have been displaced, half of them by drought. She called on the international community to take responsibility for displacement by addressing the root causes, arguing that land should have a critical role in that.
Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, UN Development Programme (UNDP), observed that climate-related mobility was fundamental to his organization’s work, adding that partnerships and accessible finance are necessary to address it.
Robert Oakes, UN University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), underscored the importance of facilitating options when addressing mobility, as this helps to control loss and damage. He argued that forced migration should be minimized and avoided, and in the case of individuals who want to migrate, parties should enable movements to be made with dignity, which can be done by extending adaptive migration.
Verona Collantes, UN Women, called for gender equality in addressing human mobility related to climate change. She underscored that women are significantly contributing to climate change solutions and, therefore, should also have a voice in the discussion.
Amir H. Delju, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), called for increased climate literacy among vulnerable communities. He added that information on the complex human outcomes of climate change must be transformed and communicated to better manage climate risks.
Following the presentations, participants and panelists discussed: definitions and figures of climate migrants; how to identify recipients of capacity-building initiatives; the relationship between climate literacy; and a need for information and mechanisms for policy coherence within the UN system.
Ovais Sarmad, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), provided concluding remarks, reiterating the complexity of the topic, and called for scaling up policy coherence within the UN to bring out the human dimension of climate change.
Garlick added that “the spotlight is on us to do more in this situation of extreme human need.”
L-R: Renate Held, IOM; Robert Oakes, UNU-EHS; Verona Collantes, UN Women; Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, UNDP; and Amir H. Delju, WMO
Madeline Garlick, UNHCR, warned that overlooking “protection” in climate change policy could lead to human rights violations.
Verona Collantes, UN Women, stated that women and girls are disproportionately impacted by climate change.
Renate Held, IOM, said that we need policy coherence on climate-related mobility to maximize action.
Robert Oakes, UNU-EHS, stressed that migration can increase vulnerability and put a strain on resources.
Ben Schachter, OHCHR, affirmed that migrants are entitled to human rights.
Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC, argued that the human dimension is being diluted out of the climate change negotiations.
Contact:
Mariam Traore Chazalnoel (IOM) | mchazanlnoel@iom.int
Erica Bower (UNHCR) | bower@unhcr.org
More Information:
www.iom.int
www.unhcr.org
Forests Country ShowcasePresented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
In this side event, panelists explored forest landscape restoration policies, processes and lessons learned in Mexico, Uganda, El Salvador and Burundi. Horst Freiberg, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), Germany, moderated the panel.
Fabiola Navarrete, Mexico, spoke about forest management projects in her country. She outlined four elements of the National Forestry Commission’s landscape intervention model: inter-institutional coordination; harmonization of policies among sectors; stakeholder participation; and identification and implementation of actions specifically designed to meet regional needs. Describing a pilot project on payments for environmental services and women in apiculture, she said that it is simultaneously beneficial for ecosystem protection and women’s livelihoods. She described challenges in obtaining buy-in from stakeholders.
Jorge Quezada, El Salvador, presenting on his country’s National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Program, described its strategic framework as aiming to: control deforestation and forest degradation; restore and conserve forest ecosystems and agroforestry systems; increase tree cover and carbon stocks; and restore degraded soil. He highlighted key success factors, including: high-level political support; good governance including full participation; building strategic alliances; emphasizing local adaptation; and addressing the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation.
Alphonse Polisi, Burundi, explaining the forest landscape restoration process in his country, outlined elements, including the National Landscape Restoration Program and a national taskforce for landscape restoration. He said a key priority is to collect data to identify priority areas for forest restoration.
Xavier Mugumya, Uganda, explained drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in his country, and said it has agreed to the Bonn Challenge commitment to restore 2.5 million hectares. He described the loss of forest cover in Uganda and outlined criteria for identifying areas that have potential for forest landscape restoration. He mentioned national policy instruments including Vision 2040, national development plans, the National Forestry Plan and the REDD+ Strategy, stating that finance is the most important missing element.
During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, among others: policy tensions between food security and forest landscape conservation and restoration; enabling environments for finance; and mainstreaming the value of restoring ecosystems in developing countries.
Fabiola Navarrete, National Forestry Commission, Mexico, highlighted the importance of inter-institutional coordination.
Horst Freiburg, BMUB, Germany, said forest landscape restoration could be a “game-changer” for global climate action.
Jorge Quezada, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, El Salvador, described projects on drought monitoring and mangrove restoration.
Alphonse Polisi, Director for Environment and Climate Change, Burundi, emphasized his country’s commitment to forest landscape restoration.
