6 November 2017: The UN Climate Change Conference opened in Bonn, Germany, on 6 November 2017. Delegates elected Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Fiji, as President of the Conference. The opening plenaries of the 23rd session Conference of the Parties (COP 23), the 13th session of the COP Serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 13), and the second part of the first session of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 1-2) convened, including a joint plenary.

The opening plenaries of the 47th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 47) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 47) also took place. Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) in-session roundtables met on compliance and on further guidance relating to the mitigation section of Decision 1/CP.21 (the Paris outcome). SBSTA and SBI contact groups and informal consultations were also held.

During the opening session, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa said COP 23 should take steps to complete the Paris Agreement’s structure and advance pre-2020 commitments. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Petteri Taalas reported record-breaking global and sea temperatures and CO2 concentrations. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Chair Hoesung Lee said the special report on ‘Global Warming of 1.5°C’ will be approved in advance of the 2018 Facilitative Dialogue. German Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety Barbara Hendricks announced that Germany will contribute an additional €50 million to the Adaptation Fund in 2017. Bonn Mayor Ashok-Alexander Sridharan stressed that local and regional action will drive global climate action.

During the joint COP/CMP/CMA plenary, the US recalled his country’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, but stressed intent to continue engagement, including in laying the foundations for guidelines for implementing the treaty.

During the COP plenary, two proposed additions to the agenda were the subject of debate, and did not yield consensus. The first, proposed by the Like-minded Developing Countries (LMDCs), is on the acceleration of implementation of pre-2020 commitments and actions, and increasing pre-2020 ambition; the second, proposed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is on a gateway to encourage, monitor, report, verify and account for ambition of non-Party organizations. The rest of the agenda was adopted, with informal consultations on the two proposals to continue.

During the CMP plenary, the Secretariat updated Parties on the status of ratification of the Doha Amendment, with 84 Parties having submitted instruments of acceptance. During the CMA plenary, Parties were updated on the status of ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change, which now has 169 ratifications.

During the joint COP/CMP/CMA plenary, delegates heard opening group statements. The Group of 77 and China (G-77/China) said COP 23 must achieve progress on, inter alia, the design of the 2018 Facilitative Dialogue. The EU called for draft decisions or textual elements on all areas of the Paris Agreement work programme. The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) regretted the exit of an Annex I Party from the agreement. Brazil, South Africa, India and China (BASIC) expressed concern about developed countries unilaterally creating new criteria for funding under the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The US recalled his country’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, but stressed intent to continue engagement, including in laying the foundations for guidelines for implementing the treaty.

During the SBSTA plenary, delegates addressed various agenda items, some of which will be discussed in contact groups and in informal consultations. During a SBSTA contact group on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (cooperative approaches), Parties agreed that the Co-Chairs will prepare non-papers outlining potential elements, sub-elements and further elements for each sub-item. All but one Party supported allowing observers in the contact group and informal sessions. Consultations will continue.

During the SBI plenary, agenda sub-item on information contained in national communications from non-Annex I Parties was held in abeyance. Delegates discussed numerous agenda items, some of which will be discussed in contact groups and in informal consultations.

During the joint SBSTA/SBI plenary, groups of countries and observer organizations made opening statements. The EU stressed, inter alia, the need to launch the local communities and indigenous peoples platform, and start work on common timeframes for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) said the recent UNEP Emissions Gap Report shows it is not too late to get “us back on track to limit warming to 1.5°C.” The Central American Integration System (SICA) called for ensuring resources for implementing the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts (WIM), and for transparency and environmental integrity of the Article 6 mechanisms. Local Governments and Municipal Authorities highlighted how local and regional governments are contributing to raising ambition of NDCs. [Fiji/Bonn Highlights: Monday, 6 November 2017] [IISD RS Coverage of COP 23] [UNFCCC Press Release]

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