Small Island Developing States

The following events were covered by IISD Reporting Services on Tuesday, 14 November 2017: Champions for Climate Action The Under2Coalition: Taking Full Advantage of Mitigation Opportunities by Improving Measurement and Disclosure Leadership in Achieving the Paris Agreement One Country at a Time Climate and Clean Energy Policy in the US: State Leaders Speak Out IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) Meeting Coverage, will provide daily web coverage from selected side events at the UN Climate Change Conference - November 2017. Photos by IISD/ENB | Ángeles Estrada For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Champions for Climate Action Presented by the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Partnership This event was attended by ministers and organization heads of NDC Partnership member countries and institutions. After watching messages from a selection of Partnership member countries, via video, moderator Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director, Greenpeace International, highlighted the commitment, fortitude and ambition of stories from the “work on the ground” and what it means to the people benefiting from these efforts. Delivering opening remarks, Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of the Fiji and COP 23 President, recognized the important work of the Partnership and said, as leader of an island nation on the forefront of climate change, “we know what is at stake.” He said he was heartened by the collaboration and the many examples of innovative solutions he has witnessed from numerous partners. Announcing the recent establishment of the Pacific Regional Hub, he said it will help the island states to meet regional challenges and invited partners to share their experiences and discover “what we can achieve when we can come together in a partnership.” In a keynote address, Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), highlighted key messages about the NDC Partnership, including that: “the world has come to Bonn to stand together” in finding ways to combat climate change and realize the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); the NDCs are central to UNDP’s engagement with countries worldwide; and overcoming the notion that NDCs are somehow separate from the SDG narrative is crucial. Barbara Hendricks, Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), Germany, emphasized the benefits of the Partnership, including to: bring together financial and social objectives to build investment that is resilient and climate friendly; combine climate and development policies, at all different levels and in all sectors; and learn from each other in a transparent fashion. Partnership Co-Chair Nezha El Ouafi, Secretary of State to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development, Morocco, highlighted that working in partnerships is a tremendous asset for building a more secure future because of improved efficiency and coordination. Partnership Co-Chair Thomas Silberhorn, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany, expressed optimism about the ambitions of countries, which, when continuing on the shared path in the spirit of the Paris Agreement, can achieve any goal. He reflected on the benefits of the Partnership, including through sharing knowledge and experiences and building capacity. He also emphasized the need for private investment for NDC implementation. Reflecting on the NDC Partnership after one year, Hilda Heine, President, the Marshall Islands, lauded her country for being the first island state to table its NDC and the first developing country to become a member of the Partnership. On challenges in the Pacific region, she noted lack of energy access, waste disposal and domestic transport, and expressed gratitude for the Partnership’s support in addressing these challenges. She mentioned the lack of human capacity in her country, and said “it is impossible to develop a short-term plan without a long-term vision.” Morgan next invited high-level representatives from NDC Partnership member countries and organizations to briefly outline why they are excited about the NDC Partnership. Deputy Prime Minister Isabella Lӧvin, Sweden, highlighting the recent adoption of a new climate law and an ambition to reach net-zero emissions by 2045, said the NDCs are a starting point for engaging with other countries through development cooperation.   Ambassador Batjargal Zamba, Mongolia’s Special Envoy on Climate Change, said his country has undertaken efforts to incorporate all the necessary climate and SDG targets into national programmes, and that the success of cooperation with partners has to do with very good implementation of its national strategies and with help from international partners. Samir Bettaieb, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fishing, Tunisia, lauded the Partnership’s objectives of cooperation and exchange of experiences in NDC implementation, and committed to sharing his country’s lessons. Didier Dogley, Minister of Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Seychelles, on his country’s reason for joining the Partnership, suggested that the Paris Agreement raised expectations, which can only be realized in partnership with the right financial partners “to move things forward and to implement actions at scale.” Josh Frydenberg, Minister for the Environment and Energy, Australia, pledged US$500,000 to the Regional Pacific NDC hub of the Partnership, saying his country’s focus will be on reducing emissions in the agricultural sector and supporting Viet Nam and Fiji in their NDC efforts. Elsa Galarza Contreras, Minister of Environment, Peru, noted that her country has recently started integrating 13 sectors of the economy into its national development plan and has prioritized NDCs, with the intention of implementing 51 adaption and mitigation actions. Bambang Susantono, Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development,Asian Development Bank (ADB), announced a target contribution of US$6 billion by 2020 to the Partnership, and said the ADB is looking forward to leveraging knowledge and finance to make the Partnership a success in his region. Ekaterine Grigalava, Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection, Georgia, expressing satisfaction at the Partnership’s rapid growth after having been a member for one year, suggested the NDCs provide a special opportunity to align the work of the environment and finance ministries of , thus ensuring sustainability of climate action. José Galdames, Secretary of State, Ministry of Energy, Natural Resources, Environment and Mining, Honduras, highlighted the benefits of research and information generated through the Partnership, which has enabled his government to take suitable decisions and has brought various stakeholders together to build a climate-resilient society. Vidar Helgesen, Minister of Climate and the Environment, Norway, saying “NDCs are at the heart of the Paris Agreement, and who would not join a Partnership of hearts,” cautioned that “we also need a Partnership of hands that are actually working together.” Amadou Hott, Vice-President, African Development Bank (AfDB), recalled that the original reason for the AfDB joining the Partnership was because African governments requested help in developing and implementing their NDCs. Saying he strongly believes “no single entity and country can do it,” he urged members to learn from each other. