African Group

Highlights for Monday, 25 February 2019 Lumka Yengeni, South Africa, is congratulated by Olav Myklebust for her election as the ISA Council President for 2019. On Monday, the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) opened for the first part of the 25th annual session in Kingston, Jamaica.The Council elected its President and Vice-Presidents for 2019, addressed organizational matters, and heard reports on the status of exploration contracts, the implementation of the 2018 Council decision relating to the summary report of the Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) Chair and a strategy for the development of regional environmental management plans for the Area.The Council also considered components of the draft regulations for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area, focusing on the financial model, as well as on standards, guidelines, and key terms.Highlights of the day include: election of Lumka Yengeni (South Africa) as Council President for 2019; final steps towards the public launch of the database; development of a work programme for the period 2019–2020 to implement the preliminary strategy for the development of regional environmental management plans; progress towards developing common understanding on the financial model, notwithstanding varying opinions, and a decision to continue work under the relevant working group; and the need to prioritize certain guidelines and balance certainty for industry against flexibility to keep pace with expanding knowledge. Two side events took place during the day, organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI).For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from the 1st Part of ISA-25. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has published a summary and analysis report of the meeting, which is available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page The 1st Part of the 25th Annual Session of the ISA opens at the ISA headquarters in Kingston Michael Lodge, ISA Secretary-General Olav Myklebust, Outgoing Council President for the 24th Session Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group Lumka Yengeni, South Africa, Council President for the 25th Session The dais during plenary Lowri Mai Griffiths and Gavin Watson, UK Vladimir Vinokurov, Russian Federation Tian Qi, China Young Lee, Republic of Korea Tevita Suka Mangisi, Tonga Tetsuya Yoshimoto, Japan Urs Daniel Engels, Germany Diva Amon, Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative Chin Siew Fei, Singapore Duncan Currie, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition Michelle Walker, Jamaica Conn Nugent, Pew Charitable Trusts Enrico Milano, Italy Patricio Ureña Palacio, Argentina Conn Nugent, Pew Charitable Trusts, in discussions with the Chinese delegation Mariusz Orion Jędrysek, Poland, and Olav Myklebust, Norway L-R: Denys Wibaux, France; Guy Sevrin, Belgium; and Didier Ortolland, France Marie Bourrel-McKinnon, ISA Secretariat, and Alison Swaddling, The Commonwealth Lowri Mai Griffiths, UK, and Julian Wilckens, Germany L-R: Nicole Lyas, Australia; Jennifer Warren, Lockheed Martin; and David Yardley, Australia, share a laugh before the start of the session. Nicole de Paula, ENB, and Kenneth Wong, Canada Delegates consult informally Around the Venue The Chinese delegation with Michael Lodge, ISA Secretary-General The Japanese delegation The Brazilian delegation

  Highlights for Monday, 14 January 2019 View of the room during the morning session The first substantive session of the Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group (AHWG) towards a Global Pact for the Environment (A/RES/72/277), convening at the United Nations headquarters in Nairobi, was opened Monday by Co-Chair Amal Mudallali, Lebanon. Macharia Kamau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya, acknowledged France’s role in bringing forward the initiative and described how the proposed pact could help address a fragmented international environmental law framework. The Acting Director of UN Environment (UNEP) and Assistant UN Secretary-General, Joyce Msuya, invited frank discussion and encouraged an inclusive process that engages with civil society and academia. After adopting the AHWG’s provisional agenda (A/AC.289/3) and considering financial issues for the process, the AHWG Co-Chairs, Mudallali and Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Portugal, invited delegates to offer general statements. Many delegations welcomed the report of the UN Secretary-General, entitled “Gaps in international environmental law and environment-related instruments: towards a global pact for the environment” (A/73/419), while some sought to ensure a wider member state-led discussion on gaps. The G-77/China highlighted links between implementation gaps in international environmental law and the lack of resources, technology transfer, and capacity. The European Union called for a wider discussion than the content of the Secretary-General’s report, and cautioned against any weakening of existing international environmental standards. The African Group called for greater focus on the 1992 and 2012 Rio Declarations. The United States observed that the Secretary-General’s report does not comply with its mandate and is not fully objective nor an accurate reference text. She cautioned that many of the “gaps” identified in the report reflect intentional decisions by member states in specific MEAs, and that the report shows bias towards the option of a global pact. The Russian Federation warned against the AHWG setting up a new framework for environmental protection, given the functional role of fragmentation in helping achieve consensus on international environmental matters. Many other delegations gave general statements. