Topic: UNFCCC

RELEASE: WRI Names David Waskow to Lead Its International Climate Initiative

Daniel Melling — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:02:19 -0400

The World Resources Institute (WRI) announced today that David Waskow has joined the institute to lead its International Climate Initiative, within the Climate and Energy Program. Waskow will oversee the Institute’s work to advance ambitious national actions to reduce emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change. This includes working toward a strong, equitable, and effective global climate agreement within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Waskow will also lead WRI’s efforts to enhance international cooperation and catalyze national policies toward low-carbon pathways and increased climate resilience.

“David brings a breadth of knowledge and experience that will be extremely valuable in advancing international climate action,” said Jennifer Morgan, Director, Climate and Energy Program, World Resources Institute. “The next few years are a critical window to raise global ambition and cooperation on climate change. David’s insights and leadership will be a boon to our efforts to advance solutions that the world needs.”

Among these efforts is the Climate Justice Dialogue, a partnership led by WRI and the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice, which provides a forum to discuss equity and develop ideas on how to operationalize climate actions in a way that safeguards environmental integrity, protects the most vulnerable populations, and creates the basis for greater cooperation among countries.

Waskow joins WRI from Oxfam America, where as the program director for climate change he worked to advance strategies to drive investment and capacity of poor and vulnerable communities to respond to a changing climate. He also directed policy work focusing on how emissions can be reduced in equitable ways and how to build resilience to climate impacts.

Prior to Oxfam, Waskow served as the international program director for Friends of the Earth, where he initiated their work on the impacts of climate change on global poverty. In addition, he oversaw the organization’s work on trade policy and international financial institutions.

“With global emissions on the rise and climate impacts becoming more apparent, this is an important moment to make progress on the climate crisis. Looking toward an international climate agreement by 2015, there’s much work to do,” said Waskow. “I am excited to join WRI, with its reputation as one of the most respected and influential organizations in this arena, and I look forward to working with my new colleagues to help raise ambition around international climate action.”

Waskow has testified before Congress on responses to climate change and on trade issues, and is a frequent go-to source for the media on climate finance. He has graduate degrees from the University of Chicago and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, and an undergraduate degree from Brown University.

WRI’s Climate and Energy Program is comprised of more than 50 staff, who are dedicated to conducting and facilitating independent, non-partisan research and analysis to advance effective domestic and international actions that reduce the threat of climate change.

STATEMENT: U.S.-China Agreement on HFCs a "Breakthrough" on Climate Change

Michael Oko — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:00:05 -0400

During the U.S.-China informal summit this weekend, President Obama and President Xi agreed to advance cooperation on climate change by reducing emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a potent greenhouse gas. According to the announcement, the countries will work under the Montreal Protocol to phase down the consumption and production of HFCs, which are commonly found in refrigerators and air conditioning. According to the White House, a global phase down of HFCs could potentially reduce 90 gigatons of CO2 equivalent by 2050, equal to roughly two years worth of current global greenhouse gas emissions.

Following is a statement by Andrew Steer, President and CEO, World Resources Institute:

“The agreement between President Obama and President Xi to work together to address HFCs is a significant breakthrough. Joint action on HFCs can reduce one of the world’s most potent greenhouse gases, and it reveals a new level of cooperation between these countries on climate change.

“Climate change is an issue that demands the attention of heads of state. Serious engagement on this issue by these two presidents puts climate change back on the top shelf, where it belongs. Hopefully, this will inspire other leaders to engage.

“This announcement should provide a major boost for countries seeking to make progress on the Montreal Protocol, as well as for negotiators in Bonn, Germany, working on the details of an international climate agreement by 2015. A recent proposal found that reducing HFCs under the Montreal Protocol could cut global emissions by 16.5 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent through 2030. That’s roughly equivalent to the entire annual carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion of the U.S., China, and India combined.

“Recent analysis by WRI finds that reducing HFCs can be one of four main steps in national climate plan that would enable the U.S. to reach its goal of reducing emissions by 17 percent by 2020 (compared to 2005 levels). HFCs represent nearly one-quarter of the emissions to achieve the country’s goal. That’s the second biggest opportunity behind reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.

