The CCXG Global Forum on the Environment and Climate Change was held on 12-13 September 2017 at the OECD Conference Centre in Paris. This Forum brought together approximately 200 delegates from a wide range of developed and developing countries, as well as representatives from business, inter-governmental organisations, research organisations, environmental NGOs and other relevant institutions. Two sessions of the Forum were organised in partnership with the Council on Energy Environment & Water (CEEW). The issues discussed included the 2018 facilitative dialogue, transparency of mitigation action and climate finance, and accounting for NDCs.
The Forum provided a neutral space outside of the UNFCCC negotiations for participants to develop a shared understanding of the transparency-related provisions in the Paris Agreement and how these might be implemented. The Forum was also an opportunity for delegates to have an objective discussion of the priorities and timeline for related work to be undertaken by the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement and other subsidiary bodies under the UNFCCC.
summaries of breakout GROUPS
Agenda, presentations and final list of participants
9:30 – 09:45 Welcoming remarks
Chair: Jacob Werksman
Facilitator: Jacob Werksman, Chair of the Climate Change Expert Group
9:45 – 10:15 Opening Plenary : Investing in Climate, Investing in Growth
Governments are faced with the triple challenges of re-invigorating growth, improving livelihoods and addressing climate change. This session will highlight how acting on climate change can also be good for growth, provided the right policies and structural reforms are put in place.
10:15 – 11:15 Plenary: Success factors for the 2018 facilitative dialogue
Facilitator: Jacob Werksman, Chair of the Climate Change Expert Group
The 2018 facilitative dialogue’s mandate is “to take stock of the collective efforts of Parties in relation to progress towards the long-term goal” referred to in Article 4.1 and to “inform the preparation of nationally determined contributions” pursuant to Article 4.8. As discussions on the scope and modalities of the dialogue are ongoing, this session will highlight different views on what factors would render the FD2018 a “success”.
Discussion question:
11:45 – 13:15 Breakout Group 1: 2018 facilitative dialogue (FD2018): Options for outputs and outcomes
Co-facilitators: Ilze Prūse, Latvia and Kaveh Guilanpour, Marshall Islands
The FD2018’s mandate does not explicitly call for any outputs or outcomes. This session will explore possible outcomes that could result from the 2018 facilitative dialogue. This session will also address what possible outputs, inputs and modalities could be relevant to enable possible outcomes.
Discussion questions:
11:45 – 13:15 Breakout Group A: Accounting for diverse NDCs: Unpacking concepts and options
Co-facilitators: Kelley Kizzier, Ireland and Harald Winkler, University of Cape Town (UCT)
The diversity of approaches used by Parties to express mitigation goals in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) presents challenges in understanding, comparing and aggregating outcomes. Accounting is needed to allow Parties to track individual progress towards their own mitigation goal, understand others’ progress, and assess collective progress towards to the long-term mitigation goal. This session aims to unpack the concepts and options around the nature of accounting for diverse NDCs.
Discussion question:
14:30 – 16:00 Breakout Group 2: Transparency of reporting on finance: Enhanced reporting on finance provided and mobilised
Co-facilitators: Janine Felson, Belize and Outi Honkatukia, Finland
The modalities, procedures and guidelines (MPGs) for the enhanced transparency framework for finance-related information are to build on current arrangements for reporting, measurement and verification. The MPGs should also reflect the changes introduced by the Paris Agreement to the reporting of finance provided and mobilised, both in terms of reporting Parties and scope of reported information, in particular with respect to reporting on private finance mobilised by public interventions. This session will highlight experience with reporting of finance provided and mobilised, or of using this reported information. It will also explore the remaining challenges to meet the purpose of the enhanced transparency framework for support, and specific options for the MPGs to overcome these challenges.
Discussion questions:
14:30 – 16:00 Breakout Group B: Transparecncy of reporting on mitigation: Country experiences with reporting - Organised in partnership with CEEW
Co-facilitators: Arunabha Gosh, CEEW and Juan Carlos Arredondo Brun, Mexico
As per Decision 1/CP.21, the modalities, procedures and guidelines for the Paris Agreement’s enhanced transparency framework will “build upon” the current measurement, reporting and verifications system, and draw on experiences from the Convention. With a focus on the reporting of mitigation-related information, this session will explore Parties’ experiences to date under the current reporting system, and encourage participants to examine and share lessons from their current experience to inform the development of future reporting modalities, procedures and guidelines.
