The UNFCCC & Kyoto Protocol - key issues in the negotiating process from Bali (2007) to

Copenhagen (2009)

ECBI Regional Workshop 2008

Prepared by FIELD,London

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Climate change

• Wide political recognition that it is a serious threat

• Many argue that warming must be kept to less than 2°C degrees to avoid the worst effects

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The international agreements

• UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Rio Conference on Environment and

Development 1992192 Parties

• Kyoto Protocol182 Parties – in force in 2005

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UNFCCC & Kyoto Protocol - Objectives

• UNFCCC - aims to bring developed country greenhouse gas emissions back to 1990 levels

• Kyoto Protocol - aims to reduce overall developed country emissions by around 5% below 1990 levels over ‘first commitment period’ 2008-2012

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UNFCCC & Kyoto Protocol

• Industrialised countries have historical responsibility for climate change and are to take the lead in emissions reductions

• Commitments transfer financial resources and technology to developing countries

• Principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’

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UNFCCC & Kyoto Protocol

• Annex I countries have emissions reduction commitments under the UNFCCC and as listed in Annex B to the Kyoto Protocol

• Annex II countries have commitments to assist developing countries with finance and technology

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Groups in the negotiations

• G77 and China• Least Developed Countries Group• AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States)• European Union (EU)• Umbrella Group – loose group of non-EU

developed countries• Environmental Integrity Group – Mexico,

Republic of Korea, Switzerland

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Political issues

• The US, a major emitter, has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol, but is a Party to the Convention

• Pressure to engage some developing countries which do not have targets but have rapidly increasing emissions (e.g., China, India)

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Main Goals in 2009

• Agreement on commitments for developed countries under the Kyoto Protocol after 2012, when current commitments run out

• Agreement on enhanced future cooperation for Parties to the Convention

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Presentation structure

• Summary overview of negotiations from Bali Climate Conference (December

2007) to Copenhagen Climate Conference (December

2009) Overview of key issues

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December 2007, Bali

• Thirteenth Conference of the Parties (COP) to UNFCCC and Third Meeting of Parties (CMP) to Kyoto Protocol

• Bali Road Map, which includes Bali Action Plan and other decisions.

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From Bali to Copenhagen• Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for

Annex 1 Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP)• Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action

under the Convention (AWG-LCA)• Subsidiary Body for Scientific & Technological Advice

(SBSTA)• Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI)• Workshops to deepen understanding of some issues• COP 14/CMP 4 & Subsidiary Bodies, 1-12 December

2008, Poznan, Poland• COP 15/CMP 5 & Subsidiary Bodies, 30 November – 11

December 2009, Copenhagen, Denmark

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AWG-LCA

• First Session in Bangkok, 31 March-4 April, 2008• AWG-LCA focuses on:

A shared vision for long-term cooperative action Enhanced national/international action on mitigation of

climate change Enhanced action on adaptation Enhanced action on technology development and

transfer to support action on mitigation and adaptation Enhanced action on the provision of financial resources

and investment to support action on mitigation and adaptation and technology cooperation

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AWG-KP• Has met several times. • Issues include:

Emissions trading and the project-based mechanisms LULUCF (land-use, land-use change and forestry) Greenhouse gases, sectors and source categories Possible approaches targeting sectoral emissions

• Methodological issues• Potential environmental, economic and social

consequences, including spillover effects, of tools, policies, measures and methodologies available to Annex 1 Parties

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Bonn, Accra meetings

• Bonn, 2-13 June 2008, meetings of:AWG-LCA 2AWG-KP (resumed Fifth Session)28th Subsidiary Body for Scientific & Technological

Advice (SBSTA)28th Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI)

• Accra, 21-27 August 2008, meetings of:AWG-LCA 3AWG-KP 6 (First Part)

