6 October 2015
ADP Co-Chairs Release Draft Negotiating Text for Paris Agreement
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The UNFCCC Secretariat has released three documents in advance of the October session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP): a Co-Chairs' non-paper containing a draft of the 2015 agreement (ADP.2015.8.InformalNote); a draft decision on ADP workstream 2 (pre-2020 ambition)(ADP.2015.9.InformalNote); and a scenario note by the Co-Chairs on the eleventh part of the second session of the ADP (ADP 2-11) (ADP.2015.7.InformalNote), which will convene from 19-23 October 2015 in Bonn Germany.

UNFCCC5 October 2015: The UNFCCC Secretariat has released three documents in advance of the October session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP): a Co-Chairs’ non-paper containing a draft of the 2015 agreement (ADP.2015.8.InformalNote); a draft decision on ADP workstream 2 (pre-2020 ambition)(ADP.2015.9.InformalNote); and a scenario note by the Co-Chairs on the eleventh part of the second session of the ADP (ADP 2-11) (ADP.2015.7.InformalNote), which will convene from 19-23 October 2015 in Bonn Germany.

The non-paper contains the basis for negotiation of the draft Paris climate package, as well as a draft of the decision that will operationalize the agreement from 2020. The draft was prepared by the ADP Co-Chairs in response to a request from countries to have a better basis from which to negotiate. It is 20 pages long, a quarter of the length of the last version of the negotiating text considered by Parties.

The draft agreement itself is ten pages long and includes draft articles on, inter alia: definitions; purpose; mitigation; adaptation; loss and damage; finance; technology development and transfer; capacity building; transparency; global stocktake; facilitating implementation and compliance; CMA (Conference of the Parties (COP) serving as the meeting of the Parties to this Agreement); Secretariat; Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI); bodies and institutional arrangements to serve Agreement; signature and instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession; further requirements and decision-making rights; entry into force; amendments; annexes; settlement of disputes; voting; depositary; reservations; and withdrawl.

The accompanying draft decision text, also ten pages long, contains specific sections on: adoption of the agreement; intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs); decisions to give effect to the agreement; workstream 2; interim institutional arrangements; and administrative and budgetary matters.

The draft decision on workstream 2 (pre-2020 ambition) addresses what parties, non-state actors and others can/should do in the pre-2020 period and prior to when the new agreement is expected to enter into force.

The Co-Chairs’ scenario note for the October session explains that, from 15-18 October, a series of bilateral meetings with negotiating groups, as well as with any interested Parties, will be held, with the aim of hearing views on and reactions to the non-paper, and in order to avoid any procedural discussions at the ADP meeting itself, so that substantive negotiations can begin immediately after a brief opening plenary.

The note further explains that: the session aims to intensify the pace of text-based negotiations with a view to preparing the draft Paris climate package for presentation at the opening of COP 21; and two open-ended drafting committees, chaired by the ADP Co-Chairs, will convene simultaneously following the opening plenary. The first will conduct an initial reading of the non-paper, following which spin-off groups will meet to discus relevant parts of the draft agreement and draft decision. The mitigation and adaptation spin-off groups are expected to begin their work in the afternoon of 19 October, with the drafting committee reconvening no later than the morning of 21 October to receive a report on progress achieved thus far. The second open-ended drafting committee will undertake the first reading of the draft decision on workstream 2, for which a spin-off group is expected as well. Stocktaking meetings will convene as often as required. The spin-off groups are expected to finalize their work by 4:00 pm on 23 October, which will be followed by a meeting of Heads of delegation from 4:00-5:00 pm, and a short closing plenary at 5:30 pm.

The note explains that the Co-Chairs will meet with observers on 21 October and hold a press briefing on 23 October. [UNFCCC Press Release] [Co-Chairs’ Non-paper Containing the Draft Agreement] [Draft decision on workstream 2 of the ADP] [Scenario Note by the Co-Chairs for ADP 2-11]


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