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, povided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from the 1st Substantive Session of the Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group Towards a Global Pact for the Environment. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Co-Chair Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Portugal Co-Chair Amal Mudallali, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lebanon Macharia Kamau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya Sebastian König, Switzerland Joyce Msuya, Acting Executive Director, UN Environment (UNEP) Delegates conferring during the morning session Shannon-Marie Soni, Canada Uriel Norman Garibay, the Philippines Fernando Coimbra, Brazil Marta Juarez Ruiz, Costa Rica Jean Kenfack, Cameroon Suzan Moh'd Al Ajjawi, Bahrain Martin Gomez Bustillo, Argentina Abdu al-Sharif, Saudi Arabia Burhan Namik Al-Jaf, Iraq Tidiani Couma, Monaco Elizabeth Taylor, Colombia Haibo Gou, China Langston James "Kimo" Goree VI, Director, IISD Reporting Services, with Dan Bondi Ogolla, former Principal Legal Adviser, UN Climate Change Framework Convention (UNFCCC) Secretariat Slaiman Arabiat, Jordan, and Ernesto Gomez Diaz, Cuba Raoul Renard, International Chamber of Commerce Angela Wright, Compassion in World Farming Sebastian Gil, European Union (EU), with Jorge Laguna-Celis, Secretary, Secretariat of Governing Bodies, UNEP Antonio Benjamin, International Council of Environmental Law (ICEL) Sunday Evening Opening Reception From L-R: Luisa Fragoso, Permanent Representative with the UN Office in Nairobi, Portugal; Macharia Kamau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya; Co-Chair Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Portugal; and Co-Chair Amal Mudallali, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lebanon  

As the 'Katowice Climate Package' is adopted, Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, takes a giant leap for climate action The Katowice Climate Change conference continued on Saturday, a day after its scheduled close. Delegates engaged in consultations throughout the day to finalize the decisions for the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP).The plenary convened at 9:30 pm to consider the decisions. CMA 1-3 was gavelled to a close on Sunday morning at 12:33 am. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily reports, daily web coverage, and a summary and analysis from the Katowice Climate Change Conference – December 2018.   Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Closing Plenary UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa arrives in plenary Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, arrives in plenary Delegates stand at the beginning of plenary and hold a minute of silence in honour of Bernarditas Muller, Philippines Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa As the 'Katowice Climate Package' is adopted, Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, invites heads of delegation to the podium Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, thanks delegates for their help in achieving the 'Katowice Climate Package' Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, European Commission Franz Perrez, Switzerland, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) Amjad Abdulla, Maldives, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Patrick Suckling, Australia, speaking on behalf of the Umbrella Group Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Mohamed Nasr, Gabon, speaking on behalf of the African Group Ravi Prasad, India, speaking on behalf of Brazil, South Africa, India, and China (BASIC) Albara Tawfiq, Saudi Arabia, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group Gebru Jember Endalew, Ethiopia, speaking on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Gurdial Singh, Malaysia, speaking on behalf of the Like-minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) Zakir Hossain, Farmers Shaila Shahid, Women and Gender Joint statement on behalf of Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs) Delegates Consult Informally Delegates from the EU, US, Australia, and Switzerland Delegates from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the COP 24 Presidency Delegates from Switzerland and Norway Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, speaks with Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland Ministers from Luxembourg and Spain speak with delegates from the EU and Norway Delegates huddle during the final stages of negotiations UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Martin Frick, UNFCCC Secretariat Kimmo Tiilikainen, Minister for Housing, Energy, and the Environment, Finland Pieter Terpstra, the Netherlands, and Philip Weech, Bahamas Katarzyna Snyder, COP 24 Presidency Mehmet Emin Birpınar, Turkey Family Photos UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa poses for a photo with the delegation from Mexico The COP 24 Presidency Family photo of the UNFCCC Secretariat Family photo of negotiators working on ex-ante finance transparency (Article 9.5) Family photo of negotiators working on the transparency framework Family photo of negotiators for the transparency framework from the G-77/China Tribute to Bernarditas Muller After learning of her passing, delegates pay tribute to Bernarditas Muller, Philippines, who was recognised for her commitment and dedication to the UNFCCC, a 'legend within the process' Around the Venue SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France Seyni Nafo, Mali, and Zaheer Fakir, South Africa Delegates read the latest draft of text Jo Tyndall, New Zealand Issa Bado, International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF) Matt McGrath, BBC Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary Staff around the venue  

