1. Prepare a one-stop policy brief of the current EU policy positions, in the form of a living document that is kept up-to-date.

Transcription

1 1. Prepare a ne-stp plicy brief f the current EU plicy psitins, in the frm f a living dcument that is kept up-t-date. With respect t EU plicy framewrk and actins Partially agree. There is indeed a need fr a simplified access t an verview f EU plicies and cmmitments n envirnment and Climate Change with implicatins fr ur internatinal cperatin. The web pages f DG ENV and CLIMA already prvide detailed infrmatin n EU plicy cmmitments related t Envirnment and Climate Change. DG DEVCO's web pages present sme f the main cmmitments with implicatins fr its wrk. DG ENV and DEVCO have started mapping relevant EU plicy cmmitments in relatin t each SDG. Building n this wrk, DEVCO, in cnsultatin with DG ENV, CLIMA and EEAS will cmpile a brief verview listing the mst imprtant EU plicy cmmitments n Envirnment and Climate Change with implicatins n EU internatinal cperatin and develpment plicy, describing them in a few lines and prviding hyperlinks t the relevant webpages. DEVCO will explre the pssibility f develping this as a user friendly, living dcument, designed t respnd t the needs f staff in EU delegatins, partner institutins and clleagues in headquarters. The brief will be disseminated mainly thrugh DEVCO's web pages. The principle f a ne stp plicy brief has been agreed: a draft brief has been prepared and is subject f n-ging cnsultatins with DG Envirnment (ENV) in view f its finalizatin. DG ENV has started in May 2017 t regularly update Delegatins n latest develpments in EU and glbal envirnmental plicy thrugh a regular newsletter. 2. Strengthen linkages between glbal, reginal and natinal plicy dialgue; mbilise EU member state embassies t help in establishing a Partially agree The EU Green Diplmacy Netwrk (GDN) is an imprtant tl in the plicy dialgue with third partners n climate and envirnment issues. The netwrk includes fcal pints in bth EU Delegatins and EU Member States diplmatic missins. Effrts are made t develp strng links between glbal, reginal and natinal plicy dialgues. The EU's internatinal engagement n Climate Change with third cuntries and regins prvides ne example, amng thers, f the mbilizatin f EU's diplmatic netwrk t pave the way fr internatinal agreements. GDN has been intensively used befre UNFCCC COP 21, as a supprt tl fr the EU Climate Diplmacy Actin Plan. This preparatry wrk has cntributed t build alliances which have paved the way t the Paris Agreement. The EU Green Diplmacy Netwrk has remained extremely active after COP 21, fcusing first n the race t ratificatin, then mving n the terrain f implementatin n the grund (NDC) and raising the fragility/security implicatins f climate change, backed by several sets f FAC cnclusins. Despite geplitical challenges, cuntries remain cmmitted t the Paris Agreement, prving that the transitin t glbal climate resilient lw-emissins ecnmies and scieties is irreversible. T deliver the needed transfrmatin, 1

