The Government of Japan has announced that it is providing funding amounting to $3,678,178 (Japanese Yen 377 million) through the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) for the rehabilitation of community infrastructure, livelihood improvement and women’s empowerment in Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern Provinces over the next two years.
The signing of the Exchange of Notes between Nobuhito Hobo, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka (left), and Tim McNair, Chief Technical Advisor of UN-Habitat Sri Lanka
This initiative is an extension of the Japanese funded Phase I Project “Rehabilitation of Community Infrastructure and Facilities in the Conflict Affected Areas in Northern Province”currently implemented by UN-Habitat in the districts of Mullaitivu and Killinochchi in the North of Sri Lanka.
The Phase II project entitled “Rehabilitation of Community Infrastructure, Improvement of Livelihoods and Empowerment of Women in the Northern and Eastern Provinces (RCI)” will expand geographically to the Districts of Mannarand Batticaloa, while continuing to address the outstanding needs in Killinochchi and Mullaitivu, with greater emphasis on the empowerment of women.This initiative will benefit over 120,000 returnees in 90 conflict affected villages.
The signing of the Exchange of Notes between Mr. Nobuhito Hobo, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka and Mr.Tim McNair, Chief Technical Advisor of UN-Habitat Sri Lanka took place at the ambassador’s residence recently in the presence of Mr. Janaka Sugathadasa, Secretary for the Ministry of Resettlement.
The main outputs of the project include:
Rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged small community infrastructure including multipurpose community centres, preschools, storm water drainage and rainwater harvesting systems;
Improvement of economic opportunities through improving access roads, storage facilities, irrigation channels and skills development in the communities;
Empowering women through vocational and leadership training and organising access to credit through the introduction of savings and credit schemes;
Assisting communities to live in harmony with elephants through education and the introduction of sustainable physical measures.
The project, which has already commenced, is being implemented by UN-Habitat in partnership with community-based organisations in the four districts.
Commenting on the project, Ambassador Hobo stated: “The Government of Japan is pleased to continue our partnership with UN-Habitat in supporting the recovery and rehabilitation efforts in the conflict affected areas, and contribute towards the overall development initiatives of the country in collaboration with the Government and people of Sri Lanka.”
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) May conference closed in Bonn on Thursday, May 18, 2017 with Fiji Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, the in-coming president of COP23, presenting his political vision for the November Summit.
Frank Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji
These include forging “a grand coalition to accelerate climate action before 2020 and beyond between civil society, the scientific community, the private sector and all levels of government, including cities and regions. We are all vulnerable and we all need to act,” he told delegates from over 140 governments attending the two-week session.
He listed other priorities toinclude:
Building greater resilience for all vulnerable nations to the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events and rising sea levels.
Boosting access to climate adaptation finance, renewable energy, clean water and affordable climate risk and disaster insurance and to promote sustainable agriculture.
Harnessing innovation, enterprise and investment to fast track the development and deployment of climate solutions that will build future economies with net zero greenhouse gas emissions, in an effort to limit the rise of global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
A stronger link between the health of the world’s oceans and seas and the impacts of, and solutions to, climate change as part of a holistic approach to the protection of our planet.
That the concept of “Talanoa” will guide the Presidency’s interactions throughout 2017 – Talanoa means a process of inclusive, participatory and transparent dialogue that builds empathy and leads to decision making for the collective good.
“I thank the in-coming presidency for their inclusive and transparent approach in providing clarity on the priorities for the November conference,” said UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa. “This greatly assists countries in the preparations for the conference,” she added.
During the May sessions, governments made progress towards the Paris Agreement’s implementation as it relates to guidelines across a wide range of issues including transparency, adaptation, emission reductions, provision of finance, capacity-building and technology. The aim is to complete the guidelines by COP24 in Poland in 2018.
“I am very encouraged by this progress,” said Ms. Espinosa. “These guidelines are essential for making the Paris Agreement fully operational and to ensure its central role in global climate action over the years and decades to come. The progress achieved here makes it clear that nations are keen to make the agreement ready and fit for purpose by 2018,” she added.
To further speed up this work, nations will hold several round-table meetings ahead of COP23 in Bonn.”
During the May session, 17 developed and 10 developing countries presented on their mitigation actions to date as part of greater transparency-building among Parties.
Countries also agreed on a recommendation of close to 57 million Euros for the 2018-2019 budget of the UN climate change secretariat as a submission to COP23.
