Transcript Rethinking Climate Change Governance IISD Side Event Facilitator

Rethinking Climate Change Governance
John Drexhage
Director, Climate Change and Energy
IISD Side Event
December 5, 2010
International Climate Change Governance
• CC governance implies a deliberate effort to adjust
structures and processes to promote effective and
efficient mitigation and adaptation.
• Myriad of institutions and organizations involved, range of
actors, various sectors impacts, and a complex issue
• UNFCCC at the core of governance
• Very much a negotiating system
• But with no legally-binding agreement in sight, will
need to shift to implementation and more emphasis
on sustainable energy, technology, climate resiliency,
capacity building
Policy Linkages
• UNFCCC shown strong leadership and effective in
launching new institutions: e.g., CDM, Adaptation Funds,
REDD, NAMAs
• Proliferation of actors, agendas and activities
• Extremely difficult to separate CC from other sectors and
institutions
• CC the de facto proxy for the implementation of SD goals
What is the best role for the UNFCCC as greater emphasis is
placed on implementation?
What are possible ways to link the various policy priorities
that impact climate change, but cannot be addressed in
one negotiation (e.g., poverty alleviation, trade, food
security)?
Role of Nation-States
• Obstacle to progress – negotiation overpowers forums for
implementing activities
• Departments responsible for negotiation at international
level may not play large role in implementation
• Burden on developing countries to meet institutional
requirements of many bodies
• Divide between developed and developing countries;
various perspectives within each grouping
How can the various needs and interests of countries be
reflected without paralyzing the negotiating process?
Non-State Actors
• Private sector, civil society and subnational governments
play increasingly important role in CC policy,
implementation, and capacity building
• Knowledge and expertise will be needed to make large
emission reductions and bolster climate resiliency
• Private sector expected to channel large amounts of
financing and investment if CC efforts are to be successful
What is the best way to create space for non-state actors in
the climate change system?
Can the UNFCCC take steps to formalize mechanisms to
encourage these partnerships?
Resource Use
• Concerns about a proliferation of financing instruments
inside and outside UNFCCC process
• Different views on management of funds – using existing
institutions, under authority of COP
• Improved oversight of financing needed, as well as
management of financial support on-the-ground,
including disbursement and utilization
What are the most efficient processes and institutions for
managing climate funding? What role should be played
by the UNFCCC?
Discussion Questions
• What is the best role for the UNFCCC as greater emphasis
is placed on implementation?
• What are possible ways to link the various policy priorities
that impact climate change, but cannot be addressed in
one negotiation (e.g., poverty alleviation, trade, food
security)?
• How can the various needs and interests of countries be
reflected without paralyzing the negotiating process?
• What is the best way to create space for non-state actors
in the climate change system?
• Can the UNFCCC take steps to formalize mechanisms to
encourage these partnerships?
Rethinking Climate Change Governance
IISD Side Event
Facilitator: Franz Tattenbach, President and Chief Executive Officer, IISD
Panel Members:
•John Drexhage, Director, Climate Change & Energy, IISD
•Michael Grubb, Chair, Climate Strategies
•Suzana Kahn Ribeiro, Professor, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
•Ambassador Lumumba Di-Aping, Deputy Permanent Representative to
the UN, Sudan (previously Chief Negotiator for the G-77 and China)
•Fernado Tudela, Vice Minister for Planning and Environmental Policy and
Principal Negotiator on Climate Change Issues in Mexico