"The Climate Change negotiations

Key Issues and Relevance

( towards Doha)"
Clifford Mahlung,
Climate Branch Head & Lead
Negotiator
Outline
Introduction
Climate Change
Background
Current Negotiations
Conclusions
Climate Change -Definition
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report 2007
Available international scientific evidence that points to the existence of
the phenomenon of climate change, which is caused primarily by specific
anthropogenic activities.
Climate change manifests itself in an increase in the temperature
of the earths surface and of the oceans, shifts in precipitation
patterns, changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme
climate events, and a rise in sea levels.
The consequences of climate change in terms of economic
activities, people and ecosystems are significant and will most
likely increase unless there is a change in the current baseline or
inertial trajectory.
Climate Change Response
Any solution to climate change, as a global problem, must be based
on the participation of all countries, with a recognition of historical,
but differentiated, responsibilities.

In the coming decades, Latin America and the Caribbean will face
two simultaneous challenges: adapting to the new climate
conditions and working to mitigate their effects through a global
agreement that is just and inclusive.

The Latin American and the Caribbean region is not immune to this
challenge that is one of the most difficult confronting modern
economies and must transition to a sustainable development
strategy that pursues a low-carbon path and promotes social
inclusion

International Response
United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Opened for signatures at the Conference on the
Environment in 1992, entered into force in 1994

Kyoto Protocol, (KP)
Adopted in December 1997, entered into force in
2005

UNFCCC/KP Bodies
Subsidiary Body for Scientific & Technological
Advice, (SBSTA)
Subsidiary Body for Implementation, (SBI)
Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC (COP)
Conference of Parties serving as the meeting
of Parties to the KP (CMP)
Secretariat of the UNFCCC
Ad Hoc Working Groups
Ad Hoc Working Groups
Further Commitments under the Kyoto
Protocol (AWGKP)
Long term Cooperative Action under the
Convention (AWGLCA)
Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP)

Negotiating Groups
Parties included in Annex One of
the Convention (AIP)
Western Europe and Others
Norway
Switzerland
United States of America
Japan
Australia
N ew Zealand
Canada
European Union
Environmental Integrity Group
Umbrella Group

Parties not included in Annex
One of the Convention (NAIP)
Group of 77 & China
African Group
Alliance of Small Island
States (Pacific, Atlantic,
Indian)
Least Developed Countries
BASIC
Arab Group (OPEC)
Others (ALBA, SICA, etc)
Bali Roadmap
BALI ROADMAP: COP 13 and COP/MOP 3 took place in
December 2007 in Bali, Indonesia. Negotiations resulted in
the adoption of the Bali Action Plan. Parties established the
Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action
under the Convention (AWG-LCA) with a mandate to focus
on key elements of long-term cooperation identified during
the Convention Dialogue: mitigation, adaptation, finance,
technology and a shared vision for long-term cooperative
action.
The Bali conference also resulted in agreement on the Bali
Roadmap, based on two negotiating tracks under the
Convention and the Protocol, and set a deadline for
concluding the negotiations at COP 15 and COP/MOP 5 in
Copenhagen in December 2009

Copenhagen Accords
The UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, took place
from 7-19 December 2009, and included COP 15 and COP/MOP 5, the 31st
sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary
Body for Scientific and Technology Advice (SBSTA), as well as AWG-KP 10 and
AWG-LCA 8.

Over 110 world leaders attended the joint COP and COP/MOP high-level
segment from 16-18 December.

The conference was marked by disputes over transparency and process.
During the high-level segment, informal negotiations took place in a group
consisting of major economies and representatives of regional and other
negotiating groups.

Late in the evening of 18 December, these talks resulted in a political
agreement: the Copenhagen Accord, which was then presented to the COP
plenary for adoption.
Copenhagen Accords(2)
Over the next 13 hours, delegates debated the Accord. Many supported adopting
it as a step towards securing a better future agreement. However, some
developing countries opposed the Accord, which they felt had been reached
through an non-transparent and undemocratic negotiating process.

Ultimately, the COP could only agreed to take note of the Copenhagen Accord.


It established a process for parties to indicate their support for the Accord and,
during 2010, over 140 countries did so. More than 80 countries also provided
information on their national emission reduction targets and other mitigation
actions.

On the last day of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, the COP and
COP/MOP also agreed to extend the mandates of the AWG-LCA and AWG-KP,
requesting them to present their respective outcomes to COP 16 and COP/MOP 6.

Cancun Agreements(1)
Following four preparatory meetings in 2010, the UN Climate Change Conference in
Cancun, Mexico, took place from 29 November to 11 December 2010. By the end of
the conference, parties finalized the Cancun Agreements, which include decisions
under both negotiating tracks.

