Small Island Developing States

The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Wednesday, 16 November 2016: Agriculture and Food Security Action Event Climate Resilience for Agriculture and Food Security and Zero Hunger Pan-Canadian Climate Cooperation: High-Level Conference of the Parties Dialogue on Provincial and Federal Climate Action in Canada Ecosystem-based Approach for Climate Change Adaptation in the Maldives IISD Reporting Services, through its ENBOTS Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage from the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Agriculture and Food Security Action Event Presented by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN (FAO) The session was moderated by Rattan Lal, Ohio State University. Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner, Climate and Energy, underscored that agriculture can simultaneously address poverty, hunger and climate change. He noted that numerous countries have included agriculture in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Aziz Akhannouch, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco, said that those involved in Africa’s agriculture sector are the most affected by climate change, with 70% of the population linked to agriculture. He underscored that existing climate finance is insufficient to address food insecurity. Stéphane Le Foll, Minister of Agriculture, France, emphasized that climate solutions must address agriculture and food security or they are not solutions. He stressed agriculture’s dual role in mitigation and adaptation, noting that organic matter in soils both sequesters carbon and increases productivity. José Graziano da Silva, Director General, FAO, stressed that climate change poses a fundamental threat to food security, noting that 800 million suffer from hunger in the world, with a further 120 million at risk. Pointing to the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA) initiative , Emmanuel Faber, CEO, Danone, highlighted the role of local agriculture and said the private sector should embrace it. Laura Tuck, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to financing climate-related activities. Mohammed Badraoui, Director General, National Agronomic Research Institute, Morocco, underscored the importance of the AAA initiative’s cross-cutting elements, including technology transfer, capacity building and South-South cooperation. Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, Natural Resources and Environment, FAO, introduced the FAO’s Global Framework for Action to Cope with Water Scarcity in Agriculture in the Context of Climate Change, which draws on the sector’s existing initiatives, tools and best practices. Pietro Sebastiani, Director General, Development Cooperation, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, in which 132 signatory cities commit to the development of sustainable, resilient and inclusive food chains. Jean-Baptiste Dollé, French Livestock Institute, highlighted the Life Beef Carbon project, which aims to reduce European beef production’s carbon footprint by 15% in the next decade compared to 2015. Johnson Boanuh, Director of Environment, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), launched ECOWAS’ Promotion of Climate-Smart Agriculture and Agro-Ecology Transition in West Africa initiative, which aims to enhance food security and resilience in rural communities. Amira Gornass, Chair of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), called for an integration of food security and nutrition concerns into climate change policies. Tabaré Aguerre, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Uruguay, noted Uruguay’s innovative initiative on soil management through the universal soil loss equation. Charles Ogang, President, Uganda National Farmers Federation, emphasized the strategic importance of food security as part of climate change solutions. Saleemul Huq, Director, International Centre for Climate Change and Development, drew attention to the difficulty of measuring and aggregating adaptation. During the discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: depletion of natural resources as a threat to global security; strategies to promote linkages between agricultural investments, policies and practice; and land-grabbing as a driver of food insecurity. From L-R: Emmanuel Faber, CEO, Danone; Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner, Climate Action and Energy; Aziz Akhannouch, Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco; Stéphane Le Foll, Minister of Agriculture, France; José Graziano da Silva, Director-General, FAO; and Laura Tuck, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner, Climate and Energy, highlighted the role of EU agriculture policy in increasing climate resilience in rural areas. Stéphane Le Foll, Minister of Agriculture, France, highlighted France’s collaboration with FAO. Aziz Akhannouch, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco, underscored the need to put agriculture at the heart of climate negotiations. José Graziano da Silva, Director General, FAO, underscored that climate change is a cornerstone of FAO’s work, noting that FAO has executed more than 500 programmes related to climate change. Laura Tuck, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank, called for a redirection of current agricultural subsidies into climate-smart agriculture projects. Emmanuel Faber, CEO, Danone, highlighted a project with 30,000 farmers in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa who get carbon credits for sustainable agriculture practices. Rattan Lal, Ohio State University, moderated the discussion panel. Room view during the high-level segment Mohammed Badraoui, Director-General, National Agronomic Research Institute, Morocco, noted that the AAA initiative is core to six of the 17 SDGs. Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, Natural Resources and Environment, FAO, highlighted that 90% of NDCs refer to agriculture and 70% to water. Pietro Sebastiani, Director-General, Development Cooperation, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscored the importance of sustainable diets and nutrition. Johnson Boanuh, Director of Environment, ECOWAS, said the Promotion of Climate-Smart Agriculture and Agro-Ecology Transition in West Africa initiative targets 25 million households by 2025. Jean-Baptiste Dollé, French Livestock Institute, pointed to the fact that more than 2,000 farmers are involved in the Life Beef Carbon project. Tabaré Aguerre, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Uruguay, underscored that it will be impossible to meet the food demands of 9.6 billion people without increasing food production. Amira Gornass, Chair, CFS, said that CFS must bring together diverse stakeholders to develop policy guidance. Charles Ogang, President, Uganda National Farmers Federation, stated that world leaders must “walk the talk” of the Paris Agreement. Saleemul Huq, Director, International Centre for Climate Change and Development, said the scientific community is developing a methodology to measure adaptation. Contacts: Rattan Lal | lal.1@osu.edu More Information: Agriculture and Food Security Action Event Climate Resilience for Agriculture and Food Security and Zero HungerPresented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Bank and the World Food Programme (WFP) This side event, moderated by Paula Caballero, Global