The Agreement on Climate Transformation 2015 (ACT 2015) has released a working paper on legal suggestions for UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiators to secure a successful outcome in Paris.
The paper, titled ‘Getting Specific on the 2015 Climate Change Agreement: Suggestions for the Legal Text with an Explanatory Memorandum,' was prepared by a consortium that comprises leading research institutions and universities that have come together to catalyze discussion and build momentum ahead of Paris.
12 May 2015: The Agreement on Climate Transformation 2015 (ACT 2015) has released a working paper on legal suggestions for UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiators to secure a successful outcome in Paris. The paper, titled ‘Getting Specific on the 2015 Climate Change Agreement: Suggestions for the Legal Text with an Explanatory Memorandum,’ was prepared by a consortium that comprises leading research institutions and universities that have come together to catalyze discussion and build momentum ahead of Paris. The World Resources Institute (WRI) serves as the Secretariat of the consortium.
A result of hundreds of in-depth consultations with representatives from governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), business, labor and other stakeholders over the last two years, the working paper puts forward a set of ideas for what the Paris agreement could look like in legal terms.
The paper contains a textual proposal for the future agreement that recognizes the connections among mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation (MOI). Accompanied by an article-by-article explanatory memorandum, the 25-article-long suggested text reinforces the links among the three issues, moving away from a mitigation-centric approach.
The paper calls for three overarching frames: a long-term goal to reach net-zero emissions as early as possible in the second half of the 21st century, with different timeframes for developed and developing countries; a long-term goal to reduce the vulnerability and build resilience of communities facing climate change impacts to guide both national and international efforts; and five-year cycles for strengthening countries’ actions to reduce emissions, adapt to climate change and support low-carbon and climate-resilient development in a manner that is fair to all countries. According to the publication, these three actions should be universal and equal in importance but with differing approaches depending on each country’s circumstances, supported by strengthened transparency and accountability requirements. [ACT 2015 Website] [Publication: Getting Specific on the 2015 Climate Change Agreement]