2 link t Gvernment in cuntries where EUDs d nt have a substantial engagement in the envirnment/climate change sectrs; prvide extra resurces fr EUDs that d nt have a substantial engagement in envirnment/climate change fr mbilising shrt-term inputs fr specific demarches; ensure demarches are timely, s that partner gvernments can cnsider EU psitins befre develping their wn MEA related psitins. The diplmatic effrt is cmplemented by significant develpment cperatin supprt. The Glbal Climate Change Alliance prvides a platfrm fr plicy dialgue and develpment cperatin between the EU and develping cuntries mst vulnerable t climate change, in particular LDCs and SIDS. Anther example is the wrk dne with develping cuntries n The Ecnmics f Ecsystems and Bidiversity (TEEB). This has applied methdlgy develped at the glbal level using EU finance t prjects at the natinal level in India in rder t prvide the basis fr sund decisinmaking The plicy dialgue is led by the EU External Actin Service and EU Delegatins. The Heads f Delegatin ensure the representatin f the EU and the crdinatin with EU member states in third cuntries. In line with the Eurpean Cnsensus n Develpment, the EU seeks t prmte better dnr crdinatin as well as divisin f labur t avid duplicatin. The EU and Member States make use f varius fra t prmte effective dialgue n envirnment and climate change: they include Ctnu Partnership Agreement's Article 8 plitical dialgue, budget supprt wrking grups and sectr wrking grups. EU Member States regularly take the lead in sectr platfrms r wrking grups n Envirnment and Climate Change, where they prvide significant supprt in this sectr. EU delegatins are supprted in their demarches and plicy dialgue by the EEAS, DEVCO, NEAR and line DGs (ENV and CLIMA). DEVCO has recently established a number f facilities, which prvide technical assistance in relatin with mainstreaming, bidiversity, climate change and the green ecnmy t EU Delegatins. GDN will be used fr further demarches ahead internatinal r reginal meetings relevant fr climate and envirnment. Timeliness f demarches depends n the calendar fr the substantive preparatin f EU's psitin. Besides frmal 'demarches', infrmal channels f cmmunicatin at technical level need t be used t discuss and seek agreement n specific matters. Even then the need t wait fr prpsals frm internatinal bdies befre establishing EU psitins means that timely interactin remains a challenge. Effrts will be sustained t strengthen synergies between plicy dialgues at glbal, reginal and natinal level and t prvide EU Delegatins with timely inputs t feed int the plicy dialgue with partner cuntries and regins. It is als freseen that natinal cntributins must be integrated in natinal develpment strategies and translated int actinable plicies and measures that invlve all sectrs f ecnmy. Plicy dialgue and the implementatin f NDC's are crucial t achieve effective reductin f greenhuse gas emissins. Effrts have been made t strengthen synergies between plicy dialgues at glbal, reginal and natinal level. Sme examples are mentined belw. The recent reginal dialgue with UNEP n Africa aims, amng thers, at strengthening the link between the glbal level and the reginal level and t increase the attentin t envirnment and climate change in the plicy dialgue with Africa. The Cmmissin participated t the last African Ministerial Cnference n the Envirnment (AMCEN) and is including envirnment related tpics in its prpsals fr the EU African Unin Summit in Abidjan end Nvember Green ecnmy and green jbs will be n the agenda; linking with the plicy wrk in varius African cuntry (recent circular ecnmy missin f DG Calleja t Suth Africa, PAGE prgramme), and pilt actin n green ecnmy thrugh Switch Africa Green. The abve mentined plicy brief and newsletters prvide inputs t EUDs fr the plicy dialgue with partner gvernment. DG DEVCO aims at strengthening the fcus f EU cperatin n plicies and plicy dialgue: further wrk is needed t enhance the supprt t EU delegatins n these matters. DG ENV aims at develping briefs n key aspects f EU envirnmental 2

3 3. Increase the use f indicatrs related t envirnment and climate change in budget and prject supprt peratins in rder t imprve mainstreaming and strengthen the cherence with the new SDGs. specific initiatives will cntribute t this effrt. Fr example, the GCCA+ plicy dialgue pillar will rganise several reginal and glbal seminars and cnferences arund different climate change plicy and implementatin issues. DEVCO prmtes a cmmn results-based apprach with EU member states and is enhancing its capacity t mnitr and evaluate results. DEVCO has launched a new results framewrk 1 and is preparing its first reprt based n this framewrk. It will attempt t measure results achieved with EU supprt against strategic develpment bjectives and includes a number f envirnment and climate change related indicatrs. The framewrk will be further harmnized and aligned with the new SDGs and their related indicatrs. DEVCO and EEAS have made significant effrts t prmte the use f indicatrs n envirnment and climate change in prject and budget supprt and the systematic and rigrus use f Ri and envirnment markers fr all actins, including blending peratins. DEVCO and EEAS are taking a number f steps t enhance the mainstreaming f envirnment and climate change, including prmting a mre systematic use f envirnment and climate change indicatrs. Regarding budget supprt, envirnment and climate change indicatrs will be used where pssible, taking int accunt the cnstraints n the number and nature f indicatrs and targets that can be used fr such peratins. DEVCO ntes that it is plicy pririties ver the next mnths t facilitate the dialgue f delegatins with their hst cuntries. On the pririty tpic f circular ecnmy, reginal events are being rganised in clse cperatin between DG NEAR and ENV. Circular Ecnmy Missins in partner cuntries (s far Suth Africa/China/Chile, upcming Clmbia, Indnesia) with private sectr representatives allw fr bth plicy prmtin and B2B events t facilitate private sectr cperatin. Similar style events are being envisaged fr the reginal level. Eurpeaid's results framewrk is fully peratinal, including indicatrs n envirnment and climate change. Annual Results reprts are being published. The Cmmissin systematically mnitrs envirnment and climate change related financial flws thrugh the use f Ri and envirnment markers. Furthermre, the use f Envirnment and climate related indicatrs is systematically prmted thrugh the supprt t mainstreaming: guidelines, sectr ntes, technical supprt by the mainstreaming facility, trainings, and systematic review f actin dcuments t QSG. Mre wrk is needed t prmte the use f envirnment and Climate Change indicatrs in budget supprt peratins, where feasible: the 1 SWD(2015) 80 "Launching the EU Internatinal Cperatin and Develpment Results Framewrk" 3