Director, Climate Program, World Resource Institute (WRI), concentrated on efforts combining the fights against hunger and climate change, focusing on countries’ experiences, and showcasing the importance of data and financial instruments in facilitating adaptation. David Nabarro, UN Secretary-General’s Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, noted that the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2) on zero hunger by 2030 is crucial for achieving all SDGs, and secure economic development. Highlighting the challenge to support investments and climate adaptation, he stressed the need for people-centered, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agricultural systems. Noting that erratic weather patterns, food insecurity and ongoing conflicts make living conditions unbearable for the poorest of the poor in Afghanistan, HRH Prince Mostapha Zaher, Director General, National Environmental Protection Agency, Afghanistan, called for engaging farmers, pastoralists and all stakeholders in a participatory process to address existing and future challenges. Calling for the promotion of integrated farming to combat food insecurity, Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Fiji, underscored, inter alia, the need for: capacity building; utilization of technology; and preservation of local knowledge, focusing on social rather than economic gains. Emphasizing that food security has to do with both access to and supply of food, Luis Felipe Arauz Cavallini, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Costa Rica, highlighted food waste, noting that 10% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the US and UK come from the production, transport and preparation of food that is never consumed. Viwanou Gnassounou, Assistant Secretary-General of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States Group, noted the need to make agriculture more attractive, bringing youth into the sector, scaling up investments and facilitating finance. Noting that 80% of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are linked to SDG 2, José Graziano da Silva, Director General, FAO, underscored the need for increased finance for the agricultural sector, urging support from relevant agents in a position to provide the necessary funds, such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, IFAD, called for additional support to: small farmers, focusing on climate-related finance to manage risks, as well as early warning systems; women, noting that when you support women, you invest in the community; and youth, in order to “capacitate” future farmers. Highlighting climate change as a multiplier and accelerator of risks, Carlo Scaramella, Deputy Regional Director, Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, WFP, discussed WFP’s work on early warning systems, enabling anticipation of disasters, early interventions and mitigation of negative impacts.   Stressing that the agricultural sector is responsible for 25% of global emissions, but does not attract more than 3% of overall climate finance, Ethel Sennhauser, Director, Agriculture Global Practice, World Bank, underscored the need to continue raising awareness, and use the NDCs as an opportunity to show that the agricultural sector can be part of the solution to climate change. In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: the role of traditional knowledge as complementary to that of science; investments in the service providers and the community towards climate-smart agriculture; the potential to use old technologies in adaptation efforts; and human rights considerations in food and agriculture, as well as ways to incorporate them in the work of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). From L-R: HRH Prince Mostapha Zaher, Director General of National Environmental Protection Agency of Afghanistan; Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Fiji; Luis Felipe Arauz Cavallini, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Costa Rica; Paula Caballero, Global Director, Climate Program, WRI; and Viwanou Gnassounou, Assistant Secretary-General of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States Group HRH Prince Mostapha Zaher, Director General of National Environmental Protection Agency of Afghanistan, invited climate change deniers to visit Afghanistan and witness glaciers’ melting. David Nabarro, UN Secretary-General’s Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, noted that agricultural sectors are leading elements of NDCs. Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Fiji, stressed that “the ways we live and cooperate are going to change.” Luis Felipe Arauz Cavallini, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Costa Rica, noted that “we tend to see the impact of climate change on food security in a linear way, while interactions are far more complex.” Viwanou Gnassounou, Assistant Secretary-General of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States Group, discussed ways to make agriculture more attractive to financing institutions. Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, IFAD, said that “development is not something we do for people or to people, development is what people do for themselves.” Paula Caballero, Global Director, Climate Program, WRI, noted that the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development require a fundamental paradigm shift to more resilient, sustainable and inclusive production and consumption patterns. From L-R: Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, IFAD; José Graziano da Silva, Director General, FAO; Paula Caballero, Global Director, Climate Program, WRI; Ethel Sennhauser, Director, Agriculture Global Practice, World Bank; and Carlo Scaramella, Deputy Regional Director, Middle East, North Africa, Europe and CIS countries, WFP José Graziano da Silva, Director General, FAO, said that the impact of food waste is equivalent to that of deforestation. Carlo Scaramella, Deputy Regional Director, Middle East, North Africa, Europe and CIS countries, WFP, urged for sophisticated systems at the global, regional, national and community levels to achieve better management of risks. Ethel Sennhauser, Agriculture Global Practice, World Bank, underscored that “no other sector than agriculture can claim it can heal the planet.” Contacts: Paula Caballero (Moderator) | Paula.Caballero@wri.org Julia Wolf (Coordinator) | Julia.Wolf@fao.org More Information: www.fao.org/home/en www.ifad.org www.worldbank.org www.wfp.org Pan-Canadian Climate Cooperation: High-Level Conference of the Parties Dialogue on Provincial and Federal Climate Action in CanadaPresented by the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Scott Vaughan, President and CEO, IISD, moderated this event. Eric Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment, said the success of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer came from citizen action, political leadership, and innovative power of markets and business. He highlighted that after the US election, there is uncertainty in the climate arena, but called for optimism, noting that 2015 had the most investment in solar and wind. He called for political leadership, noting that if the US is not able to lead, China is ready to do so and will need support from countries like Canada. He stressed that addressing climate change is an opportunity for new jobs, acknowledging that transition to low-carbon development may be challenging at the outset. Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, Alberta, noted that the Province has its own carbon pricing architecture in place, including tax rebates and investments in renewable energy. She highlighted that the Province has capped emissions from the oil and gas sector, and underscored that the world must actively listen to working people in order to meet the challenges of transitioning to low-carbon development pathways. David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, Quebec, noted that a lot of work on climate was being done by intranational states. He pointed to partnerships with the city of Guadalajara, Mexico, on a cap-and-trade system, as well as with cities in China; noting that the role of intranational states is being recognized through the Climate Group. He drew attention to the adoption of the zero emission standards for vehicles; and noted that all the investment in cap-and-trade is itself leveraging further investment in green development. Scott Moe, Minister of the Environment, Saskatchewan, noted that the Province is geographically large with a population of 1.15 million people, and called for greater global collaboration to address climate change. He highlighted the Province’s technology innovation in the agricultural industry, which accounts for about a third of Saskatchewan’s exports, expounding on specific research and development advancements in the sector. Glen Murray, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ontario, noted the Province’s interest in working with others to address climate change in a serious way. He stressed the use of market mechanisms, and provided examples of Ontario’s actions, including the circular economy bill and the cap-and-trade bill, stating that these will be instrumental to decarbonizing economies. Don Iveson, Mayor of Edmonton, said that more than three quarters of Canadians live in urban areas, and welcomed the involvement of municipal governments in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. He underscored the need for carbon pricing, and noted that local governments are critical actors in implementing these policies. Stressing the leadership, innovation and partnerships of local governments, he underscored that local and indigenous voices are critical to addressing climate change. He noted that local leaders in the US should continue to work on climate change even if the federal government does not. Underlining climate action as an opportunity for the country, Catherine McKenna, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Canada, highlighted the efforts made at the local level, including the phasing out of coal in Ontario, zero-emissions vehicles in Quebec and a proposed cap on oil sands emissions in Alberta. She said that COP 22 should celebrate the historic achievements made during 2016, including the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and the ICAO announcement, and then make concrete commitments to address climate at the national level. Natan Obed, President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, stressed the need for Indigenous Peoples to work with the government on adaptation and mitigation, but noted the distance between the government and the Indigenous Peoples in terms of policy and legislative space. He underscored the expectation that Indigenous Peoples will have a sustained and mutual partnership with the government at climate meetings. From L-R: Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, Alberta; David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development; Scott Moe, Minister of the Environment, Saskatchewan; Glen Murray, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ontario; and Don Iveson, Mayor of Edmonton Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, Alberta, noted that the ideal system to address climate change would be based on an economy-wide carbon price, and reinvestment of the revenues into the sectors that need it most. Scott Vaughan, IISD, moderated this event. Eric Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment, urged adopting simpler language in environment discussions, calling for “kitchen conversations on climate,” and noting the name change from “UNEP” to “UN Environment.” Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, Alberta, with David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, Quebec Catherine McKenna, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Canada David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, Quebec, noted significant investments in clean energy and carbon pricing, highlighting that this has spurred jobs growth in the province. Scott Moe, Minister of the Environment, Saskatchewan, noted ongoing climate change mitigation work in coal-fired power plants and in the reduction of methane emissions. Glen Murray, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ontario, noted that the Quebec-Ontario partnership is a leader in climate action, and underscored the reduction in energy costs in industrial manufacturing from the use of reused resources. Contacts: Scott Vaughan (Moderator) | svaughan@iisd.org More Information: www.iisd.org www.ieta.org Ecosystem-based Approach for Climate Change Adaptation in the Maldives Presented by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS), the Maldives and the University of Milano-Bicocca Francesco La Camera, Director General, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Italy, highlighted the importance of working together with small island developing States (SIDS), which must be a priority in addressing climate change. He noted the Maldives faces challenges such as ocean acidification and coral reefs degradation. He underscored that the natural changes taking place are beyond the country’s resilience. Abdullahi Majeed, Director General, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Maldives, noted adaptation cost can be reduced by using biodiversity and traditional knowledge. He outlined the Maldives’ initiatives to protect biodiversity, including the creation of a marine protected area (MPA). Majeed underscored that coral bleaching affects livelihoods, economy and biodiversity.  Paolo Galli, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy, noted his University’s Marine Research and High Education Center (MaRHE) in the Maldives, bringing together academics from all over the world. He said to halt coral bleaching and coral diseases, we need to gather data and investigate the solutions, including biomolecular ecology and coral defence mechanisms.  Ahmed Waheed, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Maldives, outlined water security challenges faced by the Maldives, which will be increased by climate change, including: water scarcity; traditional dependency on shallow wells for multipurpose water use; water-borne diseases; flooding; groundwater pollution; and saltwater intrusion. He outlined integrated water resource management measures implemented in the Maldives to tackle such challenges.  