Shankar IAS Summary: Climate Change Organizations - 3 | Environment for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Bonn Climate Change Conference - Cop 23, 2017

* The UNFCCC’s COP23 in Bonn, Germany, in November 2017, was presided over by Fiji, making it the first small-island state to host the UNFCCC climate talks.

Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA)

 A significant decision reached at COP 23, acknowledging the importance of agriculture in adapting to and mitigating climate change. Countries agreed to collaborate on agricultural development, focusing on topics like soils, nutrient use, water, livestock, adaptation assessment methods, and socio-economic and food security aspects. KJWA is a three-year program concluding at COP 26 in Glasgow.

Powering Past Coal Alliance 

Launched in COP 23 and led by the UK and Canada, the alliance comprises over 20 members working towards clean growth and the rapid phase-out of traditional coal power. It advocates for a coal phase-out in the OECD and EU 28 by 2030 and no later than 2050 globally, aligning with the Paris Agreement. However, it does not specify signatories' commitments to particular phase-out dates or the cessation of financing unabated coal power stations, only restricting it.

Fiji’s COP Outcomes

• Gender Action Plan: Emphasizes women's role in climate action and promotes gender equality.
• Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform: Aims to facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices on mitigation and adaptation.
• Ocean Pathway Partnership: A two-track strategy supporting Paris Agreement goals, focusing on increasing the role of ocean considerations in the UNFCCC process and significantly enhancing action in priority areas influenced by the ocean and climate change.
• Talanoa Dialogue: A process designed for inclusive, participatory, and transparent dialogue to help countries implement and enhance their Nationally Determined Contributions by 2020. It involves storytelling and addresses three questions: Where are we? Where do we want to go? How do we get there? Originally known as the facilitative dialogue, it was renamed Talanoa Dialogue during the Fijian COP presidency in Bonn.
• InsuResilience Global Partnership: Launched at COP 23, it involves G20 countries, V20 nations, civil society, international organizations, the private sector, and academia. The partnership aims to enhance the resilience of developing countries, protecting lives and livelihoods from disaster impacts through faster, more reliable, and cost-effective responses. The goal is to increase the number of beneficiaries from direct or indirect insurance by up to 400 million by 2020.

COP 25, 2019

•  The United Nations Climate Change Conference COP 25 in 2019 was held in Madrid, Spain, under the Presidency of Chile.
• Originally planned for Chile, the COP 25 was relocated to Madrid due to violent mass movements across the country.
• The main goal of COP 25 was to finalize the rulebook for the 2015 Paris Agreement, which would become effective in 2020, replacing the 1997 Kyoto Protocol ending in the same year.
• Unfortunately, countries could not reach agreement on several anticipated outcomes, including rules for establishing a global carbon trading system and a mechanism for directing new finance (loss and damage) to nations impacted by climate change. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, COP 26, initially scheduled for 2020, was postponed to November 2021, with the completion of the rulebook expected in that session.

Major Outcomes

• The Paris Agreement emphasizes the avoidance of double counting of carbon credits. This means that a country selling emissions cuts through offsetting credits to another country cannot simultaneously count those cuts toward its own climate targets. However, consensus on this matter is pending, with Australia, Brazil, and a few others expressing disagreement.
•  A new five-year gender action plan, originally agreed upon in COP 20 Lima, aims to support the implementation of gender-related decisions and mandates in the UNFCCC process.
• The Climate Ambition Alliance (CAA), led by Chile, was launched at the Climate Action Summit in New York in 2019. At COP 25, 73 countries joined the alliance, aiming to enhance their 2020 targets and achieve Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050. The alliance focuses on resilience in infrastructure, water management, and city sustainability. It also emphasizes Nationally Determined Contributions as part of the strategy to reach Net Zero by 2050. The European Union (EU) committed to a "climate neutral" target for 2050, aligning itself with the CAA.

Glasgow COP 26 Outcomes

• Countries are required to review and enhance their climate commitments by the end of 2022.
•  The agreement calls for a "phasedown" of coal and the elimination of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.
•  Initiates processes to achieve a global goal on adaptation, increased climate finance, and funding for loss and damage.
•  Wealthier nations fell short of meeting the $100 billion annual climate finance target for 2020. The pact urges them to urgently meet the target through 2025.
•  Regarding the streamlining of the timeframe for Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC), the agreement encourages parties to communicate their INDCs, ending in 2035 in 2025, ending in 2040 in 2030, and so forth every five years thereafter.
•  Global stocktake: The COP of UNFCCC will periodically assess mitigation, adaptation, and the "means of implementation and support," such as finance. The first stocktake is scheduled for 2023.
•  Deforestation pledges:
  1. Over 130 countries signed a declaration on forest and land use, committing to collectively halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.
  2. The UK and Indonesia jointly lead a Forest, Agriculture, and Commodity Trade initiative to support sustainable trade between producing and consuming countries.
  
