Transcript Introduction to the Climate Change Regime

Introduction to the Climate Change Regime
By Bonizella Biagini
Cluster Coordinator for Climate Change Adaptation
Global Environment Facility
IFAD 1st CLIMTRAIN Workshop, July 2008
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Scientific Evidence and UNFCCC
1988 Scientific Conference in Toronto
 1988 the IPCC was established
 FAR 1990
 SAR 1995
 TAR 2001 Balance of evidence
 Last IPCC report 2007: “Unequivocal”
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International Policy Response
1992 UNCED (UNFCCC, CBD)
 UNFCCC entered into force in 1994
 First COP in 1995 Berlin
 Last COP 13 in Bali
– Kyoto Protocol 1997
– Marrakech Accords 2001
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Climate Change Regime under the
Convention and Role of the GEF
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UNFCCC
Non Legally Binding Commitments
Role of the GEF as Financial Mechanism
Enabling Activities
Short term and Long term activities
Mitigation operational programs
OP5,6,7 and later 11and carbon sequestration
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Marrakech Accords (2001)
=> Establishment of the new climate change funds:
– The LDCF and
– The SCCF
The COP asked the GEF to manage the new climate change
funds
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Funds were mobilized and the funds operationalized
And a total of $280 million for adaptation projects
on the ground were allocated
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Evolution of the UNFCCC and the
Climate Regime
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From the early 1990s to the year 2000 the
discussions under the UNFCCC were focused on
cc mitigation => how to address the causes of
climate change
Developed countries (Annex I) were asked to
make inventories of their GHG emissions and to
show their commitment to initially stabilize their
emissions to the 1990 levels (1992 mtg) in
National Communications
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Evolution of the UNFCCC and the
Climate Regime (continues)
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In Kyoto (1997), Annex I countries were asked to commit to a joint
5% reduction by the year 2012, utilizing 3 flexible mechanisms.
– JI
– Emission Trading
– Clean Development Mechanism (no role for GEF)
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Developing countries refused to commit to reduce their GHG
emissions mainly for 2 reasons:
1. The responsibility of climate change is mostly due to the build up
of GHG concentrations through the centuries from industrialized
countries;
2. Developing countries need to increase their emissions for basic
development needs
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The Kyoto Protocol entered into force in 2005.
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The need for adaptation
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In the year 2000, however, both scientific
evidence and political consensus brought the need
and the urgency for adaptation to the UNFCCC
negotiating table as a higher priority.
Besides the new funds, the Marrakech accords
also included decision 5/CP.7, which calls for
financing adaptation and guidance to the GEF
trust fund.
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The Bali outcomes
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The COP 13 culminated in the adoption of the Bali Road
Map, consisting in a number of forward-looking decisions
essential to reaching a secure climate future.
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The Bali Road Map includes the Bali Action Plan, which
charts the course for a new negotiating process designed to
tackle climate change, with the aim of completing this by
2009.
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Adaptation to climate change is recognized as a key
element of the future climate change regime.
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Bali launched the Adaptation Fund. The CMP asked the
GEF to be the Secretariat of the AF with a new Board.
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Thank you
For more information
GEF Website: www.thegef.org
my e-mail: [email protected]
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