The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has disclosed in a recent study that Nigeria is the world’s 2nd biggest emitter of methane in the wasterwater sector.
In an illustration, the body lists the top five methane emitters in the wastewater sector to include: China, Nigeria, Mexico, India, and the U.S.
Reducing emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Kigali Amendment can prevent up to 0.5°C of global warming, while continuing to protect the ozone layer. Similarly, HFCs consumption to be reduced in 2019 in developed countries and frozen in 2024 and 2028 in developing countries
Nearly 200 countries struck a landmark deal on Saturday in Kigali, Rwanda to reduce the emissions of powerful greenhouse gases, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), in a move that could prevent up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of global warming by the end of this century.
The amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer endorsed in the Rwandan capital city is believed to be the single largest contribution the world has made towards keeping the global temperature rise “well below” 2 degrees Celsius, a target agreed at the Paris climate conference last year.
“Last year in Paris, we promised to keep the world safe from the worst effects of climate change. Today, we are following through on that promise,” said United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) chief, Erik Solheim.
“This is about much more than the ozone layer and HFCs. It is a clear statement by all world leaders that the green transformation started in Paris is irreversible and unstoppable. It shows the best investments are those in clean, efficient technologies.”
Commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances, HFCs are currently the world’s fastest growing greenhouse gases, their emissions increasing by up to 10 per cent each year. They are also one of the most powerful, trapping thousands of times more heat in the Earth’s atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO2).
“The faster we act, the lower the financial costs will be, and the lighter the environmental burden on our children,” said President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame.
“That begins with a clear signal that change is coming and it is coming soon. In due course, new innovations and products will allow us to phase out HFCs even faster, and at lower cost.”
The rapid growth of HFCs in recent years has been driven by a growing demand for cooling, particularly in developing countries with a fast-expanding middle class and hot climates. The Kigali amendment provides for exemptions for countries with high ambient temperatures to phase down HFCs at a slower pace.
“It is not often you get a chance to have a 0.5-degree centigrade reduction by taking one single step together as countries – each doing different things perhaps at different times, but getting the job done,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry.
“If we continue to remember the high stakes for every country on Earth, the global transition to a clean energy economy is going to accelerate.”
Phase down schedule
Following seven years of negotiations, the 197 Montreal Protocol parties reached a compromise, under which developed countries will start to phase down HFCs by 2019. Developing countries will follow with a freeze of HFCs consumption levels in 2024, with some countries freezing consumption in 2028.
By the late 2040s, all countries are expected to consume no more than 15-20 per cent of their respective baselines.
Financing and alternatives to HFCs
Countries also agreed to provide adequate financing for HFCs reduction, the cost of which is estimated at billions of dollars globally. The exact amount of additional funding will be agreed at the next Meeting of the Parties in Montreal, in 2017. Grants for research and development of affordable alternatives to hydrofluorocarbons will be the most immediate priority.
Alternatives to HFCs currently being explored include substances that do not deplete the ozone layer and have a smaller impact on the climate, such as ammonia or carbon dioxide. Super-efficient, cost effective cooling technologies are also being developed, which can help protect the climate both through reducing HFCs emissions and by using less energy.
The Kigali Amendment comes only days after two other climate action milestones: sealing the international deal to curb emissions from aviation and achieving the critical mass of ratifications for the Paris climate accord to enter into force.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat has published the Summary for Policymakers (SPM), an annual go-to publication that summarises policies, technologies and initiatives to boost climate action.
The SPM results from meetings throughout 2016 of the technical examination processes on mitigation and adaptation. As a result, and for the first time, the SPM covers both the reduction of emissions and the building of resilience and in its 2016 edition, contains a specific section on adaptation.
In the context of the landmark Paris Climate Change Agreement, which enters into force on 4 November 2016, the SPM comes at an opportune time as nations look to scale up their climate actions in line with the objectives of the agreement.
Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UN Climate Change secretariat, welcomed the summary report. “In light of the temperature goals established by the Paris Agreement, the 2016 SPM identifies immediate actions that can promote emission reductions, enhance climate resilience and further engage non-Party stakeholders, including through low-carbon development and national adaptation plans,” she said.
