25 April 2017: Preparations are underway for the UNFCCC Climate Change Conference taking place in Bonn, Germany, from 8-18 May 2017. With fewer than two weeks to go, the UNFCCC Secretariat has issued a number of documents, and UNFCCC constituted bodies have held meetings ahead of the conference.

The UNFCCC Bonn Climate Change Conference will comprise the 46th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 46) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 46), as well as the third part of the first session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA 1-3).

A Technical Expert Meeting on adaptation will be held around the theme ‘Integrating climate change adaptation with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction.’

The SBI is expected to take up agenda items on national adaptation plans (NAPs) and the third review of the Adaptation Fund (AF), while the SBSTA will address the Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change (NWP). APA 1-3 is expected to consider further guidance in relation to the adaptation communication, including, inter alia, as a component of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. [SBI Provisional Annotated Agenda] [SBSTA Provisional Annotated Agenda] [APA 1-3 Provisional Annotated Agenda] [Decision 1/CP.21 Adopting Paris Agreement]

Additionally, a Technical Expert Meeting on adaptation (TEM-A) is scheduled to take place from 16-17 May 2017, as part of the technical examination process on adaptation (TEP-A), organized jointly by the SBI and SBSTA. The topic for the 2017 TEP-A is ‘Integrating climate change adaptation with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).’ [TEM-A Agenda]

In preparation for the Bonn Climate Change Conference, the UNFCCC Secretariat has issued a number of documents, including:

• A synthesis report on adaptation planning, implementation and evaluation addressing ecosystems and areas such as water resources (FCCC/SBSTA/2017/3). [Adaptation Planning, Implementation and Evaluation Addressing Ecosystems and Areas such as Water Resources]
• The report of the 31st meeting of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Expert Group (LEG) (FCCC/SBI/2017/6). [Report of the 31st meeting of the LEG]
• A note on progress made in implementing activities under the NWP (FCCC/SBSTA/2017/INF.1). [Progress Made in Implementing Activities under the NWP]
• A summary report of initiatives in the area of human settlements and adaptation (FCCC/SBSTA/2017/INF.3). [Initiatives in the Area of Human Settlements and Adaptation]

Also, UNFCCC constituted bodies, including the Adaptation Committee (AC), the LEG and the Executive Committee (Excom) of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts (WIM), held their respective meetings ahead of the Bonn Climate Change Conference.

The fifth meeting of the WIM Excom (Excom 5), which convened in Bonn, Germany, from 21-24 March 2017, advanced intersessional work on establishing: a clearing house for risk transfer; and a task force to develop recommendations for integrated approaches to avert, minimize and address displacement related to the adverse impacts of climate change. Excom 5 also addressed, inter alia: comprehensive risk management approaches; slow onset events; non-economic losses; resilience, recovery and rehabilitation; financial instruments and tools; and development of a five-year rolling workplan. [Excom 5 Webpage] [Excom 5 Provisional Annotated Agenda] [Summary of Excom 5 Decisions] [SDG Knowledge Hub Adaptation and Loss and Damage Update on Eleventh AC and 31st LEG Meetings] [ENB Coverage of SB 46]