SUMMARY: THE TALANOA DIALOGUE

Presented at the Uganda Talanoa Workshop & Writeshop (April 6, 2018), Imperial Royal Hotel, Kampala
By Kimbowa Richard
Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development | Email: rkimbowa@ugandacoalition.or.ug | Tel: +256 414 269461
Outline
 Background
 TD at the UNFCCC & Uganda
 The TD Concept
 The TD overarching questions
 UCSD input to the TD process
 The TG process (Prep. & Political phases)
 Important dates!
 Bonn Talanoas (May 2018)
 Resources for further engagement with the TD process
Background
o Paris Agreement set clear goals to reduce emissions and keep our global temperature under 2
degrees Celsius, and as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

o COP23 represented a major step towards this aim

o COP24, to take place in December in Katowice, Poland, is expected to be a new strong push to
move forward the global climate agenda.

o The ‘Fiji Momentum for Implementation’ (CP/1.23) reemphasizes Parties’ determination to

conclude the Paris Rulebook by December 2018 and recognizes that an additional negotiation
session may become necessary during the latter half of 2018. Furthermore, the COP23 decision
officially launches the Talanoa Dialogue (previously known as the Facilitative Dialogue) - refers
to an inclusive process of dialogue where all participants, regardless of power or influence, are
peers.

o Dialogue should also help to inform on the next step of Nationally Determined Contributions
(NDCs).
Talanoa Dialogue at the UNFCCC and Uganda

First opportunity to undertake a Global Stocktake

(GST) of efforts to reach the goals of the Paris
Agreement.

Key mechanism of the Paris Agreement to increase

ambition scheduled to take place every 5 years.

Is meant to build trust, boost ambition, and lead to

a commitment from countries to strengthen their
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

On domestic and regional level, governments have

committed to working with stakeholders to identify
the best way forward for raising climate ambition.

The mandate is described in Annex II to 1/CP.23

The Talanoa Dialogue Concept - A Pacific Island tradition

• telling a story, or having a conversation

inclusive, participatory and transparent process: The idea
behind the word is to share knowledge and experiences
• that could lead to a better understanding and thus to beneficial
decisions for all.
• opposed to confrontation - designed to bridge the parties to the
Paris Agreement
• Fosters Inclusive and stability: not only government
stakeholders will have a word. Also non-party stakeholders will
participate in the process — including local governments, civil
society, non-profit organizations, businesses, investors, the
scientific community, think tanks and individuals.
The aim of the dialogue: to encourage
• ‘journey is as important as the destination’
countries to enhance the ambition of their
• build empathy and to make wise decisions for the collective
nationally determined contributions (NDCs),
good
seeing that collective mitigation pledges still
• safe space that embraces mutual respect for a platform for
fall short of meeting the Paris Agreement goal
decision making for a greater good.
of keeping average global temperatures below
2 degrees Celsius.
Hence, the TD is expected to enable engagement with the big
picture questions surrounding climate change.
 TALANOA DIALOGUE OVERARCHING QUESTIONS

• WHERE ARE WE ?

• WHERE DO WE WANT TO GO ?

• HOW DO WE GET THERE?

THESE OVERARCHING QUESTIONS PROVIDE A SPACE FOR PRE-2020 AND POST-2020 INPUTS AND
DISCUSSIONS.
 UCSD INPUT TO THE TALANOA DIALOGUE

UCSD has made input to the Talanoa Dialogue under 2 questions:

a. Individually (under question 3: How do we get there?) titled: Scale up
stakeholder engagement in implementation of the NDCs (Case of
Uganda) with an objective: To highlight what is at stake in
implementation of Uganda's NDC, what can be done to effectively
implement it and raise its ambition - Approved

a. Collectively (with SusWatch Kenya, TaTEDO, INFORSE and

SustainbleEnergy) as part of the Project: Promoting implementation of
the Paris Agreement (PIPA) in East Africa (under question 2: Where do
we want to go?) titled: Proposing Implementation of the Paris
Agreement with Poverty Reduction focus in East Africa, with an
objective: Development where poverty reduction focus is part of the
local, national and regional climate & development strategies including
in LEDS and NDCs – Under review
The Talanoa Dialogue Process