The 2016 Summary for Policymakers also highlights policies, cooperative initiatives and partnerships that can leverage new levels of local, regional, national and international action around the world.
Climate action by countries, companies, investors and cities, regions, territories and states has continued unabated since Paris and the full implementation of the Paris Agreement will ensure that this collective effort will continue to double and redouble until a sustainable future is secured. The SPM makes a key tangible contribution in this context.
“The 2016 Summary for Policymakers highlights the key messages for policymakers emanating from these processes and presents a broad range of policy options and collaborative initiatives with the potential to significantly enhance pre-2020 action on adaptation and mitigation,” High-level Climate Champions Hakima El Haite and Laurence Tubiana added.
The objectives of the 2016 SPM are to:
The SPMs are designed as inputs to the regular annual high level events to be held in conjunction with the annual UN climate change conferences. They serve to take stock and further strengthen high-level engagement on the implementation of adaptation and mitigation policy options and actions and for providing an opportunity for showcasing strengthened voluntary efforts, initiatives and coalitions.
See here for the 2016 Summary for Policymakers.
The Kaduna State Government of Nigeria has vowed to complete the multi-billion-naira Zaria water project that will supply water to eight local government areas (LGAs) of the state in July 2017. The project will cost a whopping N69 billion.
The state government said the work is now 90% completion, stressing that the gigantic water treatment plant would be completed in December while the entire project would be completed next year to end the decades of suffering by residents over unsafe water.
Commissioner for Water Resources, Suleiman Aliyu Lere, made the disclosure recently during an inspection tour of the water project sites.
He said: “We are expecting the whole project to be completed by July 2017, that is the aspect of the construction of the transmission lines and the distribution, but the construction of the water treatment plant will be completed in December and, by that time, there will be serious improvement in the supply of water even before2017.
“By the time we are completing the project in 2017 we would have spent an estimated sum of N69 billion that includes the construction of the water treatment plant constructed by the state government and the dam constructed by the federal government and others already outlined.
“Water requirements currently for Zaria and environs is about 100 million litres a day and what we have on ground is 60 million litres now. Even though, it is not operating at optimal capacity because of the dilapidated nature of the old water works and the challenges of power, but by the time these new ones come on board we will have a total capacity of 210 million litres a day, which will have the potential of not only supplying to Zaria and Sabon Gari with potable water but additional communities within the six LGAs that surround Zaria and Sabon Gari.”
The commissioner added: “There are other areas that have to do with expansion and the rehabilitation of the old pipes that has already been laid tens of years ago. There is also the construction of the booster stations that will take water to Zaria and other envisaged local government areas that are to benefit from the project. There is also the water treatment plant that, hopefully, will be completed by the end of this year.”
Dr. Henry Kiemeg, Project Manager, Gamji Nigeria Limited, which is handling part of the Zaria water project, complained about some residents who illegally built on the right-of-way, describing the ongoing laying of water pipelines in some areas as a challenge.
Kiemeg, who commended the present administration for its commitment to end water problem in Zaria and environs, said: “The way the Kaduna State Government under Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has supported us, it is on record that, unlike what obtains before now, in the past where government will be pushing you left, right and centre, rather we were given support.
“Real support to deliver and this is unprecedented, this is a great motivation because any contractor that has a smooth way to do your job without any kick back and front, will perform better. We also thank the commissioner who works so hard, diligent and committed.”
By Mohammad Ibrahim
Friday, 14 October 2016 at The Hague started with a press conference of the Monsanto Tribunal & People’s Assembly organising committee, including: Vandana Shiva, Corinne Lepage, Emilie Gaillard, Mindy Schneider, Hans Herren, Ronnie Cummins, Andre Leu, Nnimmo Bassey and Renate Künast.
They spoke of the necessity of a people’s grassroots movement in the face of governments and international institutions’ inaction in protecting human rights. A full day of presentations and reports from various scientists, activists, and leaders of important organizations such as Navdanya International, IFOAM, GM Watch, and Pesticide Action Network to name a few, who covered topics of ecocide and genocide, adverse effects of pesticides and herbicides on the environment and health, and attacks by big international corporations on farmers and farming as well as science and scientists.
