Introduction to UNFCCC & International Climate Negotiations by Mr. Ranga Pallawala (CEO - Janathakshan Gte Ltd)

1. Introduction to UNFCCC &
International Climate
Negotiations
8th Dec. 2017
Ranga Pallawala
CEO – Janathakshan

2. දඹුලුත් වැඳගෙන තලගෙොයිත් මරන් එන කියමගනහි
ඔබ ගනොදන්නා සැබෑ අරුත

3. • Sesame cultivation in Dambulla area –
Yeild in June (Poson Poya)
• Sawing after paddy harvest prior to
New Year (April)

9. Current Global Challenge

10. • Higher the CO2
concentration,
higher the
temperature
• Higher the
temperature,
higher the
extreme
weather
events

11. Evolution of Development
• 1940’s – Economic Development – GDP, Per Capita GDP, GNP

12. Evolution of Development Cont.
• 1950’s – Income Distribution/Equity – Gini coefficient

13. Evolution of Development Cont.
• 1950’s-1960’s – Quality of life Indicators – Education, Health,
Water/Sanitation, Food, etc.

14. Evolution of Development Cont.
• 1960’s – Righteous Development – HR, Gender, Indigenous
People,PWDs, etc.

15. Evolution of Development Cont.
• 1970’s – Sustainable Development – Intergenerational equity,
environment

16. Rise of Climate Change in Global Agenda
• 1972 – 1st Sustainable Development Global Summit
• IPCC – 1st Assessment Report – Increasing Carbon Dioxide
Concentration in atmosphere
• 1992 Rio Earth Summit – United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• 1994 UNFCCC Entry in to force

17. Conventions – Subject Specific Global
Agreements
Protocols – Legal Instruments under
Conventions
Procedures and Systems
Member Countries
Parties
Parties
Ratification
Ratification

18. Annual Conference of Parties (COP)
Annual Meetings of Parties (MOP)s

19. • Green House Gasses (GHGs) – predominantly CO2 Changes the
predictable global climate patterns
• Need to stabilize the global climate & warming
• Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) – Developed
Countries (Annex 1) Vs Developing Countries (Non-Annex I)
• Developed Countries – Historically responsible to the issue and hence
do more
• Developing countries – Historically not responsible but gradually take
the responsibilities

20. Conventions – Subject Specific Global
Agreements
Protocols – Legal Instruments under
Conventions
Procedures and Systems
Member Countries
Parties
Parties
Ratification
Ratification

21. 196 Parties

22. Focus on Negotiations
• 1990s - Future threat to the world (Sea level rise, desertification, etc.)
– Mitigation, Developed countries must do it
• Late 1990s – It’s already threatening (Mitigation + Adaptation)
Developing countries need support
• Early 2000s – It’s a responsibility of all parties (Mitigation,
Adaptation, Equity, Finance & Technology) Mitigation
responsibilities must be with non-annex I parties too
• Late 2000s – It’s creating losses & damages too. We need to act soon
(Mitigation, Adaptation, Equity, Loss & Damage)
• Mid 2010s –

23. Conventions – Subject Specific Global
Agreements
Protocols – Legal Instruments under
Conventions
Procedures and Systems
Member Countries
Parties
Parties
Ratification
Ratification

24. Kyoto Protocol
• First protocol under UNFCCC adopted in COP3
• Entry into force 2004
• Industrialized Countries will cut GHG emissions
• 1st phase (KP1CP) – 2008-2012 – 5% below 1990 levels
• 2nd phase (KP2CP) – 2012-2020 – 20% below 1990 levels
• Other countries gradually take responsibilities
• Differentiated GHG peaking period

25. • Historical Responsibility in Climate Change
Developed Countries – Annex I
Developing Countries – Non-Annex I

26. Kyoto Protocol
• 2004 – USA withdrew Kyoto Protocol
• Ineffective protocol
• Later Canada, Australia, etc.
• KP2CP – Ratifications delayed (2012-2020)
• Climate Negotiations happened in two
tracks – KP & Others
• Wanted to have a global agreement

27. Bali Action Plan
• Agreed COP13 in 2007 – Plan to reach a global agreement in
2009 COP15

28. Copenhagen Accord
• COP15 in Copenhagen in Denmark – Failed to reach a global protocol
• Question on differentiation
• Satisfied with very weak document – Copenhagen accord
• Question on base year – 2002 vs 1990
• $100b per year climate finance
• “You do first” attitude based on economy
• USA/EU/Canada, China, India, Saudi Arabia

29. Durban Platform
• COP17 in Durban, South Africa
• Road map to agree on a Global Agreement in 2015 at COP21
• 4 Year Ad hoc Working group (ADP) established
• Bottom up process suggested

30. Paris Agreement
• Global agreement reached at COP21 @ Paris
• 2nd Protocol under UNFCCC
• 3 goals
• Control average global temp increase – 1.5o – 20C
• Resilience Building
• $100b per years – Climate Finance
• Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) collated to NDCs
• Effective from 2020
• 5 year iteration of ambition cycle

31. Post Paris Agreement
• Rule book development
• USA again withdrawn but not felt
• Momentum and belief is higher than ever
• Challenge of increasing ambition