Working Group meeting of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC)

On Tuesday morning, participants convened for the opening of the CCAC Working Group meeting in Kathmandu. Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UNEP, delivered a video message urging participants to focus on how the CCAC can showcase its work through relevant international networks and also demonstrate, via science, that tackling Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) is cost-effective. Govind Raj Pkharel, Vice Chair, National Planning Commission, Nepal, called for participants to commit to the formulation of a Strategic Plan that could leverage action, notably by the least developed countries (LDCs) focusing on black carbon.

Chad, Guinea, Paraguay, Uruguay, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) and the Network for Environment and Sustainable Development in Africa were welcomed to the Coalition. Two requests to join the CCAC from UN-HABITAT and the Smart Freight Centre were approved bringing the Coalition membership to 103.

Kenya provided an overview of recent efforts on SLCPs and Mexico showcased its experience of including SLCPs in its national strategy climate policy, notably through Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). France outlined plans and perspectives looking towards UNFCCC COP 21 in Paris at the end of the year.

A progress report on Demonstrating Impact was presented. Many participants expressed appreciation for the work of the group and called for closely linking the development of indicators to the 5-year Strategic Plan.

Breakout sessions on the 5-year Strategic Plan convened during and after lunch on the key elements of the Plan. The final session of the day focused on presentations by interested Initiatives, including on communication, black carbon finance, solid municipal waste, the health-climate nexus and city action on SLCPs.

On Wednesday morning participants considered an update and briefing on the Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) focusing on, inter alia: black carbon and co-emissions; HFCs; methane; health and Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs); climate impacts of SLCPs; agriculture and ecosystem impacts of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs); and SLCP policy. Many participants welcomed a proposed science-policy dialogue as one of the possible SAP 2015 activities. Participants then approved the SAP 2015 work plan which focuses on: keeping the coalition informed regarding emerging science; providing expert advice and responding to questions from the Working Group and Initiatives; assisting the Coalition to communicate effectively and accurately about SLCPs; and approving CCAC activities.

An update on Initiatives with a new funding request was presented later in the morning. Following discussion, new funding requests on Initiatives relating to Agriculture, Diesel, HFCs, Regional Assessment and Supporting National Planning for Action on SLCPs (SNAP) were approved. 

In the afternoon, feedback from the breakout groups discussion on the 5-year Strategic Plan was presented. The Strategic Plan consists of:  
• A preamble; 
• A goal to enable policies and practices at scale;  
• Objectives on awareness raising, capacity building, and finance mobilization; 
• An initiative on medium term plans; 
• Operational efficiencies; and  
• An implementation plan.

Participants adopted decisions on Demonstrating Impact, the 5-year Strategic Plan and the Road to Paris. Discussion on the way forward addressed improving budget allocation methods, donor relations, and finance mobilization for 2016. The meeting concluded at 5:45 pm following a decision to convene the next Working Group meeting on 19 May on the margins of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.