Salvatore Mazzola, National Research Centre (CNR), Italy, highlighted the impacts of acoustic pollution on marine life, individual animals and entire species. He underscored research and measurements being carried out to further understand the impacts of sound frequency and intensiveness, as well as their effects in the Maldives, the Mediterranean and the Arctic. Valerio Perusini, e-Geos, Italy, noted that Earth observation satellites support climate change monitoring, measuring both climate causes and effects. He said that remote sensing and pixel dimension combined with temporal resolution provide accurate measures and higher resolution of data. Elisabeth Holland, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, Fiji, said oceans define the culture and the very being of SIDS populations, delivering livelihoods for families. She noted that her team has supported 120 communities in many SIDS to promote climate resilience and fishery resources. From L-R: Valerio Perusini, e-Geos, Italy; Elisabeth Holland, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, Fijj; Paolo Galli, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy; Ahmed Waheed, Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Maldives; and Salvatore Mazzola, CNR, Italy Abdullahi Majeed, Director General, Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Maldives, emphasized that actions must be implemented combining the Rio Conventions and SDGs. Ahmed Waheed, Director General, Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Maldives, outlined vulnerability indicators in the Maldives. Francesco La Camera, Director General, Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy, highlighted the Italian tradition of working in partnership with SIDS. Underscoring work on the ground, Elisabeth Holland, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, Fijj, noted that oceans define the culture of the SIDS populations. Paolo Galli, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy, noted the structural complexity of coral reefs and that they are the habitat for numerous species. Contacts: Vignola Emmanuela | Vignola.Emmanuela@minammbiente.it More Information: www.marinesciences.unimib.it About | 7 Nov | 8 Nov | 9 Nov | 10 Nov | 11 Nov | 12 Nov | 14 Nov | 15 Nov | 16 Nov | 17 Nov | 18 Nov | Summary 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 Karen Alvarenga, Katherine Browne, Bo-Alex Fredvik, Tallash Kantai, Jennifer Lenhart, Ph.D., Kate Louw, Miquel Muñoz Cabre, Nicole de Paula, and Asterios Tsioumanis, Ph.D. The Digital Editors are Mike Muzurakis and Liz Rubin. The Editor is Elena Kosolapova, Ph.D. <elena@iisd.org>. The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. 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Specific funding for coverage of the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016, has been provided by the Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea of Italy, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 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 Karen Alvarenga, Katherine Browne, Bo-Alex Fredvik, Tallash Kantai, Jennifer Lenhart, Ph.D., Kate Louw, Miquel Muñoz Cabre, Nicole de Paula, and Asterios Tsioumanis, Ph.D. The Digital Editors are Mike Muzurakis and Liz Rubin. The Editor is Elena Kosolapova, Ph.D. <elena@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 Se.png" alt="FOEN" /> IISD Reporting Services is grateful to the many donors of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) and recognizes the following as core contributors to the ENB: the European Union, the Government of Switzerland (the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)), the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. General Support for the Bulletin during 2016 is provided by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SWAN International, the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Japanese Ministry of Environment (through the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies - IGES), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Funding for translation of the Bulletin into French has been provided by the Government of France, the Wallonia, Québec, and the International Organization of La Francophonie/Institute for Sustainable Development of La Francophonie (IOF/IFDD). Resources for the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Website for the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Website for Side Events and Exhibits at the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Schedule of Side Events at the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Overview Schedule for the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Host Country Website IISD ENB/ENB+ Meeting Coverage 44th Session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-44), 17-20 October 2016, United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), Bangkok, Thailand Bonn Climate Change Conference - May 2016, 16-26 May 2016, Bonn, Germany High-Level Signature Ceremony for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, 22 April 2016, UN Headquarters, New York IPCC-43, 11-13 April 2016, Headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Nairobi, Kenya Paris Climate Change Conference - November 2015, 29 November - 13 December 2015, Paris, France Coverage of Side Events at the Paris Climate Change Conference - November 2015, 29 November - 11 December 2015, Paris, France Bonn Climate Change Conference - October 2015, 19-23 October 2015, Bonn, Germany IPCC-42, 5-8 October 2015, Dubrovnik, Croatia Bonn Climate Change Conference - August 2015, 31 August - 4 September 2015, Bonn, Germany Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2015, 1-11 June 2015, Bonn, Germany Coverage of Side Events at the Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2015, 1-11 June 2015, Bonn, Germany 9th Meeting of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board, 24-26 March 2015, Songdo, Republic of Korea IPCC-41, 24-27 February 2015, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya Geneva Climate Change Conference - February 2015, 8-13 February 2015, Geneva, Switzerland Lima Climate Change Conference - December 2014, 1-14 December 2014, Lima, Peru Coverage of Side Events at the Lima Climate Change Conference - December 2014, 1-12 December 2014, Lima, Peru IPCC-40, 27-31 October 2014, Copenhagen, Denmark Bonn Climate Change Conference - October 2014, 20-25 October 2014, Bonn, Germany UN Climate Summit 2014 - “Catalyzing Action”, 23 September 2014, UN Headquarters, New York Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2014, 4-15 June 2014, Bonn, Germany 12th Session of the IPCC Working Group III (WGIII-12) and IPCC-39, 7-12 April 2014, Berlin, Germany Bonn Climate Change Conference - March 2014, 10-14 March 2014, Bonn, Germany WGII-10 and IPCC-38, 25-29 March 2014, Yokohama, Japan IPCC-37, 14-17 October 2013, Batumi, Georgia IPCC-36, 23-26 September 2013, Stockholm, Sweden Additional IISD Resources CLIMATE-L - A Mailing List for News on Climate Change Policy SDG Knowledge Hub - An online resource center for news and commentary regarding the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Linkages Update - Bi-weekly International Environment and Sustainable Development News © 2016, IISD Reporting Services. 