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SELECT committee 25 NOVEMBER 2014

This document provides an overview of South Africa's national interests in accepting the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol under the UNFCCC. It outlines the need for equitable climate change policies, support for developing countries, and the legal implications of the proposed amendment.

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SELECT committee 25 NOVEMBER 2014

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  1. CONFIDENTIAL THE DOHA AMENDMENT TO THE KYOTO PROTOCOL TO THE UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE (UNFCCC) SELECT committee 25 NOVEMBER 2014 CONFIDENTIAL

  2. CONFIDENTIAL PURPOSE • To brief the Select Committee on the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC CONFIDENTIAL

  3. CONFIDENTIAL OVERVIEW • South Africa’s National Interests; • Acceptance to the Doha Amendment/2nd commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol; CONFIDENTIAL

  4. CONFIDENTIAL SOUTH AFRICA’S NATIONAL INTEREST[1] • South Africa needs a global climate change regime which: • Minimises the impact of climate change – which will be severe for South Africa, and undermine development gains; • Does not impose a mitigation burden on South Africa which would compromise the country’s ability to meet its development challenges; and • Provides support to developing countries in line with the National Climate Change Response Policy and National Development Plan mandate to shift to a low carbon development path, and adapt to adverse effects of climate change. CONFIDENTIAL

  5. CONFIDENTIAL SOUTH AFRICA’S NATIONAL INTEREST[2] • To achieve this, South Africa needs a comprehensive, multilateral, rule-based, legal international climate regime, which is equitable, and respects the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities between developed and developing countries; • Acceptance of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC by South Africa and the international community. CONFIDENTIAL

  6. CONFIDENTIAL DOHA AMENDMENT[1] • Doha agreed on work-plan for negotiation of the new legal agreement, to be concluded by 2015; • Agreement reached on entry into force provisions for the eight year long 2nd commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol (KP) that was already agreed in Durban to come into effect on 1 Jan 2013- This require Ratification/Accession/Acceptance (depending on what applies to individual Parties as per national laws) by KP Parties; • The agreed Doha Amendment (2nd CP under the KP) to the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC shall enter into force for those Parties having accepted it on the 90th day after date of receipt by the Depository of an Instrument of Acceptance by at least ¾ of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol; • Parties intending to provisionally apply the amendment pending its entry into force may provide notification to the Depository of their intention to provisionally apply the amendment. CONFIDENTIAL

  7. CONFIDENTIAL PROPOSEDAMENDMENT [2] • The Doha Amendment effects major changes to Annex B, Annex A and Article 3 of the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC: • Annex B contains two columns, one listing the names of the Parties and another containing the quantified emission limitation or reduction commitment (QELRC); • Annex A containing the greenhouse gases that Parties will need to report on. Parties will now have to include Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) to the other 6 greenhouse gases for reporting; • Article 3 paragraph 12 in particular also prevent Annex I Parties from carrying over new hot air into the third or subsequent agreement.

  8. CONFIDENTIAL ADVANTAGES OF ACCEPTANCE[3] • Legal commitment by Annex 1 Parties to contribute to global effort to mitigategreenhouse gas emissions. Under Article 3 of the Protocol, Annex 1 Parties are obliged to achieve their quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments. • Financial benefit- (i) continuation of capitalisation of the Adaptation Fund, through the 2% share of proceeds from the sale of assigned amount units, as well as a 2% levy on certified emission reduction units from projects under the Clean Development Mechanism and (ii) assistance to mitigate and adapt to impacts of climate change, technology, capacity building, networking with other nations. • Continuation of Clean Development Mechanism – providing opportunities for sustainable development, promoting job opportunities, improving air quality and transferring technologies. CONFIDENTIAL

  9. CONFIDENTIAL RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Select Committee: • Recommend to National Assembly the acceptance of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC. CONFIDENTIAL

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