Adaptation Under the Copenhagen Accord
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Organizational Framework of the G-77
17 CHAPTER 2 ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK OF THE GROUP OF 77 by Lydia Swart …neither the Western media nor Western scholars pay much attention to the multilateral policies and practices of the states variously described as the South, the third world, or developing countries. In particular, patterns of cooperation among these states in pursuit of common interests at the UN are often ignored or dismissed as of little consequence. Sally Morphet, 2004 Institutional Arrangements: UNCTAD The institutional arrangements of the G-77 developed slowly. In its first years, the G-77’s activities primarily coalesced around UNCTAD as it was regarded by the South as the key locus to improve conditions of trade for development and to form a counterbalance to the Bretton Woods Institutions dominated by the North. The G-77 focus on UNCTAD was so pronounced that until 1976—when it held a Conference on Economic Cooperation among Developing Countries—the group only convened high-level meetings in preparation for UNCTAD sessions. These ministerial meetings to prepare for UNCTAD started in 1967 at the initiative of the Group of 31, consisting of developing countries that were members of UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Board (TDB), represented by Ambassadors in Geneva.10 The first G-77 ministerial meeting in 1967 adopted the Charter of Algiers, which details the G-77’s programme of action but is rather short on internal institutional issues. It is only at the very end of the Algiers Charter that a few organizational aspects are mentioned. The G-77 decided to meet at the ministerial level as “often as this may be deemed necessary” but “always prior to the convening of sessions” of 10 Later referred to as preparatory meetings. -
Copenhagen Accord By-The-Numbers
Copenhagen Accord By-the-Numbers In our previous paper, Copenhagen Accord Annex I Parties have filed pledges of some and Discord: COP-15 and the Many Roads to sort, and these have been posted on the Mexico, we laid out some of the policy and UNFCCC website (see here for Annex I process issues surrounding the Copenhagen Parties and here for Non-Annex I Parties).2 Accord. In this paper, we take a look at Thirty-six countries also have provided what impact the Accord could have on “additional information” concerning the global emissions of greenhouse gases Accord. (GHGs). This brief analysis provides a look at the While not formally adopted by the emission reductions that could be expected Framework Convention on Climate Change from the pledges registered thus far (UNFCCC), the Accord was cast as an provided they are implemented. This kind “operational” document. Parties to the of analysis would be tricky under any UNFCCC were encouraged to “associate” circumstances, but because the Accord is themselves with the Accord and to pledge, binding politically, but not legally, the task at the highest political level, GHG emission is trickier still. Nevertheless, employing reductions or actions that could lead to some basic assumptions we can draw some reductions. The document contains two broad conclusions about the impact the appendices for countries to detail these Accord could have on global emissions out pledges: one for Annex I Parties to record to 2020. A discussion of the assumptions we their quantified emissions reduction targets used and other data issues can be found in for 2020 and base years and another for the Appendix to this paper. -
An Impossible Task?
editorial An impossible task? The Paris Agreement on climate change has shifted international focus to more stringent mitigation, and asked the scientific community to work out what that means on a tight timeline. The challenge is steep, but well worth a go. Not for the first time, a meeting of As a result, projections for key policymakers has thrown the climate research climate variables, such as temperature community into some turmoil. The Paris and precipitation, do not show obvious, Agreement1 affirms the canonical goal of societally important differences in their limiting warming to no more than 2 °C above global mean amplitudes or patterns pre-industrial levels, but it also states the aim between a 1.5 and 2 °C world2. Indeed, it to pursue a warming limit as low as 1.5 °C. has been argued6 that we may not know With this addition, a new question entered enough to clearly distinguish differences centre stage: how much of a difference does between the two target warming levels — the extra half a degree of mitigation effort after uncertainties are taken into account — make, both in terms of permissable emissions by the time of the requested 2018 and in terms of potential impacts? This IPCC assessment. question was referred back to the scientific However, the task may not be community in the form of an invitation to impossible. In some regions, such as the the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Mediterranean, the contiguous United Change (IPCC) to provide a Special Report States and central Brazil, warming is greater in 2018. Climate researchers seem keen to than global mean surface temperature rise, help: at Nature Geoscience we are already and the signal is therefore amplified. -
