21 April 2016: In the lead up to the Paris Agreement on climate change Signing Ceremony, various events have added to the growing momentum of what is expected to be one of the largest ever signing events. In the shadow of the announcement by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that March 2016 recorded the highest combined global average temperature of any March since 1880, the growing number of countries expected to sign the Paris Agreement on 22 April is also on track to set a record. This Implementation Update summarizes activities by UNFCCC Parties as they focus on mitigating and adapting to these warming trends, especially following the adoption in 2015 of the Paris Agreement and in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It includes: recent buzz around market mechanisms, carbon pricing and scaling private sector involvement; the growing impetus ahead of the High Level Signing Ceremony; an outlook to the May session of the UNFCCC; good news about European cars; and Fiji’s post-disaster recovery efforts.

As noted, NOAA recently released a ‘Global Analysis’ that indicates that the combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for March 2016 was the highest for this month in the 1880–2016 record, at 1.22°C (2.20°F) above the 20th century average of 12.7°C (54.9°F). March is the 11th consecutive month to break records, the longest such streak in NOAA’s 137 years of record keeping. [NOAA Global Analysis]

Leaders Look to Market Mechanisms, Carbon Prices to Implement Paris Agreement

While the refugee crisis, a slowing economy and other global challenges were in focus for the central bankers, ministers of finance and development and civil society representatives participating in the 2016 World Bank Group – International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings, the Development Committee also addressed climate and energy issues. It welcomed the World Bank’s Climate Change Action Plan to: help developing countries add 30 gigawatts of renewable energy to the world’s energy capacity; bring early warning systems to 100 million people; and develop climate-smart agriculture investment plans for at least 40 countries. [IISD RS Story on World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings] In addition, several events held on the margins of the Spring Meetings focused on market mechanisms and carbon pricing to address the challenge of climate change.

On the opening day of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings in Washington DC, US, the World Bank convened an event titled “Turning the Paris Climate Agreement into Action.” Held on 14 April, the event brought together World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and leaders from France, the UK, Canada and Morocco who outlined next steps for implementing the Paris Agreement, with particular focus on the actions their countries’ and institutions’ are taking. Ségolène Royal, French Minister of Environment, Energy and the Sea, in charge of International Relations on Climate and President of the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 21), highlighted the importance of a carbon price, noting that France is setting an example by including a carbon price in its energy transition plan. Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance Mohamed Boussaid reiterated Morocco’s commitment to achieving 52% renewable energy in its electricity mix.

Noting the “devil is in the details,” Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna pointed to the need to hammer out specifics for the Paris Agreement’s provisions, including for market mechanisms. She also called for more international action, such as the US’ and Canada’s joint commitment to reduce methane emissions, and underscored domestic action toward carbon pricing. Mark Carney, Governor, Bank of England, and Chair, Financial Stability Board, urged national governments to translate commitments into credible market mechanisms. Kim added that grant-based aid should focus on mobilizing the private sector to bring in the additional financing needed. [Recording of the ‘Turning the Paris Climate Agreement into Action’ Event] [World Bank ‘Voices’ Blog Post]

Another event held on the margins of the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings, raised similar themes, with a focus on Green Finance and emphasizing the role of the private sector. Participants agreed on the role of governments and public financing institutions in mobilizing private capital for green investment, with European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice-President Jonathan Taylor stressing that leveraging private sector investment will be key to meeting the Paris Agreement targets. EIB highlighted its work on green bonds in particular. [EIB Press Release]

The Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC), an initiative launched at COP 21, held its first High Level Assembly on 15 April in conjunction with the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings. The CPLC brings together over 20 national and subnational governments and 90 companies with a view to expanding the effective use of carbon pricing to, inter alia, reduce emissions. At the Assembly, the CPLC welcomed new partners, such as Côte d’Ivoire, Colombia, Finland, the UK, Iberdrola, Rusal, Tata Group and Yale University.

In addition, the Coalition introduced evidence of successful carbon pricing models and tools like ‘The FASTER Principles for Successful Carbon Pricing: An Approach Based on Initial Experience.’ The Coalition plans to continue galvanizing business support for carbon pricing, organize regional summits and hosting leadership dialogues. As a body monitoring global progress toward and support for carbon pricing schemes, the CPLC notes that more than half of intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) submitted under the UNFCCC referenced carbon pricing. [CPLC Website] [World Bank Press Release] [The FASTER Principles for Successful Carbon Pricing: An Approach Based on Initial Experience]

On the eve of the signing ceremony for the Paris Agreement, Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, President of Chile Michelle Bachelet, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Dessalegn, President of France, François Hollande, Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, and President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, together with World Bank Group President Kim, IMF Managing Director Lagarde, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes, and OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría announced that they had reached agreement on an ambitious global target for putting a price on carbon pollution. These members of the Carbon Pricing Panel challenged the world to expand carbon pricing to cover 25 percent of global emissions by 2020, which is double the current level, as well as to achieve 50 percent coverage within the next decade [World Bank Press Release].

Interfaith, Investor Groups, WMO and ISDR Call on World Leaders to Sign Paris Agreement

As of 18 April, 155 countries had indicated their intention to sign the Agreement at the high-level ceremony to be held on the first day the Agreement is open for signature, 22 April, according to the UN. The UNFCCC Secretariat has highlighted the signing ceremony as marking the “critical next step” for not only the planet, but also human development. Drawing the links between the sustainable development agenda and climate change, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres said, “More carbon in the atmosphere equals more poverty.”

