As at past meetings of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the side events at the twenty-second sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB 22) of the UNFCCC provided opportunities for delegates and other stakeholders to hear the latest ideas from various climate experts, share practical experiences of implementing the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol, and consider options for a future regime.

Despite the otherwise lackluster tone of the meeting, the events were generally well attended by both developing and developed country delegates, along with representatives from non-government organizations (NGOs), academia, and the private sector.

The side events at SB 22 were clustered around four main themes: “The Kyoto mechanisms: making the market work for sustainable development”; “The scientific basis of the Convention process”; “Reporting under the Convention and the Protocol”; and “Perspectives on future steps.” Other issues, such as mitigation, adaptation and development, were addressed in discussions at some events¹, and during side events specifically on these issues. In many ways, the issues and general mood of most side events mirrored those raised at the Seminar of Governmental Experts (SOGE) held prior to SB 22, on 16-17 May, and reflected a desire to look beyond 2012, the end of the first commitment period.

Editor’s Note: The Earth Negotiations Bulletin’s coverage of the SOGE can be found here: http://enb.iisd.org/vol12/enb12261e.html

This analysis provides a brief discussion of the side events, and is organized around the four themes, with the scientific basis of the Convention process and reporting under the Convention and Protocol considered together.

THE KYOTO MECHANISMS: MAKING THE MARKET WORK FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Of the side events concerned with the Kyoto mechanisms, a significant number focused on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and attracted notable participation from the private sector. These events highlighted relevance of the CDM for meeting Kyoto targets and in addressing climate change beyond 2012. Discussions also raised a range of concerns about the operationalization of the CDM, including: increasing the efficiency of the CDM Executive Board through greater resources; the streamlining of CDM procedures; the consolidation and expansion of project methodologies; the uneven geographical distribution of CDM projects; the need to encourage small-scale, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects; and ensuring that the CDM contributes to sustainable development.²

A number of side events focused on emissions trading and Joint Implementation (JI), also mentioning the Green Investment Scheme. Key issues raised included the private sector’s insistence on certainty, and the possibility of expanding regional trading schemes to other gases and sectors and of future linkages between schemes.³

THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF THE CONVENTION PROCESS AND REPORTING UNDER THE CONVENTION AND THE PROTOCOL

The entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol on 16 February this year raised many questions relating to its implementation. These aspects, most notably reporting, were discussed during several side events. The Secretariat organized events on reporting obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, focusing on: the initial report and accounting requirements; training for members of expert review teams; and new software for reporting in the common reporting format.⁴ Other organizations also ran events on greenhouse gas monitoring, reporting, and inventory development.⁵ One theme that was not discussed extensively during the side events was compliance, perhaps because other issues seemed more pressing, such as the initial operationalization of the Kyoto Protocol and the long-term future of the climate regime.⁶

Increasing knowledge, capacity and awareness was also emphasized. Two events addressed activities under Article 6 of the UNFCCC concerning education, training and public awareness raising on climate change,⁷ while several events focused on capacity building for the preparation of national communications and greenhouse gas inventories, and participation in climate change negotiations.⁸

A number of scientific and technical issues were raised, as is generally the practice at UNFCCC meetings. Scientific side events focused on: new scientific evidence about the effects and causes of climate change; the need to address climate change more comprehensively than is provided for in the Kyoto Protocol; developments in earth, ocean and climate observation; and links between disaster risk management, climate change, and climate change observation.⁹ While fewer side events than at past meetings focused on technology and energy innovations, perhaps due partly to the Carbon Expo held from 10-12 May 2005, in Cologne, Germany, there was considerable emphasis on the role of technology in responding to climate change throughout the side events generally.¹⁰

PERSPECTIVES ON FUTURE STEPS

Perspectives on the climate regime beyond the first commitment period (2008-2012) played an important role at the SB 22 side events, with delegates able to elaborate on themes identified at the SOGE in even more informal settings. The side event discussing the European Community’s post-2012 visions attracted a large audience with delegates from Asia, Africa and Latin America posing questions, inter alia, on the roles of the Kyoto Protocol and equity in the future climate regime.¹¹ The side event on African priorities in the post-Kyoto negotiations inspired discussions on ways to better integrate African concerns into the future regime, including adaptation needs and the CDM.¹² India’s side event on energy, environment and development seemed to expand on India’s presentation at the SOGE, drawing attention to the growth in Annex I greenhouse gas emissions, sustainability of lifestyles, and projected economic impacts of emissions constraints on India.¹³

A number of side events organized by climate think tanks presented the latest research and models for the post-2012 period. The models tended to focus on new ways of grouping both industrialized and developing countries and allocating emissions targets.¹⁴ Several of the proposals implied quantitative emissions targets, at times building on the idea of “contraction and convergence” of per capita emissions.¹⁵ Side events looking beyond 2012 also addressed specific issues related to: land-use change and forestry¹⁶; creating a global emissions trading scheme with developing country participation¹⁷; applying sector-based approaches¹⁸; and conducting the post-2012 negotiation process.¹⁹ Some side events took a more philosophical approach, discussing the ethical underpinnings of a future regime and promoting climate equity.²⁰ Recurring themes included calls for expanding the group of countries committed to controlling their emissions and addressing adaptation needs. Echoing views expressed in the SOGE, the side events also highlighted climate-friendly technologies as one of the key factors in battling climate change.

CONCLUSIONS

The side events at SB 22 were generally well attended and interactive. The themes seemed to reflect two general developments. On the one hand, the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol has made the global climate regime far more concrete, with steps being taken to implement obligations. The side events focusing on the Kyoto mechanisms and reporting evidently responded to this reality. On the other hand, there seems to be a growing sense that it is necessary to think beyond the first commitment period. The need for more action emerged in both the scientific side events and those that specifically discussed the future, underscoring the need to provide the private sector with certainty over the long-term and to promote investment in climate-friendly infrastructure. Many participants in the side events seemed to share the hope that the momentum to implement the Kyoto obligations and to discuss the post-2012 period would continue at the Montreal COP 11 and COP/MOP 1.