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The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Friday, 11 November 2016: Reshaping Development Pathways Towards Climate Resilience The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Update – 2016 Progress in Supporting Low-Emission and Climate-Resilient Development Pathways Mapping and Understanding Mountains to Achieve the 2030 Agenda Enhancing Transparency of Mitigation and Finance: Lessons from Experience Climate Change and Energy Transition in the Mediterranean Region: Opportunities Through Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Cooperation Improving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Ecovillage Development, Energy Access and Zero-Carbon Societies in Africa, Asia and the European Union (EU) IISD Reporting Services, through its ENBOTS Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage from the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis and Liz Rubin For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Reshaping Development Pathways Towards Climate ResiliencePresented by the UN Secretary General’s Climate Resilience Initiative: Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape (A2R), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Moderating the session, Maarten van Aalst, A2R, introduced the Initiative, noting that it came out of the commitment to involve a wider range of stakeholders in resilience to climate change. He drew attention to aspects of resilience embedded in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as in the humanitarian sector, and recognized the importance of anticipating the effects of climate change and acting on them in a timely manner. Observing that the Gulf region is already experiencing ecological challenges due to climate changes as well as socio-economic challenges due to dependence on fossil fuels, Khalid Abuleif, Chief Negotiator, Saudi Arabia, welcomed the Paris Agreement as a means to reshape the future of the region. He said that the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) in the region focus on climate resilience, and highlighted efforts to increase resilience in water management in Saudi Arabia. Mulugeta Mengist Ayalew, Director, Climate Change Affairs, Ethiopia, outlined national efforts to increase resilience, saying that they recognize the need to invest in: rural and urban social schemes; agricultural resilience; transport; and resilient energy mixes. Jay Koh, Global Adaptation and Resilience Investment Working Group, said that the private sector has the expertise, capability and finance to engage in resilience and climate adaptation issues, but requires: standards and data using harmonized approaches; coordinated activity to draw private sector finance; and increased blended finance. Highlighting the growing global population and the need to increase food production, John Roome, World Bank, stressed the fundamental need to rethink agriculture, infrastructure and resilient social protection. He also spoke about the need for resilient cities, which he said will only be achieved through systemic changes in design decisions made now. Lisa Dale, Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, described the Center’s partnership with the A2R Initiative, noting the gaps in climate resilience data and spoke of the challenges in reshaping development pathways. She highlighted the difficulties in understanding national resilience budgeting, as resilience is integrated into planning processes, stressing that the most important adaptation work occurs at the sub-national and local levels. In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: Saudi Arabia’s support for vulnerable countries, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS) through South-South cooperation; the importance of ramping up resilience at the same speed as mitigation; Ethiopia’s efforts in integrating early warning systems into resilience measures; and the need to integrate evidence from the ground into policies to create incremental change. From L-R: Jay Koh, Global Adaptation and Resilience Investment Working Group; Mulugeta Mengist Ayalew, Director, Climate Change Affairs, Ethiopia; and Khalid Abuleif, Chief Negotiator, Saudi Arabia Maarten van Aalst, A2R, described A2R as a facilitative platform on resilience. Khalid Abuleif, Chief Negotiator, Saudi Arabia, noted that, in order to strengthen resilience, any new sector will be subject to heavy regulations and evaluated on parameters such as energy intensity, use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, use of natural gas and increasing the standards of flaring. Lisa Dale, Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, noted that for most countries the challenge of reshaping development pathways is usually a capacity challenge. To increase resilience in Ethiopia, Mulugeta Mengist Ayalew, Director, Climate Change Affairs, Ethiopia, said a significant amount of resources are required, and that while they are trying to primarily rely on domestic resources, international support will be needed. Jay Koh, Global Adaptation and Resilience Investment Working Group, stated that the private sector has two messages for the climate sector: “we are here, and we want your engagement." Contacts: Maarten van Aalst (Moderator) | vanaalst@climatecentre.org More Information: reeep.org/events/cop22-side-event-ndc-driven-sme-climate-finance-pathways-developing-countries The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Update – 2016 Progress in Supporting Low-Emission and Climate-Resilient Development PathwaysPresented by the GCF This side event, moderated by Clifford Polycarp, GCF, presented the progress towards supporting developing countries in project financing, as well as initiatives to build on complementarity and coherence with other multilateral funds. Underscoring the GCF’s core principles, Zaheer Fakir, GCF Co-Chair, emphasized its role in empowering countries, unlocking their potential and promoting domestic institutional capacities. He stressed the slogan “business unusual,” underscoring direct access and institutional behavioral change. Noting that US$1 billion worth of projects have already been approved, Ewen McDonald, GCF Co-Chair, stressed that GCF’s portfolio is balanced with 27% of the projects focusing on mitigation, 28% on adaptation and 45% being of a cross-cutting nature. Underscoring the aspirational goal of utilizing US$2.5 billion for funding projects this year, he urged for an increase in the volume and quality of proposals. Javier Manzanares, GCF Executive Director ad interim, focused, among others, on: the Readiness Programme support; design and implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs); and harnessing innovation and technology. He further highlighted the need to maximize the engagement of the private sector, build institutional capabilities and strong relationships with all stakeholders, and invest in transformational actions in a country-driven manner. Ousseynou Nakoulima, GCF, provided an overview of the state of play, noting that more than 90 country programmes have been funded, and giving information on their geographical distribution. He described structured dialogues as the way to facilitate discussions between countries and entities, and underscored the diverse network of GCF partners as key actors to deliver the programmes’ objectives. Jiwoo Choi, GCF, discussed the GCF portfolio by region, instrument and adaptation or mitigation window. She provided numerous examples of programmes, highlighting the Sustainable Energy Financing Facilities (SEFFs) launched by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Universal Green Energy Access Programme (UGEAP) and the Sustainable Landscapes programme in Eastern Madagascar. Benedict Libanda, Environment Investment Fund, Namibia, discussed a community-based resource management programme in Namibia, noting that even relatively small projects may be