African Group

Highlights for Thursday, 27 June 2019 On the last day of the Bonn Climate Change Conference, many countries, including those most vulnerable to climate change, remind delegates that 'science is not negotiable.' The last day of the Bonn Climate Change Conference started slow, to allow parties to work through difficult issues, and ended smoothly, as parties adopted the outcomes of the meetings.In a much-awaited decision on the Special Report on 1.5°C of Global Warming (SR1.5), the SBSTA “expressed its appreciation and gratitude to the IPCC and the scientific community for responding to the invitation of the Conference of the Parties (COP) and providing the SR1.5, which reflects the best available science.” The decision reflected a razor-thin compromise between the many parties who wanted to celebrate the scientific achievements of the report and the few who expressed concerns with the report.Groups of developing countries that are vulnerable to climate change defended the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) SR1.5, saying “listening to science not a choice, but a duty.” Wearing t-shirts that exemplify their message, the Environmental Integrity Group, declared “Science is not negotiable.”Parties agreed to several outcomes, including: Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture: New Zealand will host an intersessional workshop on sustainable land and water management, and strategies and modalities to scale up practices and technologies to increase resilience and sustainable production; The terms of reference for the review of the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage associated with climate change impacts was adopted. This sets out the scope of the review of the WIM to take place at the Santiago Climate Change Conference in December 2019. Nairobi Work Programme: The Programme will prioritize thematic areas in its work on adaptation and vulnerability to climate change, namely: extreme weather events, drought, forests and grasslands, oceans, and agriculture and food security. Article 6 (markets and non-market approaches): Countries brought together their work from Katowice to forge a path forward. They agreed to proceed on the basis of texts put together by the Co-Facilitators. As decision looms in Santiago, countries will arrive with an agreed basis for negotiations. The meeting was gavelled to a close at 10:07 pm.The next meeting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is in December in Santiago, Chile. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2019, which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Consultations throughout the Day The room is filled to capacity during the SBSTA Chair's consultations with Heads of Delegations. SBI informal consultations on administrative, financial and institutional matters: Programme budget for the biennium 2020–2021. Co-Facilitators and the Secretariat of the SBI/SBSTA informal consultations on the terms of reference for the 2019 review of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts (WIM) share a moment as the session concludes. Family photo of the SBSTA contact group on matters relating to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Delegates huddle informally in the corridors. SBI Closing Plenary SBI Chair Emmanuel Dlamini, eSwatini, closes the SBI plenary. Abdullah Tawlah, Saudi Arabia Ammar Hijazi, Palestine, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China SBSTA Closing Plenary After a week-long heatwave across Europe, SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France, closes the SBSTA plenary with the same image that he showed at the opening plenary: the Keeling Curve, a graph of the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere. Ana Villalobos, Costa Rica, speaking on behalf of the Independent Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC) Lois Young, Belize, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Franz Perrez, Switzerland, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) Ian Fry, Tuvalu, speaking on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary Stella Gama, SBSTA Rapporteur SBSTA family photo. Joint Closing Plenary View of the dais during the closing plenary. Ion Cîmpeanu, EU Kunzang, Bhutan, speaking on behalf of the LDCs Majid Shafiepour, Iran, speaking on behalf of the Like-minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) Martine Badibanga Kamunga, Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaking on behalf of the Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CfRN) Sandra Leticia Guzman Luna, Mexico, speaking on behalf of the EIG Mohamed Nasr, Egypt, speaking on behalf of the African Group Gareth Williams, Australia, speaking on behalf of the Umbrella Group Felipe Andres Gutierrez, Climate Justice Now!, and Paula Tassara, Climate Action Network (CAN), speaking on behalf of the Environmental NGOs (ENGOs) Jisun Hwang, Local Government and Municipal Authorities (LGMA), and Juan Carlos Jintiach, Indigenous Peoples Organizations Dolphine Atieno Magero and Tomasz Ferenz, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs) Around