Engagement of Non-Party Stakeholders
Nations agreed to expand the opportunities for the exchange of ideas between governments and non-party stakeholders in the climate process including those representing vulnerable groups such as indigenous peoples and women.
The session saw a greater focus on the needs of indigenous peoples through progress on the operationalisation of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples’ Platform, which had been established at COP21 in Paris.
“I am glad that these issues were on the agenda here because it is important – the aims and ambitions of the Paris Agreement are so profound that all sectors of society in all nations need to be on-board and fully involved to support governments as they take forward their climate action plans into the future,” said Ms. Espinosa.
Gearing up for Implementation
Countries forged ahead with the inaugural meeting of a new body under the Paris Agreement. The launch of the Paris Committee on Capacity Building (PCCB) will play a decisive role in boosting the capacity of developing countries to undertake climate actions through their NDCs.
Boosting Gender-Responsive Action
Countries aim to scale up their gender-responsive climate policy through a gender action plan that will be fully developed at COP23. At the Bonn meeting, countries provided initial input towards this effort.
Climate Action Show-Cased
Technical Expert Meetings were held to showcase actions that can assist countries to scale up adaptation and emission reductions before 2020.
Singapore presented its Smart Nation Programme, which harnesses the power of networks, data and IT to improve quality of life and create economic opportunity.
Another example was the city of Bonn, which demonstrated how the private sector can actively be engaged in renewable energy.
The Centre for Climate Intelligence for Agriculture in Brazil is promoting sustainability and disaster risk measures to assist farmers
These, plus many more inspiring examples of national climate action and policies, will contribute to the Summary for Policymakers report which will support the work of the two high-level Climate Champions from Morocco and Fiji.
Preparing for COP23 in November in Bonn
Preparations for COP 23 are well underway and on track for opening day, November 6, which is slightly less than six months from now, it was announced on the final day.
The UN climate change secretariat is working with the Governments of both Fiji and Germany on organisational arrangements under the concept of “One Conference, Two Zones”, which focuses on a close integration of the zones to ensure that negotiations, events and exhibits are integrated into one conference.
The secretariat is also working with the City of Bonn to take the COP to the citizens, with academic and science events, art exhibits, music and other climate-related opportunities.
A sustainability action plan is also being developed to deliver a climate-friendly COP.
Officials meeting in Belize’s largest city, Belize City, have unveiled an updated masterplan for Belmopan, the country’s capital, based on good urban practice and design that will shape development of the city over the coming years.
Master plan of Belmopan, Belize
The launch was done recently by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) at the Seventh Caribbean Urban Forum 2017 (CUF7), which was designed to serve as the prime event in the region to discuss and advance sustainable urban development and urban policy. It brought together experts, practitioners, academics and national and local government delegates interested in urban development within the Caribbean context.
This year’s theme is: “Green Energy, Green Economy and Green Space”.
In the context of important regional discussions, the new urban development strategy is the result of an 18-month process facilitated with the Belmopan City Council: “Belmopan Urban Development: Towards a sustainable garden city”. Further events involving UN-Habitat will focus on Climate Action in the Caribbean, Public Space and capacity development of the region’s practitioners and planners.
A masterplan for the capital
Belmopan, the capital city of Belize, is currently facing important urban challenges. Planning for its future development is key to the city’s ability to grow in a sustainable forward oriented manner addressing, according to local officials.
The Urban Planning and Design Lab and the Cities and Climate Change Initiative (CCCI), together with Belmopan’s City Council, have been working on guidelines for the sustainable development of the city. The new plan, it was gathered, is an example of how a master plan based on a blue-green network can become the catalytic strategy towards a more resilient, economically vibrant, low-carbon and socially active city.
The plan aims to protect the ecological and hydrological values of the urban landscape, providing resilient measures to address climate change and improving quality of life. It improves connectivity within the city’s system of public spaces and the proposed development corridors of mixed-use development.
A paper on the Blue-Green network approach for the Caribbean Urban Forum 2017 has been developed and can be found here.
The Belmopan project exemplifies the potential of the Caribbean Region to further integrate green infrastructure into the built environment and the surrounding natural systems to address multiple challenges of sustainable development and climate change.
A video documenting the project and development of the plan has also been produced, entitled: “Belmopan’s Sustainable Urbanisation”.
Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Bolaji Oyeleye, has reaffirmed government’s commitment at ensuring that the proposed wastes-to-energy project becomes a reality.
Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Bolaji Oyeleye
The Commissioner, who gave this reassurance while receiving the report from Euro Feasibility Study on the project, said the state government remains committed at achieving the project, as all concerned parties in its implementation were on ground.
Oyeleye, in a statement signed by his media aide, Goke Gbadamosi, said the outcome of the study showed that turning of municipal waste-to-energy would be feasible in the state, adding that government was ready to work in tandem with development partners so as to move the project to the next phase.
“We are glad that the feasibility study has gotten to this point. We appreciate the contributions of all those that are involved. Our government remains committed to the project, as we have the goal of finding alternative use for waste. As you all know the world is tilting towards renewable energy,” he said.
He said project was in line with the government’s goal for an alternative usage for waste being deposited at dump sites.
The Commissioner, while appreciating all the development partners involved in the project, said government would continue to promote related initiatives that would engender environmental sustainability.
In his remarks, the Team Leader of the consultants on the project’s feasibility study, Emiel Hanekamp, said that the conversion of municipal waste to electricity in Ogun State was technically feasible and economically viable, adding that the project would be devoid of any serious environmental or social issue.
Hanekamp said that the study should commence with a pilot project at the Saje dump site, adding that government could also optimise waste collection and management of dumpsites.
On his part, the representative of the European Union, Godfrey Ogbomudia, commended the Ogun State Government for sustaining its interest in the project, adding that the EU would collaborate with other partners on the outcome of the study.
Climate change associated extreme weather and demographic shifts means that record numbers of people are exposed to floods, heatwaves and other hazards. Improved early warning systems and more coordinated disaster risk reduction are therefore more important than ever before.
Robert Glasser, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)
To meet the growing challenges, an international conference will launch a concerted drive to improve warnings for an interlocking range of hazards and to translate these warnings into effective action on the ground.
“Extreme weather events take a huge toll on low and middle income countries in particular and undermine efforts to eradicate poverty. A multi-hazard approach to early warnings supports action on climate change and disaster resilience in a way that makes sense economically and operationally. Single hazard warning systems are not always affordable or justified by the level of risk,” said Robert Glasser, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and head of UNISDR.
“Put simply, while there is a realisation of what the weather might BE, there is frequently a lack of understanding of what the weather might DO;” said WMO Secretary-General, Petteri Taalas.
“For instance, a tropical cyclone is a single weather hazard but has a cascade of impacts including high winds, storm surge, coastal inundation and inland flooding from heavy precipitation, necessitating a response from disaster managers, transport and utility companies, the education and health sectors and civil society. More impact-based weather forecasts and early warning systems will save lives both now and in the years ahead.” said Mr Taalas.
More than 80% of the natural disasters are related to weather and water. National Meteorological and Hydrological Services are therefore key players in disaster risk reduction.
Sendai Framework
The Cancun conference will focus on how countries can improve the availability of, and access to, multi-hazard early warnings as well as risk information and assessments. This is a key target of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the global plan to reduce disaster losses adopted by UN Member States in March 2015.
Extreme weather events interact with other risk drivers including poverty, unplanned urbanisation, deforestation, limited institutional capacity and lack of public awareness, to cause huge casualties, and staggering economic losses.
Improvements in early warning systems, including as a result of the use of weather satellites, the development of National Meteorological Services, and the early action taken by civil protection systems to organise timely evacuations, have all helped to drive a fall in mortality numbers from weather-related disasters.
Substantial global efforts are already underway to upgrade early warning systems for developing countries, including the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems initiative (CREWS), which involves the WMO, the World Bank, the UNISDR, and the Government of France.
The conference will support efforts for capacity enhancement in developing countries, especially on multi-hazard early warnings.
The conference will showcase programmes in regions ranging from Southeast Europe to Southeast Asia, country-specific projects in places such as Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Myanmar, plus satellite-based systems from Europe, China and the United States, and a host of others.
Delegates will also discuss how to create a global version of the acclaimed European Meteoalarm network. This is a platform that gets alerts from national weather services to the general public, avoiding jargon and explaining the potential impacts of incoming hazards using simple language and colour coding.
The Conference will make recommendations to the Special Session on Early Warning at the 2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction on May 24.
Communities from peatland regions around Indonesia on Thursday, May 18, 2017 joined a global forum in Jakarta on solving the problems they are facing, and to share experiences for those facing similar problems around the world.