“We look forward to hearing what steps the U.S. Administration will take to reduce HFCs, as well as to move forward in other areas, including: reducing carbon emissions from power plants and methane leakage from natural gas systems, and increasing energy efficiency.

“While progress is being made internationally, the U.S. EPA can address these emissions by limiting HFC consumption at home. It can do so using the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program, under the Clean Air Act, which encourages the use of other chemicals for which alternatives already exist.

“Meanwhile, this is an extremely welcome announcement. It should inspire greater action by other countries. It’s just the kind of national leadership we need to respond to the climate crisis.”

STATEMENT: IEA Report Finds "World Is Not On Track" to Meet Climate Goals

Michael Oko — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 08:59:02 -0400

The International Energy Agency released a new report today, Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map, finding that global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2012 increased by 1.4 percent, reaching a record high of 31.6 gigatonnes. Energy-related emissions account for around two-thirds of total global greenhouse gas emissions. The report contains four specific recommendations to keep the world within 2 degrees Celsius temperature rise.

Following is a statement by Andrew Steer, President and CEO, World Resources Institute:

“Global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions are heading toward dangerous and unfamiliar territory. Projected temperature rise is approaching thresholds where the consequences would be truly dire. It’s not too late to prevent such an outcome, but the window to avoid dire impacts is closing quickly. These are some of the takeaways from the new report from the IEA, the autonomous organization focused on energy and economics, made up of 28 member countries.

“The common assumption is that action to reduce emissions is prohibitively expensive, but the evidence confirms that this is a flawed view. In fact, inaction is far more costly, risky and irresponsible. There are clear advantages to getting ahead and investing in low-carbon energy sources today, rather than trying to make corrections and retrofit equipment and infrastructure later on.

“The IEA’s new report offers affordable and common sense measures to rein in energy-related emissions. The core steps are to increase energy efficiency; limit emissions from coal-fired power plants; reduce leakage of methane from oil and gas production; and cut subsidies for fossil fuels. Importantly, the report finds that these steps can be achieved with no net economic cost.

“The IEA’s recommendations are consistent with WRI’s recent analysis, which finds that the U.S. Administration needs additional federal actions to reach its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.

“It’s time for the Obama Administration to lay a national climate plan, including the specific steps it intends to take. Fittingly, the recent announcement by the U.S. and China to work together to reduce HFCs is a welcome step to address a potent greenhouse gas outside of the energy sector.

“As UN climate talks continue this week in Bonn, Germany, IEA’s analysis should jolt negotiators into a far greater sense of urgency to develop an ambitious and equitable climate agreement by 2015. At the same time, this agreement would not go into effect until 2020, so countries need to ramp up their ambition in the near term.

“The report confirms that further delays will gravely shift the burden to future generations. They would be the ones to endure the economic cost of retrofitting infrastructure, and moreover the societal weight of flooded cities, risks to food production, far greater water scarcity, loss of coral reefs, and other climate-related impacts.

“Our national leaders—in government, business, and civil society—have it within their power to prevent this future. It’s our collective responsibility to accelerate action on this global challenge.”

Summary of Developed Country ‘Fast-Start’ Climate Finance Pledges

Maggie Barron — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 15:41:50 -0500

OpenClimateNetwork.org

Visit openclimatenetwork.org for the latest analysis, project info, expert perspectives, and more.

Reiterating a pledge made in Copenhagen in 2009, the Cancun Agreements of December 2010 formally commit developed countries to collectively provide resources “approaching USD 30 billion for the period 2010 - 2012” to support developing countries’ climate efforts. This so-called “fast-start” finance will help developing countries, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable, mitigate (reduce) their greenhouse gas emissions, and adapt and cope with the effects of climate change. These pledges also present an opportunity to build trust between developed and developing countries in the international climate arena, in turn fostering progress towards a comprehensive post-2012 international climate agreement.

WRI has synthesized available information on countries’ pledges and measures they have taken to make the pledged resources available to developing countries. The accompanying table sets out both the amounts and the mechanisms by which funding would be delivered. WRI has also looked at how countries indicate whether their pledges will provide “new and additional” funds compared to what they provide as official development assistance. In-depth analysis on a subset of countries’ fast-start finance contributions is available separately.