Contact:
Sandra Caya (IUCN) | Sandra.caya@iucn.org
More Information:
www.iucn.org/forest
www.bonnchallenge.org
Slow Onset Impacts, Fast Action: Multisectoral Responses to Climate ChangePresented by the German Development Institute (DIE) and the Philippines’ Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC)
This event, chaired by Renato Redentor Constantino, ICSC, showcased research into slow-onset events and their impacts on vulnerable communities in the Philippines and Ethiopia.
Constantino expressed hope that the discourse about slow-onset events would be elevated to the same level of urgency as that of extreme events, and identified ocean acidification, sea-level rise and drought as the most prevalent disasters.
Kare Chawicha Debessa, State Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Ethiopia, emphasized the importance of increasing research on slow-onset events, saying extreme events tend to overshadow the extent of damage caused by droughts, ocean acidification and sea-level rise. He reported the impacts of the recent El Niño drought on 10.2 million vulnerable people in his country and stressed the need for developing capacity and understanding to deal with these types of “creeping” emergencies.
Denise Matias, DIE, presented the results of a desktop study on slow-onset publications worldwide, and lamented the lack of research in regions most impacted by these events. Distinguishing between different scientific disciplines, she lamented that the social sciences lag behind.
Lourdes Tibig, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report Lead Author, lamented the disconnect between policymakers, scientists and communities. She reported on research by three Philippine state universities into the three main sectors most affected on the islands, and emphasized the country’s vulnerability to extreme events, which are exacerbated by slow-onset disasters.
Tadesse Tujuba Kenea, German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), highlighted the challenges to, and his recommendations for, addressing slow-onset events. He called for enhanced collaboration and bottom-up policies that consider the condition on the ground. He noted that data poses a challenge, as it is often unavailable, of poor quality and difficult to monitor.
Anne Sperschneider, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, presented on several fellowships offered by her organization, which aim to build trust and understanding. She emphasized that the fellowships try to tackle broader issues, and allow researchers from developing countries to work on climate protection and climate-related resource protection. She concluded that networking amongst fellows helps to promote cross-border protection.
During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, among other things: cooperation between policymakers and researchers; the sources of literature used in the presentations; existing impact models to see the effects of climate change on ecosystems; and the opportunities for partnerships between German climate institutes and universities in the Philippines. On the latter, Sperschneider added that the German Academic Exchange Service offers masters and PhD fellowships related to development for non-Germans.
Emmanuel de Guzman, the Philippines, closed the session, calling for evidence-based research and for governments to ensure that policies reflect realities on the ground. He reiterated that collaboration is key, particularly in creating longer-term work plans necessary in addressing slow-onset climate change.
Emmanuel de Guzman, the Philippines, commended the speakers for effectively communicating the importance of slow-onset climate events.
Lourdes Tibig, IPCC Fifth Assessment Report Lead Author, highlighted the altered pathways of cyclones in the Philippines.
Kare Chawicha Debessa, State Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Ethiopia, emphasized the importance of governments’ commitment in addressing disaster impacts.
Denise Matias, DIE, cautioned that “policy alone is not enough, and neither is research.”
L-R: Anne Sperschneider, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation; Tadesse Tujuba Kenea, GFZ; Denise Matias, GIZ; and Lourdes Tibig, IPCC Fifth Assessment Report Lead Author
Contact:
Denise Fontanilla (ICSC) | denise@icsc.ngo
Denise Matias (DIE) | denise.matias@die-gdi.de
More Information:
http://www.icsc.ngo/
https://www.die-gdi.de/
Addressing Uncertainties in Estimating GHG Emissions and Removals in the Agriculture, Forestry And Other Land Uses (AFOLU) Sector to Strengthen Land Management ImpactsPresented by Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), Cornell University, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) and New Zealand
In this side event, panelists explored biological methods for carbon removal, including soil carbon storage. Jean-Luc Chotte, IRD, moderated the panel.
Marc Sadler, World Bank, noted the need to move away from current agriculture and land-use practices, and emphasized the importance of communicating the co-benefits of soil carbon storage to farmers. He said the challenge is to deliver “viable, reliable and stable” incomes to farmers to encourage them to continue feeding the planet while supporting them to do so in a low-carbon and resilient way.
Johannes Lehmann, Cornell University, said that even a small fraction of increase in soil carbon storage would make a large difference to the global carbon budget. He listed various approaches, which need to be combined, including water management, enhanced root phenotypes, cropland management, grazing land management, biochar application, and restoration of degraded land. He highlighted that uncertainty is not variability and that a “management learning” approach is needed when implementing soil carbon projects.
Lini Wollenberg, CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), reported on a study assessing measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of emission reductions from livestock in 140 countries. She stated that 85% of the developing countries surveyed were not using MRV practices that could capture mitigation. On barriers to MRV, she highlighted weak links with national data providers and finance for data collection and emissions research.