• Global Methane pledge, led by the US and the European Commission, urges countries to reduce methane emissions by 30% over 2020-2030.
•  Global coal to clean power transition statement: 23 nations committed to phasing out and refraining from building or investing in new coal power domestically and internationally.
• Accelerating the transition to 100% zero-emission cars and vans: Although not legally binding, the coalition aims to work towards all new cars and vans being zero-emission globally by 2040 and by no later than 2035 in leading markets.
•  Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ): Committed $130 trillion toward the net-zero transition. Signatories must commit to science-based guidelines for achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and provide 2030 interim goals.
• Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance: Aims to deliver a managed and just transition away from oil and gas production, led by Denmark and Costa Rica, with core members including France, Greenland, Ireland, Quebec, Sweden, and Wales.
• Article 6 (referring to COP 21): Rules for Article 6 of the Paris Agreement concerning carbon markets and voluntary international cooperation were agreed upon in Glasgow. Parties agreed to the carryover of carbon credits since 2013, bringing up to 320 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent into the Paris mechanism. The agreement closes the double counting of carbon emission cuts and excludes the use of credits from historical deforestation avoidance.

Sharm El-Sheikh COP 27 Outcomes

Major outcomes

• The COP27 has approved the creation of a "Loss and Damage" fund to assist nations vulnerable to climate-related losses. Additionally, a new five-year work program has been introduced to promote climate technology solutions in developing nations.
• In the field of mitigation, a work program aims to rapidly increase efforts to mitigate climate change. This program will run until 2030, featuring at least two global dialogues each year. Governments are urged to review and strengthen their 2030 climate targets within their national plans by the end of 2023, alongside accelerating efforts to reduce coal power and phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.
  
• Delegates at COP27 have concluded the second technical dialogue of the inaugural global stocktake, a mechanism aimed at raising climate ambition as per the Paris Agreement. Before the stocktake's completion at COP28 the following year, a 'climate ambition summit' will be convened in 2023 by the UN Secretary-General.
• The Sharm-El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda outlines 30 Adaptation Outcomes to strengthen resilience for the 4 billion people living in the most climate-vulnerable communities by 2030.
• The Action on Water Adaptation and Resilience Initiative (AWARe) has been launched to address the significance of water in both climate change challenges and solutions.
• The African Carbon Market Initiative (ACMI) aims to support carbon credit production and job creation in Africa.
• The establishment of the Global Renewables Alliance brings together all the necessary technologies for the energy transition, aiming not only to achieve targets but also to position renewable energy as a pillar of sustainable development and economic growth.

Other Mechanisms of UNFCCC

1. Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)

•  The Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), established in 2001 under the Convention, finances projects related to adaptation, technology transfer, capacity building, energy, transport, industry, agriculture, forestry, waste management, and economic diversification.
•  The Global Environment Facility (GEF) operates the SCCF as an operating entity of the financial mechanism.
  

2. Finance Mechanism for Climate Change

• Financial resources available to Non-Annex I Parties to the UNFCCC include three modules:
• The "National Communications Module" presents information communicated by Annex II Parties regarding financial resources for Convention implementation through their fourth and fifth national communications.

Fast-Start Finance

• Developed countries pledged during COP15 in Copenhagen (December 2009) to provide new and additional resources, approximately USD 30 billion for 2010-2012, with a balanced allocation between mitigation and adaptation.
• COP16 in Cancun (December 2010) acknowledged this collective commitment and prioritized adaptation funding for the most vulnerable developing countries, including the least developed countries, small island developing States, and Africa.
• COP17 welcomed the fast-start finance provided by developed countries for the period 2010-2012, urged enhanced transparency in reporting, and noted information on the fulfillment of fast-start finance commitments.
• The "Funds Managed by the GEF Module" is a collaboration between the UNFCCC secretariat and the GEF secretariat. It presents information on financial flows channeled, mobilized, and leveraged by the GEF as an operating entity of the UNFCCC Financial Mechanism.

REDD & REDD+

 REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) is a global effort to incentivize developing countries to protect, manage, and preserve their forest resources, contributing to the global fight against climate change.

• REDD+ extends beyond curtailing deforestation and degradation, encompassing positive incentives for conservation, sustainable forest management, and improvement of forest carbon stocks.
•  REDD+ envisions providing positive incentives for demonstrated reductions in deforestation or improvements in the quality and extent of forest cover.
• It establishes a financial value for carbon stored and enhanced in biomass and soil of standing forests. Countries reducing emissions and practicing sustainable forest management are eligible for funds andb as incentives.
• The REDD+ approach includes benefits such as livelihood improvement, biodiversity conservation, and food security services.
  

