Snapshot on the UNFCCC process Possible areas of focus for ITU Jose - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Snapshot on the UNFCCC process Possible areas of focus for ITU Jose Maria Diaz Batanero jose.batanero@it u.i nt Corporate strategy division September 2011 www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate

Climate Change is happening (and faster than initially thought)  Climate science shows an increase in the global average temperature of our planet.  The cause behind this “global warming” is the emission on heat- trapping gases to the atmosphere ( greenhouse gases – GHGs ). www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 2

The term “climate change” is applied to changes caused by anthropogenic processes  Climate change was one of the environmental challenges discussed at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Earth Summit).  The Summit linked together for the first time the “three pillars” of sustainable development ( social, economic and environmental ), approving Agenda 21.  The convention also opened for signature 3 UN conventions ( UNFCCC, UNCCD, CBD ). www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 3

The UNFCCC is the global mechanism that works toward tackling the causes and effects of CC  Opened for signature in 1992. Entered into force on March 1994.  195 Parties (almost universal).  The goal of the Convention is to stabilize GHG concentrations ( at a level that will ensure livelihood ).  Establishes 2 tiers of “ Common but differentiated responsibilities ”: Annex I and Annex II parties.  Similar to most UN mechanism, the UNFCCC operates under the principle of consensus. www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 4

Through the UNFCCC parties have achieved a number of agreements to address climate change Milestones in the UNFCCC process Year COP Venue Outcome(s) 1995 COP-1 Berlin, Germany Berlin Mandate 1997 COP-3 Kyoto, Japan Kyoto Protocol 2001 COP-7 Marrakesh, Morocco Marrakesh Accords 2004 COP-10 Buenos Aires, Argentina Buenos Aires Programme of Work on Adaptation and Response Measures 2005 COP-11/CMP-1 Montreal, Canada Establishment of AWG-KP and Dialogue 2006 COP-12/CMP-2 Nairobi, Kenya Nairobi Work Programme on Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation 2007 COP-13/CMP-3 Bali, Indonesia Bali Road Map 2009 COP-15/CMP-5 Copenhagen, Denmark Copenhagen Accord 2010 COP-16/CMP-6 Cancún, Mexico Cancun Agreements COP-17, at Durban (South Africa, December 2011) will be the next milestone in the process www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 5

Key Achievements of the Convention  Dissemination of widespread information on climate change;  Establishing a public response to global climate change;  Changes in national policy framework;  Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and establishment of market based mechanisms to promote clean development. www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 6

The Kyoto Protocol (KP)  International agreement linked to the UNFCCC (only parties to the Convention can ratify the KP).  Adopted in 1997 at COP-3 in Kyoto, Japan.  Entered into force on 16 February 2005.  193 Parties.  Defines a commitment period of 5 years (2008-2012) using 1990 as a base year.  Establishes legally binding emissions targets for Annex I parties. www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 7

The KP introduces mechanisms to promote clean development  Countries must meet their targets through national measures.  As additional means of meeting these targets, the KP introduces three market-based flexible mechanisms:  emissions trading (aka “the carbon market”);  clean development mechanism (CDM);  and joint implementation (JI) .  The key principle in these mechanisms is to prove “ additionality ”. www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 8

The need to define commitments after 2012  Since 2005 parties have been aware of the need to define an agreement on what to do after 2012 (expiration of KP).  Two parallel tracks:  2 nd commitment period for KP after 2012; (AWG-KP, established in 2005)  Discussion of a new treaty (with a longer term commitment and that defines targets for all countries). (AWG-LCA, established in 2007 – Bali Action Plan). www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 9

The Bali Action Plan defined a new framework to address climate change Shared Mitigation Adaptation Technology Science and vision of climate development data change and transfer monitoring www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 10

Although both tracks were supposed to be completed in 2009 (COP-15, Copenhagen), negotiations are still undergoing www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 11

Copenhagen (COP-15) symbolizes the difficulty of reaching an agreement through consensus  Parties produced a preliminary but non-binding agreement (Copenhagen Accord) on:  a certain targets of GHG emissions  aim for keeping global temperature rise below 2 ° C  The Copenhagen Accord was never formally adopted, but ‘taken note of’.  As a consequence the work of the AWG is considered “incomplete” and still continues. www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 12

The Copenhagen Accord was political (i.e. not based on scientific evidence)  Today, new studies have proved that with the commitments reflected in the Copenhagen Accord the rise in temperature will be over 4 ° C ( the emission gap ).  This scenario implies sea level rise of over 6m by 2100.  To achieve the goal of 2 ° C, parties have to commit to 5 Gt of additional reductions. www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 13

During the 2010 conference (COP-16) a certain progress was achieved over a number of issues  COP-16 resulted in the Cancun Agreements  Green Climate Fund;  Technology Mechanism (consisting of TEC and CTCN);  Cancun Adaptation Framework;  Fast-start finance.  The Cancun Agreements reestablished trust in the process and included a comprehensive package to help countries to adapt to climate change. www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 14

What will the next 9 months hold?  COP-17 Durban (December 2011)  Key issues still under negotiation:  Global temperature goal (and base year)  Commitments on GHG targets  Financing  …  Rio+20 (June 2012) faces the challenge of dealing with past issues that have yet to be addressed  Green economy in the context of poverty eradication  Implementation of past (good) agreements ( Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development ) www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 15

Possible areas of focus for ITU  Promote the use of ICTs to address the challenges of climate change  Monitoring: How to improve the collection and sharing of climate data through ICTs?  Mitigation: How ICTs can contribute to reduce the emission gap?  Adaptation: How can ICTs strengthen and support national adaptation strategies?  Capacity Building and technology transfer . How can ICTs support the transfer of green technologies? www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 16

Further information  ITU and climate change: www.itu.int/climate  UNFCCC: http://unfccc.int/  The Kyoto Protocol: http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php  Rio+20: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/ www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate 17

Snapshot on the UNFCCC process Possible areas of focus for ITU Jose Maria Diaz Batanero jose.batanero@it u.i nt Corporate strategy division September 2011 www.i .itu.i u.int nt/climate