This table will be continuously updated as more information becomes available.

Q&A on this Analysis

(Updated on November 26, 2012)

Have developed countries met their fast-start finance pledge?

Based on our research, as of November 26, 2012, 23 developed countries and the European Commission have publicly announced their individual fast-start finance pledges, in addition to the European Union’s collective pledge. These pledges total USD 33.92 billion. While this represents a significant step in the right direction, the extent to which these pledges are consistent with internationally agreed principles for fast-start finance is unclear. The Cancun Agreements mandate that fast-start funds have a “balanced allocation between adaptation and mitigation,” be “new and additional,” be “prioritized for the most vulnerable developing countries, such as the least developed countries, small island developing States and Africa,” and include “forestry and investments through international institutions.” Because the details of this mandate have not been defined, it is not clear that developed countries’ fast-start finance contributions fulfill these criteria.

Finally, ensuring that pledges are actually delivered will be essential. According to reported information of the pledged funds, USD 28.06 billion has been requested and/or budgeted by the executive bodies of the countries during the fast-start period. In some cases, the legislative bodies have also approved these requests. The actual delivery and implementation of the finance, however, can be complicated to track, and is generally not documented in countries’ fast-start finance reports.

Do the funds have a “balanced allocation between adaptation and mitigation”?

Countries often specify the general objective that their fast-start funds will support. For example, of the USD 1.58 billion mobilized for fast-start by Germany in 2010 and 2011, 48 percent will support mitigation, 28 percent will support adaptation, 21 percent will support REDD+, and 3 percent will support multipurpose activities. In its 2010 fast-start finance report, Germany highlighted the challenges of identifying suitable adaptation projects as the reason for this, and recognized the need to adjust the allocation of funds across the three areas of mitigation, adaptation and REDD+. In the case of both Japan and the United States, a large majority of fast-start finance supports mitigation objectives. The grant-based portion of their contributions, however, gives more balanced consideration to adaptation. Several countries involved in the Interim REDD+ Partnership — a process created parallel to the UNFCCC to ensure effective and sustainable REDD+ (reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) actions over the next few years — have also specified that at least 20 percent of their funds will support REDD+. However, there is no agreed-upon definition among countries of what constitutes a “balanced allocation.”

Are the pledged funds “new and additional”?

“New” funding represents an increase relative to pledges or allocations from previous years. A number of pledges include restated or renamed commitments already made in the past. For example, Japan’s Hatoyama Initiative is a restructuring of the previously announced Japanese Cool Earth Partnership, with some new resources included in the Initiative. Countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States are counting previous commitments to the Climate Investment Funds (CIFs) as part of their fast-start finance pledge. The United States also counts its annual contribution to the Montreal Protocol Fund, a long-standing commitment that dates back more than two decades.

Funds that are “additional” ensure that their delivery does not result in the diversion of funds from other important development objectives. In other words, climate mitigation and adaptation funds should be additional to development aid. Parties to the UNFCCC have not yet achieved consensus on a clear and specific definition of ‘additionality’ that can be applied uniformly to developed country financial pledges. As a result, countries have proposed a variety of methods for defining the additionality of their fast-start finance.

Do the pledges include “investments through international institutions”?

Countries are channeling investments through a mix of multilateral, bilateral, and public-private institutions. Several countries, including Japan and the United States, are channeling a considerable amount of their funds through export credit agencies and other public-private channels. The Climate Investment Funds(CIFs) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) are the primary multilateral institutions of choice through which other funds will be channeled. The governance of the funds has implications for the effectiveness and perceived legitimacy of the overall climate finance architecture. Developing countries generally prefer that institutions governing finance ensure developing country ownership of funded activities and prioritize funding for climate vulnerable countries. Developed countries tend to emphasize the need to minimize bureaucratic costs and ensure the effective use of resources.

Why is fast-start finance “prioritized for the most vulnerable developing countries, such as the least developed countries, small island developing States, and Africa”?