effective in improving the livelihoods of local people, building capacities and institutions. Amal-Lee Amin, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), focused on the programme for sustainable energy alternatives for the Eastern Caribbean Countries (ECCs), providing details of the different stages of project development, and noting that geothermal energy, combined with solar energy and hydroelectric power, present significant potential to displace the use of oil in the region. Hakima El Haité, Minister Delegate in Charge of Environment of the Ministry of Energy, Mining, Water and Environment, Morocco, highlighted water, food security and energy as the priority sectors for Africa, and underscored the need for effective project implementation. In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: funding towards direct-access projects; ways to enhance transparency and effectiveness, and improve access to civil society organizations; collaboration with other institutions and neighboring countries; ways to engage less bureaucratic and more effective institutions; and ways to promote country ownership of projects. From L-R: Jiwoo Choi, GCF; Ousseynou Nakoulima, GCF; Ewen McDonald, GCF Co-Chair; Zaheer Fakir, GCF Co-Chair; and Javier Manzanares, GCF Executive Director ad interim Javier Manzanares, GCF Executive Director ad interim, stressed the need to maximize the private sector’s engagement and build institutional capacities. Hakima El Haité, Minister Delegate in Charge of Environment of the Ministry of Energy, Mining, Water and Environment, Morocco, underscored that the application process should be simple, so that developing countries can easily access GCF funds in order to finance their adaptation projects. Zaheer Fakir, GCF Co-Chair, stressed that business-as-usual is not working, arguing for a “business unusual” pathway. Lifting the GCF ambition regarding funding projects, Ewen McDonald, GCF Co-Chair, called for numerous, quality proposals. Contacts: Clifford Polycarp | cpolycarp@gcfund.org More Information: www.greenclimate.fund Mapping and Understanding Mountains to Achieve the 2030 Agenda Presented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and OIKOS The session, moderated by Simon Rietbergen, FAO, focused on mountain frameworks in the context of climate change. He stressed that food security in mountain areas has decreased over the last decade. Andrew Taber, Executive Director, Mountain Institute, said that mountains have an important economic role in tourism, mining and forestry, provide 60-80% of global freshwater, and shelter a quarter of global terrestrial biodiversity and forests. He noted mountains are recognized in 48 Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) and three targets under two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Stressing that even though 40% of people vulnerable to food insecurity live in mountains and that mountains are not mentioned in SDG 2 (zero hunger), he recommended specifically assessing the role of mountains across all the SDGs. Tilman Hertz, International Climate Initiative, underscored the importance of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA). He said EbA is a no-regrets measure that delivers many benefits, and is mentioned in 100 NDCs. He described EbA approaches in Chile to reduce avalanches, and in Nepal to reduce erosion rates near roads. He noted that eco-safe roads become cost effective in 12 years due to reduced maintenance costs. Eric Chavez Betancourt, President, OIKOS, presented on the case of vicuñas in Peru for ecosystem conservation, poverty reduction, development, adaptation and mitigation. He highlighted how, brought back from the brink of extinction, vicuñas provide an opportunity for lifting one million people in Peru out of poverty. Additionally, he noted that protecting vicuñas’ natural habitats, grasslands and wetlands provides key ecosystem services, such as water provision and carbon fixation. He called for Reduced Emissions from Avoided Degradation (READ) to be considered alongside REDD+. Faya Ahmed, Guinea, noted climate change impacts in Guinea’s mountains, including disruptions in rainfall patterns and spread of diseases such as malaria. Ahmed stressed that those impacts are worsened by practices, such as unsustainable farming and forestry, and by the lack of local health services. Charles Nyandiga, Small Grants Programme of the UN Development Programme and the Global Environment Facility (UNDP/GEF), underscored the central role of local communities in mountain conservation and adaptation strategies. He described examples of traditional crop usage to reverse agriculture degradation, agroforestry practices to reduce flooding and landslides, water management strategies to reduce water scarcity and ecosystem degradation, and ridge-to-reef strategies in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). He stressed that adopting improved energy cooking systems can significantly reduce pressure on mountain ecosystems. In the discussion, participants considered the importance of both EbA and community-based approaches. From L-R: Charles Nyandiga, UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme; Eric Chavez Betancourt, President, OIKOS; Simon Rietbergen, FAO; Andrew Taber, Executive Director, Mountain Institute; and Tilman Hertz, International Climate Initiative Eric Chavez Betancourt, President, OIKOS, noted that traditional activities, such as rounding up vicuñas, help to maintain the cultural identity of communities. Faya Ahmed, Guinea, presented on the impacts of climate change in Mont Gangan, Guinea. Andrew Taber, as Chair of the Mountain Partnership, noted that the Mountain Partnership includes 57 governments and more than 280 organizations. Tilman Hertz, International Climate Initiative, said the Initiative had funded 500 projects for a total of €1.7 billion. Contacts: Simon Rietbergen (Moderator) | simon.rietbergen@fao.org More Information: www.mountainpartnership.org/ Enhancing Transparency of Mitigation and Finance: Lessons from ExperiencePresented by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Introduced by Jacob Werksman, DG-CLIMA, European Commission (EC), the event was moderated by Jane Ellis, OECD, and focused on enhancing the transparency of climate mitigation and finance. Gregory Briner, OECD, compared the diversity of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Olympic disciplines, noting that there is not a single metric to measure the performance of all athletes. He underscored that often information is missing from NDCs, such as models and assumptions for business-as-usual (BAU) scenarios, or gross domestic product (GDP) and population projections in energy intensity goals. Sara Moarif, International Energy Agency (IEA), emphasized the importance of guidelines both for reporting and for reviewing. She said review and analysis should be objective, technical and focus on what is most useful to parties. She noted that, while review and analysis are resource-intensive, the benefits are very high. Jane Ellis, OECD, underscored the gaps in information regarding climate change finance, particularly private finance mobilized by public finance. She emphasized the need to ensure comparability of climate finance accounting methodologies, and noted that collective reporting of climate finance mobilized could improve the comprehensiveness and comparability of data. Cristina Urrutia, Peru, highlighted