4 pssible t prmte dialgue n envirnment and climate change matters withut having set specific indicatrs in the perfrmance assessment framewrk. There is rm in particular t prmte mre systematic integratin f envirnment and climate change cncerns in the assessment f the relevance/credibility f the natinal strategy r the sectr plicy, as a way t further mainstream these cnsideratins in partner cuntries plicies, plans and budgets. develpment f guidance n that matter is prpsed. 4

5 4. Enhance crdinatin between gegraphic and thematic actins. Enhance the invlvement f EUDs in thematic prgrammes by ensuring that they are invlved in the early decisinmaking n thematic pririties related t their cuntry and are kept well infrmed, particularly n targeted actins. With respect t Implementatin apprach During the prgramming exercise , the Eurpean Cmmissin and EEAS have prmted cmplementarity between the different external financial instruments, particularly between thematic and gegraphic prgrammes: this prcess is helping t clarify the kind f actins that can be financed under each instrument and minimize verlaps and duplicatins. In particular care is needed t ensure that thematic mney under the Glbal Public Gds and Challenges prgramme (GPGC) is used fr actins with glbal benefits and nt t fill missins in cuntry prgrammes. Significant effrts are being made t prmte better crdinatin. These effrts include ntably the develpment f Implementatin Plans fr cvering bilateral and reginal envelpes as well as thematic actins. They als include flagship initiatives, which aim t prmte cherence, crdinatin and visibility in EU actins n well-defined pririties. Flagships prvide cmmn framewrks fr actins financed by different thematic and gegraphic prgrammes. The fllwing flagships are being strengthened and/r develped: Bidiversity fr Life, FLEGT, GCCA+, Switch t Green. There are early signs that these flagship are already cntributing t mre exchange f infrmatin, better crdinatin and greater visibility. DEVCO and EEAS seek t further enhance the invlvement f EU Delegatins in thematic prgrammes, by cnsulting them at the design stage and by requesting implementing rganizatins t engage EU Delegatins in the cncerned cuntries/regins in the planning, design and implementatin f actins f as apprpriate. As regards the GCCA+, cnsultatins at an early stage and the active invlvement f Delegatins in the design and implementatin f prjects are the usual practice: the GCCA+ actins are decentralised and managed by Delegatins. DEVCO will make increased use f its website and f annual meetings with Heads f Cperatin t infrm EU Delegatins abut thematic actin n envirnment and climate change. Varius initiatives have been taken ver the last 2 years t enhance infrmatin, crdinatin and cmplementarity, including: a new "Green Develpment Newsletter", which regularly infrms EU delegatin, clleagues and partners abut plicy and ther develpments and initiatives; enhanced knwledge sharing thrugh Cap4Dev minisite n envirnment, climate change and green ecnmy, videcnferences with EU delegatins in 40 cuntries, DEVCO Week n envirnment February 2017, and DEVCO's envirnment and climate change flagships. At DEVCO level, Annual Actin Prgrammes are nw systematically submitted t management's Strategic Steering Cmmittee whse main rle is t ensure cherence and cmplementarity. DEVCO's units in charge f envirnment and climate change have enhanced effrts t systematically cnsult gegraphic / EU Delegatins clleagues in the design f GPGC prgrammes. Enhanced attentin will be dedicated t this aspect in the preparatin f GPGC Multiannual Indicative Prgramme (MIP) Gegraphic clleagues shuld als be encuraged t mre systematically cnsult thematic units n gegraphic prgrammes, as early as pssible in the prgramming and identificatin phases. 5