Together, they made a joint declaration to save the planet from the past century of ecocide and genocide.
Crimes Against Nature
Monsanto, along with the other poison making corporations, have to recognise that nature has rights. We cannot continue to allow for violations and looting of our Mother Nature, if we want our planet and all her diverse species to survive.
The conquest of nature driven by rampant and mindless industrialisation has poisoned and polluted our planet. Greed for the control of nature has driven the new colonisers to disregard indigenous traditions and sciences. In the process, nature has been made into an instrument of exploitation. We stand today to celebrate Nature in all her diversity, with all her rights and we call all citizens of the world to rise in pledging to honor the rights of our Earth (http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/08/24/the-universal-declaration-of-the-rights-of-mother-earth/).
Patenting Life and seeds
All beings including plants, animals, and even the tiniest of microorganism are sentient beings. They are self-organised living systems and not inventions. Monsanto’s claim on patents on seeds and life is not only a gross violation of Nature’s rights, but also represents a challenge to Nature’s process of creation and to Life itself. Monsanto claims to be “the creator”, that is “the inventor” of life and seeds. Yet, plants and seeds produce and reproduce themselves without the intervention of a corporation. Monsanto, by claiming to be the Creator of seed, sends out a simple signal to the world – GMO = God Move Over.
Violations of Farmer’s Rights
Across the world, from India to Mexico, the rights of farmers have been violated. In India alone, 300,000 farmers have committed suicide in the past two decades – most of these occurring in the “cotton belt”, the area of India where 95% of the cotton seed lies in Monsanto’s hands. By fraudulent means of manipulation and lies, Monsanto has tricked farmers into buying their seeds. They have illegally extracted royalties and increased the costs of inputs. This has led to hundreds of thousands of farmers being pushed into the debt and suicide cycle.
Contamination, Genetic Pollution and Devastation of Biodiversity
GMOs have contaminated farmers’ fields and destroyed generations of natural evolution of plants all over our planet. From Steve Marsh from Australia to Percy Schemeiser from Canada, farmers are the worstly affected victims of this genetic contamination. Furthermore, GMOs have oppressed farmers by making them pay for the pollution of their fields. Monsanto wants control of our seeds and food systems and is willing to cross any boundaries for its profit. In 1995, Monsanto illegally smuggled Bt cotton seeds into India and contaminated native and hybrid cotton fields in Gujarat. They have used genetic pollution and contamination as a modus operandi to enter countries without any biosafety or scientific assessments. In many countries of the world, Monsanto has reversed thousands of years of natural evolution.
Attack on Democracy and Countries
Monsanto’s drive for profit has unleashed seed imperialism on the world. They have corrupted governments and lobbied to dismantle sovereign laws and Constitutions of all countries. Article 6 of the Argentinean Constitution and Article 3 (J) of India’s Constitution do not allow patents on plants and seeds, but Monsanto has challenged these laws in both countries’ courts in an effort to undermine these democracies. Through lobby groups, Monsanto has applied international pressure to the dismantlement of the safety frameworks that ensure that rights of plants and citizens are protected. Monsanto is still attacking Argentinean laws, seeking to change any laws that come in the way of their corporate profits. “In the case of the lawsuit against Monsanto in Argentina in 2013, we requested to have access to the studies conducted by Monsanto. This legal measure was approved and we could see with our own eyes that their studies are just trash science,” said Fernando Cabaleiro.
Poisoning life
By introducing poisons such as Roundup (glyphosate) and Basta (glufosinate), Monsanto has exposed millions of people to virulent poisons. Today, these people are suffering from neurological diseases like autism and Alzheimer’s, food-related diseases like cancer and diabetes, and are developing countless health complications. The poisons being forcibly unleashed on farms are the major reason for these diseases.