Countries under the Convention recognize that developing countries are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts because they have fewer resources to adapt to the effects of climate change, which can include increased droughts and floods, rising sea levels, and greater uncertainty in the agricultural sector. Least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS) in particular are recognized as needing special consideration due to their extreme vulnerability. For these reasons, developed countries have pledged to prioritize fast start funds for the “most vulnerable countries.” Several countries are channeling their fast start finance through the Least Developed Countries Fund or the Adaptation Fund, many are channeling finance directly to SIDS and LDCs, and Australia in particular states that it will channel about one third of its fast-start finance to SIDS and about one quarter to LDCs.

What types of financial instruments are countries using?

There are several different types of financial instruments countries are using to deliver their fast-start finance, including grants, loans, equity, loan guarantees, insurance, and private investments. Many countries have provided some information on the type of financial instruments used. For example, the US reported providing USD 4.7 billion in grants through Congressional appropriations, USD 2.7 billion in development finance and export credits, which mostly take the form of concessional loans. Norway reports that all of its fast-start finance will be grants. Meanwhile, Japan’s fast-start finance includes grants and loans that meet ODA standards, finance in the form of ‘other official flows’, and may also count leveraged private finance, though this is ambiguous. However, reporting on the type of financial instrument used is neither comprehensive nor consistent. For example, little information is reported on the concessionality of the loans when used.

What are the next steps to ensure clarity on the delivery of climate finance pledges in the future?

The UNFCCC system for developed countries to report on the delivery of climate finance faces several challenges, which limit the utility of available data. For example, countries currently use multiple methods for reporting and often provided insufficient information even where requested. To address this, the Cancun Agreements mandate more frequent reporting by developed countries using an enhanced common reporting format.

While these enhanced reporting provisions will be essential for successful tracking of developed country climate financial flows, they will not be ready in time to provide guidance for reporting on the short-term, fast-start finance. In the meantime, the Cancun Agreements invited developed country Parties to submit information to the UNFCCC secretariat, for compilation, on the resources provided to fulfill their fast-start finance commitment by May 2011, 2012, and 2013. Nine developed countries and the EU submitted their reports on or around the most recent May 2012 deadline. While the Cancun Agreements include reporting provisions for fast-start finance, it does not provide guidance on what these reports should include, resulting in reported information that is neither fully comparable, transparent, nor complete, as is demonstrated by the gaps in information in WRI’s fast-start table, the Open Climate Network’s fast-start finance assessments, and in a report by IIED assessing the transparency of the May 2011 fast-start finance reports. The UNFCCC secretariat hosts a fast-start finance module on its finance portal that enhances the comparability of the reports but it remains limited to information provided by developed country Parties. It also does not capture information available on the faststartfinance.org website or on individual donor or recipient websites, or other sources such as NGOs, the private sector or multilateral development banks.

To build trust with developing country counterparts, developed countries should improve their fast-start finance reporting in the future, for example, by including more comprehensive, comparable and transparent information on the following seven elements in their annual fast-start finance reports: scale, method for determining that the money is “new and additional,” channeling institutions, objective, geographic distribution, status of the pledge, and type of financial instrument.

Athena Ballesteros, Emily Chessin, Kirsten Stasio, and Remi Moncel contributed to earlier versions of this Q&A.

STATEMENT: UN Emissions Gap Report Finds Global Action On Climate Change Inadequate

James Anderson — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 09:46:48 -0500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The latest Emissions Gap Report, by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Climate Foundation, is being released today. The report finds that emissions are now around 14 percent above where they need to be. The gap is on course to be 8 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2020, which is 2 Gt higher than last year’s assessment.

Following is a statement by Jennifer Morgan, Director, Climate and Energy Program, World Resources Institute:

“This report is another harsh reminder that the world is simply not moving aggressively enough to tackle the climate challenge. The gap is growing and carbon dioxide levels continue to rise, and yet the current pledges and commitments by countries remain sorely inadequate. We are already seeing how climate change—with more extreme weather events, rising seas and more droughts—is taking its toll on people, property and our economy. Without a rapid change in direction, the world is headed more and more firmly down a path to even more severe changes that will be felt around the globe.”

“As we look to the Doha climate talks, it’s essential that negotiators come prepared with a renewed sense of urgency. As the Emissions Gap Report points out, it remains possible to achieve the carbon reductions needed to limit warming to below 2 degrees Celsius. The policy and technological solutions are within our reach. What we need is the political will and ambition to move forward with these solutions. We need to close the gap before it’s too late.”