6 5. Increase EU supprt fr access t finance, especially by SMEs, s that they can participate in market-based appraches aimed at increasing the adptin f sustainable energy and transitin t the green ecnmy, thereby respnding t SDG 12. The imprtant rle f the private sectrs is highlighted in the 2030 Agenda fr Sustainable Develpment and in the cnclusins f the Addis Ababa Cnference n financing fr develpment. This remains an imprtant bjective f the EU. In line with the Cmmunicatin n private sectr develpment in external cperatin, which gives cnsiderable attentin t envirnmental sustainability, the prmtin f green business and access t finance, the Cmmissin is strengthening its engagement with the private sectr, the prmtin f market-based appraches and the use f innvative financing mechanisms, building n successful initiatives like the blending facilities and GEEREF. A new supprt scheme - Electrificatin Financing Initiative has been launched. ElectriFI cnstitutes a cmprehensive platfrm fr investment supprt services aiming at bridging the gaps in structuring and financing sustainable energy access prjects t stimulate the private sectr and mbilise financiers. DEVCO is preparing a sectr nte illustrating hw Envirnment and Climate Change can be mainstreamed in private sectr develpment prgrammes. Blending facilities, which use EU grants t leverage public r private sectr investments in the frm f lans r equity, and t supprt private sectr develpment in ur partner cuntries, have grwn significantly ver the last few years. It is estimated that 62% f all EU grant cmmitments made since 2007 in the cntext f the blending facilities have been directed twards prjects with a climate change bjective. EU blending facilities are expected t cntribute at least 2.5 billin in grants t prjects with a climate change bjective ver the perid , leveraging at least 50 billin f climate investment. The blending facilities increasingly prvide supprt t SMEs: fr example, a specific windw has been created in the Caribbean Investment Facility fr SME financing, including fr green business develpment. At the beginning f 2016, DEVCO intends t launch the new Flagship initiative "Switch t Green", which will supprt the transitin t the green ecnmy, ntably thrugh private sectr develpment and supprt t green business. Existing EU SWITCH prgrammes give particular attentin t SMEs access t finance. Over the last 2 years, DEVCO has significantly increased supprt t facilitate private sectr access t finance. This includes capacity building fr the develpment f bankable prjects under the SWITCH reginal prgrammes. It als includes increasing investments under the varius blending facilities, fr example in the Ec-Business Fund under the Latin America Investment Facility. The EU External Investment Plan (EIP) will prvide further pprtunities t facilitate access t finance by SMEs and fr energy and green ecnmy prjects. The new Eurpean Cnsensus fr Develpment states that "The EU and its Member States will als cntribute t scaling-up private and public investments in lw-emissin, climateresilient green ecnmy". Dedicated windws n energy, sustainable cities and n SMEs are being cnsidered. Hwever, much mre remains t be dne fr making SDG 12 happen, as a recent reprt frm the UN Secretariat General shwed that it was the least funded f all SDGs in the cuntries. 6