the Venue Delegates meet informally in the corridors as they wait for the closing plenary to begin. Delegates read the draft conclusions. Ayman Shasly, Saudi Arabia, speaks with his delegation. Representatives of the EIG wear shirts saying "science is not negotiable." Representatives from AOSIS working on loss and damage, and adaptation. YOUNGOs family photo. SBI Family Photo: Katia Simeonova, SBI Coordinator; SBI Chair Emmanuel Dlamini, Laurence Pollier, UNFCCC Secretariat; and Vanessa Matarazzi, UNFCCC Secretariat Ana Villalobos, Costa Rica, and SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France Katia Simeonova, SBI Coordinator Federica Fricano, Italy, speaks with a delegate. Ulrik Lenaerts, Belgium Vladimir Uskov, Russian Federation Delegates between sessions The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) team covering the Bonn Climate Change Conference: Rishikesh Ram Bhandary, Nepal; Nancy Williams, US; Jen Allan, Canada/UK; Bernard Soubry, Canada; Beate Antonich, Germany; and Kiara Worth, South Africa

Highlights for Friday, 21 June 2019 Members of civil society demonstrate outside the venue as part of the international movement of school students striking to demand action to prevent further global warming. The Bonn Climate Change Conference continued on Friday. Discussions were technical, with countries negotiating a range of issues that are crucial for implementing the Paris Agreement.A common theme in these detailed discussions was data: what data to gather, how to present it, what data is fair to expect from developing countries. Countries discussed how to report their projected future greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which can help the world understand the looming climate challenge, and the impact that today’s policies can have in the future. These projections can be difficult for developing countries to report, in part because they are based on historical emissions for which there may be little data. Conversely, as reported in discussions on the GHG data interface, a growing number of developing countries are reporting their emissions data.The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the global body that, among other functions, outlines how countries can report their data, presented the refinements to its GHG inventory guidelines in a special event. The guidelines will be used by parties to report their GHG emissions and removals under the Paris Agreement.Also speaking in numbers, the UNFCCC Executive Secretary reminded us that “in today’s world, facts matter.” For her, four numbers mattered: 1.5°C: A key goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise; 2050: When countries are to achieve carbon neutrality; 2030: When countries must limit global emissions by 45%; and 2020: When new or revised nationally determined contributions (NDCs) are due. Others also spoke of a climate emergency outside the venue - young people from 16 countries were demonstrating in nearby Aachen and more demonstrators gathered in support nearer the negotiations. For some, this was a sharp contrast between those preparing civil disobedience out of a sense of urgency and what many saw as an increase in technical negotiation delays.For more details on the day's events and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB). IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2019, which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Third Meeting of the Paris Committee on Capacity-Building Delegates attend the third meeting of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB). Renilde Ndayishimiyo, Burundi Crispin d'Auvergne, Saint Lucia Adriana Valenzuela, Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) PCCB Co-Chair Rita Mishaan, Guatemala Madeleine Diouf Sarr, Adaptation Committee Technical Expert Meeting A delegate takes notes during the Technical Expert Meeting (TEM). Moderator Sasha Koo-Oshima, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Peter Minang, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Ben Sonneveld, VU University Amsterdam Ina Säumel, Humboldt University Briefing Session with the High-Level Champions on Global Climate Action The room is filled to capacity as delegates attend the briefing session. UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Shyla Raghav, Conservation International Gonzalo Muñoz, High-Level Champion, Chile Tomasz Chruszczow, High-Level Champion, Poland After commenting that "we need to bridge the political divides" that prevent us from taking climate action, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa thanks the High-Level Champions for the important role they play in fostering cooperation and inspiring climate action. Partnership-Building Dialogue on Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform Delegates gather for the partnership-building dialogue on work relevant to the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) outside the Convention. Co-Chairs Majid Shafie-Pour, UN Regional Group: Asia-Pacific, and Pasang Dolma Sherpa, UN Indigenous Sociocultural Region: Asia Celina Yong, UN Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN-REDD) Yusra