Climate Action Network (CAN), a global network of over 1,200 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on Saturday saluted the outcome from the Montreal Protocol talks in Kigali, Rwanda as countries agree to phase down “super greenhouse gases” known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
The group has described the development as a critical step towards limiting warming and as “the single biggest climate action of the year”. It comes just weeks before leaders meet in Morocco for the yearly international climate talks.
The amendment establishes three different timetables for all developed and developing countries to freeze and then reduce their production and use of HFCs.
Developed countries agreed to make their first HFC cuts by 2019. Developed nations have also committed to provide additional funds through the Montreal Protocol’s Multilateral Fund. China, Brazil, South Africa, Argentina, and more than 100 other developing countries have committed to freeze their HFC production and use by 2024, and make further reductions thereafter. India, Gulf States, and Pakistan have agreed to make HFC reductions on a slower track.
“It is crucial that in the coming years countries work towards transitioning to energy efficient and environment friendly alternatives. The agreed technology review will help with rapid maturity of alternatives and enable countries to strengthen their actions,” the group states.
It points out that the news from Kigali on HFCs as well as the recent outcome on aviation emissions shows that governments are taking the objective of the Paris Agreement seriously. It hopes that countries will accelerate their national ambition over time but soon enough to give a fighting chance for the world to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 C.
Representatives form civil society organisations are already reacting to the agreement.
David Doniger, NRDC’s Climate and Clean Air programme director: “This is a major breakthrough: The world has come together to curb climate-wrecking super-pollutant HFCs. This is the biggest step we can take in the year after the Paris agreement against the widening threats from climate change. And bringing HFCs under the Montreal Protocol sends a clear signal to the global marketplace to start replacing these dangerous chemicals with a new generation of climate-friendly and energy-efficient alternatives.”
Paula Tejón Carbajal, Global strategist, Greenpeace International: “The success of this agreement will be determined by how much developing countries can leapfrog HFCs and how much countries can avoid yet another chemical alternative like toxic HFOs and adopt natural refrigerants. This will be decisive in the coming months and years.”
Chandra Bhushan, Deputy Director General, CSE: “The agreement reflects the willingness of all parties to take action on climate change. What we have achieved at Kigali is the beginning. We can build on this success and further enhance the climate actions by countries under the Montreal Protocol and in other climate agreements, especially the Paris Agreement.”
Benson Ireri, Senior Policy Advisor, Christian Aid: “To aid the switch to newer and safer natural refrigerants, sufficient funding will be required through the Montreal Protocol’s Multilateral Fund to enable poorer countries to invest in the new technology. It is vital that developed countries also share their progress on technological breakthroughs.”
Clare Perry, Climate Campaign Leader, Environmental Investigation Agency: “The Kigali Amendment, just prior to the adoption of the Paris Agreement, brings concrete global action to fight catastrophic global warming. Still, with billions of tonnes of emissions still up for grabs, the ultimate success of the Kigali amendment will depend on accelerating the removal of these industrial climate-killers in upcoming meetings.”
“Our communities are full of law-abiding, if impoverished, residents of Lagos State. We belong to the city and have a right to the city as well as right to shelter and to livelihood. Forced eviction is not only unlawful, but ineffective. It will also not solve whatever problem your administration hopes to solve. It will not set Lagos on the path to being a global megacity. The only path to real megacity is to embrace the urban poor and partner with us to find lasting solutions to challenging urban problems such as security and development.”
Those were the compassionate yet somewhat defiant words of waterfront and slum dwellers in a recent correspondence to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State over the latter’s decision to demolish shanties along the state’s shorelines.
The government move is coming in response to the recent kidnappings in the state, some of which were carried out through the waterways. A fresh incident featured the kidnap of school children and staff of the Lagos State Model College, Epe.
Governor Ambode, who gave the order during an inspection tour of state projects, said government was poised to go all out against kidnappers through tougher legislations.
He said: “Most of the issues that we have with kidnappings are actually being brought up by those who are illegal settlers by the waterfront. We will commence demolition of all the shanties around the creeks in Lagos State and also around our waterways in the next seven days. We will not allow a few set of people who come into Lagos and stay on our waterfront illegally and then use it as anopportunity to kidnap our people.