In the press release the Secretariat explains that, in addition to including a specific climate goal (SDG 13), almost all the SDGs are dependent on climate change mitigation and adaptation, outlining the cause and effect relationship between climate and human or environmental goals, the symbiotic relationship between low-carbon solutions and economic goals, and the need for equal, inclusive societies to enable effective climate action. [UNFCCC Press Release on Number of Countries] [UNFCCC Press Release on Signing as Critical Next Step]

Various recent developments led by international organizations and non-governmental stakeholders have added to the growing momentum preceding this event. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a message to governments noting that “record global temperatures and extreme weather, the rapid melting of Arctic ice, and widespread bleaching of ocean coral reefs underline the urgent need to sign and implement the Paris Agreement.” [WMO Press Release]

The Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (ISDR), Robert Glasser, welcomed the fact that over 150 countries had indicated their intention to sign the Paris Agreement. However, he called on signatories to “go beyond their existing commitments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions if the world is to avoid catastrophic future weather events.” [ISDR Press Release]

Religious and spiritual leaders have released a statement calling on all Heads of State to promptly sign the Agreement and urging their Governments to ratify it. On 18 April, UN General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft accepted the statement on behalf of the General Assembly and the UN more broadly, saying, “This interfaith statement as well as other religious initiatives undertaken in the context of the negotiations, means that climate change is now firmly accepted as a moral issue that challenges our individual and collective consciousness and behaviors.”

Noting the shared responsibility to care for the Earth, the statement announces the faith communities’ recognition of the need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Expressing their support for the provisions of the Paris Agreement, the faith leaders, inter alia: insist on rapid emissions reduction and peaking by 2020; advocate greater flows of finance, especially for adaptation and loss and damage; urge the swift phase-out of fossil-fuel subsidies; and call for fossil fuel divestment. [Interfaith Climate Change Statement to World Leaders] [UN General Assembly President Statement]

The private sector is also putting pressure on governments to sign the Paris Agreement. In a letter dated 14 April and issued by global investor networks representing more than 400 institutional investors with US$24 trillion in assets under management, institutional investors are calling on Heads of State and Government not only to sign, but also to accede to the Paris Agreement and implement it into national law as a matter of urgency. According to Mindy Lubber, President of Ceres and Director of the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR, North America), “The Paris Agreement provides the framework to trigger the pace and scale of investment – at least an additional US$1 trillion per year, four-fold higher than current levels….It’s vital therefore that world leaders sustain the political momentum captured in the Paris Agreement.” [Ceres Press Release] [Investor Platform for Climate Actions Press Release] [Letter]

Provisional Agenda out for APA 1

Another key event for the implementation of the Paris Agreement is just a few weeks away. On 7 April, the UNFCCC Secretariat released the provisional agenda (FCCC/APA/2016/1) for the first session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA 1) to be held 16-26 May in Bonn, Germany. The APA, which was established by COP 21 in Decision 1/CP.21 in December 2015, is mandated to prepare for the entry into force of the Agreement and for the convening of the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 1).

According to the agenda, APA 1 will begin work on: additional guidance relating to NDCs; modalities, procedures and guidelines for the transparency framework for action and support; matters relating to the global stocktake; modalities and procedures for the effective operation of the mechanism to facilitate implementation and promote compliance; and preparations for the entry into force of the Paris Agreement and for the convening of CMA 1. [APA 1 Provisional Agenda]

The past few weeks have also brought news of regional or national mitigation and adaptation climate change action.

EEA Finds CO2 Emissions from New Cars in EU Continue to Decline

According to data released by the European Environment Agency (EEA), new cars sold in the EU in 2015 emitted 3% less carbon dioxide (CO2) than in 2014. At 119.6 grams (g) per kilometer (km), the average new vehicle’s emissions beat the 2015 EU target by 8%. The next official target set by the EU for 2021 is 95 g CO2/km. Other findings from the data, as noted by the EEA, are that: sales of new cars are up since the previous year; the average mass of the vehicles has remained steady; and diesel vehicles account for 52% of sales, while plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles amounted to 1.3%. [EEA Press Release]

Fiji Combines Recovery and Preparedness Post-Winston

After Cyclone Winston, one of only 11 Category 5 hurricanes registered south of the equator since 1970, took over 40 lives and affected 40% of Fiji’s population on 20 February, the small island country is taking pragmatic steps to rebuild. The Government, which intends to sign the Paris Agreement at the signing ceremony on 22 April and has already taken steps to ratify the Agreement, is well aware of the strong interconnection between climate change commitments, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and sustainable development. As Peter Thomson, Fiji’s Ambassador to the UN, put it, climate change “puts the whole development agenda at risk.”

During recovery efforts, Fiji is following the Sendai Framework for DRR, conscious that the country’s rebuilding efforts should make the islands more resilient and better prepared, should disaster strike again. Likewise, extreme weather events and the loss and damage associated with them are recognized in Article 8 of the Paris Agreement, where Parties underlined the role of sustainable development in reducing the risk of loss and damage and noted areas for enhancing action, such as emergency preparedness, early warning systems, and resilience of communities, livelihoods and ecosystems. [UN News Centre Feature]