the country’s Inforcarbon tool, which provides reporting guidelines and emission factors for the different sectors in the country. She noted the tool has improved access and retention of information by the government. She noted the technical review process has increased the sense of relevance. Noting the lack of capacity in African countries, Alpha Kaloga, African Group, said the transparency framework should be fit for purpose. He highlighted the lack of information sharing within the recipient countries, and suggested that donors share information on climate finance with a national focal point. Yamil Bonduki, UN Development Programme (UNDP), said that transparency of NDCs has to be considered from the beginning of the process, rather than as an afterthought. He underscored the importance of understanding flows by sector at the national and international levels. Noting UNDP research on climate finance allocation over the years, he underlined the need for more understanding on how it affects the private sector. Bonduki said having a more transparent system for finance will attract international support, as donors are reassured the resources create the intended impact. In the ensuing discussion, participants discussed the role of multilateral institutions in incentivizing private investment, the need for annual data for modelers, capacity building at the sectoral level, domestic tracking of climate finance, and the role of civil society in tracking finance. From L-R: Jane Ellis, OECD; Sara Moarif, IEA; Gregory Briner, OECD; Cristina Urrutia, Peru; Alpha Kaloga, African Group; and Yamil Bonduki, UNDP Jacob Werksman, DG-CLIMA, EC, underscored the importance of transparency in mitigation and climate finance reporting. Gregory Briner, OECD, highlighted the importance of modalities, procedures and guidelines for transparency. Alpha Kaloga, African Group, supported the idea of a gatekeeper to centralize information on climate finance at the national level. Jane Ellis, OECD, noted that the Paris Agreement has an inconsistency on climate finance reporting provisions. Contacts: Jane Ellis (Coordinator) | jane.ellis@oecd.org More Information: www.oecd.org/env/cc/cop22-programme-side-events.htm Climate Change and Energy Transition in the Mediterranean Region: Opportunities Through Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) CooperationPresented by Observatoire Méditerranéen de l'Energie (OME) and Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya (UPC) This event, moderated by Houda Allal, General Director, OME, analyzed the Mediterranean basin countries’ NDCs and provided recommendations for achieving a low-carbon energy transition. Bruno Lescoeur, Chairman, OME, and Josep Xercavins, UPC, provided opening remarks. Lescoeur underscored the need for a low-carbon energy transition, stating that, without a drastic change in energy policy, energy emissions will continue to increase. Anne-France Didier, Director, Plan Bleu, provided an overview of the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean, noting the recently adopted strategies to address sustainable development and climate change under the Convention. On the Mediterranean NDCs, Xercavins said there is a large gap between the aggregate effect of the current NDCs and the level of compromises required to achieve the 2°C goal under the Paris Agreement. Olga Alcaraz, UPC, said that it is necessary to translate NDCs’ modelling to the country level to understand fully the levels of ambition. Lisa Guarrera, OME, presented on whether the NDC scenarios are setting us on the desired climate path. She said that, while it is clear that the North Mediterranean has embarked on a clear energy transition pathway in its NDCs, the South Mediterranean could be more ambitious. François Gréaume, French Environment and Energy Management Agency, highlighted key aspects of a successful energy transition, including: development of local capacities; programme implementation in priority sectors like energy, transport and agriculture; and engaging all actors in the energy transition. Amine Homman, ENGIE, then moderated a roundtable discussion. Mohamed El Amrani, Fédération de l’Energie, Morocco, said that Morocco is committed to achieving its NDC, having allocated over US$70 million to transitioning to clean energy. Abdelali Dakkina, National Agency for Energy Efficiency, Morocco, drew attention to the huge energy efficiency potential, which could take Morocco halfway to achieving its emissions reduction goal. Silvia Pariente-David, Center for Mediterranean Integration, noted that none of the NDCs from the Mediterranean reflect the need for better market integration to reduce emissions. She stressed the huge potential for renewables and called on the region to transition directly to natural gas. Amado Gil, Gas Natural Fenosa (GNF), stressed the role of natural gas in energy efficiency. In the discussion, participants considered the need to balance between energy supply and demand in the region, and the commitment of gas companies to changing the fossil fuel narrative. From L-R: Josep Xercavins, UPC; Bruno Lescoeur, Chairman, OME; and Houda Allal, General Director, OME. Josep Xercavins, UPC, underscored the need for references in order to assess if a country is on track for the 2°C global goal and that, with equity and justice, it is possible to translate the global goal reference to the Mediterranean region. Bruno Lescoeur, Chairman, OME, underlined the urgent need to profile and rethink how energy is produced, used and transformed in order to address climate change in the context of NDCs. Houda Allal, General Director, OME, said less energy consumption is not necessarily a reduction in energy use but an avoidance of emissions. Contacts: Houda Allal (Moderator) | houda.allal@ome.org Josep Xercavins | josep.xercavins@upc.edu More Information: www.ome.org/ www.upc.edu/ Improving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Ecovillage Development, Energy Access and Zero-Carbon Societies in Africa, Asia and the European Union (EU)Presented by the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), the International Network for Sustainable Energy (INFORSE) and the Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy (NFVE) This side event, co-moderated by Kosha Anja Joubert, Executive Director, GEN, Gunnar Boye Olesen, INFORSE, and Preben Maegaard, Executive Director, NFVE, focused on ways through which local solutions may lead to ambitious NDCs, provide energy access and improve livelihoods. Highlighting intentional, traditional and urban ecovillages, and noting that GEN reaches out to 100,000 communities worldwide, Joubert urged considering new concepts of wealth, celebrating human culture and rebuilding solidarity in local communities. Tim Clarke, European Network for Community-Led Initiatives on Climate Change and Sustainability (ECOLISE), underscored social inclusion, local ownership, employment generation, and access to untapped resources and indigenous knowledge. Focusing on children, Linda Kabaira, GEN-Africa, Zimbabwe, presented on efforts to build resilience in a changing climate by greening schools. Highlighting that his country has negative net carbon emissions, Chencho Norbu, National Environment Commission Secretariat (NECS), Bhutan, presented national policies pursuing, inter alia, organic farming. Kavita Shriya Myles, INFORSE South Asia, discussed a pro-poor approach to universal clean energy