Will India Benefit from REDD+?

• India's ongoing efforts to conserve and expand its forest and tree resources may be rewarded for providing carbon services globally. Incentives received from REDD+ would support local communities engaged in forest protection and management, ensuring sustained forest preservation.
• A REDD+ program for India is estimated to capture over 1 billion tonnes of additional CO2 over the next three decades, providing more than USD 3 billion in carbon service incentives.

India's Position on REDD And REDD+

• India emphasizes viewing REDD in the broader context of REDD+, treating deforestation reduction and forest conservation and improvement as equally important. This stance was accepted in the 13th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 13) at Bali.
• India presents an ambitious Green India Mission program under its National Action Plan on Climate Change.

India Initiatives Related to REDD+

• India submitted a proposal to UNFCCC on "REDD, Sustainable Management of Forest (SMF), and Afforestation and Reforestation (A&R)" in December 2008.
• A Technical Group has been formed to develop methodologies and procedures for assessing and monitoring the contribution of REDD+ actions.
• A National REDD+ Coordinating Agency is in the process of establishment.
• A National Forest Carbon Accounting Programme is being institutionalized.
• India hosted the Conference of Parties (COP-11) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2012.
• A study on the impact of climate change on India's forests, assigned to the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA), was released in November 2010.

The Gef

• Article 11 of the UNFCCC establishes a 'financial mechanism' for convention implementation, guided by the UNFCCC COP and accountable to the COP.
• Article 11(1) grants the COP the authority to decide on policies, program priorities, and eligibility criteria for the financial mechanism concerning the convention.
• Article 21 designates the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to serve as the interim financial mechanism.
  
• The GEF was created in 1991 by the World Bank in consultation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to offer funding for global environmental protection.
• The GEF's governance, operational, financial, and administrative oversight procedures are outlined in the Instrument for the Establishment of the Restructured Global Environment Facility, adopted in 1994 and later amended in 2002 (GEF Instrument).
• The GEF currently focuses on six areas:
  • Biological diversity;
  • Climate change;
  • International waters;
  • Land degradation, primarily desertification and deforestation;
  • Ozone layer depletion; and
  • Persistent organic pollutants.

Global Climate Finance Architecture

• The global climate finance architecture is directed through multilateral funds like the Global Environment Facility and the Climate Investment Funds, and increasingly through bilateral channels.

Strategic Climate Fund

• Administered by the World Bank
• Area of focus - Adaptation, Mitigation - general, Mitigation - REDD
• Date operational - 2008

The Strategic Climate Fund (SCF), part of the Climate Investment Funds (CIFs), oversees programs focusing on Forest Investment, Climate Resilience, and Scaling Up Renewable Energy.

Forest Investment Program

• Administered by The World Bank
• Area of focus - Mitigation - REDD
• Date operational - 2009

The Forest Investment Program (FIP) aids developing countries in reducing deforestation and promoting sustainable forest management, leading to emission reductions and carbon protection.

Biocarbon Fund

• Administered by The World Bank
• Area of focus - Adaptation, Mitigation - general, Mitigation - REDD
• Date operational - 2004

Least Developed Countries Fund

• Administered by The Global Environment Facility (GEF)
• Area of focus - Adaptation
• Date operational - 2002

Green Climate Fund

• Administered by - to be confirmed
• Area of focus - Adaptation, Mitigation - general, Mitigation - REDD
• Date operational - 2015

UN-REDD Programme

• Administered by UNDP
• Area of focus - Mitigation - REDD
• Date operational - 2008

Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Program

• Administered by the International Fund for Agricultural Development
• Area of focus - Adaptation
• Date operational - 2012

Amazon Fund (Fundo Amazonia)

• Administered by Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES)
• Area of focus - Mitigation - REDD
• Date operational - 2009

Congo Basin Forest Fund

• Administered by African Development Bank
• Area of focus - Mitigation - REDD
• Date operational - 2008

Indonesia Climate Change Trust Fund

• Administered by Indonesia’s National Development Planning Agency
• Area of focus - Adaptation, Mitigation - general, Mitigation - REDD
• Date operational - 2010

One Planet Summit

• At least 50 countries committed to protecting 30% of the planet, including land and sea, over the next decade to halt species extinction and address climate change issues.
• The summit launched a program called PREZODE, an international initiative to prevent the emergence of zoonotic diseases and pandemics.

Petersberg Climate Dialogue

• Petersberg Climate Dialogue, hosted by Germany, serves as a forum for high-level political discussions on international climate negotiations and climate action advancement.
• The virtual XI Petersberg Climate Dialogue, co-chaired by Germany and the United Kingdom, addressed post-COVID-19 economic recovery and climate action, especially for the vulnerable.