7 6. Cntinue t wrk thrugh established multilateral institutins fr glbal public envirnment and climate change gds. Place a greater emphasis n the engagement f EU and Member State actrs, and n the transfer f technlgy and institutinal and regulatry knw-hw. The EU remains a strng supprter f effective multilateralism and recgnizes the key rle f established multilateral institutins in strengthening glbal envirnmental and climate change gvernance and advancing the implementatin f MEAs. The EU cperatin with these institutins needs t be based n an assessment f their cmparative advantages and will increasingly fcus n areas where they add value and where their acknwledged impartiality helps t prmte EU plicies. The Cmmissin has freseen further financial cntributins t key multilateral institutins in charge f glbal envirnment and climate change matters and supprting the implementatin f Multilateral Envirnment Agreements in the prgramming fr The Cmmissin will seek t finance actins which are in line with the cre mandates f these institutins thrugh the prvisin f predictable funding: this is key t strengthen these rganizatins and help them deliver effectively. The Cmmissin will, t the extent pssible, ensure clse mnitring, and where apprpriate, plicy leadership, f the multilateral prgrammes it finances, in rder t prmte efficiency and effectiveness and the fulfilment f visibility bligatins. Where relevant and feasible, the Cmmissin will cntinue placing emphasis and enhancing the use and transfer f EU institutinal, regulatry and technlgical knw-hw. This is dne thrugh a diversity f channels, including internatinal meetings, plicy dialgue, the invlvement f Eurpean peratrs in the design f implementatin f actins r mre frmal partnerships with Eurpean scientific institutins and private sectr r civil sciety rganizatins. The Cmmissin will explre pssibilities t further enhance the engagement f EU and Member States actrs, while respecting the prcurement rules f multilateral institutins and the principle f untying aid. In areas where the cmparative advantage f multilateral rganizatins r the need fr impartiality is less clear, the EU will cnsider establishing its wn initiatives in supprt f multilateral prcesses, particularly where mst f the funding cmes frm the Cmmissin and Member States. GCCA prvides a gd example f an EU The EU is very actively engaged in steering glbal envirnmental plicy, in particular thrugh the UN Envirnment Assembly (UNEA). At the last UNEA in May 2016, the EU submitted encmpassing reslutin prpsals n tpics like ceans, chemicals and waste, sustainable cnsumptin and prductin and the rle f UNEP and UNEA in delivering n the 2030 Agenda. Currently the EU is participating in the preparatry wrk f UNEA-3 in December 2017 and the Cmmissin is fllwing the prcess t prvide technical cntributins in cperatin with Member States. In rder t advance plicy dialgue the Cmmissin and EEAS rganised tw high level events with UNEP, ntably a High Level Dialgue in December 2016 t take stck f the jint cperatin and discuss hw t wrk better tgether t achieve cmmn gals; and a High Level Meeting n "Plicy Cperatin with Africa n envirnment and climate change". Under the "Internatinal envirnment and climate gvernance" cmpnent f the GPGC, cntinued supprt is being prvided t multilateral envirnmental agreements and prcesses f relevance t develping cuntries. The GPGC remains relevant and supprts EU plicy bjectives. Thrugh the GPGC the EU adds value as a majr supprter f glbal public gds. Future actins are needed t enhance the rle f the EU as a glbal actr in the delivery f the 2030 Agenda n Sustainable 7

8 7. Further integrate the appraches and capacities f glbal mainstreaming prjects prvided thrugh thematic instruments with the implementatin f nnenvirnment / climate change interventins in cuntry prgrammes fr example, by develping jint actins between EUDs and the natinal interventins f the glbal thematic mainstreaming prjects. Better mainstreaming is central fr achieving the new SDGs, as they emphasise the intercnnectedness f initiative that cntributes t advance the implementatin f an MEA, the Climate Change Cnventin. The new Bidiversity fr Life flagship is expected t make a decisive further cntributin t advancing implementatin f the Cnventin n Bilgical Diversity. The Cmmissin has develped relevant appraches and tls t envirnment and climate change mainstreaming (as highlighted in the reprt). The adptin f the SDGs, the success f COP21 and the EU s cmmitment t allcate 20 % f its spending t climate related actin prvide new pprtunities and bligatins t prmte mainstreaming, which the Cmmissin intends t seize. DEVCO is stepping up its effrts t prmte the systematic mainstreaming f envirnment and climate change cncerns/bjectives in all actins and is further develping a cmprehensive ffer f tls and services t supprt EU delegatins and partner rganizatins in this undertaking, including: A nte t EU Delegatin n mainstreaming; A tur f DEVCO s units, called the mainstreaming caravan ; Infrmatin t Heads f Cperatin in EU Delegatins; A revisin f the mainstreaming guidelines and the develpment f sectr ntes. Training rganized in Brussels and in partner cuntries; The systematic screening f all the MIPs and f all actins submitted t QSG in 5 sensitive sectrs. Engagement with clleagues managing the blending facilities. A technical assistance facility: the mainstreaming facility. DEVCO is explring pssibilities t enhance synergies between the glbal initiatives (e.g. PEI, TEEB) that cntribute t the mainstreaming f envirnment in the develpment plicies f partner cuntries and EU effrts t mainstream Develpment. The GPGC will be further aligned with the new internatinal and EU plicy agenda; interlinkages and crss-sectral actin will be strengthened; multistakehlder partnerships will be further prmted. Applying a rights-based apprach and effectively mainstreaming gender, yuth, and envirnment and climate change remains f utmst imprtance. Effrts described in the central clumn have been further enhanced in In additin, 37 VCs were cnducted with pririty Delegatins fr mainstreaming f Envirnment and climate change, which allwed fr direct exchanges between thematic units (C2, C6) and cuntry prgrammes and identificatin f mainstreaming pprtunities. Engagement and cllabratin with thematic units, such as the unit in charge f Rural develpment, fd security, nutritin, was strengthened - ntably thrugh participatin in reginal thematic seminars in rder t seize pprtunities fr engagement with cuntries. Cmmunicatin and knwledge sharing activities were stepped up, in particular by updating and reactivating the Capacity4Develpment grup n Envirnment and climate change and publicatin f the Green Develpment Newsletter. Cllabratin between the Facilities wrking n Mainstreaming, climate change, Bidiversity and Green Ecnmy was enhanced, in particular in the field f training and cmmunicatin. The imprtance f mainstreaming has been a central theme in DEVCO seminar n envirnment (February 8

