Some Aspects on Ongoing Climate Change Negotiations Africa s Perspective Peter C. Acquah (PhD) Deputy Regional Director (UNEP) and AMCEN Secretary 16 November 2009
Some of the threats posed to Africa by climate change Africa is least emitter of greenhouse gases and yet it is the most vulnerable continent to the effects of climate change in view of its geographical location and its level of development. Climate change has crept up on Africa in particular and is a threat to the very survival of the people of the continent, their livelihoods and their way of life. Lives are being lost in Africa already and these are being attributed to climate change. Climate change and variability will, among others, deepen poverty, erode the modest gains made by African countries in attaining the MDGs. All sectors will be adversely impacted upon. There will however be some mitigating opportunities. The fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC (AR4) confirmed global warming from anthropogenic GHG emissions, etc. Post 2007 scientific findings Tipping points (thresholds); tipping elements; commitments and irreversibility as concepts. Effects of cc on oceans; terrestrial ecosystems; etc. and their negative impacts on Africa in particular.
Malaria and other vector borne diseases will increase in frequency with higher temperatures. Malaria climbs up high altitude areas where it has not previously been a serious threat South Africa: malaria suitable area may double with 7.8 million people at risk by 2100
The Road to Copenhagen Unity of Purpose for Africa Three levels of engagement Conference of African Heads of State on Climate Change Ethiopia Declarations and decisions African Ministerial Conference on the Environment South Africa Declarations, decisions, and guidelines Key political messages Statements on implementation (AHLEPCC) African Group of Negotiators Algeria Africa s Common Position Key Messages
The Convention & Kyoto Protocol (The two negotiating tracks) Kyoto Protocol Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex1 Parties under the KP Proposed amendments to the Kyoto Protocol pursuant to Article 3, paragraph 9 involving Annex I emission reductions; The aggregate scale of emission reductions by Annex I Parties, the contributions by Parties individually or jointly to the aggregate scale The four Contact Groups continued with their work in Barcelona Annex I Parties emission reductions (aggregate/individual) Other issues identified by the AWG-KP at its resumed sixth session: a. Emissions trading and the project-based mechanisms b. LULUCF c. Methodological issues Potential consequences Legal matters (on an as-needed /referral basis)
The Convention & Kyoto Protocol (The two negotiating tracks) UNFCCC- Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention A shared vision for long- term cooperative action; Enhanced national/international action on mitigation of climate change: Mitigation by developed countries (Para 1 (b) (i)); Mitigation by developing countries (Para 1 (b) (ii)); REDD-Plus: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries, plus conservation (Para 1 (b)(iii)); Cooperative sectoral approaches and sector-specific actions (Para 1 (b)(iv)); Various approaches to mitigation (Para 1 (b)(v)); and Consequences of response measures (Para 1 (b)(vi)). Enhanced action on adaptation; Enhanced action on technology development and transfer to support action on mitigation and adaptation; Enhanced action on the provision of financial resources and investment to support action on mitigation and adaptation and technology cooperation.
Africa s Common Negotiating Position by African Group of Negotiators in Oct.2009 Numbers & the KP by African Group of Negotiators Developed countries must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 and at least 80 95 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050, in order to achieve the lowest level of stabilization assessed by IPCC in its fourth assessment report; Africa will not accept any delay by developed countries in making deep cuts in their greenhouse gas emissions and in supporting efforts by Africa to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change; The Ad Hoc Working Group under the Kyoto Protocol should finalize its work by no later than the fifteenth meeting of the conference of the Parties, in December 2009.
Africa s Common Negotiating Position by African Group of Negotiators in Oct.2009 The Convention & Kyoto Protocol (two negotiating tracks) Copenhagen must produce a two-track outcome: One track for the amendment of Annex B (all developed countries) of the Kyoto Protocol on further commitments by Annex I Parties for the second and subsequent commitment periods (Article 3, paragraph 9, of the Kyoto Protocol); A separate legal instrument, for the outcome of the negotiations of the Bali Action Plan under the Convention. For positive and acceptable outcomes in Copenhagen, Africa insists on strict adherence to the mandate of the Bali Action Plan under the Convention and the mandate of Article 3, paragraph 9, of the Kyoto Protocol.
Major Outstanding Issues Under the KP Interpretation of mandate-whether narrow or broad and what issues to include in amendments to the Kyoto Protocol. Whether to focus only on amendment to Annex B of the Protocol. Differentiation among Parties with a new category of advanced developing countries to be created. LITMUS TEST EU s disclosure to replace the Kyoto Protocol in Bangkok.