Khan, Indonesia Janene Yazzie, International Indian Treaty Council SBSTA-IPCC Special Event on Refinement to the IPCC Guidelines Delegates at the special event on the 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines. Yurii Pyrozhenko, Task Force on National Greenhouse Inventories (TFI) Technical Support Unit (TSU), IPCC Eduardo Calvo Buendía, Co-Chair, TFI, IPCC Pavel Shermanau, TFI TSU, IPCC A slide from one of the presentations. Delegates pose questions to the panel. Consultations throughout the Day SBSTA informal consultations on the IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C of Global Warming. View of the dais during the SBI/SBSTA informal consultations on the terms of reference for the 2019 review of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts (WIM). SBSTA informal consultations on matters relating to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Joint SBI/SBSTA dialogue with observer organizations. Civil Society Climate Strike Members of civil society participate in a climate strike outside the venue as part of the #FridaysForFuture movement started by climate activist Greta Thunberg. Around the Venue On the first day of the African Cup of Nations, taking place in Egpyt, representatives of Climate Action Network (CAN), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Greenpeace, and the World Resources Institute (WRI) bring footballs to the African Group, chaired by Egypt, saying that everyone can be a 'champion' by stepping up ambition for NDCs. Tasneem Essop, Interim Executive Director, CAN, and Mohamed Nasr, Egypt Delegates from Africa show off their football skills. Delegates from Nepal. Delegates from Ukraine. Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt Seyni Nafo, Mali Delegates from Zimbabwe Xiang Gao, China Carlos Fuller, Belize High-Level Champions Gonzalo Muñoz, Chile, and Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland, take a selfie. A video at an exhibition booth livestreams over 4,000 climate activists from Ende Gelände protesting to block the coal fields in Rhineland, Germany. Materials on display around the venue.

Highlights for Friday, 31 May 2019 Victor Kisob, Deputy Executive Director, UN-Habitat, UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif, and Martha Delgado Peralta, UNHA 1 President, gavel UNHA 1 to a close. On Friday, the first UN-Habitat Assembly (UNHA 1) concluded its deliberations, adopting a Ministerial Declaration, five resolutions, and one decision to promote sustainable urbanization. The resolutions concern: The Strategic Plan for the period 2020–2023; UN System-Wide Guidelines on Safer Cities and Human Settlements; Enhancing capacity-building for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and the urban dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; Achieving gender equality through the work of UN-Habitat to support inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements; and Enhancing urban-rural linkages for sustainable urbanization and human settlement. The decision highlights the arrangements for the transition towards the new governance structure of UN-Habitat, and the Ministerial Declaration portrays the commitment for accelerated implementation of the NUA towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).In the closing plenary, delegates adopted the draft report and the draft proceedings of UNHA 1 as well as the report of the first meeting of the Executive Board. In her closing remarks, Executive Director Sharif announced that “UN-Habitat is back” and lauded the Assembly for successfully completing its work, noting that 21 countries had pledged USD 152 million to support the implementation of the NUA. President Delgado gaveled the meeting to a close at 5.17 pm. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and also produced a summary report from the 1st Session of the UN-Habitat Assembly, which is available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Morning Plenary Delegates gather for the morning plenary. Pamela Charlette, Minister of Habitat, Land, Infrastructure, and Land Transport, Seychelles Ramesh Prasad Singh, Nepal Trust, Ministry of Urban Development, Nepal Yousef Al Nuaimi, International Coordination for Housing, United Arab Emirates Klára Dostálová, Minister of Regional Development, Czech Republic William Bradford Marau, Minister of Lands, Housing, and Survey, Solomon Islands Erik Lundberg, Ambassador of Finland to Kenya Gariballa Khidir Ali Eldaw, Ambassador of Sudan to Kenya Vladimir Lenev, Russian Federation Andrii Pravednyk, Ambassador of Ukraine to Kenya Zaheer Allam, The Port Louis Development Initiative Isaac Muasa and Linda Olango, Youth Advisory Board Amie Figueiredo, UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Erik Berg, Advisory Group on Gender Issues Delegates from Shelter Afrique Events Throughout the Day Martha Delgado Peralta, UNHA 1 President, and UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif, speak at the final UN-Habitat press conference. Delegates share their views during the youth event 'Tide Turners Partners