Emmanuela Shinta of Ranu Welum Foundation gestures as she speaks during the plenary session on the community perspectives and priorities in peatlands at Global Landscapes Forum: Peatlands Matter in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Thursday, May 18, 2017. Photo credit: CIFOR
Local communities were at the centre of discussions among policy makers, scientists, business leaders, civil society representatives and others at the “Global Landscapes Forum: Peatlands Matter” event, led by the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), together with Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) partners the World Bank and UN Environment (UNEP).
Stakeholders from other tropical countries, including the Republic of Congo and Peru, also gave their perspectives, putting peatlands into global focus.
“Peatlands are not just land, but our identity as Dayak people,” said Emmanuela Shinta, an indigenous leader from the Ranu Welum Foundation at the opening plenary. “I’m here to bring the stories from the ground, from those who need to be heard.”
CIFOR’s Director General, Peter Holmgren, announced that communities would be at the core of activities for the Global Landscapes Forum as it enters a new phase, connecting the Sustainable Development Goals and the global climate agenda under the Paris Agreement.
“Peatlands provide livelihoods for millions of people worldwide and have tremendously important environmental functions. We need to support local communities in finding the best way forward,” he said. “When we put people first, then we can make progress for the climate too. The reverse order is not desirable, or even possible.”
Via video address, UNEP Director, Erik Solheim, commended the work being done on peatlands by the Indonesian Government.
“The Government of Indonesia is making efforts to restore water back into the ground and reforest peatland areas. These efforts are part of a commitment from President Joko Widodo to restore 2 million hectares of peatland by 2020 – a great goal. We need more efforts to restore and protect peatlands,” he said.
CIFOR has been leading global research on peatlands for more than 20 years. Peatlands support local livelihoods, are home to diverse and endangered species, and are vital sources of clean air, water and other ecosystem services. They are also the world’s largest carbon sinks.
But these landscapes are at a critical juncture. Draining, burning and conversion of peatlands for agriculture and other purposes are causing severe degradation, threatening the survival of communities, economies and the environment.
The convergence of development and climate challenges in these landscapes makes finding sustainable solutions for peatlands one of the greatest development challenges of our time.
Negotiators at the UN climate change talks in Bonn, Germany have been working through details of the Rulebook, an operational blueprint that will ensure the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Delegates at a meeting during the Bonn Climate Change Talks
Observers are applauding progress made in Bonn, with negotiators advancing work on the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Indeed, countries reportedly stayed focused on the task at hand: building on the details of the Paris “Rulebook”, for its speedy implementation.
“The most vulnerable countries have reminded us that the goals of the Paris Agreement are non-negotiable. At this juncture, we need an unwavering signal from all countries that climate action will not be relegated to a mere footnote on the global agenda,” says the Climate Action Network, adding:
“There can be no room for confusion or backsliding on the direction and speed of travel that governments promised to embark on in Paris. At the upcoming G7 and the G20 summits, civil society players call for enhanced and sustained political commitment to act on climate change to ensure a successful outcome in COP23, under the Fiji Presidency, and beyond.”
Krishneil Narayan, Coordinator, Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, said: “Pacific islanders are determined to ensure that COP23 builds on the momentum from Paris and delivers the strongest possible outcomes for the vulnerable countries and for communities everywhere.
“The ‘Pacific COP’ will be a COP for the people, not the polluters. Ensuring our survival means implementing actions that achieve the 1.5ºC temperature limit by bringing an end to the fossil fuel era; addressing loss and damage; and fast tracking the flow of climate finance into the Pacific for adaptation. Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN) welcomes the progress made at the Bonn negotiations session this May.
“Whilst the negotiations moved at a slow pace during this session, we understand that developing the Paris rulebook from scratch is a difficult task for the negotiators. PICAN looks forward to working closely with the COP23 Presidency and the Pacific people to ensure that the Talanoa process – reflecting the true Fijian spirit of dialogue – is inclusive, participatory and transparent and leads to some concrete decisions at COP23.”
Sven Harmeling, Climate Change Advocacy Coordinator, CARE International, said: “Climate change impacts are hitting vulnerable populations all over the world. Almost all countries here in Bonn have made clear: Backtracking from the Paris Agreement is not an option; climate action must be ramped up! The negotiations have made moderate progress, but the spotlight will now be on the most powerful nations. When the leaders of G7 and G20 meet in the coming weeks, the world expects them to protect the climate vulnerable from climate risks and to take actions to cut emissions more quickly.”