As the Talanoa Dialogue draws to a close, Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, thanks Frank Bainimarama, COP 23 President, for bringing the Fijian tradition of Talanoa into the negotiation process,   The Katowice Climate Change Conference continued on Wednesday, with most negotiations happening at the ministerial level. For some issues, ministers conducted open-ended consultations, while for others ministers and delegations engaged in more informal settings. The Presidency’s texts were released in the afternoon for most issues. In the evening, two heads of delegation meetings convened.The Talanoa Dialogue concluded its political phase. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated "it is time for consensus,” and called for “compromise, as our last best chance to stop run-away climate change." He further cautioned, that failing to do so would "not only be immoral, it would be suicidal.” At the conclusion of the Talanoa Dialogue, COP 23 President Frank Bainimarama and COP 24 President Michał Kurtyka launched the Talanoa Call for Action. 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 reports, daily web coverage, and a summary and analysis from the Katowice Climate Change Conference – December 2018. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page High-level Segment Delegates during the high-level segment Wallace Cosgrow, Minister of Environment, Energy, and Climate Change, Seychelles Lina Dolores Pohl Alfaro, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, El Salvador Ricardo José Lozano Picón, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Colombia Mokoto Francis Hloaele, Minister of Energy and Meteorology, Lesotho Simon Stiell, Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment, Forestry, Fisheries, and Disaster Management and Information, Grenada Heryck Rangel, Minister of People's Power for Ecosocialism, Venezuela Informal and Presidency Consultations throughout the Day Presidency's open-ended ministerial consultations on finance Delegates huddle during informal consultations on linkages between the Technology Mechanism and the Financial Mechanism Presidency's open-ended ministerial consultations on transparency Closing of the Talanoa Dialogue Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President Frank Bainimarama, COP 23 President UN Secretary-General António Guterres UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Inia Seruiratu, Minister of Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, and National Disaster Management, Fiji Sławomir Mazurek, Deputy Minister of the Environment, Poland Xiaofeng Guo, China Doris Leuthard, Switzerland Members of NGO constituencies (L-R): Ching Wen Yang, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs); Taily de Faria Marcos Terena, Women and Gender; Mariano Sanz Lubeiro, Trade Union NGOs (TUNGOs); Michael Lazarus, Research and Independent NGOs (RINGOs); Cor Lamers, Local Government and Municipal Authorities (LGMAs); Naw Ei Ei Min, Indigenous Peoples; Bjørn Gimming, Farmers; and Sandeep Chauhan, Business and Industry NGOs (BINGOs) Michael Lazarus, RINGOs Ching Wen Yang, YOUNGOs Taily de Faria Marcos Terena, Women and Gender Sandeep Chauhan, BINGOs The 'People's Seat' is present during the session, representing the millions of stories collected digitally As the Talanoa Dialogue draws to a close Frank Bainimarama, COP 23 President, and Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, stand with Timoci Naulusala, Fiji, and Hanna Wojdowska, Poland, representing the future generations Civil Society Demonstrations Representatives of the Jubilee South Asia Pacific Movement share stories of how climate change impacts food, land, and water in different regions around the world, and call on delegates to include the protection of human rights in the negotiations Representatives of ACT Alliance and Christian Aid call for greater financing for developing countries by staging an interactive game where delegates 'roll the dice' to see what outcomes they can achieve in the negotiations High Ambition Coalition Press Conference Representatives and Ministers hold a press conference to announce the revival of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) to step up ambition David Paul, Minister of the Environment, Marshall Islands, and Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, European Commission A journalist takes notes during the briefing Delegates flood the hallway to enter the event Around the Venue UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa and UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrive in plenary Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, and Todd Stern, World Resources Institute (WRI) Al Gore, Climate Reality Project Derek Hanekom, Minister of Tourism, South Africa Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs, China UN Secretary-General António Guterres Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, Belgium, holds up his '1.5°C' tie during a Climate Action Network (CAN) International press conference Panel speakers during a high-level event (L-R): Ingrid Hoven, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany; Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Netherlands; Emma Howard Boyd, Chair, Environment Agency UK; Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Naoko Ishii, CEO, the Global Environment Facility (GEF); and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Delegates from the African Group Members of the COP 24 Presidency and UNFCCC Secretariat Delegates from the EU Co-facilitators and Secretariat from the informal consultations on transparency Franz Perrez, Switzerland, speaks with members of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) Around the exhibition area  

