Download WHAT IS COP 17?

Please read the slides
that follow to get an
understanding of
COP 17.
We need to understand
the following as well:
1.
2.
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7.
UNFCCC
Kyoto Protocol
IPCC
The Bali Action Plan
The Copenhagen Accord
The Cancun Agreements
Why is COP 17 so
important?
COP 17
• The word itself is an acronym for Conference of
Parties (COP).
• Parties refers to the States that have signed on to
the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• The parties have been meeting annually in
Conferences of the Parties (COP) to assess
progress in dealing with climate change since
1995.
• COP 17 is therefore the 17th Conference that will
take place at the end of this year (2011).
• The COP 17- CMP 7 will mark a critical moment in
the ongoing international climate change
negotiations.
• CMP 7 means the seventh meeting of the Parties
since the Kyoto Protocol was signed.
COP 17
2011 United Nations Climate Change
Conference
• The 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference
will be held in Durban, South Africa, from 28 November
to 9 December 2011.
• Officially it is referred to as the 17th session of the
Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UNFCCC.
• It is also the 7th session of the Conference of the Parties
serving as the meeting of the Parties (CMP 7) to the
Kyoto Protocol.
• In addition, the two permanent subsidiary bodies of the
UNFCCC – the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and
Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body
for Implementation (SBI) – are likely to hold their 35th
sessions.
(1)The United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC)(21 March 1994)
• Christiana Figueres from Costa Rica is the
Head of the UNFCCC.
• UNFCCC has set an overall framework for
global efforts to tackle the challenge posed by
climate change.
• UNFCCC recognises that the climate system is
a shared resource whose stability can be
affected by industrial and other emissions of
carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
• .
(2) The United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC)(21 March 1994)
Governments are required to:
(i) gather and share information on greenhouse gas
emissions, national policies and best practices
(ii) launch national strategies for addressing greenhouse
gas emissions and adapting to expected impacts,
including the provision of financial and technological
support to developing countries
(iii) cooperate in preparing for adaptation to the impacts of
climate change.
Currently, there are 195 Parties (194 States and 1 regional
economic integration organisation) to the Convention.
(1)The Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international
agreement linked to the UNFCCC.
• It sets binding targets for 37 industrialised
countries and the European Union for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions.
• Using the emissions inventory for the year 1990
as a basis, reductions amounting to an average
of 5% over the five-year period 2008-2012 is
expected.
• The major difference between the Protocol and
the UNFCCC is that while the UNFCCC
encourages industrialised countries to stabilise
greenhouse gas emissions (GHG’s), the
Protocol commits them to do so.
(2)The Kyoto Protocol
• The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto,
Japan, on 11 December 1997 and entered into
force on 16 February 2005.
• The commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol
ends in 2012
• A new international framework needs to have
been negotiated and ratified that can deliver the
stringent emission reductions as recommended
by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC).
• The basis for this is expected to happen in COP
17- CMP 7.
(1) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC)
• IPCC was established in 1988 by the
United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) and the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO)
• IPCC provides the world with a clear
scientific view on the current state of
knowledge in climate change and its
potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts.
• As an intergovernmental body the IPCC is
open to all member countries of the United
Nations and WMO.
(2) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC)
• IPCC was established in 1988 by the
United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) and the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO)
• IPCC provides the world with a clear
scientific view on the current state of
knowledge in climate change and its
potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts.
• As an intergovernmental body the IPCC is
open to all member countries of the United
Nations and WMO.
Towards a new agreement
in 2012
• Kyoto Protocol reaches its sell by date in
2012.
• Processes have been taking place to
replace it with a new binding agreement.
• In 2007, The Bali Action Plan sought such
an agreement.
• COP 15 which took place in Copenhagen
called for a new deal but could only come up
with the Copenhagen Accord.
• COP 16 which took place in Mexico in 2010
resulted in the CANCUN AGREEMENTS.
• It is up to South Africa to ensure that a solid
agreement is to happen in 2012.
