Secretariat of the Pacific RegionalEnvironmentProgramme

Climate change negotiations from Rio to Doha – building

capacities

Espen RonnebergClimate Change Adviser, SPREP

espenr@sprep.org

SPREP MembersAmerican SamoaAustraliaCook IslandsFederated States of MicronesiaFijiFranceFrench PolynesiaGuamKiribatiMarshall IslandsNauruNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNiueNorthern Mariana IslandsPalauPapua New GuineaSamoaSolomon IslandsTokelauTongaTuvaluUnited States of AmericaVanuatuWallis and Futuna

Secretariat of the Pacific RegionalEnvironmentProgramme

Overview

• The Durban Platform - AWG-DP• Ad Hoc Working Group on Kyoto

Protocol – AWG-KP• Ad Hoc Working Group on Long Term

Cooperative Action – AWG-LCA• Process so far this year, focussing on

outcomes of latest meeting in Bangkok

• Some reflections on what this means for prospects for Doha

• How to build capacities in the region

Secretariat of the Pacific RegionalEnvironmentProgramme

AWG-DP

• Roundtables held in BKK – informal exchanges but parameters noted

• Key focus on enhancing ambition• Attempts to revise common but

differentiated – outdated or valid• “Applicable to all” – universality or

uniformity; fair application?

Secretariat of the Pacific RegionalEnvironmentProgramme

AWG-KP

• Sought to develop decision for amending the KP at Doha

• This would allow second commitment period to start in January 2013

• Informal paper outlining proposed process developed in BKK

• Now more clarity on the options for transitioning in the 2nd CP

• Still doubts on who will agree/sign/ratify

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AWG-LCA

• Sought to clarify if all issues from Bali were now covered

• Much disagreement on whether processes assigned tasks were sufficient

• Much debate as to what closing LCA in Doha entails in relation to Parties views on issues outstanding

• Some important issues such as peaking of emissions will be considered in 2013-2015 but in what format

• Comparability of pledges also not clear• No mid-term financial target• No clarity on common accounting framework

Secretariat of the Pacific RegionalEnvironmentProgramme

Reflections on Bangkok session• No new measures to combat climate

change, yet some progress to enable a successful outcome and balanced package of measures at the Doha

• Session almost did not happen due to lack of funding, a full plate: Doha amendment(s) to KP for robust 2CP; successful closure of the AWG-LCA; and initial consolidation of ADP to map out the path towards a new legal regime by 2015 to start beginning in 2020.

Secretariat of the Pacific RegionalEnvironmentProgramme

Concerns in the AWG-KP

• Legal – ratification lengthy for some countries; provisional application not feasible for some

• Continuation of usage of KP mechanisms – only for parties with 2CP or flexibility under transition period

• Length of commitment period – 5 or 8 years? Issue of ambition level & overlap

Secretariat of the Pacific RegionalEnvironmentProgramme

Concerns in the AWG-LCA

• Wide disagreement on whether more work was needed in LCA to finish Bali

• Work mandated for Doha - shared vision; developed country mitigation; developing country mitigation; REDD+; sectoral approaches; various approaches, including markets; and Review

• Has finance, adaptation, technology been adequately addressed?

• Chair’s text is inconclusive

Secretariat of the Pacific RegionalEnvironmentProgramme

Concerns in the AWG-DP• Agreement on 2 workstreams on post-2020

and pre-2020 ambition• Disagreement on this covers only mitigation

or also adaptation, finance and technology• CBDR - “universality of application” should

not become “uniformity of application” to take account the variety of national circumstances

• Developed countries increasingly referring to current socio-economic realities, flexible and dynamic structures to evolve over time to promote increasing ambition as countries’ capabilities and confidence grow

Secretariat of the Pacific RegionalEnvironmentProgramme

Building capacity for negotiations• Last 10 years SPREP have been providing

support to negotiators, including through negotiations skills training, particularly last 5

• Module approach “Taking The Floor”, with glossary of key climate change terms, key organizational issues (document titles, numbers), key negotiations jargon (FCCC!)

• Exercises include drafting position papers and briefs, what to expect at a COP, mock negotiations, developing a draft decision

• All is based on the latest state of issues in the negotiations

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Other negotiations preparations• Key issues in the negotiations are

presented and discussed, and feedback on preferences documented for AOSIS

• Latest science updates provided by invited experts – key to positioning

• In-depth discussions on priorities for the meetings, including ancillary issues like discussions with key donors on national and regional activities – current/planned

• Improves cohesiveness, preparedness

Secretariat of the Pacific RegionalEnvironmentProgramme

Future considerations• SPREP has developed a successful

model for negotiations skills training and preparing for the negotiations

• Should be expanded to include Brussels and New York

• Ad-hoc support from donors in the past, need to have assured funding, lock in dates to allow for busy schedules

• Some interest from donors but nothing concrete – many balking at the sheer costs of transport associated – Pacific!

Secretariat of the Pacific RegionalEnvironmentProgramme

Conclusion

Secretariat of the Pacific RegionalEnvironmentProgramme

SPREP MembersAmerican SamoaAustraliaCook IslandsFederated States of MicronesiaFijiFranceFrench PolynesiaGuamKiribatiMarshall IslandsNauruNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNiueNorthern Mariana IslandsPalauPapua New GuineaSamoaSolomon IslandsTokelauTongaTuvaluUnited States of AmericaVanuatuWallis and Futuna

Kommol tata!Faafetai tele lava!