State Of Play - Negotiations Towards Paris

STATE OF PLAY -NEGOTIATIONS TOWARDS PARIS

BY MEENA RAMAN, THIRD WORLD NETWORK

What is Paris agreement about?

• Applicable to all Parties – under the Convention – what does that mean?

• To come into effect post 2020 • Durban Platform to enhance action

Flash points/divergences Developed countries:

 Differentiation –  Current situation in the Climate Change Convention- common but differentiated responsibilities – developed and developing countries;  annex 1 and non-annex 1; annex 2 and nonannex 2 – based on historical responsibility

No developed vs developing countries dichotomy- but new annex X (replace annex 1): based on criteria related to evolving emissions and economic trends to be updated – “evolving responsibilities”; “countries in a position to do so”; “major economies”; annex Y (replace Annex 2) based on criteria related to capability and evolving economic trends

US and other Umbrella group: Self-differentiation: according to national circumstances

mitigation Long-term goal: some options Temperature target: 1.5 and 2 deg C Net zero emissions Based on carbon budget to be distributed according to principles: historical responsibility; capabilities; state of development; ecological footprint Commitments/contributions – Developed country paradigm: no differentiation; INDCs/DCs – bottom-up approach; nationally determined – economy-wide reductions for major economies (depending on national circumstances); for others -- other economy wide actions and sector targets but LDCs and SIDs can do actions in own way Push for new market mechanisms; land-use sector

Mitigation • Developing country paradigm: • Follow the Convention provisions: Article 4 differentiated – quantified economy wide targets for developed countries; developed countries take the lead; aggregate targets for them  developing countries – diversity of actions – enabled and supported with finance and technology transfer Developing countries extent of mitigation depends on level of finance  some developing countries supporting market mechanisms

Ex-ante review- to be or not to be • From bottom-up – how to assess and adjust before finalising targets?

• How to ensure equity and fairshares approach?

• Flashpoint – is there a differentiated approach between developed and developing countries • Fears – who will bear gap in ambition?

• Ex-ante review of finance, technology transfer and capacity building?

• Will adjustment take place – existing experiences eg.

Kyoto experience

adaptation • Mainly about finance • Link to mitigation goal?

• Adaptation for all? All parties – so less responsibility

Loss and damage

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• New pillar vs none • Part of legally binding agreement or package of Paris?

finance • Numerical targets vs no targets and numbers • No numbers or no roadmap – developed countries • Not just a responsibility of developed countries – evolving responsibilities – countries in a position to do so • Developed countries position – collective responsibility to mobilise climate finance; need for support may change • Limit finance to LDCs and SIDs • Private sector role and enabling environment for investments

Technology • Is it transfer of technology or commercial venture?

• Intellectual property rights – address and not to address • Technology assessment

Legal form • Options:  new protocol – enhancing implementation of Convention or changing obligations Amendments to Convention COP decisions • Form follows content • Core agreement vs Paris package

Issues around process • Transparency • No Copenhagen • No secret texts • Inclusive and representative • Text based negotiations which are party driven • No to divide and rule

Pre-2020 commitments • Post 2020 focus to shift focus • Implementation gap – Mitigation commitments – Kyoto 2nd commitment period; assessing developed country mitigation Finance – GCF – reach US100 billion by 2020 Technology transfer