The Bali Action Plan
(5 point plan)
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•
The Bali Action Plan was agreed upon at COP 13 in December,
in Bali, Indonesia.
It calls for the full, effective and sustained implementation of
the UNFCCC through long-term cooperative action up to and
beyond 2012 by addressing :
1. A shared vision for long-term cooperative action, including a longterm global goal for emission reductions.
2. Enhanced national/international action on mitigation of climate
change.
3. Enhanced action on adaptation.
4. Enhanced action on technology development and transfer to
support action on mitigation and adaptation.
5. Enhanced action on the provision of financial resources and
investment to support action on mitigation and adaptation and
technology cooperation.
The Copenhagen Accord
• The 15th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 15)
to the UNFCCC took place in Denmark in the city of
Copenhagen.
• COP 15 noted the Copenhagen Accord at the final
plenary on 18 December 2009.
• Countries had to pledge their CO2 emission reductions.
• The Accord is not legally binding and does not commit
countries to agree to a binding successor to the Kyoto
Protocol.
• An assessment of the implementation of this Accord is to
be completed by 2015.
The Cancun Agreements
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1.
2.
COP 16 was held in Cancún, Mexico in 2010
Arising thereof the Cancun Agreements were adopted.
The Cancun Agreements are a set of significant
decisions:
The international community agreed to address the
long-term challenge of climate change collectively and
comprehensively over time and to take concrete action
now to speed up the global response.
The agreements represent key steps forward in
capturing plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
and to help developing nations protect themselves
from climate impacts and build their own sustainable
futures.
The 11th Hour has arrived.
We cannot allow the Kyoto Protocol to die here.
Christina Figueres (Head :UNFCCC) maintains that it is
important to resolve the future of the Kyoto Protocol
which is fundamental and critical for at least two
reasons:
1) It contains the key rules to quantify monitor the
mitigation efforts of countries.
2) It also contains important market based mechanisms
that allows those countries to reach their mitigation
levels in a cost effective manner.
Towards a new agreement in
2012:
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Taking meaningful climate action is about
seizing the opportunity –
to build international competitiveness,
new economic infrastructure, sectors and
activity;
create prosperity and jobs;
transform our economy and society;
reduce poverty;
improve health and quality of life for all.
Climate Change
Consequences for S A
- South Africa’s coastal regions will warm by around 1-2°C
by about 2050 and around 3-4°C by about 2100;
- South Africa’s interior regions will warm by around 3-4°C
by about 2050 and around 6-7°C by about 2100;
- There will be significant changes in rainfall patterns and
this, coupled with increased evaporation, will result in
significant changes in respect of water availability, e.g.
the western side of the country is likely to experience
significant reductions in the flow of streams in the region;
CC Consequences
if we do not take action
- Our biodiversity will be severely impacted, especially the
grasslands, fynbos and succulent Karoo where a high
level of extinctions are predicted;
- Small scale and homestead farmers in dry lands are most
vulnerable to climate change and although intensive
irrigated agriculture is better off than these farmers,
irrigated lands remain vulnerable to reductions in
available water;
- Some predictions suggest that maize production in
summer rainfall areas and fruit and cereal production in
winter rainfall areas may be badly affected.
CC Consequences if
we do not take action
- Commercial forestry is vulnerable to an
increased frequency of wildfires and changes in
available water in south-western regions;
- Rangelands are vulnerable to bush
encroachment which reduces grazing lands;
- Alien invasive plant species are likely to spread
more and have an ever-increasing negative
impact on water resources
YES, WE CAN
South Africa has proven to the world that as a fledgling democracy, we
have surpassed international expectations when we host events of
such stature.
- A new agreement is possible here.
- A new agreement is MOST probable in SA.
Our environment is most conducive to any kind of negotiating process,
our leadership is focussed and experienced, our citizens are
receptive, friendly and accommodating, our facilities are world class.
YES, A new agreement can be negotiated here in South Africa:
South Africa:The land of Possibilities