Events convened on Thursday, 19 May 2005

Toshiyuki Sakamoto, Climate Technology Initiative Executive Committee, presented on the cooperation between the Japanese and Chinese steel industries, highlighting the Coke Dry Quenching project. He stressed that technology transfer and diffusion involve the collaboration of all parties and specified that a sectoral focus should be employed to identify technology needs and energy saving opportunities. He underscored that the CDM should be utilized more as an incentive to facilitate technology transfer.

Holger Liptow, German Development Cooperation (GTZ), emphasized the importance of a market-oriented energy conservation law, supported by high energy tariffs for industry and commerce. Commenting on an Indian case study on energy cooperation for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas mitigation, he highlighted that most of the measures taken had been “run of the mill” ones.

Yap Kok Seng, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia, highlighted how public-private partnerships may provide a means to address the financial sector’s perception of the risks in investing in developing countries and encourage investments for technology transfer.

Ji Zou, Renmin University of China, stressed the potential for improving energy efficiency in China. He underscored the need to involve human resources and establish appropriate institutions and policies to promote technology transfer.

Xuedo Lu, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, stressed the need to take into account the location of the producer, and to adapt to local circumstances to ensure the success of technology transfer projects.

Discussion: One participant highlighted that the CDM process may have to be modified in order to attract more energy efficiency projects. Liptow indicated that around 5% of CDM projects deal with energy efficiency. Sakamoto underscored that the CDM should enhance energy efficiency, but that the CDM procedures need to be streamlined. Zou stressed that the CDM is not the only vehicle for technology transfer.

Frank Sperling, World Bank, presented a paper on disaster risk management in a changing climate, prepared for the World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in January 2005. He said the changes in magnitude and frequency of climatic extremes increase exposure to hydro-meteorological hazards. He stressed the shift in disaster risk management (DRM) from humanitarian relief efforts to risk management, as well as the recognition that adaptation necessarily complements measures taken for climate change mitigation. He stated that despite their different timeframes and policy frameworks, the DRM and climate change agendas are converging. Among the challenges to collaboration, he mentioned: the need for flexible approaches to DRM; short-term thinking; and information collection and dissemination. Sperling called for building on the momentum generated by the recent adoption of the Hyogo Framework for Action to foster linkages between DRM and climate change efforts, ensuring consistency of approaches, and promoting information sharing.

Reid Basher, UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, noted that the Hyogo Framework for Action, which focuses on building the resilience of nations, resonates with the climate process’ increasing focus on vulnerability. He said practitioners need guidance on dealing with extreme weather events including early warning systems.

Madeleen Helmer, Climate Centre, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, noted that climate change is dealt with by environmentalists whereas disaster risk is addressed by development actors. She said this creates an institutional barrier to the linkage between the two communities and called for dialogue.

Discussion: Participants considered raising the awareness of end users on the synergies between climate change and disaster reduction by focusing on short term forecasts; including disaster risk and early warning systems in National Communications; and mainstreaming disaster risk in the development agenda.

Emphasizing that climate change requires urgent action, Artur Runge-Metzger, European Commission, explained the EU’s objective to limit the global temperature rise to 2C. Outlining a vision on five key elements in the post-2012 regime, he said it should “build on Kyoto”, but aim for “a truly global carbon market” including emissions trading, Joint Implementation and the CDM. He indicated that market-based mechanisms increase competitiveness through new technologies and improved efficiency. He called for more countries to reduce emissions in the future, as the EU’s decreasing 14% share of global emissions means that “even closing down the European economy would not stop climate change.” Runge-Metzger said a future regime should cover more gases and sectors. He underlined the need to: deploy a range of new technologies; take into account climate concerns when making near-term energy investments; and adapt to climate change.

Sarah Hendry, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK, emphasized the high priority the UK presidency of the G-8 attaches to climate change. She said the goal of the presidency is to speed up the UNFCCC and Kyoto processes and outlined concrete objectives and actions it is taking.

Discussion: Runge-Metzger said other countries have found the 2C target “interesting” but that the EU saw no need for a formal agreement on a global target. He explained that “building on Kyoto” means that the EU does not want to pre-empt the post-2012 debate, but wishes to incorporate lessons learned from Kyoto in the future regime.

Carol Turley, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, stated that plankton, coral and other organisms are affected by increased acidification of oceans resulting from carbon dioxide emissions. She questioned whether the marine ecosystem can adapt to acidification and whether a modified ecosystem will be economically productive.

Rachel Warren, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, summarized existing knowledge of climate change impacts on human and natural systems at different levels of temperature increases.

In considering the EU’s 2C target, Michel den Elzen, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, stressed that in order to obtain stabilization of green house gas concentrations at 450 or 400 parts per million, global emissions are required to peak in around 2015, followed by overall reductions of respectively 30% or 50% from 1990 levels by 2050.

Bert Metz, IPCC Working Group III, considered the issue of how, and at what cost, low-level stabilization can be achieved. He noted the long-term mitigation potential of renewable and nuclear energy from 2000 to 2100. He underscored the need for a portfolio of least-cost options and emphasized that climate change mitigation is restricted by the lack of political will, incentives, and awareness.

Ritu Mathur, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), described the results of various energy scenarios in India. She explained that the government is planning substantial emissions reductions but that limitations exist regarding financial investment.

Subodh Sharma, Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests, indicated that Annex I parties’ National Communications show an aggregate increase in greenhouse gas emissions, while countries with economies in transition are showing a decrease. He stressed that the UNFCCC calls for a return to 1990 levels of emissions for Annex I countries.

Chandrashekhar Dasgupta, TERI, explained how National Communications reporting of financial contributions and technology transfer by Annex I countries do not provide an accurate picture of how these countries are fulfilling their obligations under the convention. He called for the adoption of new guidelines for National Communications that specifically cover financial and technology transfer aspects.

Preety Bhandari, TERI, noted that achieving sustainable consumption patterns is a high priority of Agenda 21 and that levels and choices of energy vary regionally. She described the indicators used in a study carried out by her organization on lifestyles in India and indicated that developing countries tend to generate less waste and recycle more. She explained that there is considerable use of public transport in India, but that the core question is how to influence individual activities and choices towards a more sustainable pattern.

Chandra Kiran, Integrated Research and Action for Development, presented a study on the economic impact of carbon emission constraints in India. He said the results of the study showed that carbon emission mitigation strategies would result in a decrease in India’s GDP and an increase in poverty, although the magnitude of these losses is uncertain.

Discussion: Participants discussed different models for evaluating the economic impact of climate change mitigation measures, as well as the environmental and social cost of climate change. Rajendra Pachauri, TERI, proposed establishing a partnership with Saudi Arabia to promote technology transfer.

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