Vitu Chinoko, Southern Africa Advocacy and Partnerships Coordinator, CARE International, said: “Southern Africa is still recovering from the worst drought in 35 years, while vulnerable countries, like Mozambique and Madagascar, have been hit by cyclones. It is clear that poor populations, in particular women and girls, are already facing impacts that leave them hungry and stuck in poverty. While countries are implementing actions to adapt to these impacts, the negotiations continue to move at a slow pace, despite a fruitful exchange of ideas. We expect countries to come to COP23 prepared and committed to agree on next steps that promote learning, action, and support.”
Teresa Anderson, climate policy officer for ActionAid International, said: In spite of uncertainty around the US’ commitment to the Paris Agreement, negotiators in Bonn did not get distracted, and instead got on with the job at hand.
“Writing a brand new rulebook post-Paris began with a fair amount of head-scratching. But slowly, slowly, ideas are taking shape. Negotiators have begun to sketch an outline of the rulebook, and when they come back for the next round of negotiations they’ll be ready to do the colouring in.
“It’s clear that developed countries’ reluctance to deliver on their financial goals is infecting a number of different streams of negotiations. In discussions on agriculture and adaptation, for example, vulnerable countries’ efforts to move towards implementation were stalled by developed countries’ apparent allergy to anything that has cost implications.”
Li Shuo, Climate Policy Advisor Greenpeace, said: “Uncertainty over Trump’s decision on the Paris agreement did not deter delegates here in Bonn, but instead galvanised their resolve to move ahead with climate action. In the next days and weeks we expect the shared leadership among responsive countries to grow even stronger. The new coalition of willing that is taking shape should help secure strong outcomes for climate at the G7 and G20 summits.”
Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, leader of WWF’s global Climate & Energy Practice, said: “It was encouraging to see that discussions in Bonn were not around whether or not the Paris Agreement was needed but rather about the details of its implementation. This sends a strong signal that the climate negotiations are not being paralysed by politics. Rather, negotiators engaged in the technical discussions that are required to make substantial progress by COP23 on the rules that will guide the implementation of the agreement.”
Lutz Weischer, Team Leader International Climate Policy, Germanwatch, said: “The delegates in Bonn worked through their tasks diligently and constructively, showing that countries remain committed to the Paris Agreement. When ministers meet in Berlin on Monday and Tuesday for the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, they need to send the same strong signal: The world is committed to making the vision enshrined in the Paris Agreement a reality. This requires a commitment to increase national targets as the first round of the ambition mechanism kicks in in 2018.
“The Petersberg Dialogue is also another opportunity where ministers from the most vulnerable countries will remind the richest countries that it is their particular responsibility to immediately cut emissions and increase support for addressing climate impact in developing countries. We expect Chancellor Merkel to fight for a strong climate outcome both at the G7 summit in Italy next week and the G20 summit in Germany in July. As the work continues towards COP23 in Bonn, it is crucial that civil society is included in the next steps of the process. Excluding our submissions and participation in roundtables is not acceptable.”
Tamar Lawrence-Samuel, Corporate Accountability International, said:
“If this round of negotiations has proved one thing, it’s that governments and civil society organisations are determined to create policy to address the corrosive influence of Big Polluters. Try as they might, the industry and the Global North governments in their pockets will not be successful in suppressing our voices or undermining this movement. Around the globe, people have already made it clear: those driving this crisis have no role in making the rules designed to constrain the source of their profits. Simply put, despite bullying from corporate trade groups and the governments representing the industry’s interests, the progress made at this session ensures that a process is underway to advance a conflict of interest policy in the years to come.”
Mohamed Adow, International Climate Lead, Christian Aid, said: “The Bonn session was a technical meeting meant to work out the details of how the Paris Agreement will operate, and we’re pleased that the negotiators, have weathered uncertainty from the US, rolled up their sleeves and got on well with the job at hand. Some feared that the indecision around American involvement would have rattled the negotiators, but on the contrary, they have actually shown their resolve and recommitted to the Paris Agreement.
“The upcoming meetings, especially the G7 and G20, will be important for preparing the ground for the COP23 summit and will heighten the political pressure for major economies, including the US, to stay on course. They will hopefully send a strong signal to the world on their unwavering support to implementing the Paris Agreement.”
Camilla Born, Policy Adviser, E3G, said: “From negotiation rooms in Bonn, to phone calls between Beijing and Paris, one message was clear – the Paris Agreement is irreversible. Regardless of the US’ ambiguous position, negotiators made steady progress piecing together the finer points of the rulebook. Now attention turns to the G7 and G20 as pressure grows in capitals to deliver the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement.”
