14 March 2014: The fourth meeting of the second session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP 2-4) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) continued addressing agenda item 3, implementation of all the elements of Decision 1/CP.17 (Durban Platform for Enhanced Action).

The meeting, which took place from 10-14 March 2014, in Bonn, Germany, brought together 1071 participants, including delegates from governments and observers from civil society, academia, intergovernmental organizations and the private sector.

Delegates realized the need to get down to the business of identifying elements for the new agreement and bringing views closer together ahead of the “make or break” Paris COP next year. This being said, expectations for Bonn were muted and it was seen as a fairly “low profile event,” more of an opportunity to “soften positions before getting into negotiating mode later this year.” While some delegates lamented the slow progress made, the meeting did define the landscape on nationally determined contributions and agreed to constitute a contact group to start negotiating text at its upcoming June session.

Under workstream 1 (2015 agreement), the meeting convened throughout the week, in an open-ended consultations on agenda item 3, which addressed: adaptation; nationally determined contributions (NDCs); finance, technology and capacity-building (means of implementation (MOI)); ambition and equity; mitigation; transparency of action and support; and other issues related to elements. An in-session workshop addressed domestic preparations for intended NDCs.

Under workstream 2 (pre-2020 ambition), technical expert meetings on renewable energy and energy efficiency convened. Each technical expert meeting included sessions on: policies, practices and technology – global state of play; implementing actions – finance, technology and capacity-building; and discussion of the way forward. [IISD RS Coverage] [ADP 2-4 Website] [UNFCCC Press Release]