“I believe that the era of kidnapping has come to an end. We are going to review our laws and I can tell you sincerely that we will deal with kidnappers squarely in Lagos from this moment onwards.”
But the governor’s statement and resolve have apparently not gone down well with the over 70 waterfront settlement communities in the state, who have come together as a group to resist the open threat to their livelihoods and places of abode.
In what looks like a damning letter to the governor, the waterfront dwellers, operating under the aegis of their umbrella body, the Nigeria Slum/Informal Settlements Federation, have denounced the governor’s announcement (made on Sunday, October 9, 2016), and even demanded an immediate retraction of the seven-day notice given to them.
Part of the letter, titled “Demand for immediate retraction of seven-day notice to waterfront communities across Lagos State” and dated Tuesday, October 11, 2016, states:
“With due respect your excellency, we a movement comprising the poorest residents of Lagos State from over 70 informal settlements – and ever growing.
“We have come together knowing that our unity is our strength, to seek partnership with government to protect our dignity and bring development to our community.
“Consequently, and with heavy hearts we hereby denounce your excellency’s announcement of 9 October and demand official, immediate retraction. We have no choice but to suspend all dialogue until such notice is retracted.
“Should this notice not be retracted by end of the day on 12 October 2016, we shall use this medium to inform your excellency that we will be embarking on mass protest across the state.”
The letter was endorsed by representatives of communities such as Ofin (Ikorodu), Itun Agan, Tomaro, Baiyeku (Ikorodu), Ajagbe Sari Iganmu, Mosafejo Oworonshoki, Oko Agbon, and Irede.
President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has assured the citizenry of the Senate’s commitment to universal access to clean cooking energy in Nigeria. He made the declaration recently in Abuja while hosting members of the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (NACC), who paid him a courtesy call.
National Coordinator of the NACC, Ewah Otu Eleri, told the audience that over 95,000 Nigerians, mostly women and children, die annually as a result of smoke from the kitchen.
He said: “Smoke from the kitchen is the highest killer of Nigerians, after malaria and HIV/AIDS. Cooking should not kill.” He urged the Senate President and other Senators in attendance to support the goal of 10 million clean solutions for delivery to Nigerian households and institutions by 2020.
“Nigeria has all it takes to achieve universal access to clean cooking. Our country is one of the world’s largest producer and exporter of cooking gas, known as LPG. Despite that, only about five percent of households in our country use cooking gas,” Mr Eleri added.
Daniel Isiocha, a manager with Techno Oil Limited, producers of LPG, disclosed that the establishment is currently constructing a cylinder manufacturing plant in Lagos and has just commissioned the building of a gas terminal.
He lamented that the switching cost to LPG is very expensive, even as he urged Dr Saraki to support the use of part of the current spending on kerosene subsidies for LPG. According to Mr Isiocha, this would lower the cost of LPG and ensure more Nigerians have access to clean cooking fuel that is produced locally.
Musa Raymond, Managing Director of Musa Raymond Nigeria Limited, told the audience that his firm produces about half a million clean cooking stoves annually. “With better access to finance and stronger demand, especially from government-owned facilities such as schools and prisons, my company can produce millions of stoves and employ more Nigerians. Access to finance is the biggest challenge,” he disclosed.
Addressing the Senate President, Adako Kwanashie, a clean clean cookstoves entrepreneur based in Kaduna State, told the story of his small stove producing company. “I employ five local artisans, mostly potters and metal workers. If the government had facilitated more demand for our products, for instance through an awareness campaign, we will sell more stoves and can employ up to one hundred young people,” he explained.
He added that small clean cooking businesses require a supportive policy environment to expand the market for cleaning cooking in the country.
With the Senate President were Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Climate Change), Senator Sam Egwu (Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry) and Senator Rose Oko (Member, Senate Committee on Environment and Climate Change).
In his response, Dr Saraki assured the NACC delegation that clean cooking was close to his heart. “At the Senate, we shall step up actions to expand access to clean cooking. It is a fact that, apart from saving lives, the use of clean cookstoves would also help to create jobs for our people. We are particularly happy that the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is focusing on made-in-Nigeria cooking solutions,” he said.