Under the Convention track, Decision 1/CP.16 recognized the need for deep cuts in
global emissions to achieve the 2C target. Parties also agreed to consider
strengthening the global long-term goal during a review by 2015, including in relation
to the 1.5C target.

They took note of emission reduction targets and nationally appropriate mitigation
actions (NAMAs) communicated by both developed and developing countries
respectively and agreed to discuss them during workshops in 2011.

Decision 1/CP.16 also addressed other aspects of mitigation, such as measuring,
reporting and verification (MRV); and reducing emissions from deforestation and
forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable
management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing
countries (REDD+).

Cancun Agreements(2)
Parties also agreed to establish several new institutions and
processes. These included the Cancun Adaptation Framework and
the Adaptation Committee, as well as the Technology Mechanism,
which includes the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the
Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN).
On finance, Decision 1/CP.16 created the Green Climate Fund (GCF),
which was designated as the new operating entity of the
Conventions financial mechanism and is to be governed by a board
of 24 members.
Parties agreed to set up a Transitional Committee tasked with the
Funds detailed design, and established a Standing Committee to
assist the COP with respect to the financial mechanism.
They also recognized the commitment by developed countries to
provide US$30 billion of fast-start finance in 2010-2012, and to
jointly mobilize US$100 billion per year by 2020.

Cancun Agreements(3)
Under the Protocol track, Decision 1/CMP.6 included agreement to
complete the work of the AWG-KP and have the results adopted by the
COP/MOP as soon as possible, and in time to ensure there will be no gap
between the first and second commitment periods.

The COP/MOP urged Annex I parties to raise the level of ambition of their
emission reduction targets with a view to achieving aggregate emission
reductions consistent with the range identified in the Fourth Assessment
Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Parties adopted Decision 2/CMP.6 on land use, land-use change and
forestry (LULUCF).

The mandates of the two AWGs were also extended until the next UN Climate
Change Conference, in Durban, South Africa, to be held from 28 November
to 9 December 2011.

Decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties
FCCC/CP/2011/9/Add.1
Decisions
1/CP.17:
Establishment of an Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban
Platform for Enhanced Action
2/CP.17:
Outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-
term Cooperative Action under the Convention
3/CP.17:
Launching the Green Climate Fund
4/CP.17:
Technology Executive Committee modalities and procedures
5/CP.17:
National adaptation plans

FCCC/CP/2011/9/Add.2
6/CP.17
Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change
7/CP.17
Work programme on loss and damage
8/CP.17
Forum and work programme on the impact of the implementation of response measures
9/CP.17
Least Developed Countries Fund: support for the implementation of elements of the least developed countries
work programme other than national adaptation programmes of action
10/CP.17
Amendment to Annex I to the Convention
11/CP.17
Report of the Global Environment Facility to the Conference of the Parties and additional guidance to the Global
Environment Facility
12/CP.17
Guidance on systems for providing information on how safeguards are addressed and respected and modalities
relating to forest reference emission levels and forest reference levels as referred to in decision 1/CP.16
FCCC/CP/2011/9/Add.2
13/CP.17
Capacity-building under the Convention
14/CP.17
Work of the Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications from Parties not included in
Annex I to the Convention
15/CP.17
Revision of the UNFCCC reporting guidelines on annual inventories for Parties included in Annex I to the
Convention
16/CP.17
Research dialogue on developments in research activities relevant to the needs of the Convention
17/CP.17
Administrative, financial and institutional matters
18/CP.17
Programme budget for the biennium 20122013
19/CP.17
Dates and venues of future sessions
Resolution
1/CP.17 Expression of gratitude to the Government of the Republic of South Africa, the province of
KwaZulu-Natal and the people of the city of Durban

Decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties serving
as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol
FCCC/KP/CMP/2011/10/Add.1
1/CMP.7
Outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments
for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol at its sixteenth session
2/CMP.7
Land use, land-use change and forestry
3/CMP.7
Emissions trading and the project-based mechanisms
4/CMP.7
Greenhouse gases, sectors and source categories, common metrics to
calculate the carbon dioxide equivalence of anthropogenic emissions by
sources and removals by sinks, and other methodological issues
5/CMP.7
Consideration of information on potential environmental, economic and social
consequences, including spillover effects, of tools, policies, measures and
methodologies available to Annex I Parties

FCCC/KP/CMP/2011/10/Add.2

6/CMP.7
Report of the Adaptation Fund Board
7/CMP.7
Review of the Adaptation Fund
8/CMP.7
Further guidance relating to the clean development mechanism
9/CMP.7
Materiality standard under the clean development mechanism
10/CMP.7
Modalities and procedures for carbon dioxide capture and storage in
geological formations as clean development mechanism project activities
11/CMP.7
Guidance on the implementation of Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol

FCCC/KP/CMP/2011/10/Add.2
12/CMP.7
Compliance Committee
13/CMP.7
Proposal from Kazakhstan to amend Annex B to the Kyoto Protocol
14/CMP.7
Appeal by Croatia against a final decision of the enforcement branch
of the Compliance Committee in relation to the implementation of
decision 7/CP.12
15/CMP.7
Capacity-building under the Kyoto Protocol
16/CMP.7
Administrative, financial and institutional matters
17/CMP.7
Programme budget for the biennium 20122013
CONCLUSIONS
Informal session of AWG-KP and AWG-ADP
(Bangkok, September 2012)
Pre-Ministerals (Seoul)
AWG-KP and AWG-LCA
Will complete their work.
What goes to Subsidiary Bodies and AWG-ADP?
What is discarded?
Mitigation Ambition Levels
Predictable Long-term Financing
Adequate Funding and Framework for Adaptation
Science of Climate Change - IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading
international body for the assessment of climate change. It was
established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to provide the
world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in
climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic
impacts. The UN General Assembly endorsed the action by WMO and
UNEP in jointly establishing the IPCC.

The IPCC is a scientific body. It reviews and assesses the most recent
scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced
worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change. It does
not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or
parameters.


Thousands of scientists from all over the world contribute to the
work of the IPCC on a voluntary basis. Review is an essential part of
the IPCC process, to ensure an objective and complete assessment
of current information. IPCC aims to reflect a range of views and
expertise. The Secretariat coordinates all the IPCC work and liaises
with Governments. It is supported by WMO and UNEP and hosted
at WMO headquarters in Geneva.

The IPCC is an intergovernmental body. It is open to all member
countries of the United Nations (UN) and WMO. Currently 195
countries are members of the IPCC. Governments participate in the
review process and the plenary Sessions, where main decisions
about the IPCC work programme are taken and reports are
accepted, adopted and approved. The IPCC Bureau Members,
including the Chair, are also elected during the plenary Sessions.



Because of its scientific and intergovernmental
nature, the IPCC embodies a unique
opportunity to provide rigorous and balanced
scientific information to decision makers. By
endorsing the IPCC reports, governments
acknowledge the authority of their scientific
content. The work of the organization is
therefore policy-relevant and yet policy-
neutral, never policy-prescriptive.
WORKING GROUPS/TASK FORCES
The IPCC Working Group I (WG I)

Assesses the physical scientific aspects of the climate system and climate change.
The main topics assessed by WG I include:
changes in greenhouse gases and aerosols in the atmosphere;
observed changes in air, land and ocean temperatures, rainfall, glaciers and ice sheets, oceans and sea level;
historical and paleoclimatic perspective on climate change;
biogeochemistry, carbon cycle, gases and aerosols;
satellite data and other data; climate models;
climate projections, causes and attribution of climate change.

The IPCC Working Group II (WG II)
Assesses the vulnerability of socio-economic and natural systems to climate change, negative and
positive consequences of climate change, and options for adapting to it.
It also takes into consideration the inter-relationship between vulnerability, adaptation and
sustainable development.
The assessed information is considered by sectors (water resources; ecosystems; food & forests;
coastal systems; industry; human health) and regions (Africa; Asia; Australia & New Zealand; Europe;
Latin America; North America; Polar Regions; Small Islands).


WORKING GROUPS/TASK FORCES
The IPCC Working Group III (WG III)


Assesses options for mitigating climate change through
limiting or preventing greenhouse gas emissions and
enhancing activities that remove them from the
atmosphere.

The main economic sectors are taken into account, both
in a near-term and in a long-term perspective.

The sectors include energy, transport, buildings,
industry, agriculture, forestry, waste management.

The WG analyses the costs and benefits of the different
approaches to mitigation, considering also the available
instruments and policy measures.

The approach is more and more solution-oriented.


WORKING GROUPS/TASK FORCES
The Task Group on Data and Scenario Support for
Impacts and Climate Analysis (TGICA)

Facilitate co-operation between the climate
modeling and climate impacts assessment
communities.

It aims at facilitating wide availability of climate
change related data and scenarios for climate
analysis and impacts, adaptation, vulnerability, and
mitigation research.

The TGICA does not develop itself any emission,
climate, or other types of scenarios, not does it
make any decision regarding the choice of scenarios
in the preparation of the IPCC reports. It does not
undertake any modeling or research.

One of its main activities is the coordination and
oversight of the IPCC Data Distribution Centre
(DDC), which provides timely information and data
to the international climate research community, in
particular consistent data sets and guidance
material
The Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas
Inventories (TFI)

Established by the IPCC to oversee the
IPCC National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
Programme (IPCC-NGGIP).
The core activity is to develop and refine
an internationally-agreed methodology
and software for the calculation and
reporting of national GHG emissions and
removals and to encourage its use by
countries participating in the IPCC and by
parties of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The NGGIP also established and maintains
an Emission Factor Database