The Emerging Economies and Climate Change
SHIFTING POWER Critical perspectives on emerging economies TNI WORKING PAPERS THE EMERGING ECONOMIES AND CLIMATE CHANGE A CASE STUDY OF THE BASIC GROUPING PRAFUL BIDWAI The Emerging Economies and Climate Change: A case study of the BASIC grouping PRAFUL BIDWAI* Among the most dramatic and far-reaching geopolitical developments of the post-Cold War era is the shift in the locus of global power away from the West with the simultaneous emergence as major powers of former colonies and other countries in the South, which were long on the periphery of international capi- talism. As they clock rapid GDP growth, these “emerging economies” are trying to assert their new identities and interests in a variety of ways. These include a demand for reforming the structures of global governance and the United Nations system (especially the Security Council) and the formation of new plurilateral blocs and associations among nations which seek to challenge or counterbalance existing patterns of dominance in world economic and political affairs. BASIC, made up of Brazil, South Africa, India and China, which acts as a bloc in the negotiations under the auspices of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is perhaps the most sharply focused of all these groupings. Beginning with the Copenhagen climate summit of 2009, BASIC has played a major role in shaping the negotiations which were meant to, but have failed to, reach an agreement on cooperative climate actions and obligations on the part of different countries and country-groups to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions, warn scientists, are dangerously warming up the Earth and causing irreversible changes in the world’s climate system. -
1 the Future of REDD-Plus
The Future of REDD-Plus: Pathways of Convergence for the UNFCCC Negotiations and the Partnership Antonio G.M. La Viña* Working Paper In this working paper Antonio G.M. La Viña, who led the negotiations on REDD-Plus in the preparations for the UN Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in 2009, considers the REDD-Plus negotiations and REDD-Plus initiatives, and shares his views on ways forward. Six months after the official deadline for parties to the Copenhagen Accord to submit their plans for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a picture is emerging on how far these plans can actually meet the 2oC target set in the Accord. Since the writing of this paper, one hundred thirty-eight countries have engaged or are expected to engage with the Accord, while 8 countries have signified that they will not (USCAN 2010). Analysis done by the World Resources Institute shows that emission reduction pledges made by Annex I countries under the Accord currently translate to cumulative reductions of 13-19% below 1990 levels–falling far short of the lower limit or -25% cut by 2020 recommended by the IPCC (Levin and Bradley 2010). In a comprehensive study conducted by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (den Elzen et al. 2010), current emission reduction pledges are projected to reduce global GHGs to about 50 Gigatons (Gt) CO2eq by 2020, some 4 Gt short of the level needed to meet the 2oC target by 2050. The study suggests, among others, that by reducing emissions from deforestation by 50% below 1995 levels and excluding allowance increases from land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) rules, the global community could begin to close this emissions gap and be within the pathway to meeting the 2oC target by 2020 and 2050. -
Weathering the Climate Crisis: the Way of Ecological Agriculture
WEATHERING THE CLIMATE CRISIS: The Way of Ecological Agriculture PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK ASIA AND THE PACIFIC WEATHERING THE CLIMATE CRISIS The Way of Ecological Agriculture 1 PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK ASIA AND THE PACIFIC WEATHERING THE CLIMATE CRISIS The Way of Ecological Agriculture Copyright © Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific, 2010. All rights reserved. Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) encourages the reproduction and use of this publication as long as PAN AP is properly acknowledged as the source and provided with a copy of the final work. For further information, contact: EMPOWERING PEOPLE FOR CHANGE ANAP PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK ASIA & THE PACIFIC Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) PO Box 1170, 10850 Penang, Malaysia Tel: (604) 657 0271/656 0381 Fax: (604) 658 3960 Email: [email protected] Webpage: www.panap.net Writer: K Prabhakar Nair Editor-in-Chief: Sarojeni V Rengam Editors: Biju Negi and Gilbert Sape Production Assistants: Teh Chun Hong, Mohd. J. Firdaus, Brione Bruce, Tersem Kaur, Evelyn Cubelo, Virgilio Tamayao, Jr. Copy Editor: Patrick Limcaco Cover Design: Dennis Longid (Red Leaf Designs) WEATHERING THE CLIMATE CRISIS: The Way of Ecological Agriculture TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD vii INTRODUCTION 1 Chapter 1: WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE? 7 Sources and shares of GHGs 9 Chapter 2: THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 10 Climate change consequences and impacts 15 Changes in rainfall patterns and distribution 15 Sea level rise and the threat of coastal flooding 16 Depleting water resources -