Highlights for Tuesday, 11 December 2018 Members of the African Group consult informally between sessions Posted by IISD Reporting Services on Wednesday, 12 December 2018 The Katowice Climate Change Conference continued on Tuesday, opening with the political phase of the Talanoa Dialogue. It met throughout the day in 21 ministerial roundtables, to share stories that could help raise climate ambition.The Presidency continued to convene consultations on issues central to the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP), including: Mitigation/nationally determined contributions (NDCs); Adaptation; Global stocktake; Technology; Agreement Article 6 (cooperative approaches); Implementation and compliance committee; and Response measures. In the evening, COP 24 President Michał Kurtyka convened a stocktaking where he reported “insufficient progress.” With only three days of negotiations left, he appointed ministers to consult with parties to reach consensus on the outstanding issues. 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 reports, daily web coverage, and a summary and analysis from the Katowice Climate Change Conference – December 2018. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Talanoa Dialogue Opening Meeting View of the dais during the opening meeting of the Talanoa Dialogue Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Frank Bainimarama, COP 23 President IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee Laurent Fabius, COP 21 President Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, COP 20 President Delegates during the session Henryk Kowalczyk, Minister of the Environment, Poland Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Indigenous Peoples Ragna Árnadóttir, Landsvirkjun, Iceland Inia Seruiratu, Minister of Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, and National Disaster Management, and High-level Climate Champion, Fiji Ministers participate in high-level 'Talanoas' throughout the day Presidency Consultations throughout the Day Presidency consultations on technology Presidency consultations on compliance and implementation Presidency consultations on Agreement Article 6 (cooperative approaches) Family photo of negotiators working on the transparency framework Presidency's Stocktaking View of the dais during the stocktaking Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, and Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia Paul Watkinson, France Emmanuel Dlamini, eSwatini Yassmin Abdelaziz, Minister of Environment, Egypt Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety, Germany Gender Day High-level Event Martin Frick, UNFCCC Secretariat Princess Abze Djigme, Burkina Faso Teresa Ribera, Minister for the Ecological Transition, Spain, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa stands with the winners of the UN Climate Action Award Materials on display around the venue discussing gender related issues APA Co-Chairs' Dialogue with Observer Organizations Delegates during the dialogue Moderator Lina Dabbagh, Climate Action Network (CAN) International APA Co-Chairs Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, and Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia Hwei Mian Lim, Women and Gender Christian Holz, CAN International Presidency's Briefing to Observer Organizations Delegates during the session Artur Lorkowski, COP 24 Presidency Moderator Yunus Arikan, Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMAs) Tracy Bach, Research and Independent NGOs (RINGOs) Keyon Rostamnezhad, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs) Civil Society Demonstrations Members of the Indigenous Peoples constituency advocate for the rights of indigenous people to be respected and included in the 'Paris Agreement Rulebook' Youth from Easter Island perform a traditional dance to remind delegates of the important role that youth and indigenous people play in addressing climate change Members of Plant-for-the-Planet hand out chocolates to give delegates energy for the long negotiations Around the Venue UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa speaks with Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, European Commission A delegate poses for a photo with Frank Bainimarama, COP 23 President Members of the IPCC and the COP 23 Presidency Rachel Kyte, Special Representative of UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll), speaks with a delegate Laurent Fabius, COP 21 President, speaks with IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa speaks with Frank Bainimarama, COP 23 President Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Indigenous Peoples Catherine Stewart, Canada Delegates meeting informally Delegates between sessions Aerial views of the Earth