-END-

STATEMENT: World Bank "Raises Alarm" of a 4 Degree Hotter World

Michael Oko — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 19:51:06 -0500

The World Bank Group just released a groundbreaking new report on climate change, called Turn Down the Heat, which offers a vivid assessment of what 4 degrees Celsius of global temperature rise would mean for the world.

Following is a statement by Andrew Steer, President, World Resources Institute:

“This report should awaken world leaders out of their slumber on climate change. A 4 degree temperature rise would bring unimaginable costs to people and society. We must take the necessary actions now to stay within 2 degrees or lower of warming.

“The differences between 2 degrees and 4 degrees temperature rise are stark. It took little more than four degrees of cooling to create the Ice Age, so imagine the havoc 4 degrees of warming would create. While the impacts would be uneven around the globe, vulnerable countries and poor people would be hardest hit. Communities already facing economic hardship would face longer droughts and more intense monsoons that disrupt food supply, more diseases associated with warmer temperatures and more pests, and greater water scarcity.

“The World Bank is to be congratulated for raising the alarm on this issue. By doing so they are aligning themselves with the majority of scientific opinion on climate change. It’s worth noting that the World Bank is a financial institution and not prone toward exaggeration. This report, therefore, must not be shrugged off. The World Bank itself can do more to raise ambition through its own financing, including by directing the great bulk of its energy investments toward scaling up renewable energy and energy efficiency. Further, the World Bank can channel more resources toward more projects that will enhance innovation and sustainability, as well as climate resilience.

“As negotiators head to Doha for the climate talks, they must bring a greater sense of urgency and purpose to these negotiations. A 4 degree warmer world can be prevented, but this will require greater leadership and imagination than has been shown to date. All negotiators should re-commit to keep the world within 2 degrees of warming. But we need more than UN negotiators to respond.

“Climate change is one of the great challenges of our generation, and we need to bring the full capacity of governments, businesses, multi-lateral institutions, and civil society to confront these challenges. Around the world, there are numerous examples of how the problem could be solved at low-cost and with high returns. We have no more excuses for inaction.

“The alarm bell on global warming is ringing. Let’s hope world leaders are listening.”

–

Dr. Steer previously worked as the World Bank Group’s Special Envoy for Climate Change.

ADVISORY: Press Teleconference on Doha Climate Talks

Michael Oko — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:32:07 -0500

Full audio recording of WRI’s press call below:

With the U.S. elections just completed and the Doha climate talks fast approaching, this is an important moment to consider where progress can be made on international action to address climate change. The recent Hurricane Sandy, along with other extreme weather and climate events, has delivered a powerful wake-up call about the urgency of shifting to a low-carbon trajectory.

Listen to the audio recording of WRI’s press call here:

On Tuesday, November 13, leading experts from the World Resources Institute will participate in a press teleconference to discuss the state of play and key topics in Doha, including how to move forward with an ambitious climate agreement, the role of the U.S. and other countries in the international negotiations, how to accelerate climate finance, and more.

WHAT
Press teleconference on the UNFCCC climate negotiations in Doha, Qatar (COP18)

WHO
Dr. Andrew Steer, President, WRI

Jennifer Morgan, Director, Climate and Energy Program, WRI

Clifford Polycarp, Senior Associate, Institutions & Governance Program, WRI

WHEN
Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. EST (DC)//14:00 GMT (London)

Media: Call-in 10 minutes prior to the start time

DIAL-IN
+(888) 566-6569 (Toll Free, U.S. only); or

+(517) 308-9326 (U.S. and International)

Access code: WRI

COP 18: Doha

Kevin Lustig — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:09:59 -0400

WRI Experts at COP 18

WRI Events at COP 18

COP 18 Commentary

From November 26 to December 7, 2012, the United Nations will host the 18th Conference of the Parties (COP) in Qatar.

WRI experts will be in attendance at this latest meeting under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to help inform the talks. Here, you can find a variety of materials from the World Resources Institute that shed light on key areas of international climate policy.

WRI Resources for COP 18

ADVISORY: Teleconference on China's Leadership Transition and Implications for Energy and Climate

Michael Oko — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 18:03:10 -0400

The full audio of the press call is available below.