Jan Kowalzig, Senior Policy Adviser Climate Change, Oxfam, said: “The Paris Agreement is stronger than Donald Trump. Despite his threat to leave the agreement, all other countries have begun crafting the rulebook for the implementation of the landmark climate deal, and will continue to do so at the UN climate summit later this year. World leaders must now use the upcoming G7 and G20 summits to send a strong message to the US president that pulling out of the Paris Agreement will damage the United States, politically, diplomatically and economically.
“Yet there must be no mistake: Current ambition to reduce dangerous greenhouse gas emission remains woefully inadequate. We’re still heading for global warming of 3-4°C with disastrous consequence for millions of people around the world living on the frontlines of climate change as droughts, storms and floods threaten their homes, their harvests and their livelihoods. At the same time, rich countries keep shying away form significantly increasing funds to support poor countries adapting to the worsening impacts.”
United Nations climate change talks inched slightly closer to finalising a rule book on how to implement the Paris Agreement, in spite of continued U.S. intransigence across a host of technical and political issues.
U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change, Trigg Talley
With only a few years before the window of opportunity to meet the 1.5 temperature target closes, civil society groups had advocated for progress on a number of vital issues but were instead disappointed by what they see as bad faith negotiating by the U.S.
“The Trump administration has made it perfectly clear that it will be a climate laggard by moving to lower their already abysmally unambitious pledge to the Paris Agreement,” said Meena Raman of Third World Network. “But the U.S. negotiators in Bonn are going a step further by undermining the ability of developing countries to play their part in implementing the Agreement.”
“Developing countries are broadly willing to contribute their fair share of the climate action needed to stay below 1.5,” she added, “but they need the financial and technological support to do so. The U.S. has refused to deliver its $3 billion pledge to the Green Climate Fund, and in Bonn almost point blank refused to engage on finance discussions, especially on any discussions that involved a review of the financial support so far provided – effectively pushing the world to the edge of the climate change cliff.”
A major issue in the talks, which are the first since Trump took office and appointed former Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State, was the role of non-governmental observers. A previous negotiation session in Bonn had mandated a special workshop, which saw fiery exchanged around the problem of conflicts of interest. Here, too, the U.S. led other developed countries in blocking progress to develop rules that would inhibit polluting industries from weakening climate policy.
“If this round of negotiations has proved one thing, it’s that governments and civil society organisations are determined to create policy to address the corrosive influence of Big Polluters,” said Tamar Lawrence-Samuel of Corporate Accountability International.
“Try as they might, the industry and the Global North governments in their pockets will not be successful in suppressing our voices or undermining this movement. Around the globe, people have already made it clear: those driving this crisis have no role in making the rules designed to constrain the source of their profits. Simply put, despite bullying from corporate trade groups and the governments representing the industry’s interests, the progress made at this session ensures that a process is underway to advance a conflict of interest policy in the years to come.”
With the U.S. reneging on its obligations, civil society groups urged other developed countries to follow through with the spirit of the Marrakech proclamation, which renewed their commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement, including the goal to avert warming above 1.5 degrees.
“It’s time for the EU to live up to its professed green ideals, and go above and beyond its current low-end pledges,” said Rachel Kennerley of Friends of the Earth England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. “The world can’t wait for a change of U.S. administration to get serious about climate change – so European countries must take more action at home to end their own fossil fuel addictions as well as step up their game by supporting developing countries to do the necessary leapfrog to renewables.”
History was made on Thursday, May 18, 2017 when the Minamata Convention on Mercury effectively came into force, having garnered the required 50 ratifications.
Erik Solheim, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The first COP to the Minamata Convention on Mercury will take place in September 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo credit: OECD/Michael Dean
With the number of ratifications standing at 44 (courtesy of Norway, the 44th nation to ratify the Convention) as at Wednesday, Thursday however ushered in a “surprise” as the EU and seven of its member States – Bulgaria, Denmark, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Romania and Sweden – deposited their instruments of ratification at the UN Headquarters in New York, bringing to 51 the current number of future Parties.
As a result, on August 16 2017, the Convention, which aims at protecting human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds, will become legally binding for all its Parties. The updated list of Parties may be found here.
Similarly, the 1st Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (COP1) has now been confirmed and it will gather governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations from around the world in Geneva from September 24 to 29, 2017.
According to the Convention Secretariat, the conference will play a key role in the future of the Convention as, according to the Secretariat, it will consider and adopt decisions covering technical, administrative as well as operational and financial matters. The President of Switzerland will host a high-level segment on “Making Mercury History” on September 28 and 29, adds the Secretariat.