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility (GEF), emphasized that the Partnership must help countries integrate climate action into their national strategies, and that these, like the SDGs, should not be seen as separate from national plans. Yaseen Khayyat, Minister of Environment, Jordan, describing his country as an arid country with limited resources, which has to import 97% of its energy, suggested that NDCs are “the heart of it all” and will help meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, through commitment and implementation “in every way possible.” Mushahid Ullah Khan, Minister for Climate Change, Pakistan, recalling that his country’s population is vulnerable due to arid climate and its demographics, expressed Pakistan’s determination to increase efforts through many greening activities, disaster risk reduction strategies, and improving resilience to climate change. He said the NDC Partnership offers an excellent opportunity to strengthen regional partnerships and thus achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Gale Rigobert, Minister of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, Saint Lucia, on the intersections between the SDGs and climate actions required, lamented fiscal constraints in her country, which she said can be addressed through mutually beneficial partnerships at the regional and international levels, including through the idea of the regional NDC Finance Initiative for the Caribbean. Edgar Gutiérrez, Minister of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica, urged members to “move from words to action” and outlined his country’s ambitions, which he suggested need to be upscaled and put into the perspective of national development strategies. James Shaw, Minister for Climate Change, New Zealand, noted that his country is a Pacific Island country, which has channeled most of its efforts into helping countries from the Pacific region through hosting an NDC conference and supporting Pacific island states with solar energy investments. Warren Smith, President, Caribbean Development Bank, announced the acceptance of the Bank’s recent membership application, stating that the principles of the Partnership coincide with the Bank’s own approaches of working with different countries, and using the experiences “to get it right.” Yasuo Takahashi, Vice Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Japan, recalling that 2017 is the 20-year anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol, said going from Kyoto to Paris had required international cooperation, which should be continued through the NDC partnership. Gino van Begin, Secretary General, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, noting ICLEI’s acceptance as the first non-party stakeholder, said it represents 1,500 cities which contain 23% of the global urban population, and highlighted his organization’s role in developing the climate legislation necessary to raise ambitions and reduce emissions. John Roome, Senior Director for Climate Change, World Bank, suggested anyone would want to join “this group of partners with this level of energy!” On progress made, he highlighted assistance to many countries through sharing experiences among financial ministries, and on how to further efforts, he urged better coordination on the ground. Nick Bridge, Special Representative for Climate Change, UK, praised the positive dynamic of the NDC Partnership members, and said “Paris got the politics right, now it is time to get the finance right” through green finance that “can take us from the billions to the trillions.” He announced the UK’s commitment to contributing GBP 100,000 to the Pacific Regional Hub. Frank Rijsberman, Director-General, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), described the Institute’s assistance to countries to integrate their SDGs and NDCs into their national strategies, which will grow their economies. Andrew Steer, President, World Resources Institute (WRI), lauded the leadership and vision of “the people in the room,” which represent a massive opportunity, and said that, although NDCs are difficult to implement, these aspirations, if turned into policies and actions integrated with SDGs, can bring about the change needed. During closing remarks, Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC, expressed her gratitude at the tremendous energy and leadership from the members of the Partnership, and lauded the commitment required to take the process further as the Paris Agreement continues its implementation phase. Noting the need for refinement of the NDCs, she urged all actors to ensure climate actions are integrated into all plans, at all levels. Espinosa pledged the support of the Secretariat in working closely with countries to refine their NDCs and to help with implementation, and encouraged all to “think big, broad and long term.” Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC, encouraging members to persevere, said that “even though it feels like the car is stuck in traffic, we have the technology and capacity to reach our destination.” Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, citing a colleague, said that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is about “recoupling of the social and economic aspects of humanity, decoupling of the economic and environmental, and leaving no one behind.” Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister, Fiji, and COP 23 President, suggested: “We are all in the same canoe, together we will be able to row faster, together.” Hilda Heine, President, the Marshall Islands, said “no country can overcome challenges alone, and that is why partnerships are needed to connect the dots.” Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director, Greenpeace International, moderated the session and applauded the role of the “champions” for climate action. L-R: NDC Partnership Co-Chairs Thomas Silberhorn, BMZ, Germany, and Nezha El Ouafi, Secretary of State to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development, Morocco, with Barbara Hendricks, Federal Minister, BMUB, Germany. Deputy Prime Minister Isabella Lӧvin, Sweden, responding to a question, with Samir Bettaieb, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fishing, Tunisia, and Ambassador Zamba Batjargal, Mongolia’s Special Envoy on Climate Change looking on. Didier Dogley, Minister of Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Seychelles, and Josh Frydenberg, Minister for the Environment and Energy, Australia, providing remarks on the Partnership. Elsa Galarza Contreras, Minister of Environment, Peru, outlined Peru’s plans to implement its NDC. José Galdames, Minister of Environment, Honduras, and Bambang Susantono, Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, ADB, with Ekaterine Grigalava, Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection, Georgia, who highlighted climate actions in her country. Participants during the event Vidar Helgesen, Minister of Climate and the Environment, Norway, responds to a question, with Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF, and Amadou Hott, Vice-President, AfDB, looking on. Yaseen Khayyat, Minister of Environment, Jordan, Mushahid Ullah Khan, Minister of Climate Change, Pakistan, and Gale Rigobert, Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, Saint Lucia, share their thoughts about the NDC Partnership. Edgar Gutiérrez, Minister of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica, affirmed his country’s emissions commitment, saying “it will require support from all sectors.” Warren Smith, President, Caribbean Development Bank, and James Shaw, Minister for Climate Change, New Zealand, share their impressions about the NDC Partnership’s benefits. John Roome, Senior Director for Climate Change, World Bank, and Gino van Begin, Secretary General, ICLEI, applaud comments from Yasuo Takahashi, Vice Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Japan. Andrew Steer, President, WRI, Nick Bridge, Special Representative for Climate Change, UK, and Frank Rijsberman, Director-General, GGGI, share their perspectives of how the NDC Partnership can benefit implementation of climate actions. Contact: Andrea Risotto (NDC Partnership) | andrearisotto@ndcpartnership.org More Information: www.ndcpartnership.org The Under2Coalition: Taking Full Advantage of Mitigation Opportunities by Improving Measurement and DisclosurePresented by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) In this side event, panelists discussed the importance of subnational signatories to the Under2Coalition in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and five new actors signed onto the Coalition. Helen Clarkson, CEO, The Climate Group, moderated the session. Barbara Hendricks, Federal Minister, BMUB, reaffirmed Germany’s support for the Under2Coalition including finance, and noted that subnational actors are essential in climate action and setting climate policy. She explained that the Coalition not only commits to reducing GHG emissions, but also to exchanging ideas and information on implementing strategies, including to developing countries. She applauded California Governor Jerry Brown’s involvement in the initiative, and said that demonstrating climate action at all levels is important.  