As China’s government prepares for a leadership change in November, many people are wondering what this will mean for key issues, including energy and climate.

The World Resources Institute has gathered leading experts from think tanks and academia to discuss the implications of China’s upcoming transition for U.S.-China relations, clean energy, coal, climate change, and more. They will also put these issues in context for U.S. policymakers.

The speakers are part of ChinaFAQs (www.ChinaFAQs.org), a WRI-led network of independent China experts assembled to provide insight and analysis for U.S. policymakers around climate and energy issues.

The press teleconference is timed with a briefing the same day on Capitol Hill called, “Why China Is Acting on Clean Energy” (Russell Senate Office Building, Room 385; 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.).

The full audio of the press call is attached. Speakers start at 5:05.

WHAT
Press teleconference on energy and climate issues related to China’s leadership transition

WHO
Joanna Lewis, assistant professor of Science, Technology and International Affairs (STIA), Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service

Kenneth Lieberthal, senior fellow, Foreign Policy and Global Economy and Development at Brookings

Deborah Seligsohn, senior advisor, Climate and Energy Program, World Resources Institute

Ailun Yang, senior associate, Climate and Energy Program, World Resources Institute

WHEN
Friday, October 12, 2012

9:30 a.m. EST (DC time)

CALL-IN
U.S. Toll Free: (866) 803-2143
U.S. International Toll: +1 (210) 795-1098
China Toll Free A: 10800-712-1320
China Toll Free B: 10800-120-1320

Access Code: WRI

For more information, contact Michael Oko, Tel. (202) 729-7684; Cel. (202) 246-9269; moko@wri.org

Building International Climate Cooperation: Lessons from the Weapons and Trade Regimes for Achieving International Climate Goals

Kevin Lustig — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:42:34 -0400

About this Report

Watch

A conversation about the report with author Ruth Greenspan Bell and Jennifer Morgan, Director, Climate and Energy Program

Tackling global climate change requires countries across the world to engage in multigenerational cooperation (referred to herein as “collective action”) to advance a transition to a near-zero-carbon economy by 2050, in order to keep global average temperature increase below 1.5–2 degrees Celsius in comparison with preindustrial levels. No one country can achieve the necessary emissions reductions alone. If we are to succeed, there must be sustained political engagement across countries to solve difficult conflicts, such as the level of effort versus cost, or equity versus environmental rigor. Issues where agreement is needed include:

Targets, timetables, and actions for reduction—who does what, by when, and how?
Common standards for measuring emissions—what standards, who uses them, and when?
Robust mechanisms to verify the implementation of national actions—what, who, when, and how?

What might negotiators in the third decade of building collective action to address climate change learn from the experience of negotiators who manage other problems that by their nature require global action? This report contributes to this question by examining two such negotiating areas where considerable experience has been gained in devising agreements and institutions. The first is control of weapons of mass destruction, a field relatively unknown in the climate change world. The second, multinational economic arrangements, is more familiar ground but an area that warrants deeper examination. Although such arrangements have not “solved” weapons or economic challenges, notable progress has been made since the middle of the 20th century, and thus these arrangements offer valuable insights for climate negotiators.

Getting Ready: A Review of the World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Readiness Preparation Proposals

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:43:01 -0400

The World Bank administered Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) and the UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD Programme) are two leading multilateral efforts currently supporting developing countries to become ―ready‖ to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and enhance carbon stocks (REDD+).

This working paper is the eighth in a series of regular updates reviewing the Readiness Preparation Proposals (R-PPs) submitted by REDD+ Country Participants to the FCPF and the National Programme Documents (NPDs) submitted by UN-REDD Programme countries to the UN-REDD Programme. The analysis is based on a desktop review of each R-PP and NPD in order to understand how countries are considering fundamental issues of forest governance during the readiness phase. We assess whether the documents identify major governance challenges contributing to forest loss, and whether principles of transparency, accountability, participation, and coordination are being applied in the development of REDD+ institutions, systems, and plans.

