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THREAD: #COP25 begins Monday! So while I wait for my flight to Madrid, here’s a preview of the COP and what’s at stake. Plus a rundown of the key issues, I’ll be watching.
My colleagues @YDagnet, @davidwaskow, @joethw8s, @Kelly_Levin_, and more have a COP25 preview blog out! They talk about a number of the highest profile issues at the COP: Article 6, loss & damage, enhancing climate ambition, and finance. https://www.wri.org/blog/2019/11/cop25-climate-conference-priorities
Article 6: @Kelly_Levin_ is our Article 6 expert. She recently did a webinar on What Everyone Needs to Know on Article 6, watch here: https://www.wri.org/events/2019/11/webinar-what-everyone-needs-know-about-article-6-ahead-cop25
Loss & damage: Countries are reviewing the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM) to discuss lessons learned, remaining gaps and opportunities, the WIM’s effectiveness, and more.
Ambition: Noemie has the latest rundown of state-of-play in her new blog: https://www.wri.org/blog/2019/11/which-countries-will-step-climate-commitments-2020-what-we-know-now. And check out the WRI side event on long-term strategies and 1.5 degrees. 10 Dec @ 15:00 CET in Room 1.
Finance: @JoeThwaites is your expert on finance issues. Here he is on the Green Climate Fund Replenishment: https://twitter.com/joethw8s/status/1187791691140476930
While these elements will draw a lot of attention at the COP, there’s plenty else that will be happening. I’ll be focusing on three main topics: transparency, NDC time frames, and capacity building.
On transparency, countries adopted the modalities, procedures, and guidelines for the enhanced transparency framework last year. However, it is such a complex and technical topic that there’s plenty of remaining work to do.
Now, countries must adopt common reporting tables that they’ll use when submitting their transparency reports, the outline for those reports. And, they must also sort out a training program for the technical expert review of the reports. All this work isn’t due until 2020.
The enhanced transparency framework provides “flexibility” for those developing countries that need it in light of their capacities. While countries decided last year where flexibility is provided, they now have to figure out how that’ll work with the common tables.
For NDC time frames, countries communicate their climate action plans and commitments in “nationally determined contributions,” or NDCs. Some of the initial NDCs have time frames up to 2025, others up to 2025, and others even different dates.
At COP24, countries decided that they’d use common time frames for their NDCs which are implemented from 2031 onward. But they could not agree on the length of the time frame.
So we’ll see if they can make progress on this question this year! Be on the look out for a new research paper and blog post from me in the coming days!
On capacity building: implementing the Paris Agreement and fulfilling all of its requirements will be difficult for many countries, especially those with capacity constraints. And delivering effective and efficient capacity building support, will be key!
4 items to watch for on capacity building: the review of the Paris Committee on Capacity Building, the review of the capacity-building framework, the terms of reference for the Consultative Group of Experts, and the PCCB’s Capacity Building Hub. Our blog: https://www.wri.org/blog/2019/11/insider-capacity-building-spotlight-cop25-4-things-watch
The Paris Agreement created in the Paris Committee on Capacity Building. Now, countries must consider the progress, effectiveness, need for extension, and enhancements to the PCCB.
In 2001, countries adopted a framework for capacity building for developing countries. This year, countries must review the framework and consider whether it is best suited to meet the needs of countries under the UNFCCC and/or the Paris Agreement.
Consultative Group of Experts provides support to countries for building their transparency systems and meeting transparency requirements. Countries decided the CGE should help countries meet transparency requirements. But, now, countries must decide what this will look like.
The PCCB has organized its 2nd Capacity Building Hub from 4-11 Dec. The Hub provides a space for conversations related to capacity building. There will be dedicated discussions on transparency, subnatl & local govts, and many other thematic areas. It’s an exciting space!
A number of my WRI colleagues will be in Madrid. Follow us! https://twitter.com/WRIClimate/status/1200429479518244865
And if you're a COP newcomer, read this guide from @janna_tenzing and @IIED: https://pubs.iied.org/17385IIED/ . If only someone had told me about it before my first COP!
