14 July 2014
ADP Co-Chairs Reflect on June Session
story highlights

The UNFCCC Secretariat has published a reflections note prepared by the Co-Chairs of the the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) on progress made at the fifth part of the second session of the ADP, as well as on the way forward.

UNFCCC7 July 2014: The UNFCCC Secretariat has published a reflections note prepared by the Co-Chairs of the the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) on progress made at the fifth part of the second session of the ADP, as well as on the way forward.

The note is being made available in conjunction with: a non-paper presenting parties’ views and proposals on the elements for a draft negotiating text for the 2015 agreement; a revised draft decision on intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) of parties in the context of the 2015 agreement; and a draft decision on accelerating the implementation of enhanced pre-2020 climate action.

The Co-Chairs are expected to issue a scenario note with suggestions on the organization of work in advance of the October ADP session.

On work towards the 2015 agreement, the note explains that at the June session, parties, inter alia: reaffirmed that they will submit their INDCs in accordance with their national circumstances, clarified that the concept of INDCs includes, but is not limited to, mitigation, and considered how contributions relating to other elements of the 2015 agreement could be formulated; have begun to define how adaptation will be addressed; wish to give equal importance to mitigation and adaptation; agreed that the existing financial mechanism will play a role in the new agreement; and support a transparency system that will build on existing arrangements, while taking into account ongoing developments.

The note discusses the outcomes of the June High-level Ministerial Dialogue on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, which confirmed that the new agreement should: be applicable to all parties; be based on nationally determined contributions as well as science; cover all of the essential building blocks; respect the Convention’s principles; allow for flexibility; and define ways to review existing commitments. Ministers identified the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Change Summit, the initial resource mobilization of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and implementation of existing commitments as opportunities to build trust and confidence.

The Co-Chairs indicate that the October session would provide an opportunity to deepen negotiations on the elements for a draft negotiating text and information on INDCs for submission to the COP in Lima.

The non-paper contains parties’ views, proposals and possible solutions in relation to elements for a draft negotiating text, and reflects on challenges that need to be overcome, including clarifying: mitigation aspects of the 2015 agreement; how a global goal for adaptation would be formulated and function; how to reflect finance in the 2015 agreement, including scope, nature and sources; how to strengthen enabling environments and remove barriers on technology development and transfer; institutional arrangements to strengthen the provision of finance, technology and capacity-building support; how to build on existing transparency arrangements; and rules, arrangements and mechanisms to facilitate and help parties strengthen their INDCs.

On information provided by parties when submitting INDCs, the Co-Chairs point to a draft decision, which focuses on the information and ways of considering it in 2015, without prejudging the scope, form or legal nature of the contributions. The note underlines that during the High-level Ministerial Dialogue, many highlighted challenges related to the domestic preparation of INDCs and requested guidance from the COP on the scope and type of information to be prepared. Pointing to proposals for a cycle of contributions, the Co-Chairs recall that they had prepared a graph reflecting those proposals in order to enhance clarity and stimulate further thinking. The Co-Chairs identify the following issues for further discussion: reiews and assessments; how to align timelines for different activities; the purpose and timing of ex ante and ex post consideration of INDCs; synchronization of the cycle of contributions with the IPCC process; and administrative, human resources and financial implications of any new future process.

On pre-2020 ambition, the note points to strong support for continuing the Technical Expert Meetings (TEMs) beyond 2015 and suggestions for strengthening the technical examination process. It identifies areas that require further deliberation, including: policies, practices and technologies for enhancing ambition; addressing and overcoming barriers and challenges in implementing them; providing incentives for communicating emission reduction targets or nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs); and a work plan on enhancing mitigation ambition in 2015 and beyond.

In their note, the Co-Chairs point to a draft decision for Lima on enhancing pre-2020 ambition, which focuses on how to capture the results of ADP Workstream 2, including the TEMs and how the work plan to enhance ambition can be strengthened in 2015. The draft decision contains, inter alia, provisions for: guidance to UNFCCC institutions in providing enhanced support to developing countries in implementing good practice policy options in areas with high mitigation potential; and possible ways forward in 2015 and beyond to facilitate implementation of the work plan on enhancing mitigation ambition.

The Co-Chairs indicate that, in October, they plan to: hold TEMs on action on non-carbon-dioxide greenhouse gases (GHG) and on carbon capture, use and storage; and allow for follow-up on TEMs already launched. The note also addresses negotiating time that will be required in 2015, including possible additional meetings, and points to milestones in the first half of 2015, including: the submission of INDCs during the first quarter 2015; and the preparation of a fully elaborated legal text of the agreement six months ahead of COP 21 in Paris. They urge determining dates of additional sessions and booking facilities as early as possible; and encourage parties to engage with each other intersessionally, start moving into a “bridge-building mode” and reach out to those with different views. [ADP Co-Chairs’ Note] [Non-paper on Elements for a Draft Negotiating Text] [Draft Decision on INDCs] [Draft Decision on Pre-2020 Ambition] [IISD RS Coverage of the June Session]


related events