Clarkson called for a commitment to transparency, highlighted the efforts made by the Coalition Secretariat and the Coalition itself to build reporting capacity in developing countries, and noted the publication of the latest Annual Disclosure report. She then introduced the panelists, Franz Untersteller, Minister of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, noted that the Coalition is the strongest of its kind at the subnational level, and acknowledged the support of public and private foundations. In explaining his government’s work, he highlighted the importance of measurement, reporting and verification (MRV), and of replication. Lorenz Petersen, Director, Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), explained that his organization implements programmes on behalf of the German government, focusing on capacity building and adaptation.He reiterated the importance of MRV in the agreement, as well as transparency and trust. In terms of replication, he noted the bilateral support GIZ offers to local governments. Edmund Gerald Brown Jr., Governor of California, underscored that the last time CO2 parts per million in the atmosphere were at their current level, the sea level was 60 feet higher, drawing attention to the latest warning to humanity issued by scientists 24 hours earlier. He said that, in the face of challenges such as a lack of support from his nation’s capital, subnational actors were even more crucial in addressing climate change. He urged mobilizing action beyond the signature of the Coalition. George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, British Columbia, Canada, explained that in the two years since the Coalition was formed, it has grown from 12 to 205 members, representing 1.3 billion people. He added that his province was one of the founding signatories, and though its population of five million only represents 0.2% of global emissions, it is committed to doing its part to make the necessary reductions. He introduced the five new signatories to the Coalition: Wallonia (Belgium), Caquetá (Colombia), Attica (Greece), and Azuay and Pastaza (Ecuador). Franz Untersteller, Minister of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, explained that through cooperation, the Paris Agreement goals can be met. Lorenz Petersen, Director, GIZ, said that trust is critical to make climate agreements possible. George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, British Columbia, Canada, said that other groups need to “band together to make up for climate change denial by people in power.” Edmund Gerald Brown Jr., Governor of California, called climate change “a problem where no one is in charge, but everyone is responsible.” The latest signatories to the Under2Coalition pose with their autographs. Contact: Subaskar Sitsabeshan (The Climate Group) | ssitsabeshan@theclimategroup.org More Information: www.theclimategroup.org www.bmub.bund.de Leadership in Achieving the Paris Agreement One Country at a TimePresented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) This event, moderated by Orestes Anastasia, GGGI, discussed case studies related to NDC implementation in Jordan, Colombia and the Philippines, which have received support from the GGGI as part of its commitment to promote climate change, green growth and sustainable development simultaneously. Frank Rijsberman, Director-General, GGGI, highlighted that economic growth is an overarching goal of all nations and called for inclusive and sustainable policies. He noted that air pollution is currently one of the most pressing issues and said air quality, especially in Asia, is a top priority. Noting that NDCs are relevant for all countries, but that small islands developing states (SIDS) need to advance them more urgently, he announced the creation of a new Pacific Regional Hub, which will promote climate resilience and green economy job creation, led by the German Development Agency (GIZ) with GGGI support. Nick Bridge, Special Representative for Climate Change, UK, spoke on his country’s experience with its NDC. Noting the UK’s commitment to the GGGI’s work, he emphasized energy policies, noting that policy responses should be based on an independent climate change assessment. Pointing to the “gas revolution,” he said that wind power is currently cheaper than traditional sources of energy and explained that transport, construction and heating power remain challenging sectors for decarbonization. On resilience, he announced financial support, with Germany, to ensure support to vulnerable islands to cope with natural disasters, recalling the devastation caused by Hurricane Winston in Fiji. He recommended all businesses disclaim their climate risks, saying that the strongest businesses are aware of their real climate exposure.   Juan Felipe Quintero, Deputy Director for Territorial and Public Investment, National Planning Department, Colombia, presented his country’s experiences with its NDC, detailing economic tools and policies to achieve the SDGs, peace, and the Paris Agreement goals. He said that Colombia’s Green Growth Strategy, expected to be adopted in June 2018, is a plan that attempts to develop new ways to explore natural capital, and noted that all strategies are being adopted through policy documents and new legislation. Jihad Alsawair, Ministry of Environment, Jordan, spoke on the National Green Growth Plan for Jordan, noting water and energy as the most important sectors for his country. He highlighted smart urban and rural resilience and the Green Growth Corridor as key aspects of this plan, saying that the implementation of these actions corresponds to national strategies such as the Jordan Vision 2025. He added that implementing Jordan’s NDC is a top priority for all ministers and underscored the following goals: strengthening country capacity; engaging stakeholders; realizing direct access to finance; and mobilizing the private sector. Kairos Dela Cruz, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, the Philippines, emphasized local financing and adaptation finance in his country. He noted that lack of direct access to funds, not the absense of funds, is the key problem. He declared, from his practical experience, that overcoming finance challenges is doable, if partnerships are formed and stakeholders work jointly. In the ensuing discussion, panelists debated, among other things: methods for accessing available finance and scaling it up; challenges for implementation of NDCs; changing perceptions on adaptation; relevance of natural disaster preparedness; gender inclusiveness; and poverty reduction strategies. L-R: Kairos Dela Cruz, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, the Philippines; Juan Felipe Quintero, Deputy Director for Territorial and Public Investment, National Planning Department, Colombia; Jihad Alsawair, Ministry of Environment, Jordan; and Orestes Anastasia, GGGI Frank Rijsberman, Director-General, GGGI, emphasized GGGI's support for capacity building, knowledge sharing and financing, stating that climate resilience must be a priority for all countries. Nick Bridge, Special Representative for Climate Change, UK, said “we want to be a global hub demonstrating that it is possible to bring costs of renewables down.” Orestes Anastasia, GGGI, highlighted the importance of sharing lessons on NDC implementation among developing countries. Contact: Anna Schulz (GGGI) | anna.schulz@gggi.org Orestes Anastasia (GGGI) | orestes.anastasia@gggi.org More Information: www.gggi.org Climate and Clean Energy Policy in the US: State Leaders Speak OutPresented by theGeorgetown Climate Center and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) This event, moderated by Vicki Arroyo, Executive Director, Georgetown Climate Center, discussed subnational efforts to curb emissions in the US, focusing on transportation and bipartisan regional collaboration. Opening the session, Elliot Diringer, Executive President, C2ES, noted his organization’s efforts to showcase climate leadership in the US and commended the support of the State of Oregon in endorsing C2ES’s work. Kate Brown, Governor of Oregon, recalled her state’s historical role in acting against climate change and highlighted the risks of inaction for economic disparity. She noted the impact of climate change for the most vulnerable and announced support from both Democrats and Republicans to pass her state’s transportation package, which facilitates access to electric cars for all and better public transport. She noted Portland’s Climate Action Plan, which aims to reduce GHG emissions by 40% by 2030 and by 80% by 2050. Interstate collaboration, she concluded, is key for advancing climate action in the US.   Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington, speaking on challenges faced in tackling climate change, emphasized the need to combat inaction. Saying these are our “finest hours,” he called for firmer action and praised Oregon’s clean energy policies. He suggested: sharing experiences; putting a price on carbon; investing in renewables; and scaling up incentives to invest in clean energy jobs. During a panel discussion, Ben Grumbles, Secretary, Maryland Department of the Environment, underscored that states are united in fighting climate change. Noting the importance of leadership and bipartisan partnership, he focused on the importance of water policies and added that we need to “manage the unavoidable.” He emphasized his commitment to support innovation and ban fracking and drilling in his state, announcing investments in renewables. Taryn Finnessey, Senior Climate Change Specialist, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, said that climate change threatens the quality of life of Colorado’s citizens. She recalled Colorado’s investments in electric vehicle corridors, which she said are important given her state’s dependency on road transportation. She added that fire, floods and droughts are the key risks for Colorado and called for enhancing adaptation policies. Katie Theoharides, Assistant Secretary of Climate Change, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, praised the opportunity to share optimism presented by the event. She said that her state has been working on climate change for a long time, stating that it is not a “political theme” but an essential mission. She said that 40% of emissions in her state come from the transport sector, and highlighted off-shore wind and solar opportunities, actions to achieve Massachusetts’s GHG targets and collaboration among states. Jared Snyder, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Air Resources, Climate Change and Energy, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, highlighted social and economic advantages of climate leadership. He underscored, in his state, an 800% increase in solar power, public health benefits saving US$4.7 billion and social benefits of improved mobility choices for all. In the ensuing debate, questions focused on, among others: importance of adaptation and wetlands restoration for cleaner water and reduction of urban heat island effects; and increasing recognition of the impacts of natural disasters and climate change. From the audience, participants questioned policies on renewables beyond electric cars, carbon pricing solutions, and reduction of funding for academic research on innovation and climate change. Vicki Arroyo, Executive Director, Georgetown Climate Center; Ben Grumbles, Secretary, Maryland Department of the Environment; Taryn Finnessey, Senior Climate Change Specialist, Colorado Department of Natural Resources; Katie Theoharides, Assistant Secretary of Climate Change, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs; and Jared Snyder, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Air Resources, Climate Change and Energy, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington, declared “Donald Trump cannot stop us!” Kate Brown, Governor of Oregon, said acting on climate change is a moral imperative, as it will impact all of us. Participants listened to discussions on sub-national climate actions in the US. Contact: Vicki Arroyo (Georgetown Climate Center) | vaa@georgetown.edu Elliot Diringer (C2ES) | diringer@c2es.org More Information: www.georgetownclimate.org www.c2es.org

The High-Level Roundtables on Climate Action for Zero Hunger took place on 11 November 2017, in Bonn, Germany, on the sidelines of the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). They were organized by the: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); Partnership on Sustainable Low Carbon Transport (SLOCAT); Paris Process on Mobility and Climate (PPMC); World Bank; Centre for International Forest Research (CIFOR); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); World Wildlife Fund (WWF); International Union for Conservation for Nature (IUCN); Research for Community Access Partnership (ReCAP); Global Resilience Partnership (GRP); and UN Environment. The event included high-level opening and closing plenaries with heads of state, ministers and other high-level representatives. The event also included four round tables on: addressing climate change for a world free of hunger, malnutrition and poverty; food security and nutrition in SIDS in a changing climate; integrated landscapes for improved food security and nutrition; and climate resilient and low-emissions​ food systems. Presenters emphasized the intrinsic linkages between meeting climate change goals and ending hunger goals (SDG 2), as well as the linkages between food security and health, development, ecosystem services, forestry and poverty. Many identified the challenges faced by SIDS in the context of climate change. Other topics addressed included uncertainty of climate impacts on food systems, exploring opportunities and requirements for reducing food insecurity and malnutrition, climate-resilient food systems, rural transport networks and low carbon agricultural production. IISD Reporting Services, provided web coverage and a summary report from the High-Level Roundtables on Climate Action and Zero Hunger. Photos by IISD/ENB | Herman Njoroge Chege For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page.

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

Oceans Action Day took place on 11 November 2017, in Bonn, Germany, on the sidelines of the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It was organized by the: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO); Global Ocean Forum; Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO); International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); Ocean and Climate Platform; Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan; and Oceano Azul Foundation/Oceanário de Lisboa, Portugal, in collaboration with Conservation International; Future Ocean Alliance; Government of Chile; Government of Grenada; Government of Seychelles; Plymouth Marine Laboratory; International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; ROCA Initiative; Scripps Institution of Oceanography; and The Nature Conservancy. Participants at Oceans Action Day heard addresses from Tommy Remengesau, President of Palau, and Enele Sopoaga, Prime Minister of Tuvalu. Other high-level delegates also addressed Oceans Action Day. These included: Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs, and Fisheries; Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Fiji; and Peter Thomson, Fiji, UN Special Envoy for the Ocean and President of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly. The event highlighted progress on the most pressing topics in relation to oceans and climate change, and reflected on the diverse efforts of the ocean community to identify and implement swift solutions. Participants heard lessons learned, examples, and best practices for replicating and transferring successful experiences on a multitude of ocean-related topics including: ecosystem-based management; scientific research; fisheries and aquaculture; blue carbon; migration; risk management; and financial mechanisms. At the end of the closing session, representatives from the UK, Finland, Honduras and Romania proceeded to sign the “Because the Ocean” declaration: towards ocean-related NDCs, joining 28 other signatories supporting the inclusion Oceans in NDCs IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided web and video coverage from Oceans Action Day. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary report from this event in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Herman Njoroge Chege For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Opening Plenary L-R: Biliana Cicin-Sain, President, Global Ocean Forum, and Roadmap to Oceans and Climate Action (ROCA) Initiatiave; Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Fiji, High-Level Champion for Climate Change Action; Rene Castro Salazar, Assistant Director General of FAO; and Karmenu Vella, European Commission; Ronald Jumeau, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Seychelles to the United Nations   Jochen Flashbarth, State Secretary, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany Arif Havas Oegroseno, Indonesia Matti Nummelin, Finland   Taholo Kami, COP 23 Presidency Secretariat Laura Tuck, World Bank   Julio Cordano, Chile Eric Banel, President, Ocean and Climate Platform   Inia Seruiratu, Fiji, interacts with participants Science and Oceans: IPCC Report and Other Developments L-R: Margareth S. Copertino, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG); Hans-Otto Pörtner, Alfred Wegener Institute; Suchana Chavanich, Thailand; Carol Turley, Plymouth Marine Laboratory; Françoise Gaill, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Vladimir Ryabinin, UNESCO; Lisa Levin, Distinguished Professor, Scripps Institution of Oceanography; Phillip Williamson, University of East Anglia; and Jay Manning, International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification. Carol Turley, Plymouth Marine Laboratory Suchana Chavanich, Thailand     Lisa Levin, Distinguished Professor, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Françoise Gaill, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France Phillip Williamson, University of East Anglia A view of the room during the event Building Climate Resilience for Fisheries and Aquaculture L-R: Manuel Barange, FAO; Oumar Guèye, Senegal, Italy; Sylvie Goyet, Secretariat of the Pacific Community; Gabriella Bianchi, Norwegian Institute of Marine Research; Ernesto Peñas-Lado, European Commission; Angus Garrett, Seafish; and Yogi Yanuar, Indonesia Manuel Barange, FAO Ernesto Peñas-Lado, European Commission   Ocean Energy and Offshore Renewable Energy Technologies as Enablers of Environmental/Economic Development of SIDS L-R: Dolf Gielen, IRENA; Cristelle Pratt, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat; Rémi Gruet, Ocean Energy Europe; Roland Roesch, IRENA; Berend Jan Kleute, Bluerise; and Thomas Siebenbrunner, Swimsol GmbH Dolf Gielen, IRENA Rémi Gruet, Ocean Energy Europe Roland Roesch, IRENA Participants during the event Blue Carbon Dorothée Herr, IUCN, speaks during the Blue Carbon event Dorothée Herr, IUCN Joshua Wycliffe, Fiji   Accessing Financial Resources and Mobilizing Financial Institutions L-R: Karin Kemper, World Bank; Alastair Morrison, Green Climate Fund; Jonathan Taylor, European Investment Bank; Torsten Thiele, Global Ocean Trust; Manuel Barange, FAO; Tiago Pitta e Cunha, Oceano Azul Foundation; Amedi Camara, Mauritania; and Peter Gilmer, Planet:Tech Participants during the event Karin Kemper, World Bank Jonathan Taylor, European Investment Bank   Ecosystem-Based Adaptation in Ocean and Coastal Zones L-R: Inger Andersen, IUCN; Chu Van Chuong, Vietnam; Abdullahi Majeed, Government of Maldives; Jan Szysko, Minister of Environment, Poland; Adérito Santana, Government of São Tomé and Príncipe; Isabel Torres de Noronha, Executive Secretary, Future Ocean Alliance; Kedrick D. Pickering, British Virgin Islands; Arlindo Ceita de Carvalho, Government of São Tomé and Principe; Manuel Barange, FAO; and Peter Ricketts, Acadia University Participants during the event   Chu Van Chuong, Viet Nam   Arlindo Ceita de Carvalho, São Tomé and Principe     Migration and Displacement: Risk Reduction and Preparedness Members of the panel on migration and displacement Closing Plenary L-R: Tommy Remengesau, President, Republic of Palau; Ronald Jumeau, Seychelles; Peter Thomson, Fiji; Biliana Cicin-Sain, Global Ocean Forum; and Manuel Barange, FAO Anote Tong, Former President of Kiribati   Tommy E. Remengesau Jr., President, Republic of Palau Thérèse Coffey, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), UK Oumar Guèye, Senegal     Manuel Barange, FAO João Mira Gomes, Ambassador of Portugal in Berlin   Jay Inslee, Governor, Washington State, US Eva Svedling, Sweden   Atsushi Sunami, President, Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation Philippe Vallette, Director General, World Ocean Network Signing of the “Because the Ocean" declaration Representative from Honduras after signing the “Because the Ocean” declaration Representative from Romania after signing the “Because the Ocean" declaration

The following events were covered by IISD Reporting Services On Thursday, 9 November 2017: Building Resilience for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Vulnerable Islands Hacking Climate Change: The Digital Future of Climate Leadership, Innovation and Impact Nature-Based Solutions for Water and Adaptation to Climate Change Implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Countries: Progress, Challenges and Perspectives Harnessing Africa’s Emerging Youth Demographic for a Climate Resilient Future Enhancing the Resilience of Forests and Ecosystems to Achieve the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of Latin America Closing Knowledge Gaps to scale up Adaptation: Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative (LAKI) 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. Building Resilience for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Vulnerable IslandsPresented by Solomon Islands and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) In this side event, panelists explored issues relating to DRR, climate change adaptation and building resilience in small island developing states (SIDS), through sharing experiences between the Solomon Islands and Taiwan. Chien-Te Fan, National Tsing Hua University, moderated the panel. Melchior Mataki, Solomon Islands, noted lack of clear definitions of resilience, DRR and adaptation, saying that stakeholder groups conceptualized them differently. He emphasized the difficulty of separating development issues from climate adaptation and DRR in proving additionality for climate finance. Calling for “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approaches, he said that partnerships and appropriate legislative and policy frameworks are indispensable to building resilience. He underscored the need to separate DRR from disaster management in policymaking, and reported on measures taken in his country and its associated challenges, including competing national priorities and lack of capacity, technology and financial resources. Robert Yie-Zu Hu, ITRI, introduced his organization’s work on technology for renewable energy, energy efficiency and storage, the environment and smart buildings. He outlined Taiwan’s energy targets, including zero nuclear energy by 2030 and 20% renewable energy by 2025, saying that this is “not an easy job.” He explained Taiwan’s development strategies for solar and wind energy and noted innovations in: energy storage, which he said is a solution for variable and unpredictable renewable energy output; air-conditioning systems; and dye sensitized cells, which he said can generate solar energy in very low light. Ming-Dean Cheng, Central Weather Bureau, Taiwan, presented on the Solomon Islands Synergistic Analysis for the Environment (SoSAFE), an early warning system for extreme weather events and earthquakes in the Solomon Islands. He said SoSAFE relies on automatic weather data stations, which collect good quality data despite a significant information gap. He also outlined a project to predict epidemics of dengue fever. Mei-Yu Chang, Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, presenting on disaster response and risk management in her country, outlined an increase in extreme weather events in Taiwan over the last decade, including tropical cyclones, flooding, droughts, landslides and typhoons. She said Taiwan has high exposure and vulnerability to natural disasters due to its concentrated urban population, increasing elderly population and complex geographical factors. Outlining Taiwan’s central emergency response system, she shared examples of its applications that provide flood warnings, produce hazard maps for landslides, communicate information to the public, and evacuate houses during typhoons. L-R: Chien-Te Fan, National Tsing Hua University; Melchior Mataki, the Solomon Islands; Robert Yie-Zu Hu, ITRI; Ming-Dean Cheng, Central Weather Bureau, Taiwan; and Mei-Yu Chang, Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan Robert Yie-Zu Hu, ITRI, spoke about his organization’s experience in international solar energy development. Melchior Mataki, Solomon Islands, shared experiences from his country’s work in building resilience to climate change and DRR. Ming-Dean Cheng, Central Weather Bureau, Taiwan, said the Solomon Islands faces threats from earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, and flooding.   