Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing Achala Abeysinghe Author name
Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing Achala Abeysinghe Author name 8 April 2014 Janna Tenzing Date 8 April 2014 Introduction to the Global Climate Change Regime and LDCs in the UNFCCC Achala Abeysinghe and Janna Tenzing Irish Aid/IIED workshop on Climate Change and Development, Limerick, 8 -10 April 2014 DOCUMENT TITLE 1 www. iied. org
Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 Part I: Introduction to UNFCCC Negotiations DOCUMENT TITLE 2
Climate Change: A brief overview Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 • Changes in the state of climate can be identified by the changes in the mean and/or variability of its properties, persists for an extended period • Humans are the “dominant cause” – due to our GHG emissions- mainly CO 2 Top ten hottest years on record from 1998, 2010 was the hottest CO 2 emissions have risen 145 fold since 1850 (UNEP) • Impacts from recent climate related extremes, such as heat waves, droughts, floods, cyclones and wildfires, reveal significant vulnerability and exposure of some ecosystems and many human systems…’ Projected to rise by an additional 54% by 2030 (UNEP) • “Severe, pervasive and irreversible“ impacts if no action is taken. Over 100 million people will die by 2030 and 90% of this will come from developing countries. • Adaptation and mitigation choices in the near term will affect the risks of climate change throughout the 21 st century • DOCUMENT TITLE At the present rate, global mean temperature will increase above 4°C relative to pre-industrial level by 2100 (IPCC 2013) 3
Climate burden shared equitably? Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 • In 2010, climate change cost 10% of GDP of LDCs • From 1980 to 2013, roughly 1. 28 million people lost their lives in the LDCs due to climate-related disasters. (Over half of the global percentage) • Between 2010 and 2013, a total of nearly 240, 000 people from LDCs lost their lives to climate related disasters. Data from Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (Brussels). DOCUMENT TITLE 4
The current global climate change regime • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 Climate change decision making process at the global level Dedicated United Nations forum to address climate change • Kyoto Protocol (KP) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Other relevant intergovernmental processes – SDGs, CBD, UNCCD, HFA on DRR DOCUMENT TITLE 5
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE: To stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Such a level should be achieved within a timeframe sufficient to allow eco systems to adapt. GUIDING PRINCIPLES: • Equity • Common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC) • Precautionary Principle • Sustainable Development • Principle of Cooperation BROAD THEMATIC AREAS: • Reducing GHG emissions • Adapting to climate change • Support and means of implementation - Finance - Technology development and transfer - Capacity building DOCUMENT TITLE KEY COMMITMENTS All Parties: • Publish national inventories of greenhouse gas emissions Developed Country Parties: • Adopt national mitigation policies • Provide new and additional financial resources for developing countries • Assist developing country Parties particularly vulnerable to climate change in meeting the costs of adaptation • Take all practicable steps to promote, facilitate and finance the transfer of technology 6
Kyoto Protocol (KP) Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 In line with the UNFCCC objective, this agreement commits industrialised countries to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions. 1 st commitment period 2 nd commitment period 2008 -2012 (5 years) 2013 -2020 (8 years) 5% below 1990 levels 18% below 1990 levels 37 industrialized countries and the European Community Ratification by 55 States to the Convention, incorporating at least 55% of the total carbon dioxide emissions for 1990 of the Parties included in Annex I DOCUMENT TITLE Japan, New Zealand, and Russia have not taken on new targets in the second commitment period. Canada withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol in 2012 Ratification by ¾ of the member states (according to Articles 20 and 21 of the Protocol) Essential architecture of the KP: - Measurable mitigation commitments for 37 industrialised Parties - Reporting and verification procedures - Registry systems - Compliance system (However, KP only addresses mitigation, not all the countries are covered) 7
