Recent Development:
United Nations Climate Change Conference - Conference of the Parties (COP)
The United Nations Climate Change Conferences are yearly conferences held in the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). They serve as the formal meeting of the UNFCCC Parties (Conferences of the Parties) (COP) to assess progress in dealing with climate change, and beginning in the mid-1990s, to negotiate the Kyoto Protocol to establish legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Also parties to the Convention that are not parties to the Protocol can participate in Protocol-related meetings as observers. The first conference was held in 1995 in Berlin. The Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997 after the negotiations at COP 3.
At COP13 in Bali (2007)
The Bali Road Map was adopted at the 13th Conference of the Parties and the 3rd Meeting of the Parties in December 2007 in Bali. The Bali Road Map includes the Bali Action Plan, which charts the course for a new negotiating process designed to tackle climate change. The Bali Action Plan aimed at (i) shared vision for long-term cooperative action, including a long-term
4 http://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/
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Student Notes:
global goal for emission reductions, (ii) enhanced national/ international action on mitigation of climate change, (iii) enhanced action on adaptation, (iv) enhanced action on technology development and transfer to support action on mitigation and adaptation, & (v) enhanced action on the provision of financial resources and investment to support action on mitigation and adaptation and technology cooperation. There was a strong consensus for updated changes for both developed and developing countries. Although there were not specific numbers agreed upon in order to cut emissions, the Decision recognized that there was a need for "deep cuts in global emissions" (plural countries proposed 100% reduction in 2050) and that "developed country emissions must fall 10-40% by 2020".
At COP15 in Copenhagen (2009)
The Copenhagen Climate Change Conference raised climate change policy to the highest political level. It advanced many key issues like it raised climate change policy to the highest political level; it advanced the negotiations on the infrastructure needed for well-functioning, global climate change cooperation; It produced the Copenhagen Accord. The accord endorsed the continuation of the Kyoto protocol and emphasised a "strong political will to urgently combat climate change in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”. It was not adopted by all governments, but it advanced a number of key issues; and it committed developed countries to $30 billion fast-start financing (in 2010-2012) for adaptation and mitigation in developing countries, with priority given to the least developed countries.
At COP16 in Cancun (2010)
The agreements encompassed finance, technology and capacity-building support to help such countries meet urgent needs to adapt to climate change, and to speed up their plans to adopt sustainable paths to low emission economies that could also resist the negative impacts of climate change. The Cancun Agreements main objectives covered Mitigation plans to establish clear goals and a timely schedule for reducing human-generated greenhouse gas emissions over time to keep the global average temperature rise below two degrees. It aimed at promoting transparency of actions and use of technology to boost efforts to address climate change. It also aimed to set up the Green Climate Fund5 to provide support to developing countries to assist them in mitigating climate change and adapting to its impacts.
At COP 17 in Durban (2011)
In Durban, governments clearly recognized the need to draw up the blueprint for a fresh universal, legal agreement to deal with climate change beyond 2020. All governments committed in Durban to a comprehensive plan that would come closer over time to delivering the ultimate objective of the Climate Change Convention: to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent our dangerous interference with the climate system and at the same time will preserve the right to sustainable development.
Four main areas of coordinated and complementary action and implementation, designed also
5 The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a fund within the framework of the UNFCCC founded as a mechanism to transfer money from the developed to the developing world, in order to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change. It will support projects, programmes, policies and other activities in developing country and is intended to be the centrepiece of efforts to raise Climate Finance of $100 billion a year by 2020.
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Student Notes:
to build and preserve trust among countries, were agreed:
1) Second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol - The continuation of the current international legal system through a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol till 2020.
2) Launch of new platform of negotiations - The launch of a new platform of negotiations
under the Convention to deliver a new and universal greenhouse gas reduction protocol, legal instrument or other outcome with legal force by 2015 for the period beyond 2020. This new negotiation critically includes finding ways to further raise the existing level of national and international action and stated ambition to bring greenhouse gas emissions down.
3) Conclusion in 2012 of existing broad-based stream of negotiations - A decision to conclude within 2012 the work of the existing broad-based stream of negotiations that includes all member nations under the Convention. This includes work to make existing national emission reduction or emission limitation plans more transparent. It also encompasses the launch and long-term implementation of the comprehensive global support network that will deliver funding and technology to help developing countries build their own clean energy futures and construct societies and economies which are resilient to climate change.
4) Global Review - To scope out and then conduct a fresh global review of the emerging climate challenge, based on the best available science and data, first to ensure whether a maximum two-degree rise is enough or whether an even lower 1.5 degree rise is required, and then to ensure that collective action is adequate to prevent the average global temperature rising beyond the agreed limit.
At COP18 in Doha (2012)
Governments consolidated the gains of international climate change negotiations and opened a gateway to necessary greater ambition and action on all levels. The governments agreed to strengthen their resolve and set out a timetable to adopt a universal climate agreement by
2015, which will come into effect in 2020; to streamline the negotiations, completing the work under the Bali Action Plan to concentrate on the new work towards a 2015 agreement under a single negotiating stream in the Ad hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP); launched a new commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol.
Timetable for the 2015 global climate change agreement and increasing ambition before 2020 - So that the world has a chance to stay below an agreed maximum 2 degrees Celsius temperature rise, beyond which even more serious climate change impacts will occur, governments agreed to speedily work toward a universal climate change agreement covering all countries from 2020, to be adopted by 2015.