The Senate President promised to work with his colleagues in the Senate to explore opportunities to use legislation to expand access to clean cooking energy in the country. According to him, himself and his colleagues would work to promote made-in-Nigeria clean cooking products. He urged Senator Oluremi Tinubu to work with NACC to determine the kind of actions the Senate can take to support the goals of the Alliance.
A new research has found that continued biodiversity loss would result in an accelerating decline in forest productivity worldwide.
The research, published on 14 October 2016 in the journal Science, is the output of a team of scholars from 90 institutions around the world coordinated by Jingjing Liang (lead author), Peter B. Reich and Thomas W. Crowther, and includes CIFOR’s Principal Scientist Terry Sunderland, who consolidated field-based forest inventory data from 777,126 permanent plots across the world, discovering a globally consistent positive effect of tree species diversity on forest productivity.
Dr. Sunderland, Team Leader for Sustainable Landscapes and Food Systems at CIFOR, said, “The value of biodiversity in maintaining forest productivity – $396-579 billion per year according to our estimation – is by itself over five times greater than the total cost of effective global conservation. This highlights the need for a worldwide reassessment of biodiversity values, forest management strategies and conservation priorities.”
The team estimated that the economic value of biodiversity in maintaining commercial forest productivity to be $166-490 billion per year, which more than doubles the total estimated cost that would be necessary if we were to effectively conserve all terrestrial ecosystems at a global scale. This finding highlights the need for a worldwide reassessment of biodiversity values, forest management strategies and conservation priorities.
The research, it was gathered, marks the first major accomplishment of the team formally known as the Global Forest Biodiversity Initiative (GFBI). Established in 2016, GFBI is an international, interdisciplinary, multi-stakeholder research collaborative that aims at better understanding broad-scale patterns and processes associated with the planet’s four billion hectares of forested ecosystems.
The entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation to the Convention on Biological Diversity was observed on Wednesday.
Adopted in 2010 and entering into force on 12 October 2014, the Nagoya Protocol aims to create equity between providers and users of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. To achieve this goal, the Protocol provides a clear framework to ensure that access to genetic resources and/or associated traditional knowledge is granted on the basis of prior informed consent and that any benefits derived from the use of these resources or knowledge is shared fairly and equitably with the provider country and its indigenous peoples and local communities, as appropriate.
“The Nagoya Protocol is a ground-breaking treaty and a key element in the global framework for sustainable development. Within two years of its entry into force, the Protocol boasts 87 ratifications from around the globe, encompassing both developing and developed countries as well as the European Union,” said Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. “I also take this opportunity to congratulate the governments of Swaziland and Bolivia on their recent accession to the Protocol”.
In addition, the Protocol has benefited from global recognition in a number of international forums including the UN General Assembly and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, among others.
“The inclusion of two targets related to genetic diversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development further demonstrates that ABS and the Nagoya Protocol are making an important contribution to the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable economic development for all,” said Mr. Dias.
Furthermore, the ABS Clearing-House – the main mechanism established by the Protocol for information-sharing – is now fully operational. Countries, organisations and stakeholders now refer to the ABS Clearing-House to find information on how to access genetic resources or associated traditional knowledge in specific countries and on ABS more generally. The ABS Clearing-House can also be used to monitor the utilisation of genetic resources and the sharing of benefits.
Countries are also advancing in implementing the provisions of the Nagoya Protocol, by adopting legislative, administrative or policy measures and establishing the institutional structures needed to manage ABS at the domestic level.
Indigenous and local communities, as well as stakeholders from the business and scientific communities, are also making headway in developing tools to support the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, such as community protocols, model contractual clauses, and voluntary codes of conduct or guidelines.
While significant progress has been made, further efforts are still needed to make the Protocol achieve its full potential. Going forward, it is expected that membership in the Nagoya Protocol will continue to grow, with more than 60 countries currently in the process of ratifying or planning to ratify.
Parties to the Nagoya Protocol will be taking decisions on the way forward in the implementation of the treaty at their second meeting which will be held on 4-17 December 2016 in Cancun, Mexico.