Discussion questions:
16:30 – 18:00 Breakout Group 3: Transparency of reporting on finance: Enhanced reporting on finance received and needed
Co-facilitators: Janine Felson, Belize and Outi Honkatukia, Finland
Compared with the reporting of finance provided and mobilised, the Paris Agreement makes only marginal changes with respect to the reporting of finance received and needed. This session will explore how the MPGs for reporting on finance received and needed could be enhanced, building on experience to date and improving the quality of information reported by developing countries. Participants are encouraged to focus on identifying the expected benefits of doing so, and suggesting options for improving the information reported to date. (NB: Capacity needs for transparency are discussed specifically in breakout group E.)
Discussion questions:
16:30 – 18:00 Breakout Group C: Transparency of reporting on mitigation: Issues and options for an enhanced framework - Organised in partnership with CEEW
Co-facilitators: Arunabha Gosh, CEEW and Juan Carlos Arredondo Brun, Mexico
Parties to the UNFCCC are aiming to develop a set of modalities, procedures and guidelines for the enhanced transparency framework under the Paris Agreement, including for reporting on mitigation-related information. In this session, participants are encouraged to have a frank exchange about where Parties may need to dedicate time and energy to address key challenges and issues related to developing reporting guidance, what they see as the most feasible options for addressing key challenges, and how to explore these options between now and COP24.
Discussion questions:
DAY 2 - Wednesday 13 September 2017
9:30 – 11:00 Breakout Group 4: 2018 facilitative dialogue : Role of non-party stakeholders (NPS)
Facilitator: Niklas Höhne, New Climate Institute
The FD2018 mandate specifies that the dialogue is to be convened “among Parties”. Many Parties have however have highlighted the importance of NPS input feeding into the dialogue. This session explores how input from NPS can be leveraged by the FD2018. In particular, the session will introduce ideas of the type of information and means in which NPS input can feed into the FD2018.
Discussion questions:
9:30 –11:00 Breakout Group D: Accounting within the NDC cycle
Co-facilitators: Kelley Kizzier, Ireland and Harald Winkler, University of Cape Town (UCT)
Under the Paris Agreement, Parties would “account for” their NDC goals after the end of the target year/period in order to measure actual achievement. Accounting guidance could also be useful at earlier stages in the NDC cycle; for example, at the time of communication to understand how NDC goals will be assessed, or during the implementation of an NDC to track progress and achievement. This session discusses how accounting could be applied at various stages in the NDC cycle and how it relates to the timeframes for Parties’ reporting.
Discussion questions:
When to apply guidance on accounting in the NDC cycle: before, during and / or after implementation of NDCs?
11:30 –13:00 Breakout Group 5: Next steps following the 2018 facilitative dialogue
Co-facilitators: Ilze Prūse, Latvia and Kaveh Guilanpour, Marshall Islands
This session looks to the period after the FD2018 and focuses on its potential role in informing the preparation of NDCs in line with CTU principles, as specified in the FD2018 mandate. The session will explore what type and format of information could better inform Parties in preparing their NDCs. The session will also explore how the FD2018 could support the identification of information relevant to enhancing CTU of NDCs.
Discussion questions:
11:30 –13:00 Breakout Group E: Capacity needs for transparency
Facilitator: Damiano Borgogno, UNDP
Fulfilling the provisions of the enhanced transparency framework established under the Paris Agreement will entail a significant effort for many Parties. As such, several initiatives within and outside the UNFCCC aim to provide dedicated support to build-up the in-country capacities needed for improved transparency. This session aims to provide negotiators with a better understanding of capacity issues as they relate to improving capacity to monitor and report information. Participants are encouraged to share their own experiences and discuss how capacity building initiatives could be improved.
Discussion questions:
How do countries identify and prioritise their capacity building needs for improving transparency?
14:30 – 15:15 Plenary: Short-term actions towards longer-term goals
Facilitator: Jacob Werksman, Chair of the Climate Change Expert Group
A key challenge in the shorter-term is the alignment of goals, processes, and actions – such as pre-2020 action, the 2018 facilitative dialogue and its outcomes, development and implementation of NDCs – with long term goals such as those defined in Articles 2.1 and 4.1 of the Paris Agreement. In the short term, selected actions by countries may make long-term objectives more difficult to achieve. Keynote speaker Laurence Tubiana will lay out the challenges in aligning shorter-term goals and actions with long-term transition objectives, how countries are addressing these challenges, and the value in defining coherent transition pathways to link the short to long-term.
15:15 – 16:00 Plenary : Co-facilitators' key takeaways from breakout groups
Facilitator: Jacob Werksman, Chair of the Climate Change Expert Group
In this session, the facilitators will share their three key takeaways from each breakout group discussion.
16:00 – 16:30 Closing Plenary: Reflections on next steps in 2017 and 2018
Facilitator: Jacob Werksman, Chair of the Climate Change Expert Group
In this session, representatives from the COP23 and COP24 presidencies will share insights on next steps and priorities during 2017 and 2018.
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