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Overview - key issues until 2009• Shared vision for long-term cooperative action &

mitigation: Action by both developed and developing countries

• Possible approaches targeting sectoral emissions:E.g. possible broadening of coverage of GHGs, sectors

and source categories; bunker fuels

• Emissions trading & project-based mechanisms: Possible improvements and changes for second

commitment period, e.g. expanding scope of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

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Adaptation • Five- year Nairobi work programme agreed in 2006

• Link to financing discussions

• SBSTA 29 (December 2008) will consider the possible need for a group of experts to be established

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Adaptation contd.• Upcoming technical workshops include

Before SBSTA 30 (May/June 2009): workshop on increasing economic resilience and reducing reliance on vulnerable economic sectors; and on integrating practices, tools and systems for climate risk assessment, management and disaster risk reduction strategies into national policies and programmes

Before SBSTA 31 (COP15/CMP 5): workshop on advancing integration of various approaches to adaptation planning, including local and community-based adaptation

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UNFCCC Arts. 4.8 and 4.9 • Art. 4.8: actions to meet specific needs and concerns of

developing country Parties arising from the adverse effects of climate change and/or the impact of the implementation of response measures - includes actions related to funding, insurance and technology transfer;

• Art. 4.9: Parties are to take full account of the specific needs and special situations of LDCs in their actions with regard to funding and transfer of technology.

Assessment of implementation of Art. 4.8 and related decisions 5/CP.7 and 1.CP10 to take place at COP 14/CMP 4 in Poznan

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Adaptation Fund

• Funded through 2 % share of proceeds generated by the CDM

• Developing country Parties to the Kyoto Protocol that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change are eligible for funding

• Country-driven concrete adaptation projects• Adaptation Fund Board – tension with the Global

Environment Facility (GEF), which provides Secretariat on interim basis

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Other Funds

• Special Climate Change Fund Projects on adaptation, technology transfer and

capacity-building, energy, transport, industry, agriculture, forestry and waste management, and economic diversification

• Least Developed Countries Fund Support for LDCs – NAPAs

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Financing

• Concerns about the GEF: Financing for national communications; difficulties

accessing funding; Resource Allocation Framework (RAF)

• Fourth review of the financial mechanism - decision in preparation for COP 15

• Role of the private sector in financing: developing countries see limited role, while e.g. US believes it should be main source

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REDD• Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and

Degradation • Potential for emissions reductions (tropical

deforestation estimated at roughly 20 % annual share) and revenue generation

• Uncertainties, monitoring and verification challenges

• Risk of displacement of deforestation (‘leakage’); perverse incentives; need take into account different country situations

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LULUCF• Land-use, land-use change and forestry• Kyoto Protocol Arts. 3.3 & 3.4• Need for new rules for second commitment

period• Concerns about making it too easy to obtain

credits

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Technology Transfer

• Developing countries concerned about barriers posed by Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)

• Expert Group on Technology Transfer (EGTT) – looking at performance indicators for implementation of technology transfer framework; financial resources

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Capacity-building for developing countries

• Capacity-building for developing countries:Under the Convention Under the Kyoto Protocol

• Comprehensive review of capacity-building under both items under way – for decision at COP 15/CMP 5

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Second review of Protocol under Art.9

• Differing views about the scope of the review - Umbrella Group wants comprehensive review.

• Issues include: Extending the share of proceeds to meet the cost of

adaptation to JI and emissions trading Flexibility mechanisms, including equitable regional

distribution of CDM projects• Workshop in October, in Athens, Greece

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COP 14/CMP4, 1-12 December, Poznan

• Subsidiary Bodies also meet in Poznan - extremely busy

• Intention that negotiations on emissions reductions for second commitment period begin

• Second review of the Kyoto Protocol under Art. 9• Meeting schedule for 2009 will be confirmed

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Between now and Copenhagen

• A very busy schedule of meetings, including AWG-LCA, AWG-KP and regular Subsidiary Body meetings in Bonn

• Need to be selective and focus on the most important issues

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Thank you

www.field.org.uk