Africa s Common Negotiating Position by African Group of Negotiators in Oct.2009 The Bali Action Plan Shared vision Africa proposes a fair, inclusive, effective and equitable new agreement in Copenhagen that will benefit the climate and vulnerable countries and be undertaken in the context of poverty eradication, sustainable development and the need for gender equity; Efforts should be made to ensure full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention; All the building blocks of the Bali Action Plan must be taken into consideration. Adaptation Adaptation for Africa is the highest priority; Africa, as the least greenhouse gas emitter and yet the most vulnerable continent, has the right to receive full support for its efforts to adapt to climate change; The provision of financial, technological and capacity-building support by developed country Parties for adaptation in developing countries is a commitment under the Convention that must be urgently fulfilled, recognizing that climate change is an additional burden to sustainable development and a threat to attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.
Africa s Common Negotiating Position by African Group of Negotiators in Oct.2009 Bali Action Plan - Mitigation A fire-wall must be maintained between mitigation commitments by all developed countries and mitigation actions by developing countries; Mitigation commitments should be entered into by developed countries that include legally binding and quantified emission reduction commitments, absolute emissions reduction commitments and commitments that are measurable, reportable and verifiable; The Copenhagen outcome must include ambitious, legally binding and economy wide greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments for all developed country Parties which should be at least 40% greenhouse gas emissions reduction below 1990 levels by 2020.
Africa s Common Negotiating Position by African Group of Negotiators in Oct.2009 Bali Action Plan - Mitigation There should be comparability of effort among developed countries, with comparable targets and comparable compliance; Mitigation actions by developing countries should include: Ensuring that mitigation actions for Africa are voluntary and nationally appropriate; Ensuring that mitigation actions are fully supported and enabled by technology transfer, finance and capacitybuilding from developed countries. BRAZIL S ANNOUNCEMENT (Courtesy BBC, 14Nov. 2009) To reduce GHG emissions between 36-39% below 1990 levels by 2020.
Africa s Common Negotiating Position by African Group of Negotiators in Oct.2009 (BAP: Means of implementation - finance, technology and capacity building) Copenhagen outcome will not be possible without a commitment by developed countries to provide financial, technological and capacity-building support to developing countries; A financial commitment of at least 1.5 per cent of global GDP of developed countries (as set down by IPCC in its 2007 report) is required, to support and enable adaptation and mitigation actions in developing countries; The Copenhagen outcome must provide new, additional, sustainable, accessible and predictable finance for a comprehensive international programme on adaptation, which reduces vulnerability and increases resilience to impacts that are already occurring, and to impacts that are likely to occur in the future; Institutional arrangements must be equitable and transparent, and must facilitate access by developing countries to the means of implementation in a coherent and enabling manner.
Africa s Common Negotiating Position by African Group of Negotiators in Oct.2009 (BAP: Means of implementation - finance, technology and capacity building) An agreement on technology deployment, dissemination and transfer must ensure access by developing countries to affordable, appropriate and adaptable technologies for enhanced action on mitigation and adaptation that will address the immediate needs of Africa; Developed countries should commit themselves to strengthening institutional capacity in Africa, including through the establishment and enhancement of regional centres of excellence for climate change, which include among their areas meteorological observation and services; Developed countries should fulfill their commitments in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.
Africa s Common Negotiating Position by African Group of Negotiators in Oct.2009 Principles that must guide Africa Africa should be equitably compensated, in the context of environmental justice, for damage to environmental resources and economic and social losses attributable to the historical responsibility of developed countries for climate change. Africa recognizes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and reaffirms its principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and that these should form the basis for the post-2012 regime. Given the uncertainties of the impacts of climate change, Africa s adaptation measures should be based on the precautionary principle.
AMCEN Secretariat s Viewpoint A recap from the AMCEN pre-cop 15 meeting in Addis Ababa, October 2009 Africa is under very huge threat from climate change and yet it is unclear where the current negotiations are leading to even at this stage. Africa s common voice should be much stronger and should go far beyond the claim for compensation for the region since it is the very survival of the people of this continent which is at stake.
Possible outcomes of Copenhagen (QUO VADIS?) Strengthened Kyoto Protocol In relation to numbers in particular; No agreement on the amendments to the KP and therefore action of second commitment period delayed; A separate legal instrument, for the outcome of the negotiations of the Bali Action Plan under the Convention. Political declaration and COP decisions on issues agreed upon; Politically binding agreement is increasingly finding favour with some developed countries. A COP 15- bis (COP15.5) is looking more likely. COP15/CMP5 - staging post and not end point Asia Pacific Summit in Singapore 15 Dec. 2009 credit BBC
Thank You