The 7th meeting of the UN REDD Programme Policy Board and the 10th meeting of the FCPF Participants Committee will be held in Berlin, Germany, from 13-14 October and 17-19 October, respectively. This paper evaluates R-PPs from Central African Republic and Colombia submitted for formal consideration by the FCPF Participants Committee. Draft R-PPs from Guatemala and Mozambique were submitted for informal review, but are not analyzed in this paper. We also review Nigeria’s NPD, which will be considered for funding by the Policy Board.

WRI and UNEP Submission to the UNFCCC For Increasing Ambition

Remi Moncel — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:09:33 -0400

Read the submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on increasing ambition from WRI and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Download the Submission (PDF, 154 Kb)

In Cancun at COP16/CMP6, UNFCCC Parties agreed to limit a rise in global average temperature to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to consider strengthening this goal to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The UNEP report Bridging the Emissions Gap, released in 2011, found that current country pledges for 2020 are not adequate to reduce emissions to a level consistent with the 2 degree or 1.5 degree target, with an emissions gap in the range of 6-11 GtCO₂e in 2020. However, the report demonstrates that this emissions gap can be bridged through many economically and technologically feasible options.

Despite several achievements at COP17/CMP7 in Durban, levels of ambition remain insufficient. Increased action is therefore urgently needed now, as well as up to and after 2020, to bring the aggregate ambition level in line with what science suggests is necessary. The level of ambition may be defined as the anticipated collective level of Parties’ greenhouse gas emissions by a certain date, based on successful implementation of their pledges and commitments under the UNFCCC and other relevant initiatives.

This submission focuses on options within the UNFCCC for increasing climate ambition. These options are complementary and include practical recommendations for the COP and CMP.

Our recommendations, discussed in depth in the submission (PDF, 154 Kb), include:

Revise existing commitments to increase ambition before 2020
Negotiate new commitments for the post-2020 period in line with the science
Enhance coverage of sectors and climate forcers
Scale up finance, technology and capacity building
Support and replicate effective implementation
Promote mitigation actions with an emphasis on co-benefits
Promote equity and environmental integrity
Establish consistent, complete, comparable, transparent, and accurate common accounting rules for Annex I emission reductions
Clarify Annex I and non-Annex I pledges
Launch rigorous, credible and effective periodic reviews

Download the submission from WRI and UNEP (PDF, 154 Kb)

Map of SBSTA Submissions: REDD+ Safeguard Information System

Kevin Lustig — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:27:01 -0500

Summary

In December 2010, the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) requested the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA) to develop guidance relating to paragraph 71(d) of the Cancun Agreements in time for COP 17 in Durban, December 2011.

Paragraph 71(d) speaks to a system to provide information on how the safeguards in Annex 1 of the Cancun Agreements are being addressed and respected (termed the “safeguard information system” or SIS).¹

In June 2011, SBSTA discussed the development of a guidance document on the SIS, and invited Parties and accredited Observers to submit their views on such guidance.² Submissions were welcomed on: characteristics; design; provision of information; potential barriers, if any, to providing information on addressing and respecting safeguards; and other relevant issues.

SBSTA received 26 submissions in total, 14 from Parties and 12 from Observers. Several submissions represent the view of more than one Party or Observer. While most submissions followed the structure suggested by SBSTA in June, they often covered substantively different topics under each heading. In an effort to bring greater clarity to discussions surrounding the SIS, ClientEarth and the World Resources Institute (WRI) have divided the information in the submissions into four categories:

The Role of the Safeguard Information System
The Type of Information that Parties Should Provide
How to Collect and Provide Information
Other Elements of the International Safeguard System

A summary of our key findings for each category is provided below. Tables of the specific language from Party submissions make up the rest of the document. In some cases it was difficult to be certain of the exact meaning of the language included in the submissions.³ Every effort has been made to accurately reflect, in this abbreviated format, the views contained in the submissions. ClientEarth and WRI regret any misrepresentation of those views that may have occurred in an effort to achieve brevity, clarity and comparability.