Mei-Yu Chang, Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, highlighted lessons learned from her country’s disaster early warning system.             Contact: Chanel Iroi (Solomon Islands) | c.iroi@met.gov.sb Wen-Cheng Hu (ITRI) | vincenthu@itri.org.tw More Information: https://www.itri.org.tw/ Hacking Climate Change: The Digital Future of Climate Leadership, Innovation and ImpactPresented by Microsoft and the South Pole Group This event, moderated by David Wei, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), focused on new technological innovations, and the leadership and regulation required to maximize opportunities for growth in the digital and telecommunications sector. Wei said the time has arrived for putting the pledges and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) into implementable strategies that will inspire future enhancement of innovation. Ingo Puhl, South Pole Group, gave the example of horse manure crisis in the 19th century in New York City, which became irrelevant in the 20th century due to transport innovation, to suggest that innovation is driven primarily by technological desirability, such as electric cars and smartphones. Victor Gancel, Climate-KIC, presented the objectives behind city-wide atmospheric monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) assessments piloted in Paris, Rotterdam and Recife, including to: enable comparability and consistency in greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories; combine bottom-up inventories with GHG concentration measurements; and enable more accurate inventories that are updated more frequently. Leonie Klaas, Telefónica Germany NEXT GmbH, described her organization’s strategies to use anonymous communication data to provide information about modes of transportation and thus calculate specific emission factors for each mode. She said the value of this technology is that it can track GHG emission levels hourly, enables cities to identify “emission hot spots,” and provides comparatively rapid sources of data on air pollution. Jan-Willem van der Veen, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), outlined lessons from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), including that it should respond with payment in a timely manner and calculate the cost of monitoring appropriately. He lamented that negotiators are often not aware of the smart technologies available and tend to work within a rule-based environment where little space for innovation exists. Michelle Patron, Microsoft, spoke about the potential of new technological innovations to empower people in remote areas to improve their livelihoods and knowledge. She suggested new innovation, paired with human ingenuity, has unlimited potential in the current era of digital transformation to address resource deficiencies and impacts on the planet. Panelists responded to questions from the floor on the role of the private sector and the ethics behind technological innovations, with Patron stressing the need to talk to local communities before making big decisions. L-R: David Wei, BSR; Victor Gancel, Climate-KIC; Michelle Patron, Microsoft; Jan-Willem van der Veen, EBRD; Ingo Puhl, South Pole Group; and Leonie Klaas, Telefónica Germany NEXT GmbH Jan-Willem van der Veen, EBRD, urged accelerating information technology tools that can speed up financial application processes. Michelle Patron, Microsoft, challenged participants to “think beyond their own four walls” and imagine the development possible in the digital transformation era. Moderator David Wei, BSR, stressed the importance of using technology to implement the Paris Agreement. Leonie Klaas, Telefónica Germany NEXT GmbH, emphasized the need for developing technologies that can assist cities to address and take effective action against air pollution and carbon emissions. Ingo Puhl, South Pole Group, called for policies to foster faster adoption of new technologies that address climate challenges. Victor Gancel, Climate-KIC, envisaged development of a global MRV map of emissions in the next decade. Contact: Michelle Lancaster (Microsoft) | milanca@microsoft.com More Information: www.microsoft.com/citizenship www.southpole.com Nature-Based Solutions for Water and Adaptation to Climate ChangePresented by the French Water Partnership (FWP) and the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO) This session, moderated by Maylis Castaignet, Seine Normandy Partnership, centered on the role of nature-based solutions for water and adaptation to climate change focusing on the interlinkages of water, biodiversity and climate change. Jean Launay, President, French Water Partnership, recalled the UN resolution establishing the ‘International Decade for Action, Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028’ in support of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) which, inter alia, addresses integrated management of water resources. He noted the strategic importance of 2018, when the Decade will start. In a keynote speech, James Dalton, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), spoke on the work of his organization related to nature-based solutions. He said that for over 70 years, IUCN has been committed to protecting the environment and stressed the human dependency on healthy ecosystems. Dalton noted major transboundary benefits of functional habitats and recalled that water is not mentioned in the Paris Agreement, suggesting COP 23 focus more on this issue. He added that policy frameworks exist but poor communication and institutional weaknesses remain key challenges for mainstreaming solutions on sustainable development. Aurélie Lhume, UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), highlighted the links between the SDGs, water and land protection. She defended multisector approaches to tackle water issues, saying that political reforms to improve water management are urgently needed. Lhume concluded that the water deficit requires political will and larger investments from all countries. On land degradation and drought, she said that the UNCCD is developing new tools to support parties to identify implementation gaps. Tobias Salathé, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, spoke on tools to protect wetlands, saying that they were identified as vulnerable areas in the 1960s. He stressed that, since 1971, the world loses 1% of wetlands yearly, emphasizing the importance of wetlands as carbon sinks and water reservoirs. Jean-Luc François, French Development Agency (AFD), highlighted the economic trajectory of our societies, which has affected nature dangerously, and called for reviewing economic and investment models to reverse the current unsuitable patterns of development. He emphasized the role of development agencies to positively influence more sustainable development patterns. Adama Doulkom, Great Green Wall Initiative for the Sahara and the Sahel (IGMVSS), Burkina Faso, provided the background of his initiative, noting the similarities between the challenges faced by countries suffering from drought. He explained that the exchange of best practices among IGMVSS member countries stimulated regional solutions, noting productivity gains after ecosystems were restored. He called for better synergies in Africa and recommended focusing on better practices regarding tenure security. During concluding remarks, Jean-François Donzier, Executive Secretary, Alliance for Global Water Adaptation (Alliance4Water), called on the audience to “act” and declared that mobilization and implementation of known solutions is the most important response to dangerous nature degradation. He closed the meeting, inviting participants to sign the International Declaration on “Nature-Based Solutions for Water Management Under Climate Change,” to be presented on 10 November at COP 23. In the ensuing debate, participants discussed, inter alia, traditional knowledge and the role of farmers in the promotion of