'Copenhagen' Target Is Coming Closer
‘Copenhagen’ target is coming closer Copenhagen Accord In December 2009, an important United Nations Climate Change Conference took place in Copenhagen, Denmark. This conference resulted in the Copenhagen Accord. As part of this Accord, industrialised countries submitted greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for 2020, and developing countries submitted actions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Two-degree target The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) calculated the combined effect of these pledges, and concluded that this makes up sixty to seventy per cent of the emission reduction required for achieving the target of a maximum temperature rise of two degrees, globally. Impact of pledged reductions and enhancing mitigation options, 2020 Reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2 from land use and excluding surplus CO 2 emission rights Gt CO2 eq 12 According to the Copenhagen Accord 2 °C target Developing countries high pledges (additonal effect) Industrialised countries high pledges (additonal effect) Developing countries low pledges 8 Industrialised countries low pledges Enhancing mitigation options Additional reductions to achieve target of industrialised 4 countries of -25% International aviation and marine transport targets No allowance increases from land use and forestry rules 50% reduction in deforestation emissions by 2020 0 (additonal effect) According to According to China and India National Climate Plans (additional effect) the Copenhagen Accord the Copenhagen Accord and enhancing mitigation -
Costs, Revenues, and Effectiveness of the Copenhagen Accord Emission Pledges for 2020
OECD Environment Working Papers No. 22 Costs, Revenues, Rob Dellink, and Effectiveness Gregory Briner, of the Copenhagen Accord Christa Clapp Emission Pledges for 2020 https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/5km975plmzg6-en Unclassified ENV/WKP(2010)8 Organisation de Coopération et de Développement Économiques Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 04-Aug-2010 ___________________________________________________________________________________________ English - Or. English ENVIRONMENT DIRECTORATE Unclassified ENV/WKP(2010)8 ENVIRONMENT WORKING PAPER NO. 22 COSTS, REVENUES, AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COPENHAGEN ACCORD EMISSION PLEDGES FOR 2020 By Rob Dellink, Gregory Briner and Christa Clapp, OECD Environment Directorate JEL classifications: F53, H23, H87, Q54, Q58 Keywords: Climate change, Computable general equilibrium model, Copenhagen accord, Greenhouse gas mitigation All OECD Environment Working Papers are available at www.oecd.org/env/workingpapers English - Or. English JT03287220 Document complet disponible sur OLIS dans son format d'origine Complete document available on OLIS in its original format ENV/WKP(2010)8 OECD ENVIRONMENT WORKING PAPERS This series is designed to make available to a wider readership selected studies on environmental issues prepared for use within the OECD. Authorship is usually collective, but principal writers are named. The papers are generally available only in their original language English or French with a summary in the other if available. The opinions expressed in these papers are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the OECD or of the governments of its member countries. Comment on the series is welcome, and should be sent to either [email protected] or the Environment Directorate, 2, rue André Pascal, 75775 PARIS CEDEX 16, France. -
International Climate Negotiations – on the Road to Paris Issues at Stake in View of COP 21
DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR INTERNAL POLICIES POLICY DEPARTMENT A: ECONOMIC AND SCIENTIFIC POLICY International Climate Negotiations – On the Road to Paris Issues at Stake in View of COP 21 STUDY Abstract This study presents a brief history of the climate negotiations, with a focus on the preparations for a legally binding agreement, to be finalised at the climate change conference in Paris in December 2015. The positions of the main Parties, negotiating groups and other stakeholders are highlighted, as well as the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) submitted during 2015. The study was provided by Policy Department A at the request of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). IP/A/ENVI/2015-09 November 2015 PE 569.970 EN This document was requested by the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). AUTHORS Lorenz Moosmann, Umweltbundesamt (Austria) Katja Pazdernik, Umweltbundesamt (Austria) Andrea Prutsch, Umweltbundesamt (Austria) Klaus Radunsky, Umweltbundesamt (Austria) RESPONSIBLE ADMINISTRATOR Tina Ohliger EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Eva Asplund LINGUISTIC VERSIONS Original: EN ABOUT THE EDITOR Policy departments provide in-house and external expertise to support EP committees and other parliamentary bodies in shaping legislation and exercising democratic scrutiny over EU internal policies. To contact Policy Department A or to subscribe to its newsletter please write to: Policy Department A: Economic and Scientific Policy European Parliament B-1047 Brussels E-mail: [email protected] Manuscript completed in November 2015 © European Union, 2015 This document is available on the Internet at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/studies DISCLAIMER The opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament. -