This paragraph speaks to “a system for providing information on how the safeguards referred to in appendix I to [the Cancun] decision are being addressed and respected throughout the implementation of the activities referred to in paragraph 70 above, while respecting sovereignty.” ↩
SBSTA also invited input on other elements of REDD, including reference levels and MRV. Please note that document only reviews submissions related to the safeguard information system. ↩
For example, it was sometimes difficult to know when reading the submission if Parties/observers envisaged activities (like reviews) happening at the national and/or the international level. ↩

RELEASE: WRI Hosts Chinese Delegation Tour on Low-Carbon Development

Michael Oko — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:25:49 -0500

WRI-NDRC Sign MOU for Cooperation on Sustainable Cities

The World Resources Institute is hosting a high-level Chinese official delegation to the United States to exchange ideas and information around low-carbon development.

The week-long study tour includes a delegation of 11 Chinese officials, headed by Director General Su Wei of the Department of Climate Change from China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The tour covers five U.S. cities, including Washington D.C., New York, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Other government officials and representatives from the Chinese cities of Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Qingdao, who are involved in the policymaking and implementation of low-carbon urban development, also joined the tour.

“WRI is honored to be hosting this high-level visit with Chinese officials, which provides a great opportunity for a meaningful exchange on core issues of sustainable urban development,” said Manish Bapna, WRI’s Interim President. “Sustainable cities are one of the preeminent challenges for the future, and we hope that this tour will lead to further cooperation ahead.”

During the visit to Washington, WRI and NDRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help increase collaboration on sustainable development activities in China. The MOU was signed by WRI Board Vice Chair, Harriet “Hattie” Babbitt, and Director General Su Wei.

“This tour and the new MOU demonstrate the growing respect and understanding of WRI’s work in China,” said Dr. Zou Ji, WRI’s China Country Director. “WRI seeks to be a bridge between China and the U.S., helping to exchange ideas and mobilize lasting solutions to development challenges.”

The officials will have meetings with U.S. government officials, and leaders from multilateral institutions, business, academia, and foundations. Topics will focus on low-carbon development, including sub-national cooperation, carbon finance, carbon trading programs, urban planning, transport, and international climate action.

WRI has a long history of working on sustainability issues around urban development, transport, climate, and related areas. WRI recently received a five-year, $12.5 million grant from the Caterpillar Foundation to advance environmentally sustainable and livable cities in China, India, and Brazil.

“WRI is committed to improving the lives of people living in urban centers around the world,” said Bapna. “This is an exciting time for our organization’s work in China, and we’re looking forward to scaling-up our activities around sustainable cities in China and other countries in the months and years to come.”

STATEMENT: A Climate Deal Comes Together in Durban

Michael Oko — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:40:27 -0500

As the climate talks concluded today, Parties agreed to move forward with a “Durban Package” that includes a pathway forward on a legally-binding instrument for all countries, an agreement on a second commitment for the Kyoto Protocol, and a set of decisions to implement the Cancun Agreements, including the Green Climate Fund.

Following is a statement by Jennifer Morgan, Director, Climate and Energy Program, World Resources Institute:

“A roller-coaster two weeks ended with a major climate deal in Durban. Significantly, countries will now negotiate a legally-binding agreement covering both developed and developing countries by 2015, which would cover post-2020 emissions targets and actions. However, there was little progress to close the significant gap between countries’ emissions levels and what’s needed to stay within two degrees Celsius of warming.

“Durban represented a fork in the road between a legally-binding system and a voluntary one. In the end, the European Union, the United States, China, India, along with vulnerable countries in Africa and small islands opted for a path toward an international climate regime.

“The European Union, in particular, came into the conference with a willingness to enter into a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol. Working closely with allies in the least-developed countries and small island nations, the EU injected ambition into the talks. The result is a clear pathway for countries to enter the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.

“Countries also pushed ahead with the implementation of the Cancun Agreements. Most notably, they agreed to make the Green Climate Fund operational, and set up a work plan to mobilize significant climate funds from both private and public sources. Currently, however, the funding level is insufficient to meet the commitments. Though details remain to be sorted out, there was also progress on other core issues, such as adaptation, REDD+, and technology.

“On the other hand, the lack of a common accounting framework for developed countries is a significant step backward. This will make it very difficult to know how countries targets compare against the 2 degrees Celsius goal.

“Finally, while negotiators forged a hard-won agreement, countries need to take further steps to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift to a lower-carbon and safer future.”

-End-

Note to reach Jennifer Morgan in Durban, Tel. +27 (0) 72 579 5783; jmorgan@wri.org