A. Preparatory phase
• To run until November (for inputs to the TD Political Phase at COP24). Throughout 2018, the Presidencies will
socialise/discuss the Dialogue with Party and non-Party stakeholders via a range of avenues, including
workshops, webinars, forums, and relevant meetings. At the same time, Party and non-Party stakeholders are
encouraged to have their own meetings on the Talanoa Dialogue to organise, strategize, and consolidate their
input.

• Everyone is welcome to submit their proposals responding to one of the three central questions (above) through
several mandated events and interactive processes.

• Has commenced with the launch of an online platform (Jan.2018): https://talanoadialogue.com/ which will
share information about the Dialogue, its process and any other resources to facilitate Party and non-Party
stakeholders’ full and effective participation in the process. You can submit and view inputs made here

• May inter-sessional Talanoa Dialogue (during SB48, April 30 – May 10, 2018 in Bonn) will be the first opportunity
for Party and non-Party stakeholders to interact. Will include: an opening plenary of the TD; a day of working
groups (organised into three consecutive sessions) addressing the three overarching questions of the Dialogue;
back to plenary reporting; and a closing plenary.

• In advance of the May inter-sessional TD, the Fijian (COP23) and Polish (COP24) Presidencies have provided
guidance on the overarching questions; a letter from the High level Champions to the NPS; Approach to
organisation of the TD in 1st half of 2018 – 19 Feb. 2018 and an outline of the TD process.
B. The Political phase

• Discussions during the May inter-sessional TD will be summarised along with the totality of submissions and
inputs received throughout the year. This summary will lead to a Synthesis Report

• Synthesis Report will inform the Political phase of the Talanoa Dialogue which will take place at COP24 in
Poland

• To bring together Heads of States and high-level representatives of Parties to take stock of the collective
efforts of Parties in relation to progress towards the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and to inform the
preparation of NDCs.

• Will build on the momentum of conversations and stories exchanged throughout the year through the
dynamic interactions via the Talanoa Dialogue;

• Political discussions will focus around assessing the collective efforts to meet the Paris Agreement goals &
informing the preparation of the NDCs.
SOURCE: @COP23
Key dates

 Online submissions will be collated twice – by April 2nd 2018, and October 29th 2018

 Dialogue in the May inter-sessional which will be held from 30th April to May 11th 2018.

 Political phase of the Talanoa Dialogue which will take place at COP24 in Poland (3-14 December 2018)

………………….

In Summary, under the Talanoa spirit, the guiding principles for this civic engagement strategy
are:

• All people (as members of a Grand Coalition for a Global Conversation anticipated) are
climate stakeholders
• Access to best-practice opportunity is a right, and
• Climate education must be a two-way process between citizens and government.

Source: Engage4climate.org
Resources for further engagement with the Talanoa Dialogue

1. Welcome to the Talanoa Dialogue Portal: https://talanoadialogue.com/ (What the TD is, key documents,
Presidencies corner, Inputs, Upcoming events, etc.)

2. Social media: Use / follow hashtags: #TalanoaDialogue and #Talanoa4Ambition to share and be updated

3. Talanoa dialogue: Giving everyone a voice in the climate conversation: http://www.dw.com/en/talanoa-

dialogue-giving-everyone-a-voice-in-the-climate-conversation/a-42479711

4. Talanoa Dialogue Engagement Toolkit: https://engage4climate.org/talanoa-dialogue-engagement-toolkit/

5. Presidencies Outline the Talanoa Dialogue Process: https://cop23.unfccc.int/news/presidencies-outline-the-

talanoa-dialogue-process-0

6. Email contact for further information and questions: talanoadialogue@unfccc.int