9 envirnmental sustainability, pverty reductin and sustained ecnmic develpment. envirnment in its develpment cperatin, ntably thrugh the new mainstreaming guidelines, future training n cuntry-led mainstreaming and in the wrk f the Mainstreaming Facility. 2017). The UN Pverty and Envirnment initiative has started t reach ut mre systematically t EU Delegatins in rder t prmte synergies with gegraphic prgrammes. A new cntributin t PEI is envisaged under GPGC Annual Actin Prgramme (AAP)

10 8. Prmte and priritise greater c-peratin n envirnment and climate change thrugh clse crdinatin f the nging thematic prgramme n Glbal Public Gds and Challenges and thrugh supprt prvided via gegraphic instruments t cntribute t the new SDGs respnding t the increasing imprtance f securing sustainable develpment in medium-incme and lwer-incme cuntries, and in fragile and cnflict affected situatins. The Cmmissin is cmmitted t prmte and priritise greater cperatin n envirnment and climate change. This will be further defined in the brader cntext f EU supprt t the implementatin f the new Sustainable Develpment Agenda. The evaluatin reprt highlights that the EU supprt t Envirnment and CC represented 2.83 billin ver the perid r 6 % f EU aid. Fr , the EU has cmmitted t allcate 20 % f its spending t climate related actin this wuld represent an estimated 14 billin fr EU External Actin instruments, if all instruments, including EDF are included; the EU has als endrsed the bjective f dubling bidiversity related financial flws t develping cuntries, taken by the 11 th Cnference f Parties t the CBD. A variety f instruments are used t step up cperatin n envirnment and climate change, including the DCI GPGC thematic prgramme ( 1.3 billin fr Envirnment and Climate Change), gegraphic instruments as well as investment facilities where feasible, with due respect fr the principles f partnership and alignment with the plicies and pririties f partner cuntries r regins and taking int accunt their capacities and specific cntext. A number f flagship initiatives arund plicy pririties are being prmted: they prvide cmmn framewrks fr actins financed by different thematic and gegraphic prgrammes. Envirnment and Climate Change mainstreaming will play a central rle. As described abve, DEVCO will further enhance its effrts in this area. The success f these effrts will depend n the allcatin f the apprpriate human resurces and the active engagement f a variety f actrs: DEVCO's thematic and gegraphical services, the EU delegatins in third cuntries, the EU External Actin Service, line DGs ENV and CLIMA and last but nt least ur partner cuntries and regins. The 2030 Agenda and the new Eurpean Cnsensus n Develpment put envirnmental sustainability at the heart f EU cperatin, nt nly thrugh its specific "Planet" cmpnent, but als under the "Peple, Prsperity and Peace" cmpnents. They call fr enhanced cperatin n envirnment and climate change and integratin f these themes acrss all sectrs f EU cperatin. Mainstreaming effrts and the GPGC have cntributed t increase the share f EU funded prgrammes that include bidiversity cnservatin, the cmbat against desertificatin r climate change (mitigatin / adaptatin) as a significant r main bjective, as highlighted by the grwth f "Rimarked" cmmitments. Hwever, these effrts will require sustained cmmitment frm DEVCO, EEAS and EU Delegatins, as emerging pririties (ntably investment, grwth and jbs, migratin, security) tend t dminate the agenda and divert attentin frm envirnmental bjectives. The Mid-Term Review will be critical in this respect. 10

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