Climate Action 2011-2012

The mitigation debate is one core example of where some
countries like the US are looking for more of a pledge-andreview
system, with greater national flexibility, to be created
for the long-term regime, while others, especially developing
countries and the European Union, are seeking greater
international guidance and rules. Is there a middle way or is
this a clash in the making?
BrinGinG new institutions,
Processes, and networKs to liFe
The Cancun Agreements establish a wide set of new
institutions, processes, and networks designed to address
aspects of the climate challenge. There are ongoing
negotiations around deciding a set of rules and guidelines
for each and getting them up and running. One can
cluster these new initiatives around transparency, finance,
technology, adaptation, and carbon markets.
Transparency. The Cancun Agreements include a number
of steps to enhance measurement, reporting, and verification
(MRV) systems for developed countries around mitigation,
technology, and finance. Along with submitting annual
inventories, countries should also submit biennial reports
on progress toward achieving targets. In addition, an
international assessment of developed country targets is
included to enable comparison of countries’ implementation
progress and build confidence that targets are being met.
Some countries are also inquiring about compliance measures.
Developing countries also agreed to increase transparency
around actions, agreeing to provide national communications
every four years as well as biennial reports “including
inventories … on mitigation actions and their effects, and
support received”. One key issue for developing countries is
building the capacity and receiving the support to prepare
such reports. There will also be increased transparency around
a review of developing country actions, with both national
and international MRV procedures under negotiation.
Finance. In addition to the very important issues around
delivery of short-term and long-term finance pledged in
Copenhagen, new institutions are set to be operationalised
in Durban, including the launch of a new Green Climate
Fund. Indeed, for many parties, establishment of this fund
was one of the major outcomes of Cancun. A Transitional
Committee made up of developed and developing countries
is in the process of negotiating various details, including
institutional make-up and functioning of the fund. Getting
the fund up and running, as well as a Standing Committee
to enhance the COP’s ability to oversee the fund, is very
important to many countries.
Here one can imagine that the technical details are easier
to manage than the political and economic ones. WRI has
been tracking the fast-start finance pledges (see Website 4),
but these only go to 2012. Many developing countries are
worried that the pledge in Copenhagen to deliver US$100
billion by 2020 is moving out of reach while developed
countries struggle domestically with the economic crisis.
How the long-term finance issues sort themselves out in
Durban will be incredibly challenging.
Technology. The Cancun Agreements also established a
Technology Mechanism, which was a high priority for
developing countries. The Mechanism has two components:
a Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and a Climate
Technology Centre and Network (CTCN). The primary
function of the TEC, consisting of twenty experts, is to
identify technology needs, recommend guidance on policies
and program priorities, recommend actions to overcome
barriers, and catalyse development and use of technology
action plans in developing countries.
The CTCN will focus more on facilitating a ‘network
of networks’ on all levels including existing technology
organisations and initiatives. The modalities for the CTCN
are under negotiation in the lead-up to Durban.
Adaptation. The Cancun Agreements established the
Cancun Adaptation Framework and an associated
Adaptation Committee, which together have elevated the
importance of adaptation within the UNFCCC, and which
should make possible a more coherent, action-oriented
treatment of adaptation.
© Matt and Kim Rudge
Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change.
The Adaptation Framework identifies a broad set of
priority areas for action by the parties. The Adaptation
Committee will be responsible for reviewing parties’
communications on adaptation action and support, in
order to recommend further needed actions and to enhance
synergies with institutions outside the UNFCCC. The
Committee’s modalities as well as its linkages with other
institutions are still to be decided; these items will be
addressed in Durban.
Africa is extremely vulnerable to climate change. If
adaptation were ever to get greater attention and focus one
would think a COP in Africa would be the moment. This is
an important space to watch.
Carbon markets. In addition to negotiations under the
Kyoto Protocol about the future of market mechanisms, there
are ongoing talks about creating ‘new market mechanisms’
under the UNFCCC. For some, like the EU, these are new
sectoral mechanisms, for others emissions trading, and for
others, like Japan, offset programmes. As carbon markets
57 climateactionprogramme.org