Martial Bernoux, FAO, reported on a study assessing NDCs, stating that 98% of countries included agriculture, and 89% mentioned a relationship between mitigation and agriculture. He called for policies reconciling adaptation, mitigation and agriculture, and noted country priorities for international support, including: research, analysis and data; capacity building; and the mobilization of public and private finance.
Özgül Erdemli Mutlu, Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats (TEMA Foundation), underlined the role of NGOs in communicating technical information about soil carbon to policymakers. She highlighted the interconnectedness of the UNCCD and UNFCCC processes, urging to “break down these silos.” She lamented the lack of capacity in analyzing soil data, and suggested setting land degradation neutrality targets. Noting the inclusion of non-state actors in the Paris Agreement, she said it is important to consider local stakeholders.
Souleymane Konate, University of Nangui Abrogoua, explained difficulties in analyzing data, noting that in Côte d'Ivoire, sufficient data is collected from farming institutions but difficulties arise at the scientific level. He called for a common methodology for data analysis, stating that “we are credible if we have reliable data.”
Pascal Martinez, Global Environment Facility (GEF), outlined his organization’s work, highlighting the diversity in countries and agencies it works with. He emphasized the need to provide concrete and credible environmental data, and reported progress in the development of new tools to do so. He said the GEF is trying to improve data quality in terms of carbon benefits.
During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, among others: capacity building and strengthening partnerships; communicating with farmers; renewable energy and manure management; prospects for scaling-up soil carbon storage; and geoengineering.
L-R: Souleymane Konate, University of Nangui Abrogoua; Marc Sadler, World Bank; Lini Wollenberg, CCAFS; Martial Bernoux, FAO; Jean-Luc Chotte, IRD; Özgül Erdemli Mutlu, TEMA Foundation; Pascal Martinez, GEF; and Johannes Lehmann, Cornell University
Martial Bernoux, FAO, called for harmonizing data collection tools and methodologies.
Özgül Erdemli Mutlu, TEMA Foundation, called for building capacity in soil data analysis.
Pascal Martinez, GEF, said that the GEF is “on the eve of a new era”.
Marc Sadler, World Bank, said that agriculture is currently an “extractive industry” which needs to change.
Souleymane Konate, University of Nangui Abrogoua, said that uncertainty in data is a key issue.
Lini Wollenberg, CCAFS, recommended South-South experience sharing on priorities for livestock MRV system development.
Contact:
Benoit Martimort-Asso (IRD) | benoit.martimort-asso@ird.fr
Emmanuel Torquebiau (CIRAD) | emmanuel.torquebiau@cirad.fr
Allison Chatrchyan (Cornell University) | amc256@cornell.edu
Claire Weill (INRA) | claire.weill@inra.fr
Hayden Montgomery (New Zealand) | hayden.montgomery@globalresearchalliance.org
More Information:
www.ird.fr
www.cirad.fr
www.cornell.edu
www.inra.fr
www.globalresearchalliance.org
5 Years of Experiences Gained from the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM): Lessons Learned and Way ForwardPresented by the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA)
This session, moderated by Stefano De Clara, IETA, centered on the Japanese Government’s experience with the JCM, including its development, methodologies and credit issuing schemes. Participants debated the relationship between existing markets, the JCM and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (cooperative approaches).
Naoki Torii, Japan, provided an overview of the JCM and experiences gained from its implementation in his country. He said that the Paris Agreement had a significant impact on the JCM, and that more research is needed to explore how to manage the issued credits and the linkages to this global regime. He noted several supporting schemes designed to smooth the process, underscoring that government-to-government consultations help adjust to new rules.
Shinichiro Sano, Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting (MURC), spoke on JCM process and statistics, explaining the procedures and methodologies. He emphasized the importance of transparency through public consultations and a credit registration system to avoid double counting. He also noted that 21 projects had been registered in six countries, and compared time requirements between the JCM and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
Kentaro Takahashi, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), spoke on options for accounting related to Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOS) under the Paris Agreement. He said that double counting occurs when there appears to be a reduction in overall emissions, but actual emissions remain constant or increase. He called on parties to prioritize this issue.
Simon Henry, the International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA), explained the role of his organization, which provides codes of best practice to companies. He noted governments’ bilateral approaches in addressing double counting and improving compliance with international agreements.
Jeff Swartz, South Pole Group, highlighted projects developed to provide emitting companies with carbon neutrality and carbon positive goals, in order to enhance their social and environmental co-benefits. He noted Australia as a key market, as the government guarantees the acquisition of carbon credits for 10 years. He said that, in the context of Article 6, JCM has an early mover advantage.