The Minamata Convention is said to be the first new global Convention on environment and health adopted for close to a decade. It addresses the entire life cycle of mercury, considered by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the top 10 chemicals of major health concern, which threatens the environment and health of millions.
According to Erik Solheim, Head of UN Environment (UNEP), there are alternatives to almost all of mercury’s current applications, such as newer, safer industrial processes, adding that all countries, big and small, can play a role – “as well as all of us, just by changing what we buy and use”.
In a statement, Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility (GEF), said: “Today is a pivotal moment in the fight against harmful chemicals and their negative impact on health and the environment. On behalf of the Global Environment Facility, I am delighted to join others in the international community and celebrate the 50th Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The Convention, which has been signed by 128 countries, will now come into force in 90 days.
“From the tragedy in Minamata in the 1950’s, to the decision of the UNEP Governing Council in 2009 to develop a global legally binding instrument on mercury, it has been a long journey to get us to this point.
“I want to thank UN Environment, all the governments, non-governmental organisations and others for their hard work and dedication to make this happen. I also want to take this opportunity to remember and honor the victims of mercury pollution in Minamata, Japan, that inspired this global action.
“Like other heavy metals, mercury persists in the environment forever. It can be transported over distances far removed from its original emission source, contaminating the food we eat, the water we drink and the air that we breathe.
“The Minamata Convention focuses on the entire life cycle of mercury, including controls and reductions across a range of products, processes and industries where mercury is used, released or emitted.
“As part of the Financial Mechanism of the Convention, the GEF has been charged with raising and disbursing grants for projects and programs to reduce and eliminate mercury pollution. GEF grants support a wide range of activities including inventories, implementation plans, and investments in technology for reduction and elimination of mercury.
“Over the last four years, the GEF has provided over $130 million to support early action and ratification of the Convention. More than 90 countries have already received funding.
“We are also supporting countries to take even bolder steps in seeking a sustainable way to phase out the use of mercury in the largest mercury consuming sector, artisanal and small scale gold mining. The Global Opportunities for Long-term Development (GOLD) GEF funded program supports miners, governments and the private sector to work together to bring transformational change in that sector.
“Today is a day for celebration, but there is still a huge task ahead of us. Mercury use and emissions are tied to many of our key economic activities including the production of power in many countries, manufacture of plastics and industrial processes. Addressing these challenges will require us all to work together to find viable solutions.
“On behalf of the GEF, I want to encourage all countries to ratify the Convention as it will require all countries to come to the table to make this a truly global effort.
Organisers of the 23rd Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have said that preparations for the two-week event scheduled to hold in Bonn, Germany from November 6 this year are well underway and on track to deliver the infrastructure and arrangements needed for a successful meeting that can play its role in advancing the aims and ambitions of the Paris Agreement.
UNFCCC, Germany and Fiji officials unveil COP23 plans and programmes during a session in Bonn on Thursday, May 18, 2017
Officials of the UNFCCC disclosed on Thursday, May 18, 2017 that delegates would, during the global gathering, be able work in state-of-the-art conference facilities, and benefit from an array of services, exhibitions, concerts and other cultural events, which the citizens of Bonn can also enjoy.
The UNFCCC secretariat, as host of the Conference, stated that it is working with the Government of Germany, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the City of Bonn and the incoming Fijian COP23 Presidency to ensure a dynamic and successful Conference.
Speaking on the last day of the May UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, which is in preparation of COP23, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa, said: “I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the incoming Fijian Presidency for its leadership, Germany for its excellent support, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia for its backing and the City of Bonn for its efforts to make the conference a success.”
“We are extremely honoured to be hosting COP23 and are determined to ensure strong and positive outcomes that will advance climate action across the globe. We are also determined to make the conference environmentally-friendly and a place where the atmosphere of positivity permeates throughout the negotiations and the many events planned,” she added.
The Chief Negotiator for the COP23 Presidency, Ambassador Nazhat Shemeem Khan, expressed Fiji’s gratitude for the support and encouragement it has received in the process so far, including from the UNFCCC, the German Government and the current Presidency of the UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech (COP22), held in November last year.
“Following our consultations at the May UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, it is clear that the desire to keep up the momentum on the implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement is widespread. Working with our partners, we want to harness this collective enthusiasm to strive for ambitious goals at COP23 and beyond,” she said.
