08 Dec 2009

COP 15 Daily Summary

The second day of the conference started off with the opening meetings of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), and continued with further meetings of the various working groups and other usual COP events (press briefings, media stunts and side events hosted by NGOs or countries and ranging from scientific updates and policy research to reports about - for example - ways of implementing sustainable growth).

TOP NEWS ITEM

The most dramatic development of the day was the leak of the ‘Danish Text‘, which the Guardian claimed to be an official - and compromising - proposal by several unnamed countries, including the US, UK and Denmark (UK Climate Change Secretary, Ed Miliband has denied that the UK signed on to it). Rumours about this text have been circulating for the past week, increasing the tension between developing and developed countries, so when the actual text (or what is believed to be the actual text) was finally leaked, an uproar ensued as vulnerable countries were vehement in their disapproval. See our blog for more information.

ADAPTATION

Implementation of adaptation measures was on the agenda of the second day of the COP15. The developing countries reiterated the urgency of implementing adaptation measures and put forward several areas where urgent action is needed, such as drought, desertification, flooding, and land degradation. The developing countries pointed out several procedural concerns with regard to the implementation of adaptation measures: the procedures are too complicated, co-financing disables several countries from applying for funding, the access to funding is too restricted, not all the projects receive funding and there are delays in receiving the funds and in implementation, which affects the predictability of the funds. With this respect Antigua proposed that the UNEP or the UNDP should be the implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), as they have more expertise in assessing the adaptation projects than the World Bank.

The UNFCCC Secretariat also released during the day a technical paper reviewing the potential costs and benefits of the adaptation options. The intention of the paper is to assist the developing countries in implementing the adaptation actions under the Nairobi work program. The paper stresses the need to take into account uncertainty, linkages between mitigation and adaptation measures, wider economic effects, and limits of adaptation when estimating the costs and benefits. It also points out the need to use several different assessment techniques when assessing the costs and benefits of an adaptation project.

REDD+

New research suggests that deforestation probably accounts for around 12% of global carbon emissions, because both deforestation rates have relatively decreased, and because the other sources of carbon emissions have relatively increased (van der Werf, 2009).

However, as the leaked Danish negotiating text reveals, REDD+ is expected to be a successfully negotiated component of the Copenhagen decision, with specific (though still ambiguous) targets for deforestation reductions and dates for forest cover stabilization.  A side event on “REDD realities: the gap REDD dreams and real life forest policies” held last evening, revealed the concerns of representatives from Nepal, Uganda, Kenya, and Panama, based on their experiences with REDD pilot projects.  There was an overwhelming consensus that REDD threatens to destabilize land tenure arrangements for non-commercial forest users, including smallholders, forest dwelling communities, and indigenous people.  In considering the leaked negotiating text, which makes no mention of the need for good governance, secure land rights, or the rights of Indigenous Peoples, the indigenous representative of Panama called REDD+ “a sham,” arguing that the deal is likely to go the way of the CDM-resulting in the destruction of livelihoods and the loss of life as indigenous territories are incorporated into commercial schemes.

Today, a number of countries and negotiating blocs will introduce their own negotiating texts, many with specific ideas for REDD+.  How these will shape the ultimate Copenhagen decision ironically may have less to do with a global climate strategy as it does a global development strategy, and we will be following it closely.

MECHANISMS - JI/CDM

The World Bank Launched its report “CDM - 10 Years of Lessons Learned”. The report outlines the Bank’s work with the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint implementation (CDM/JI) over the past decade. Among the report’s recommendation was that CDM/JI should be encouraged, as it represents an important avenue for private sector action on climate change mitigation. However, the CDM remains quite unpredictable, and this represents an obstacle to maximizing the leverage potential of carbon finance for low carbon investments. Additionally, some decisions made under the CDM have negatively impacted least developed countries. Overall, the Bank pushed for improvements to the CDM in order to increase emissions reduction. The Bank also noted that a higher emissions reduction target for Annex 1 countries would equal more available projects under the CDM.

A UNFCCC meeting entitled “CDM and JI efficiency: strengthening the UNFCCC secretariat’s support” was also held during the day, and the UNFCCC CDM Executive Board held a question and answer session on the issue. During the session, delegates presented results and recommendations from an external review and the Executive Board of the CDM reported on its activities.

Environmentalists have been arguing that the CDM has not been adequately monitored, and that project developers have been engaging in ‘creative green accounting’. As an example of such improper monitoring, they cited the UN suspension of Chinese wind farms from the CDM scheme.

FINANCE

Finance saw two interesting developments during the second day. France has called for provisions for a financial tax to be included in the agreement to come out of Copenhagen. Foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, said that a small tax of 0.005% on financial transactions would provide funding for developing countries. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed hopes that the French proposal will be discussed “as a way to generate financial support in addition to public fundings to be provided by the governments.”

The Danish Government announced that it is pledging DKK 1.2 billion (~£146 million) for climate efforts in developing countries between 2010 and 2012. This offer is conditional on reaching an agreement under which other countries also ‘deliver their reasonable share’.

And though no funding mechanism has yet been agreed on, the Bangladeshi State Minister of Environment and Forest Hasan Mahmud, said during a press conference that as Bangladesh is the most vulnerable country in the world to climate change, it should receive 15% of any climate fund.

MITIGATION

The head of the Chinese delegation, Su Wei, criticized the 2020 goals set by rich nations (United States, European Union and Japan), pointing out that the average goals fell short of the 25-40% reduction below 1990 levels recommended by the IPCC report. Even the Japanese goal of 25% reduction came, according to Su Wei, with impossible conditions.

British PM Gordon Brown urged the EU to pledge 30% cut below 1990 by 2020, regardless of the outcome of Copenhagen. This comes a day after France reiterated its support of the current EU position by which it pledges a 20% cut, with an increase to 30% to come if Copenhagen results in an ambitious deal.

Other Daily Updates

Slideshow

Video Highlights

Uproar by African nations over leaked “Danish Text”. Protestors shout, “Two degrees…suicide!”

Highlights of Day 2: 8 Dec 2009