Conference of the Parties (COP)/Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP) Bureau Permanent subsidiary bodies Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) Convention bodies Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) Adaptation Committee Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) Kyoto Protocol bodies Compliance Committee Executive Board of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM-EB) Executive Committee of the Warsaw Intl. Mechanism for Loss and Damage Joint-Implementation Supervisory Committee (JISC) Standing Committee on Finance Adaptation Fund Board (AFB) Technology Mechanism Expert Groups Technology Executive Committee (TEC) Advisory Board of the Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN) Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention (CGE) Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) Financial Mechanism Other financial arrangements Global Environment Facility (GEF) Green Climate Fund (GCF) Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) Adaptation Fund (AF) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat
Mitigation commitments under the Kyoto Protocol Adaptation and loss and damage Technology development and Transfer Capacity building Technology mechanism Capacity building under the LDC work programme Comparable mitigation Finance for commitments by adaptation non-KP Parties IPR issues Durban Forum on Capacity building Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions by developing countries (NAMAs) CTCN and TEC Adaptation planning (NAPAs and NAPs) Institutions related to adaptation (Adaptation committee) Loss and damage beyond adaptation, Warsaw MRV of mitigation action International and support Mechanism on Loss and Damage (Ex. Com on loss and damage) DOCUMENT TITLE Finance Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 To do list… • Address the burden sharing for reducing GHGs: Global emissions reductions should be at 44 Gt to achieve the 2 o. C goal by 2020. Current targets submitted by Parties still leave a gap of between 8 and 14 Gt of CO 2. • Address the funding gap • Address equity concerns • Address linkages between adaptation and mitigation as well as institutional linkages • Address loss and damage beyond adaptation 9
ADP MANDATE The Ad hoc Working Group on Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) WORKSTREAM I • Adopt an Agreement in 2015 applicable to all Parties • “a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention” • Enter into force in 2020 • To focus on, inter alia, mitigation; adaptation; finance; technology development and transfer; transparency of action and support; and capacity building WORKSTREAM II • Enhancing mitigation ambition by identifying and exploring options for a range of actions that can close the pre -2020 ambition gap DOCUMENT TITLE Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 UNFCCC Existing arrangements up to and beyond 2020 Raising mitigation ambition up to 2020 2015 Agreement (entry into force in 2020) 10
The 2015 agreement: Three pillars The Durban Platform provides a unique opportunity to plan holistically on a range of Legal rigour important issues Address the climate change problem- reduction of emissions, impacts, means of implementation DOCUMENT TITLE Confidence and legal certainty for business, continuation Consentbased governance The global climate regime Effectiveness Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 Participation 11
Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 Status of negotiations: • Parties must initiate or intensify domestic preparations for their intended nationally determined contributions • These contributions must be submitted well in advance of COP-21 (by the first quarter of 2015 by those Parties ready to do so) Discussion on NDCs at ADP 2 -4 (March 2014): • Need for further clarification on scope and nature of NDCs • Support for domestic preparations DOCUMENT TITLE 12
Next steps in the negotiations – timeline Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 COP 20 (ADP to identify, the information that Parties will provide when putting forward their intended nationally determined contributions, in session high level Ministerial, negotiation text for 2015 Agreement) 1/12/2014 UN SG climate summit - 23 September 2014, in NY 23/9/2014 Ministerial Meeting/ UNFCCC sessions 4/6/2014 Jun DOCUMENT TITLE ADP additional Pre COP session ministerial 1/10/2014 Aug Dec 30/11/2015 31/3/2015 1/11/2014 Oct COP 21, Paris, France (Adoption of 2015 Agreement) Intended nationally determined contributions are to be communicated well in advance of COP 21 (by the first quarter of 2015 by those Parties ready to do so); Feb 2015 Apr Jun Aug Oct 2015 13
Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 Part II: LDCs in the UNFCCC Negotiations DOCUMENT TITLE 14