“We are particularly encouraged to see that the concept of ‘talanoa’ – meaning storytelling and dialogue – has already begun to take root in the negotiations and consultations. We truly believe that this inclusive, respectful and participatory approach will lead to decision making that moves the global climate agenda forward,” she added.
Talanoa is a process of inclusive, participatory and transparent dialogue that builds empathy and leads to decision making for the collective good. The name of one of the two main conference zones on the Rhine reflects Fijian culture.
A “Bula Zone” will be composed of the World Conference Centre Bonn, UN Campus and an extended area behind the Deutsche Welle building in Bonn. The word Bula originates from the Fijian culture and means hello as well as a blessing of health and happiness.
The “Bonn Zone”, which will be located in Bonn’s park area known as the “Rheinaue”, will accommodate climate action events including some high-level events, side events and exhibits organised by both UNFCCC and the Government of Germany. It will also include some media activities as well as events in the delegation pavilions.
There are however concerns being raised by observer groups that they (observers) will not be visible in the Bula Zone (formerly known as Blue Zone) anymore as there will be no more side events and exhibitions in the Bula Zone.
The question whether the constituency offices and the rooms for the constituencies’ meetings will be located in the Bula Zone or in the Bonn Zone (formerly know as Green Zone) has also been a ground for apprehension.
The civil society players are also in doubt if access to meetings in the Bonn Zone will be restricted, as well as if constituencies’ morning meetings will take place there.
A source said: “Important for us is also that all side events will be thematically clustered with all side events on a specific topic taking place on one day only. What the thematic clusters are has not yet been decided. But it would be unfortunate for us if all gender events take place at the same time.”
The groups are basing their concerns on the premise that, while the Bula Zone encompasses the plenary halls, meeting rooms, delegations’ offices, media centre and press conference rooms, the Bonn Zone, where all side events will take place, will host the exhibition area and delegation pavillions.
“This means, parts of the former Blue Zone will be moved to the Bonn Zone/Green Zone,” said the source, adding that people with a badge for the Bula Zone will also have access to the Bonn Zone. There is a seperate registration process for the Bonn Zone and people with a badge only for the Bonn Zone won’t have access to the Bula Zone. Both zones are 1.4 km apart, which is approximately nine minutes per shuttle bus or 15 mins walk.”
Nonetheless, Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary at the German Federal Environment Ministry, said his country is honoured to be hosting or supporting three global conferences which focus on climate change – the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, the G20 Summit and COP23.
“As President of the G20, we are pushing to advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement and focus particularly on the vulnerability of small island developing States. It is our great pleasure to support Fiji, the first ever small island developing state to hold the COP presidency, in its efforts by serving as technical host of COP23. We are pleased to have this opportunity to present the new and innovative concept for a global conference – one conference, two zones. With this concept we are highlighting the importance of climate action by having multiple non-state actors complement the formal negotiations.”
Bonn has already attracted a total of around 20 UN entities which link to the issue of sustainability. And it already has experience in hosting major meetings, although not yet one of this size.
Bonn’s Mayor Ashok Sridharan said: “Bonn was the venue of UN Climate Change Conferences in 1999 and 2001, and Bonn is proud to be the venue of another COP. This time, however, the challenge is far bigger: the expected number of participants will be higher than anything Bonn has seen to date. For us, this is a fantastic opportunity: for two weeks, Bonn’s name will be in the news across the globe. And we must not forget the positive economic effects of such a conference. At the same time, it is a challenge: we will do everything to warmly welcome the delegates from all over the world here in Germany’s United Nations City.”
“Moreover, the conference will also be a fine opportunity to demonstrate that the City of Bonn takes the issues of sustainability and climate protection seriously. We intend to reach out to our local citizens and raise awareness for the topics of the conference. And we will involve the local public wherever this is possible. After all, our citizens will have to deal with some restrictions during this time. Our Federal President has recently referred to Bonn as the world capital of sustainability. I am very confident that our city will live up to this reputation,” he added.
The City of Bonn and the entire region are undertaking a number of measures to boost sustainability. For example, in addition to an already well-functioning and integrated public transportation system, the municipality will make available additional trams and buses to accommodate access to the COP. Deutsche Bahn (German railway), with funding from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, is building a “UN Campus” train stop close to the conference venue.
In order to achieve the overall goal of climate neutrality, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated in connection with the conference will be reduced to the extent possible.
Unavoidable emissions – as those associated with travel, which is responsible for the lion’s share of the overall footprint – will be offset, including through the UN’s Climate Neutral Now Initiative.
