United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: An Overview

1. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: An Overview Ko Barrett Deputy Director NOAA Climate Program Office 7February 2013

2. The International Climate Family Tree World Climate Conference WCC1: World Climate Research Program/Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change WCC2: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change WCC3: Global Framework for Climate Services 1979 1991 2009

3. What is the UNFCCC? • An international treaty to cooperatively consider what can be done to limit climate change and cope with climate impacts • Goal is to: Stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations “at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system…within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened, and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.”

4. Timeline of the Negotiations UNFCCC negotiations begin UNFCCC enters into force Kyoto Protocol adopted --------------------------- Kyoto enters into force Copenhagen Accord Cancun Agreements Durban Platform UNFCCC adopted Bali Action Plan Doha Gateway 1992 1994 1997 2005 2007 2009 2010 2012 1990 2011

5. 2009: The Copenhagen Accord • High expectations + poor leadership = failure • Set a global goal to hold increase in temperature below 2°C • Provided for mitigation commitments from both developed and developing countries • Specific targets for developed countries • Specific actions for developing countries • Recognized crucial role of reducing deforestation, need for enhanced technology, adaptation and use of markets • Called for scaled up financing • Approaching $30 billion between 2010 and 2012 • Goal of mobilizing $100 billion/year by 2020 MRV Photo Source: ENB

6. Associations with the Accord • 116 Countries, representing over 80% of global GHG emissions • Includes major countries (e.g., US, China, India, and Brazil) Source: WRI and UNFCCC

7. Mitigation Actions Listed • Brazil: 36-39% below business as usual by 2020 • China: 40-45% reduction in emissions intensity below 2005 by 2020 • EU: 20-30% below 1990 levels by 2020 • India: 20-25% reduction in emissions intensity below 2005 by 2020 • Indonesia: 26-41% below business as usual by 2020 • Japan: 25% below 1990 by 2020, contingent on others acting • Mexico: up to 30% below business as usual by 2020 • USA: in the range of 17% below 2005 levels by 2020, in conformity with US legislation

8. 2010: The Cancun Agreements • Low expectations + excellent leadership = success • Built upon elements in the Copenhagen Accord to reach agreement on: • Shared Vision • Enhanced Action on Mitigation • Adaptation • Transparency • Finance • Reduced Emissions from Deforestation • Technology Photo Source: ENB

9. 2011: The Durban Platform • The Durban Platform launched “a process to develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention” • The new legal agreement will be “applicable to all Parties” • Negotiations on the future agreementwill: • Conclude by 2015 • Enterinto effect from 2020 Photo Source: ENB

10. 2012 Negotiations • Transitional year that closed one chapter of negotiations and opened a new one • Made progress on implementing the Copenhagen, Cancun and Durban decisions • Many focused on the Kyoto Protocol Photo Source: ENB

11. Kyoto Protocol • Second commitment period 2013-2020 • A subset of countries signed on to the second commitment period (EU, NOR, AUS, CH) 15% • Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Emissions Trading to continue • Nitrogen Triflouride(NF3) added (GWP= 17k)

12. Mitigation • Parties agreed to establish a two-year work program to continue the process of clarifying and understanding countries' mitigation pledges • Parallel structure for developed and developing countries • Both groups communicate targets or actions, and these will be recorded in formal UNFCCC document • Both groups subject to reporting, review and oversight • Parties submit their first biennial reports in 2014 IPCC Emissions Scenarios

13. Transparency:Monitoring, Reporting and Verification To build confidence that countries are implementing their mitigation efforts.

14. Markets • Agreed to design a new UNFCCC-administered market mechanism • Established a Framework to link the UNFCCC and market-based mechanisms that Parties develop • Created a work program to elaborate functions of the framework, including: • Procedures to assure environmental integrity • Technical specifications for a tracking and transparency system Source: Scientific American

15. Reduced Emissions from Deforestation • Guidance for a “REDD+” mechanism • Benchmarks for measuring emissions reductions • Reaffirmed importance of social and environmental safeguards • Finance sources include: • Public and private • Bilateral and multilateral • Market-based measures and offsets

16. Research and Systematic Observations • Science is integrated throughout the activities of the Convention • There is an agenda item that considers work of specific global observing systems and international and regional research organizations • Research Dialogue provides an opportunity for Parties and these organizations to engage on scientific issues of relevance to the Convention • Will hold a workshop in 2013 on scientific and technical aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs not already addressed under the Convention

17. Agriculture • In 2011, Parties agreed to consider issues related to agriculture • During 2012, Parties exchanged views but were unable to come to agreement on areas of work on this topic under the Convention

18. Take away messages • The negotiating process plods forward with incremental progress • It will not create a significant policy demand for NACP science in the near-term • However, advances in understanding of carbon and methane together with policy relevant actions in cities, CAB will matter