nature-based solutions; methods to share best practices; and links between oceans and climate change. L-R: Maylis Castaignet, Seine Normandy Partnership; Jean Launay, President, FWP; Aurélie Lhume, UNCCD; Jean-Luc François, AFD; and Tobias Salathe, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands James Dalton, IUCN, underscored the need to translate natural solutions into engineering actions. Jean-Luc François, AFD, said nature is a victim of our current development models. Maylis Castaignet, Seine Normandy Partnership, moderated the session. Adama Doulkom, IGMVSS, noted high costs of climate inaction for vulnerable countries. Aurélie Lhume, UNCCD, noted agroforestry and restoration of basins as valuable nature-based solutions. Contact: Edouard Boinet (INBO) | e.boinet@inbo-news.org Solène Fabrèges (FWP) | solene.fabreges@partenariat-francais-eau.fr More Information: www.riob.org www.partenariat-francais-eau.fr Implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Countries: Progress, Challenges and PerspectivesPresented by Comité Permanent Inter-états de Lutte contre la Sécheresse au Sahel (CILSS); Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF/IFDD), and Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA) In this side event, panelists explored the implementation of NDCs in francophone Africa subregions. Kamal Djemouai, African Group of Negotiations (AGN), and Stéphane Pouffary, ENERGIES 2050 co-moderated the session. Djemouai, introduced the event and called for realistic action to mitigate climate change for future generations.  Abdallah Boureima, UEMOA, explained the relationship between his organization and ECOWAS in the West African region, including in working towards NDC development and implementation. He highlighted initiatives developed through international cooperation, including: addressing vulnerability in agriculture; controlling erosion; forest management; and energy development. He noted that these target rural individuals, who feel the effects of climate change daily. Djimé Adoum, CILSS, referring to the Paris Agreement as a base for climate action, added that consensus and harmonized views were also necessary. He called for dialogue among experts, particularly on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and added that finance is necessary to ensure effective action. Urging for better techniques to adapt to climate change, he drew attention to those created by his organization that would be of use to member states in their NDCs, such as a mapping tool to design and plan good land management. Bernard Dubois, IFDD, highlighted the role of his organization in supporting countries within francophone Africa to implement their NDCs. Noting country-specificities, he called for data, financial support and capacity building to address gaps, in order to implement NDCs. He urged for French to become a more widely-used working language in negotiations. During the discussion, panelists engaged in a dialogue on: financial mechanisms necessary to implement NDCs; key actors and actions in long-term strategies; energy alternatives in Africa; the future trajectory of capacity building in francophone West Africa; and how West African countries that already have national action plans can be an example for the others. Hussein Alfa Nafo, Chair of AGN, closed the session, and called for a strategy to synergize experience sharing within West Africa and abroad. Kamal Djemouai, AGN, said “we need to move together and act quickly.” Bernard Dubois, IFDD, said “we can go further in providing capacity building to break down language barriers.” Abdallah Boureima, UEMOA, explained “we must help West African states in the negotiation process to defend the interests of the region.” Stéphane Pouffary, ENERGIES 2050, posed questions to the panelists on financial mechanisms and long-term strategies to NDCs. Audience members lean in to the discussion. Contact: Arona Soumare (IFDD) | arona.soumare@francophonie.org More Information: www.ifdd.francophonie.org Harnessing Africa’s Emerging Youth Demographic for a Climate Resilient FuturePresented by South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) In this side event, panelists explored the role and potential of African youth in addressing climate change. Sylvia Namukasa, Kirinda Youth Environmental Management and Poverty Alleviation Program (KYEMPAPU), Uganda, moderated the panel. Ditebogo Lebea, SAIIA, said that 65% of Africa’s population are children and youth aged 24 or younger, and that by 2030 a third of the global population will be African. She called for greater African youth participation in UNFCCC processes, saying that the COP is making decisions about African youth without them being present, and noted intersections between climate change, education and health in South Africa. Awa Njie, University of the Gambia, noted climate impacts on her country, including adverse effects on subsistence agriculture and biodiversity. She called for increased youth participation in decision-making, noting in particular the need for capacity-building programs to empower the youth, increased funding for Global South youth delegates, and a seat at the table rather than observer status. Maureen Sigauke, Green Active Citizens, called for harnessing the youth demographic to achieve a climate-resilient future for Africa. Sharing her organization’s experiences in participating in the formulation of national climate policy, she said that all governments should bring young people to the table on climate change decision-making. She noted challenges for youth engagement, including the mobility of African youth and the need for climate finance; and called for increased collaboration amongst the youth and fulfilment of climate finance pledges. Katia Mahery Rakotonirina, Maharitra, presented on youth projects in Madagascar, including on plastic bag use, biogas renewable energy, a zero-waste festival, and a climate change conference. She noted barriers such as a lack of youth interest, the need for capacity building, and a lack of coordination between youth groups in different parts of the country. She suggested developing a networking platform for youth in her country. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, WWF, highlighted the need to include youth in climate solutions, saying that “we are working for the next generation.” He called for: “connecting the dots” between climate change and other environmental and social issues; making the adaptation agenda more relevant; and developing better adaptation indicators. L-R: Awa Njie, University of the Gambia; Ditebogo Lebea, SAIIA; and Sylvia Namukasa, KYEMPAPU, Uganda Sylvia Namukasa, KYEMPAPU, highlighted the benefits of African youth participation in climate action. Participants asked questions during the event Awa Njie, University of the Gambia, Gambia, said African youth "are vital and we serve as a catalyst in combatting climate change.”     Maureen Sigauke, Green Active Citizens, said African youth have the “ideas, drive, and potential” to address climate change. L-R: Katia Mahery Rakotonirina, ONG Maharitra; Maureen Sigauke, Green Active Citizens; Awa Njie, University of the Gambia; Ditebogo Lebea, SAIIA; and Sylvia Namukasa, KYEMPAPU, Uganda Contact: Durrel Halleson (WWF) | dhalleson@wwfcam.org More Information: www.panda.org Enhancing the Resilience of Forests and Ecosystems to Achieve the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of Latin AmericaPresented by EUROCLIMA+, funded by the EU This session, moderated by Roberto Canessa, EUROCLIMA+, focused on the relevance of climate-resilient forests, ecosystems and local communities’ livelihoods in the context of NDC implementation in Latin America. Jolita Butkeviciene, European Commission, noted the cooperation between the EU and Latin America on forests, highlighting European financial support of climate action. She said EUR80 million, with contributions by the French and German governments, are dedicated to support NDCs in Latin America, adding that 16 NDCs in this region include forestry. Martin Kipping, German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), noted the German contribution of EUR2 billion to ongoing forest projects worldwide, highlighting the Amazon basin as the most relevant recipient region. He emphasized the need to merge climate and development policies, and encouraged multi-stakeholder engagement at the country level. María Victoria Chiriboga, Ecuador, emphasized her country’s strategies to tackle deforestation, noting the creation of refined environmental and social safeguards. She called for the integration of mitigation and adaptation measures into one single strategy, lamenting the excess of attention paid to mitigation only. She praised the significant “voices” of Latin American countries within the EUROCLIMA+ decision-making bodies, calling them a model of governance for international cooperation. Andrés Ixim Pop, representing an indigenous organization from Petén, Guatemala, recalled the trajectory of the Maya people, saying the causes of deforestation in his country largely relate to intensive agriculture. He recalled the spiritual values of biodiversity and lamented that asymmetries in power relations continue to promote nature degradation.  