Why the UN for LDCs? : Benefits Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 • Coordinated international action is essential • Urgent need for raising the level of mitigation ambition within a multilaterally agreed rule based system • Financial and other support for adaptation and transformation to green and sustainable development to be provided through UN funds • LDCs believe that the UN is the only governing system that can address their concerns in a fair manner • The need for national actions to be embedded in a strong international framework in order to address climate change in its global nature and national actions to be meaningful and ambitious DOCUMENT TITLE 15
LDCs in the UNFCCC • lowest indicators of socioeconomic development and lowest Human Development Index ratings • 48 countries : 34 in Africa, 13 in Asia and the Pacific, 1 in Latin America • 12 percent of the World’s population (878. 2 million in 2012), less than 2 per cent of Global GHG emissions. • One of the most progressive Groups in the UNFCCC negotiations DOCUMENT TITLE Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 Article 4. 9 The Parties shall take full account of the specific needs and special situations of the least developed countries in their actions with regard to funding and transfer of technology. 16
UNFCCC dedicated support for LDCs Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 Dedicated work Programme LDC Work Programme introduced in 2001 6 priority areas • Strengthening existing and, where needed, establishing, national climate change secretariats and/or focal points • Providing training for negotiating skills and language • Supporting the preparation of NAPAs; • Promotion of public awareness on climate change issues • Development and transfer of technologies, Strengthening of the capacity of meteorological and hydrological services Adaptation Planning National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) • • • Planning for urgent and immediate adaptation priorities All 48 countries have submitted their NAPAs to the UNFCCC Each country can access 20 million USD for their NAPAs National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) • • • Expert advice Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) provide technical support and advice to the: LDCs on their NAPAs; the LDC work programme; and NAPs Dedicated fund Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) Established to support the LDC work programme including the preparation and implementation of NAPAs Temporary arrangement to support NAP Formulation DOCUMENT TITLE Medium and long term adaptation planning Mainstreaming them into national development plans Initial phase 17
LDCF current Status Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 Established in 2002 to address urgent and immediate adaptation priorities US$ million Total cost of funding NAPAs (including additional support or co-financing from 5, 000 LDCs)* Total contribution needed to implement initial set of NAPA projects (excluding 3, 000 co-financing from LDCs)* Amount pledged to LDCF (Ireland contributed 14 million USD ) 781. 5 Finance gap for implementing NAPA projects 4, 220. 50 Amount disbursed for NAPA projects (as of October 2013) 590. 8 • 20 million per country ceiling • Main areas of interventions include: Food Security and Agriculture, Water Resources Management, Disaster Risk Management, Community Based adaptation, Natural Resources Management, Infrastructure DOCUMENT TITLE 18
Number of projects approved Total LDCF resources accessed ($m) Resources yet to be accessed ($20 million – total resources accessed) Ethiopia 3 16. 45 3. 55 Lesotho 4 19. 99 0. 01 Liberia 3 13. 52 6. 48 Malawi 5 20. 84 - Mozambique 1 4. 98 15. 02 Sierra Leone 4 15. 44 4. 56 Tanzania 2 8. 31 11. 69 Timor Leste 2 11. 07 8. 93 Uganda 2 13. 95 6. 05 Zambia 2 8. 79 11. 21 Country Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 LDCF Resources accessed for NAPA implementation as at 4 October 2013 (GEF) DOCUMENT TITLE 19
Other climate related funds Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 • Special Climate Fund • Adaptation Fund • Green Climate Fund DOCUMENT TITLE 20
Other benefits for LDCs Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 • These actions under the UNFCCC have provided a learning-by-doing opportunity for LDCs to assess potentials to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and undertake policy developmental decisions linking with climate change. • Institutional Development • Planning for mitigation • Strategizing for Climate Resilient and Development DOCUMENT TITLE 21