Mexico History: 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2011 Page Last Updated: 20Th November 2013
Mexico History: 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2011 Page last updated: 20th November 2013 Rating Assessment Mexico pledged to reduce emissions by 30% below business as usual by 2020, conditional on international support. Mexico’s progress in policy planning and institution building over the past years has been remarkable. However, more action is needed to meet the ambitious emissions reduction target by 2020. Pledge description In its submission under the Copenhagen Accord, "Mexico aims at reducing its GHG emissions up to 30% with respect to the business as usual scenario by 2020, provided the provision of adequate financial and technological support from developed countries as part of a global agreement." President Felipe Calderón announced this target during the Copenhagen conference. Mexico has a very detailed national plan up to 2012, which includes measures and their effects on emissions. Emission reductions up to 2012 as defined in the “Programa Especial de Cambio Climático 2008-2012” (PECC) (Special Programme on Climate Change) were a first unconditional step in national implementation. The plan was in line with an overall strategy to reduce emissions by 50% by 2050 compared to 2000 levels, which assumes moderate reductions in the early years and more ambitions reductions later. With the General Law on Climate Change from 2012 and the National Climate Change Strategy published in June 2013, Mexico has confirmed these targets and made them binding on the national level, subject to international support. The National Climate Change Strategy includes a new BAU scenario, which replaces the one from the PECC, to which the pledge previously referred. -
Climate Change Diplomacy
Climate Change Diplomacy EU-AsiA DiAlogUE Shaping a Common Future for Europe and Asia – Sharing Policy Innovation and Best Practices in Addressing Common Challenges Climate Change Diplomacy The Way Forward for Asia and Europe © 2014 Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung and European Union All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying or recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission from the publisher. Editors: Dr. Wilhelm Hofmeister Patrick Rueppel Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung Ltd. Regional Programme Political Dialogue Asia 36 Bukit Pasoh Road Singapore 089850 Registration Number: 201228783N East Asian Institute 469A Bukit Timah Road Tower Block #06-01 Singapore 259770 European Policy Centre Résidence Palace 155 rue de la Loi B-1040 Brussels / Belgium European Union Centre in Singapore 11 Slim Barracks Rise, #06-01 Executive Centre, NTU@one-north campus Singapore 138664 Design, Layout and Typeset: Select Books Pte Ltd 65A, Jalan Tenteram #02-06, St Michael’s Industrial Estate Singapore 328958 Website: www.selectbooks.com.sg National Library Board, Singapore Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Climate change diplomacy : the way forward for Asia and Europe / editors, Dr. Wilhelm Hofmeister, Patrick Rueppel. – Singapore : Konrad Adenauer Stiftung : East Asian Institute : European Union Centre in Singapore ; Brussels, Belgium : European Policy Centre,¬ [2014] pages cm ISBN -
The Copenhagen Accord: a Legal Analysis
The Copenhagen Accord A legal analysis 28 January 2010 Prepared by: Raj Bavishi, Oxfam GB With additional input from: Kiran Arora, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP Kate Cook, Matrix Chambers Nick Flynn, Weil Gotshal and Manges LLP Wouter Geldhof and Tom Ruys, Stibbe Silke Goldberg, Herbert Smith LLP Ilona Millar, Baker & McKenzie LLP Claire Mortimer, Oxfam GB Fleur Newman, Clayton Utz Nicola Peart, WWF-UK Niall Watson, WWF-UK The views expressed in this analysis are those of the individuals named above and not necessarily those of their organisations. 28 January 2010 The Copenhagen Accord: A Legal Analysis Executive Summary There were three key outcomes of the COP15: two COP decisions to extend the work and mandates of the AWG-LCA and AWG-KP until COP16 in Mexico, and a decision to ‘take note of’ the Copenhagen Accord. The Accord is not ‘legally binding’ on those countries that choose to associate themselves with it. As such political consequences, rather than legal sanctions, might flow from its breach. Any interpretation of the Accord must be read in the context of its legal status. A decision to ‘take note of’ the Accord is legally distinct from a decision to ‘adopt’ the Accord. By “taking note” of the Accord, UNFCCC parties formally acknowledge its existence without making a statement as to their support or otherwise of its content. The subject matter of the Accord combines the work of the AWG-LCA and AWG-KP and potentially sets a precedent for the eventual merging of the two AWGs. Until the form of the outcome of the AWG-LCA is agreed, it is possible that the Accord will play a role in guiding the negotiations of the AWG-LCA (and AWG-KP) in the coming months and years.