access and a compassionate approach to improving livelihoods. Describing ecovillage development (EVD) as a climate solution, Dumindu Herath, Integrated Development Association (IDEA), Sri Lanka, underscored national initiatives, including the development of 10,000 climate-smart villages. Shovana Maharjan, Centre for Rural Technology (CRT), Nepal, discussed EVD contribution to achieving national and international goals and targets, highlighting capacity building and awareness-raising campaigns. Mohammad Mahmodul Hasan, Grameen Shakti, Bangladesh, addressed existing mitigation solutions at the national level, including the solar home electricity programme for off-grid villages, improved cooking stoves, biogas plants and organic farming. Underscoring the transboundary, cross-sectional and cross-cutting nature of climate change, Santosh Patnaik, Climate Action Network (CAN) South Asia, urged for regional cooperation to overcome climate vulnerabilities. Maegaard stressed that, by 2030, 58% of all new electricity generation capacity will be based on renewables. Stressing that the science behind the Paris Agreement clearly recognizes the need for net Zero-Carbon emissions, Paul Allen, Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), UK, identified food, transport, buildings and energy as the four key sectors, and underscored that by "breaking existing climate silence", people forge a collective identity. Highlighting community power for the transition to 100% renewable energy, Leire Gorroño Albizu, NFVE, presented the case study of Hvide Sande in Denmark, where the installation of three community-owned wind turbines led to economic stability and development, job creation and self-sufficiency. During discussions, participants addressed, among others: emissions related to meat consumption; reduction in beef consumption and potential effects for communities that are based on animal husbandry; ways to overcome water scarcity problems; inclusiveness under mitigation; and ways to connect the regional, national and international levels. From L-R: Chencho Norbu, NECS, Bhutan; Tim Clarke, ECOLISE; Kosha Anja Joubert, Executive Director, GEN; and Linda Kabaira, GEN-Africa, Zimbabwe Highlighting food sovereignty, Linda Kabaira, GEN-Africa, Zimbabwe, cried on behalf of the children: “we are not too young to be involved.” Calling for rebuilding solidarity and sharing, Kosha Anja Joubert, Executive Director, GEN, stressed that there are no solutions at the national level; “we are in one boat.” From L-R: Shovana Maharjan, CRT, Nepal; Mohammad Mahmodul Hasan, Grameen Shakti, Bangladesh; Gunnar Boye Olesen, INFORSE; Kavita Myles, INFORSE South Asia; Dumindu Herath, IDEA, Sri Lanka; and Santosh Patnaik, CAN South Asia Mohammad Mahmodul Hasan, Grameen Shakti, Bangladesh, noted that a model for EVD will be submitted as a project proposal to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Kavita Shriya Myles, INFORSE South Asia, highlighted gender mainstreaming income generation, capacity building and equitable access to resources. Contacts: Kosha Anja Joubert (Moderator) | kosha.joubert@ecovillage.org Gunnar Boye Olesen (Moderator) | olesen@ve.dk Preben Maegaard (Moderator) | pm@folkecenter.dk More Information: www.gen.ecovillage.org www.inforse.dk www.folkecenter.net

On Tuesday, 25 October 2016, Naoko Ishii, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), opened the 51st meeting of the GEF Council with the launch of the publication ‘25 Years of the GEF’ outlining the GEF’s accomplishments over the past 25 years and the way forward. Carlos Raul Delgado (Mexico, Council Member for the constituency of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Venezuela) was elected Co-Chair for the 51st meeting of the GEF Council. During their first substantive discussion of the 51st meeting, the GEF Council exchanged views on the Annual Portfolio Monitoring Report 2016. Council members welcomed the updated GEF Corporate Scorecard annexed to the report and made suggestions for its improvement by, inter alia: including indicators on monitoring and evaluation; developing indicators on the degree of innovation and risk involved across the portfolios; and developing sustainability indicators. Council members also heard the report of Rosina Bierbaum, Chair, Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP). Bierbaum outlined STAP’s report titled ‘Governance Challenges, Gaps and Management Opportunities in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ),’ suggesting that the GEF consider emerging issues, including: enhancing knowledge; supporting high-impact demonstration projects; supporting areas-based planning and management tools; and building technical capacity in small island developing States (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs). Additional agenda items discussed on the first day of the Council’s 51st meeting included: update on the projected resource availability from the sixth replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund (GEF-6); work program for the GEF Trust Fund; seventh replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund (GEF-7); and an update on the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT). In the afternoon, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the GEF launched two reports: ‘Voices of Impact: Speaking for the Global Commons,’ and ‘Silent Roar: UNDP and GEF in the Snow Leopard Landscape.’ IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage from the GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs, 51st GEF Council Meeting and 21st Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary report in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Opening of the Meeting Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson, opened the 51st meeting of the GEF Council Carlos Raul Delgado, GEF Council Member, Mexico, was elected as Co-Chair for the meeting Carlos Raul Delgado, Co-Chair; Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson; and William Ehlers, GEF Council Secretary Philipp Knill, Germany Alix Thepot, France Weifang Yang, China Subhash Chandra Garg, India Priscilla Achakpa, GEF-CSO Network, RFP West Africa Paul Ralison, Madagascar Gustavo Fonseca, GEF Secratariat View of the STAP presentation Thomas Hammond, STAP Secretary, and Rosina Bierbaum, STAP Chair Nuritdin Inamov, Russian Federation Josceline Wheatley, UK Javad Momeni, Iran Herbert Acquay, GEF Secretariat Bruce Kijiner, Marshall Islands Jozef Buys, Belgium Mario Gustavo Mottin, Brazil L-R: Nana Janashia, Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN), and Anastasiya Zhdanovich, Belarusian Environmental Movement Praveen Prasad Desabatla, World Bank Guri Sandberg, Norway Kees Rade, the Netherlands Rachna Ramsurn, Mauritius Mikael Eriksson, Sweden Stefan Marco Schwager, Switzerland Claus Pram Astrup, GEF Secretariat Chizuru Aoki, GEF Secretariat L-R: Midori Paxton and Adriana Dinu, UNDP, in collaboration with the GEF, launched ‘Voices of Impact: Speaking for the Global Commons’ and ‘Silent Roar: UNDP and GEF in the Snow Leopard Landscape’ during the 51st meeting of the GEF Council ‘Voices of Impact: Speaking for the Global Commons,’ introduced during the GEF Council meeting L-R: Yoko Watanabe, GEF Secretariat; Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson, with Adriana Dinu, Timothy Scott and Midori Paxton, UNDP, presenting ‘Silent Roar: UNDP and GEF in the Snow Leopard Landscape’