Country Mitigation action plans submitted to the UNFCCC Ethiopia Electricity generation from renewable energy for the grid system: hydropower, wind power Biofuel development for road transport and household use Electricity generation from renewable energy for off-grid use and direct use of renewable energy: solar, biogas Forestry/forests: REDD+ Agriculture: compost; agro-forestry practices and systems Waste management Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 Lesotho Liberia - Malawi Agriculture: quantification of GHG emissions under different farming management practices; change in agricultural practices and systems; Waste management: controlled landfills, composting Energy: renewable energy, efficient lighting and cook stove technology LULUCF: maintaining/expanding stands of trees and pool of carbon in wood products; Industrial processes: development of environmental standards; information, education and public awareness campaigns; use of carbon capture and storage Mozambique - Sierra Leone Establishment of National Secretariat for Climate Change Institutional strengthening and capacity building for environmental protection and management Improvement of forest governance Setting/development of air, water and soil quality standards Introduction of conservation farming and sustainable agriculture Development of an Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Programme Expansion of clean energy utilisation, Energy efficiency programmes Development of alternative energy sources (biofuels) Agricultural and urban waste incineration programmes for energy, Improved waste management Development and enforcement of regulations on regular maintenance of vehicles. Tanzania Timor Leste Uganda - DOCUMENT TITLE Zambia - 22
LDC Group organisation within the UNFCCC Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 Chair Coordinators Core team Representatives in various bodies Group members Advisors/ research organisations DOCUMENT TITLE 23
LDC Group Strategy in the UNFCCC: ‘From after you to follow us’ Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 2015 Vision : More inclusive, effective and equitable global agreement that better address LDC needs under UNFCCC Leadership, political will, bigger picture 5. Alliance building and maintaining 1. Evidence based research 4. Communicat ion and outreach DOCUMENT TITLE 2. Capacity building and utilisation 3. Tools and outputs 1. ‘Compelling line of argument’ LDC paper series Research for submissions 2. ‘No country is left behind’ LDC group core team Strategy meetings and workshops 3. ‘Know your facts’ UNFCCC decisions/ SBI conclusions Legal reference manual 4. ‘Voice and visibility’ LDC group website Use of social media Interactions with civil society groups 5. ‘Bridging states’ Working closely with AOSIS, Africa Group and. G 77, EU and LAM countries 24
Key LDC positions for 2015 Agreement Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 • Adoption of a Protocol in 2015 • All countries must commit under one agreement; differentiation based on past, future and present responsibilities and current capabilities • Adequate provisions to ensure the special needs and circumstances of the most vulnerable are addressed properly and in a timely manner • Introduction of a formula to recognise the amount of funding required • Provision of new and additional, sustainable and predictable financing • Establishment of a system with common accounting rules and a strong compliance regime • Establishment of a review mechanism to conduct regular reviews of mitigation and finance commitments. DOCUMENT TITLE 25
Challenges and support needed at global level Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 Need for: • Further training and capacity building LDCs face unique challenges in support for more effective participation negotiating, planning and of LDC negotiators in the process implementing climate change • Further research support for more decisions due to: informed Participation • Human, institutional, financial and • Support to the Group representatives technical resource constraints in various UN bodies and other senior • Under-representation in the negotiators negotiations • Support to women delegates • Negotiators have other national • Support to junior negotiators portfolios to cover and other multilateral for a to cover • Having an appropriate report and feedback mechanism • They learn on the job while the other come well prepared • Capacity to follow up for implementation at country level DOCUMENT TITLE 26
Important Websites • UNFCCC in general: http: //unfccc. int/2860. php • LDC Group in the UNFCCC negotiations: http: //ldcclimate. wordpress. com/ • • Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 UNFCCC LDC Portal: http: //unfccc. int/adaptation/knowledge_resource s/ldc_portal/items/4751. php UNFCCC National Focal points: http: //maindb. unfccc. int/public/nfp. pl DOCUMENT TITLE 27
Achala Abeysinghe Janna Tenzing 8 April 2014 Thank you! Dr. Achala C. Abeysinghe IIED achala. abeysinghe@iied. org DOCUMENT TITLE 28
- Slides: 28