Jos Cozijnsen, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), recalled that Article 6.4 addresses global reductions and said that more models need to be developed in order to improve emission reductions by sector. He suggested opportunities for the JCM to work with REDD+ and noted that single rather than double counting is the major JCM challenge.
In the ensuing discussion, participants discussed, inter alia: the modalities of trading carbon credits between countries; climate finance; and how other countries approach the JCM. On the way forward for the JCM, panelists indicated: increased targets under the JCM by 2030; renewed targets for 2050; and guidelines provided by the rulebook operationalizing the Paris Agreement.
L-R: Stefano De Clara, IETA; Jos Cozijnsen, EDF ; Jeff Swartz, South Pole Group; Naoki Torii, Japan; Kentaro Takahashi, IGES; and Simon Henry, ICROA
Shinichiro Sano, MURC, noted the JCM methodology is country-specific but that energy efficiency remains the main one in Japan.
Kentaro Takahashi, IGES, noted that schemes such as “cap and trade” and “credits” should be designed to reduce overall emissions.
Jos Cozijnsen, EDF , said the Japanese were “wise to advance the JCM ahead of all countries.”
Naoki Torii, Japan, noted that the “world of the Paris Agreement is completely different from the one of the Kyoto Protocol” and that ensuring environmental integrity is crucial for the success of this global agreement.
Contact:
Stefano De Clara (IETA) | declara@ieta.org
More Information:
www.ieta.org
Daily report for 7 November 2017
Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference - November 2017
Highlights and images for 7 November 2017
Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference - November 2017
The Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference continued on Tuesday. In the morning, the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) resumed its first session in an opening plenary, and met in a contact group for all substantive agenda items. The plenaries for the Conference of the Parties (COP) and Conference of the Parties Serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP) resumed in the afternoon. Throughout the day, the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) contact groups and informal consultations and APA informal consultations convened.
IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has providing daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference 2017. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page.
APA Opening Plenary
Delegates gather for the APA opening plenary
APA Co-Chairs Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, and Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia
Helmut Hojesky, Austria, COP 23 Vice-President
Delegates applaud the re-election of the APA Co-Chairs
Walter Schuldt Espinel, Ecuador, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China
Franz Perrez, Switzerland, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG)
Patrick Suckling, Australia, on behalf of the Umbrella Group
Gebru Jember, Ethiopia, speaking on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
Ayman Shasly, Saudi Arabia
Meelis Münt, EU
Hussein Alfa Nafo, Mali, speaking on behalf of the African Group
Amjad Abdulla, Maldives, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)
Xiandi Ooi, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs)
Majda Dabaghi, Business NGOs (BINGOs)
Tianyang Zhou, Women and Gender
APA Contact Group
Delegates during the APA contact group
Ravi Prasad, India
Liang Pei, China
APA Co-Chair Jo Tyndall, New Zealand
APA family photo
Civil Society Actions throughout the Day
Representatives from Friends of the Earth call for an end to 'dirty energy'
Representatives of the Women and Gender constituency conduct an aerobics class to remind COP 23 delegates to metaphorically 'mind the gap' of gender inequality, and 'reach' for a gender action plan
Contact Groups and Informal Consultations throughout the Day
SBI informal consultations on National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)
Delegates sit on the floor as rooms are filled to capacity
SBSTA informal consultations on issues relating to agriculture
SBI/SBSTA contact group on the impact of the implementation of response measures
SBI contact group on administrative, financial and institutional matters
COP Plenary
View of the dais during the COP plenary
Frank Bainimarama, COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1-2 President
Nazhat Shameem Khan, COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1-2 Presidency
Ewen McDonald, Co-Chair, the Green Climate Fund (GCF)
Chizuru Aoki, the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Georg Børsting, Co-Chair, Standing Committee on Finance (SCF)
Paweł Sałek, Secretary of State, Government Plenipotentiary for Climate Policy, Poland
Nedal Katbeh-Bader, State of Palestine
CMP Plenary
View of the dais during the CMP plenary
Frank Wolke, Chair, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board (EB)
Gherghita Nicodim, Vice Chair, Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee (JISC)
Gerhard Loibl, Co-Chair, Compliance Committee
Victor Vinas, Vice Chair, Adaptation Fund Board (AFB)
Around the Venue
Delegates from Poland
Marcela Main Sancha, Secretary to the COP/CMP, UNFCCC, speaks with Nazhat Shameem Khan, COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1-2 Presidency
Salaheddine Mezouar, COP 22/CMP 12/CMA 1 President, speaks with delegates from Morocco
Hayrapet Hakobyan, Armenia
Delegates read the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) to keep track of negotiations
Delegates between sessions
Daily report for 6 November 2017
Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference - November 2017
Summary report 6–17 November 2017
Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference - November 2017