Amendment of the Kyoto Protocol - The Kyoto Protocol, as the only existing and binding agreement under which developed countries undertake quantitative commitments to cut greenhouse gases, was amended so that it could seamlessly continue.
1) Governments decided on an 8 year second commitment period that started on January
1st 2013.
2) The legal requirements that will allow a smooth continuation of the Protocol were agreed, and the valuable accounting rules of the Protocol were preserved.
3) Countries that are taking on further commitments under the Kyoto Protocol agreed to review their emission reduction commitments at the latest by 2014, with a view to increasing their respective levels of ambition.
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4) The Kyoto Protocol's Market Mechanisms – the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Joint Implementation (JI) and International Emissions Trading (IET) – will continue.
5) Access to the mechanisms remains uninterrupted for all developed countries that have accepted targets for the second commitment period.
6) Surplus assigned amount units (AAUs) can be carried over without limit from the first to
the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol by Parties included in Annex I
that have a target for the second commitment period.
COP 18 endorsed the selection of the Republic of Korea as the host of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the work plan of the Standing Committee on Finance. The GCF was expected to start its work in Songdo in the second half of 2013. Developed countries reiterated their commitment to deliver on promises to continue Long-term climate finance support to developing nations, with a view to mobilizing USD 100 billion annually from a variety of sources both for adaptation and mitigation by 2020.
Governments would continue a work programme on long-term finance during 2013 to identify pathways for mobilizing scaled-up finance to reach the 100 billion target by 2020. Also, the Governments launched a robust process to review the long-term temperature goal, which is to start in 2013 and conclude by 2015, aimed at providing a reality check on the advance of the climate change threat and the possible need to mobilize further action.
At COP19 in Warsaw (2013)
Governments took further essential decisions to stay on track towards securing a universal climate change agreement in 2015. The objective of the 2015 agreement is twofold: First, to bind nations together into an effective global effort to reduce emissions rapidly enough to chart humanity's longer-term path out of the danger zone of climate change, while building adaptation capacity; second, to stimulate faster and broader action. The governments decided to move towards a universal agreement that required monitoring, reporting and verification arrangements for domestic action have been finalized for implementation, thereby providing a solid foundation for the 2015 agreement, which will enter into force in 2020. The conference strengthened efforts to mobilize USD 100 billion by 2020. It was also decided to convene Ministerial meetings on long-term finance every two years for the period 2014-2020. Also, the rulebook for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation was agreed, together with measures to bolster forest preservation and a results-based payment system to promote forest protection.
The framework for measuring, reporting and verifying mitigation efforts, including by developing countries, is now fully operational. It means that the mitigation, sustainability and support efforts of countries can now be better measured. This will also provide confidence to donors and investors who are potentially interested in financing nationally appropriate mitigation actions. The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) was established with an aim to stimulating technology cooperation and transfer to developing countries.
However, The G77 and China bloc led 132 poor countries in a walk out during talks about “loss and damage6” compensation for the consequences of global warming. Poor countries have
6 It is associated with the impacts of climate change in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. It aims that unless developed countries reduce their emissions significantly; the burden on the poor, vulnerable countries will further increase, leading to more loss and damage.
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Student Notes:
demanded that the developed world give them $100 billion annually by 2020. The COP 20 will be held in 2014 at Lima, Peru.
Convention on Biological Diversity – Conference on Parties
CBD COP 11 was held at Hyderabad, India in October 2012. It addressed issues such as capacity building, technology development and transfer, the adverse effects of climate change on developing and least developed countries, and several financial and budget-related issues, including guidelines to the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which serves as the Convention’s financial mechanism. After lengthy negotiations, the COP also agreed on a process for considering future action beyond 2012 under the UNFCCC. Developed countries agreed to double funding to support efforts in developing states towards meeting the internationally- agreed Biodiversity Targets, and the main goals of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-
2020. It included new measures to factor biodiversity into environmental impact assessments linked to infrastructure and other development projects in marine and coastal areas.
The COP also set targets to increase the number of countries that have included biodiversity in their national development plans, and prepare national financial plans for biodiversity, by 2015. The 193 Parties to the CBD agreed to classify a diverse list of marine areas, some renowned for containing ‘hidden treasures’ of the plant and animal world, as ecologically or biologically significant.
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – RIO +20
The future we want – The Head of government of the various states assembled at Rio de Janeiro in 2012 to mark the 20 years of the Earth Summit. They recognized that opportunities for people to influence their lives and future, participate in decision-making and voice their concerns are fundamental for sustainable development. It aimed at renewing political commitment via reaffirming the Rio Principles and past action plans; Advancing integration, implementation and coherence by assessing the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development and addressing new and emerging challenges. The summit emphasized on Green economy7 in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. The summit gave due consideration to International financial institutions and United Nations operational activities at regional, national, sub national and local levels. The framework for action included poverty eradication, food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture, water and sanitation, energy, sustainable transport, sustainable cities and human settlements, human health and promoting full and productive employment, decent work for all and social protection. It also emphasized on climate change, forest protection, and conservation of biodiversity, land degradation, sustainable consumption, gender equality and women empowerment.
7 A green economy is one whose growth in income and employment is driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. These investments need to be catalyzed and supported by targeted public expenditure, policy reforms and regulation changes. This development path should maintain, enhance and, where necessary, rebuild natural capital as a critical economic asset and source of public benefits, especially for poor people whose livelihoods and security depend strongly on nature.
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