Forum on Climate Change: Near Term Priorities, Long Term Objectives, Paris, 15 May 2000

This meeting was sponsored by the OECD and the IEA, and with the support of the Dutch government.

Download the Forum report

1. Outlook for COP6

The 2000 Forum explored ways to link the long term climate problem to decisions required for COP6. It focused on two themes: policies and actions to advance climate friendly technology; and development of Kyoto mechanisms. The opening session featured a short briefing on the results of recent Ministerial consultations in New York and "outlook" for COP6.

Chair: Joke Waller-Hunter, Director, Environment Directorate, OECD

Presentations:

Wojciech Ponikiewski, Director, Department for UN Economic and Social Affairs, Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2. Climate-friendly technology [COM/ENV/EPOC/IEA/SLT(2000)1]

The session aimed to clarify the role of government policy and opportunities to improve policy coherency and effectiveness in public and private sector pathways to advance climate friendly technology. The background paper summarises the latest results from the UNFCCC and CTI regional workshops, as well as key results from the IPCC's Special Report on Technology Transfer. Focusing on the "elements of a framework" for technology transfer that have emerged from ideas gathered in UNFCCC workshops (Section 4.2 of background document), participants were asked to address questions listed in the agenda for discussion (section 5), including priorities for action and possibilities for co-ordination.

Chair: Harald Dovland, Deputy Director General, Norwegian Ministry of Environment and Chair of the SBSTA

Presentations:

Sergio Trindade, Director, SE2T International, Ltd and Roebyem Heintz, Administrator for the Climate Technology Initiative, IEA

Panel Discussants:

Duncan Marsh, Foreign Affairs Officer, US Department of State
Udo Hartmann, Senior Manager, Environmental Protection, Daimler Chrysler AG, Germany

3. Kyoto mechanisms: operations and institutional needs [COM/ENV/EPOC/IEA/SLT(2000)2]

This session aimed to explore a number of issues in the development of the CDM. It covered the regulatory framework needed to implement the CDM, various implementation models, and key issues in establishing a credible CDM, as outlined in the background paper. Participants were asked to address the question of the institutional roles to be played by different actors, e.g. what needs to be overseen by governments and what can be done by the private sector and other non-governmental actors? They were also asked to share views on the various models for implementation that are emerging from negotiations, and other key issues, also in the context of the other Kyoto mechanisms.

Chair: Jos Delbeke, Head of Climate Unit, DG XI, EC

Presentations:

Nancy Kete, Director, Climate, Energy & Pollution Program, WRI and Kevin Baumert, Associate, WRI

Panel Discussants:

Yvo de Boer, Director, International Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, Netherlands
John Drexhage, Associate Director, Climate Change International, Environment Canada
Farhana Yamin, Director, Foundation for International Environmental Law & Development (FIELD)

4. Closing Remarks