Challenge.' Closing Plenary Delegates gather for the closing plenary. Martín Gómez Bustillo, Ambassador of Argentina to Kenya Jesús Manzanilla, Ambassador of Venezuela to Kenya Fernando Coimbra, Chair of the Drafting Committee Lori Dando, Chair of the Executive Board Waziri Maman, Niger, speaking on behalf of the African Group Julia Pataki, EU UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif Judut Sutoyo, Indonesia Delegates applaud the adoption of the Ministerial Declaration on innovation for better quality of life in cities and communities through accelerated implementation of the NUA towards the achievement of the SDGs. Around the Venue Delegates from Nigeria and Niger. Delegates consult between sessions. UN Security around the venue. Delegates post their hopes for UN-Habitat on a world map made from electronic waste. Delegates pose with their favourite SDGs. An example of urban hydroponics on display around the venue. A prosthetic hand made from a 3-D printer demonstrates how technology is being revolutionized to provide quicker, cheaper, and more accessible products. The same technology can be used for the fabrication of housing in the implementation of the NUA. A wheelchair-friendly "matatu" (public service mini-van) on display around the venue demonstrates how transport systems need to take into account basic human rights. An electric car linked to a solar-powered 'smart home' demonstrates how new designs can help to promote sustainability. The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Earth Negotiations Bulletin + team covering UNHA 1: Asheline Appleton, Kenya; Nancy Williams, US; Tallash Kantai, Kenya/Uganda; Asterios Tsioumanis, Greece; and Kiara Worth, South Africa

Highlights for Monday, 27 May 2019 Delegates gather for the start of the first UN-Habitat Assembly On Monday, the inaugural UN-Habitat Assembly (UNHA 1) started its deliberations at the UN Office at Nairobi (UNON), Kenya. Delegates elected Martha Delgado Peralta, Mexico, as President of the Assembly, as well as regional Vice-Presidents, members of the Executive Board, and other officers, and adopted the meeting’s agenda and rules of procedure. In his opening address, Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya, emphasized that the world “is currently ill-prepared to plan effectively for rapid urbanization,” urging for international cooperation to fulfill UN-Habitat’s mandate. Participants also listened to opening statements by, inter alia: UN Secretary-General António Guterres, via video; Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Acting Director-General, UNON, and UN-Habitat Executive Director; UN-Habitat Assembly President Delgado; Joyce Msuya, Acting Executive Director, UN Environment Programme; and Ridwan Kamil, Governor of West Java Province, Indonesia.The UN-Habitat Assembly heard reports from Fernando Coimbra, Brazil, Chair of the Committee of Permanent Representatives, as well as from Executive Director Sharif on UN-Habitat activities, including on progress in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Throughout the day, several platforms were opened, including the Urban Solutions Expo, the City Stage, and the Youth Tent. Delegates also attended two special events, including a ministerial roundtable on infrastructure, cities and local action to mobilize commitments for the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit, and a women’s event on promoting inter-generational leadership for sustainable urbanization.Twenty-two side events took place during the day focusing on, inter alia: planning for climate action, including modern, low carbon, and inclusive public transport; innovative financing and engagement strategies for urban development, as well as efforts to close the infrastructure gap; regional and national sustainable urban initiatives; integration of migrants in urban areas; community-driven data, local participation, and multi-stakeholder partnerships for innovative inclusive cities at the local, national and international levels; and promoting spatial equality and justice. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and also produced a summary report from the 1st Session of the UN-Habitat Assembly, which is available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Opening Plenary View of the dais during the opening plenary Plenary opens with a number of musical performances UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif congratulates Martha Delgado Peralta, Mexico, on her election as the President of UNHA 1 UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif Martha Delgado Peralta, UNHA 1 President Shipra Narang-Suri, Urban Planning and Design Branch, UN-Habitat Joyce Msuya, Acting Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya Emma Stevens, Indigenous Youth Representative Ridwan Kamil, Governor of West Java Province, Indonesia Sona Jobarteh, UN-Habitat’s Goodwill Ambassador Moderator James Ohayo, UN-Habitat Delegates stand as plenary is filled to capacity Special Events Throughout the Day Susannah Price, Head of Communications Branch, UN-Habitat Secretariat; Martha Delgado Peralta, UNHA 1 