9 November 2017: The UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, continued on Thursday, 9 November 2017. Informal consultations and contact groups convened under the Conference of the Parties (COP), the COP serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP), the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA), the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI). The APA held a stocktake to hear progress reports on work under its agenda items.

During a COP contact group on the sixth review of the Financial Mechanism, many expressed support for recommendations in the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) self-assessment report. Developing countries called for, inter alia, reviewing the relationship between the SCF report and the review’s terms of reference. Some developed countries called for, among others, increased observer and private sector engagement with the SCF and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

During a COP contact group on long-term climate finance, developing country interventions called for, inter alia, a synthesis of biennial submissions by developed countries by COP 24 to track progress towards the US$100 billion goal in climate finance that developed countries agreed to provide to developing countries on an annual basis by 2020.

During the APA stocktake, the Co-Chairs said they would initiate consultations with Parties on 10 November, on outputs from this session and on work in 2018. Co-facilitators provided updates on progress made during informal consultations. Delegates were informed that a dedicated consultation session will convene to discuss equity in the context of the global stocktake (GST). On the committee to facilitate implementation and promote compliance, delegates were informed that the co-facilitator for transparency was present at one informal consultation to help “tease out” interlinkages between the two. Groups of countries then made general remarks regarding progress made and the way forward.

During APA informal consultations on the Adaptation Fund, views diverged on whether to adopt a decision in 2017 or 2018. One developing country group presented two draft decisions that both agree that the Adaptation Fund shall serve the Paris Agreement and decide to undertake further work on arrangements related to governance, safeguards and operating modalities, with the second decision identifying operational policies and guidelines. Several developed countries’ proposals highlighted the need for a transitional period, with one group proposing that the Fund serve the Agreement from 2020. A developed country said the primary source of funding should be a share of proceeds from markets, while one developing country group characterized a condition of accepting markets in this context as “a non-starter.”

During a COP contact group on long-term climate finance, developing countries called for a synthesis of biennial submissions by developed countries by COP 24 to track progress towards the US$100 billion goal.

APA informal consultations also convened on: modalities, procedures and guidelines (MPGs) for the transparency framework for action and support; further guidance regarding the mitigation section of decision 1/CP.21 (Adoption of the Paris Agreement); the committee to facilitate implementation and promote compliance; and adaptation communications.

During SBI informal consultations on modalities and procedures for the operation and use of a public registry to record adaptation communications, many stressed the need for a separate registry to give visibility to adaptation. One group called for channeling adaptation information through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). One country proposed merging the two registries into a registry for both NDCs and adaptation communications. Parties did not agree on mandating the co-facilitators to capture the discussions in an informal note, and draft procedural conclusions will be prepared.

During SBI informal consultations on modalities and procedures for the operation and use of a public registry to record NDC communications, one group called for suspending the meeting without an outcome, stating that the co-facilitators had not been mandated to include linkages to APA item 3 (further guidance in relation to the mitigation section of Decision 1/CP.21) that prejudge its outcome. Citing a “trust issue,” the group called for procedural conclusions only and considering whether the co-facilitators should be changed. After consulting internally, the group agreed to continue discussions under the guidance of the same co-facilitators on the condition that parts of the text be removed. The co-facilitators will consult with the SBI Chair on the way forward.

During SBI informal consultations on coordination of support for the implementation of mitigation activities in the forest sector by developing countries, many developing countries called for an independent body to coordinate implementation.

SBI informal consultations also convened on matters relating to least developed countries (LDCs) and on the third review of the Adaptation Fund.

During SBSTA informal consultations on agriculture, a developing country group introduced a proposed draft decision text which requests the SBI to establish and periodically assess a five-year work programme and continue work on six topics: methods and approaches for assessing adaptation; improved soil health, carbon and fertility; improved nutrient use; improved livestock management; socioeconomic dimensions; and methodologies for accelerating technology transfer, accounting for gender considerations.

SBSTA informal consultations also convened on matters relating to Paris Agreement Article 6 (cooperative approaches), specifically on 6.2 (internationally transferred mitigation outcomes) and on aspects regarding 6.8 (non-market approaches).

During joint SBSTA/SBI informal consultations on the impact of the implementation of response measures, several Parties stressed the importance of models in quantifying the cross-border impacts of response measures, highlighting the absence of existing models and the need, especially in developing countries, for capacity building and training materials. [Fiji/Bonn Highlights: Thursday, 9 November 2017] [IISD RS Coverage of COP 23]

* * *

IISD Reporting Services is producing the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB), providing coverage of the negotiations. This Daily Update brings you the highlights.