Orlando Garner, Honduras, recalled the devastating effects of hurricanes and added that 2015-2016 marked a period of extreme droughts in his country. He noted that this problem caused a six-fold increase in beetles, which destroyed about one-quarter of the country's primary forest cover. He called for investments in youth environmental education to ensure long-term sustainable development strategies. Nicolas Chenet, Expertise France, announced a project of EUR7 million selecting reforestation projects in Latin America under the EUROCLIMA+ programme, including innovation, replicability, inclusiveness, and synergies between local and national policies, as well as local communities’ involvement and co-financing at a rate higher than 20%.   In the ensuing discussion, participants discussed, inter alia, the role of civil society in NDC implementation; financial barriers for reforestation; land rights of indigenous peoples; contradictions between local and national policies; and environmental literacy. L-R: Orlando Garner, Honduras; Nicolas Chenet, Expertise France; Martin Kipping, BMZ; Jolita Butkeviciene, European Commission; María Victoria Chiriboga, Ecuador; and Andrés Ixim Pop, representing an indigenous organization from Petén, Guatemala Roberto Canessa, EUROCLIMA+, moderated the session. María Victoria Chiriboga, Ecuador, explained that deforestation reductions of only 1,49% can already make a difference in terms of greenhouse gas reductions. Orlando Garner, Honduras, recalled the devastating effects of plagues in Honduras’ forests following extreme droughts.   Contact: Roberto Canessa (EUROCLIMA+) | roberto.canessa@euroclima.org More Information: www.euroclima.org   Closing Knowledge Gaps to scale up Adaptation: Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative (LAKI)Presented by UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat and UN Environment In this side event, moderated by Musonda Mumba, UN Environment, panelists discussed using LAKI to close adaptation gaps. Youssef Nassef, UNFCCC Secretariat, introduced the session and the LAKI, which is designed to address knowledge gaps impeding the successful scaling up of adaptation, and is applied at the subregional level. Barney Dickson, UN Environment, noted that his organization, launched its third Adaptation Gap Report on measuring adaptation gaps, which he explained, must be narrowed. In regards to implementing LAKI, he noted good practices, including the partnership between his organization and the UNFCCC Secretariat, working at the subregional level, and engaging with local partners. In terms of areas for improvement, he highlighted a need to catalyze action to fill the gaps, and to address this, he suggested linking LAKI to National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). Bhaskar Singh Karky, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), shared his organization’s experience implementing LAKI in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. In observing that national data does not always reflect the entire country, he noted that LAKI facilitated the identification of challenges through its subregional approach. He emphasized the need for a multi-stakeholder approach in addressing climate adaptation. Julia Barrott, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), explained that her organization can fill knowledge gaps through capacity building and technical support, including through its tools. She highlighted weADAPT, which is an open global online knowledge sharing platform that supports actionable and peer-to-peer learning. She said that LAKI is a starting point to identify improvements, noting that lack of access to existing tools is the main problem, not lack of capacity. Dhanush Dinesh, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), noted that his organization can add value as a research institute, particularly through cross-cutting research initiatives such as the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security. He explained that it engages with multiple UNFCCC processes, including through supplementing technical guidelines of NAPs and nationally determined contributions (NDCs). He urged addressing gender barriers in accessing climate information. Jason Spensley, Green Climate Fund (GCF), highlighted lessons learned from an NAP development financing initiative led by his organization. He noted good practices from its application process, and called on parties to specify knowledge gaps first in order to develop plans to address them. He underscored that tools and technology are barriers to unlocking adaptation financing. Jian Liu, UN Environment, referred to the World Adaptation Science Programme (PROVIA) led by his organization, which works with the research community to fill knowledge gaps in adaptation, and work for people on the ground and at the policy level. He explained that communication is key, particularly in translating technical information to practitioners and decision-makers. During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, among others: the potential to use an ecosystem-based rather than a subregional approach, and to focus on climatic hotspots, such as semi-arid lands and river deltas; the role of traditional knowledge in LAKI; capitalizing on existing local capacities; using agriculture extension officers as change agents; specific tools or challenges to disseminate knowledge; the role of social science in adaptation; and how LAKI examines political economy across subregions. L-R: Jian Liu, UN Environment; Dhanush Dinesh, CGIAR; Musonda Mumba, UN Environment; Julia Barrott, SEI; Jason Spensley, GCF; and Bhaskar Singh Karky, ICIMOD Jian Liu, UN Environment, said we need to bridge the science policy interface and make it work for the people. Julia Barrott, SEI, said her organization can fill gaps in adaptation knowledge. Participants used sli.do, an online platform, to pose questions to the panel. Dhanush Dinesh, CGIAR, said there are gender barriers to accessing climate information. Musonda Mumba, UN Environment, encouraged panelists to discuss the opportunities and challenges of closing knowledge gaps in adaptation. Contact: Rojina Manandhar (UNFCCC Secretariat) | rmanandhar@unfccc.int  More Information: www.unfccc.int/2860.php www.web.unep.org/ Around the Venue         About | 6 Nov | 7 Nov | 8 Nov | 9 Nov | 10 Nov | 11 Nov | 13 Nov | 14 Nov | 15 Nov | 16 Nov | 17 Nov The Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) © enb@iisd.org is a special publication of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). This issue has been written by Suzi Malan, Nicole de Paula, Ph.D., Kelly Sharp, and Natalie Jones. The Digital Editor is Ángeles Estrada. The Editor is Leila Mead leila@iisd.org. The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI kimo@iisd.org. The opinions expressed in ENBOTS are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and funders. Excerpts from ENBOTS may be used in non-commercial publications only with appropriate academic citation. For permission to use this material in commercial publications, contact the Director of IISD Reporting Services at kimo@iisd.org. Electronic versions of issues of ENBOTS from the UN Climate Change Conference 2017, can be found on the IISD Reporting Services website at http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop23/enbots/. The ENBOTS Team at the the UN Climate Change Conference 2017, can be contacted by e-mail at suzi@iisd.org.

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