President; and UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif, speak during the UN-Habitat Assembly Opening Press Conference Young Women to Women - Promoting Inter-generational Leadership for Sustainable Urbanization Ministerial Roundtable on Infrastructure, Cities and Local Action: Mobilizing commitments for the UN Secretary-General's Climate Action Summit 2019 Afternoon Plenary View of the dais during the afternoon plenary Fernando Coimbra, Chair, Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR), UN-Habitat Lori Dando, US Permanent Representative to the UN in Nairobi Delegates applaud the election of various officers Elias Guia Lopez, Spain Wallis Goelen, EU Celestine Ketcha Courtès, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Cameroon Russom Beyene, Eritrea, speaking on behalf of the African Group Vladimir Yakushev, Minister of Construction and Housing, Russian Federation Hazem Shabat, Palestine, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Abdou Karim Fofana, Minister of Urban Planning, Housing, and Public Health, Senegal Around the Venue Delegates speak informally before the start of plenary President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya, arrives at the venue President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya, visits various exhibitions around the venue UN Security around the venue UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif; Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Fiji; and Martha Delgado Peralta, UNHA 1 President, during the Ministerial Roundtable Shipra Narang-Suri, Urban Planning and Design Branch, UN-Habitat (far right) helps delegates play a game of Minecraft to redesign green spaces around the UN Offices in Nairobi, demonstrating innovative ways of engaging people in urban design and planning The Urban Solutions Expo aimed at promoting innovative and sustainable solutions for the challenges faced by cities and communities Delegates discuss new ideas at one of the information booths

Highlights for Thursday, 9 May 2019 Osvaldo Álvarez-Pérez, Rotterdam Convention COP9 President, speaks with delegates from China at the end of the joint plenary Work continued apace on Thursday at the 2019 meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions. On the penultimate day of the meetings, delegates convened in plenary in the morning to look into issues of joint concern, as well as work related to the Rotterdam Convention (RC). They addressed several matters related to the implementation of the RC, including by adopting decisions that seek to ensure the provision of technical assistance and increase the number of parties that submit notifications of final regulatory action on chemicals.With several significant issues as yet unresolved, plenary was suspended after the morning session to allow delegates to work in contact groups and carry out informal consultations in order to find common ground. The critical issues that remain include plastic wastes, and electronic and electrical wastes (e-wastes) under the Basel Convention, the listing of four chemicals under the Rotterdam Convention’s Prior Informed Consent procedure, and – crucially – a budget to fund the work that will be carried out in 2020-2021 to implement all three Conventions. With many participants emphasizing that the outstanding agenda items are essential to meaningful action and effective implementation, delegates anticipated a late night of intense negotiations on Thursday.For more details on the day's events and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the 2019 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. The summary and analysis report is available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Plenary: Joint Session View of plenary during the joint session Cristina de Avila, EU Serge Molly Allo'o Allo'o, Gabon, speaking on behalf of the African Group Zaigham Abbas, Pakistan Momodou Jama Suwareh, the Gambia Abdoulaye Moussa Abderamon, Chad Sarah Maillefer, Switzerland Christopher Kanema, Zambia Francis Kihumba Njuguna, Kenya Karissa Kovner, US Bangaly Dioumessy, Guinea Roger Baro, Burkina Faso Yajing Tian, China Serge Karonkano, Burundi Aïta Sarr Seck, Senegal Various decisions are adopted during the plenary Contact Groups Basel Convention Plastics small drafting group on amendments to the annexes View of the dais during the Contact Group on Technical Assistance and Financial Resources Contact Group on Programme of Work and Budget Contact Group on Rotterdam Convention Effectiveness Around the Venue Delegates at the start of plenary Delegates check the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) website to follow negotiations Georg Karlaganis, UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), speaks with Felix Wertli, Switzerland Delegates from the Netherlands and New Zealand Delegates from Eritrea Delegates from Mozambique Delegates from Peru Delegates from Iraq Delegates from Lebanon Björn Beeler, International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) Andrea Volpato, Order of Chemists and Physicists of the Province of Treviso, with Ahmet Daskin, Turkey