Group of 77 and China

Highlights for Monday, 17 June 2019 Delegates gather at the World Conference Center Bonn for the first day of the Bonn Climate Change Conference 2019. For the first time in 14 years, delegates gathered for a smaller session in Bonn with only two bodies convening. The fiftieth meeting of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 50) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 50) launched their work on all agenda items.Outlining expectations for the meeting, many parties pressed to keep the momentum generated in December 2018 when they adopted the Katowice Climate Package, the so-called “rulebook” supporting the Paris Agreement. As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), other international organizations, and developing countries continue to draw attention to the impacts of climate change on the environment, people, and livelihoods, several parties urged more ambition in pledges to the Paris Agreement; many developing countries called for greater financial resources. Chile, the host of the next Conference of the Parties (COP), declared ambition a central theme of the upcoming meeting.In the second workshop of the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture, participants grappled with three questions: how do we measure and evaluate adaptation practices in agriculture? What are the co-benefits of adapting agriculture systems to climate change? and how can we share knowledge and practices to ensure resilience in global food security? The workshop heard from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Adaptation Committee, the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Expert Group, and the World Bank on recent practices in monitoring, evaluation, and adaptation planning; and shared views and best practices on adaptation in the agricultural sector.As delegates finished their first day of work, several were pleased that the SBSTA avoided a delay in adopting its agenda through informal discussions regarding the item on the IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C of Global Warming. In December, the COP asked the SBSTA to consider the Special Report “with a view to strengthening the scientific knowledge on the 1.5°C goal.” Parties agreed to hold this discussion without pre-judging any potential outcome. Some delegates warned that sensitivity around this issue would continue throughout the conference. 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 SBI Opening Plenary SBI Chair Emmanuel Dlamini, eSwatini, opens the SBI plenary. Chizuru Aoki, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary Birgit Aru, Estonia, reporting back on Katowice Committee of Experts on Impacts of Implementation of Response Measures (KCI) Hana Hamadalla, Sudan, reporting back on the LDC Expert Group (LEG) Gervais Ludovic Itsoua, Congo, reporting back on the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) Nicole Wilke, Germany, reporting back on the host agreement Delegates during the session. SBSTA Opening Plenary SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France (center), convenes the opening of the SBSTA plenary with an up-to-date version of the Keeling Curve, a graph of the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. Jörg Schulz, European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Executive Secretary Anne Larigauderie Abdalah Mokssit, IPCC Secretary Salvatore Aricò, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture View of the dais during the workshop on methods and approaches for assessing adaptation, adaptation co-benefits, and resilience. Milagros Sandoval, Peru, Co-Facilitator of the Koronivia Workshop Zitouni Ould-Dada, FAO Navina Sanchez, Adaptation Committee Martien van Nieuwkoop, World Bank SBI/SBSTA Joint Plenary - Opening Statements View of the dais during the joint plenary for opening statements. Ammar Hijazi, Palestine, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Rodrigo Olsen Olivares, incoming COP Presidency, Chile Majid Shafiepour, Iran, speaking on behalf of the Like-minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) Lois Young, Belize, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Ana Villalobos, Costa Rica, speaking on behalf of the Independent Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC) Franz Perrez, Switzerland, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) Mona Al-Attas, Saudi Arabia, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group Sonam Wangdi, Bhutan, speaking on behalf of the LDCs Ion Cîmpeanu, EU Around the Venue Delegates gather informally before the start of plenary. UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa speaks with Stéphane Dion, Canadian Ambassador to the EU Richard Kinley, former UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary Sin Liang Cheah, Singapore, speaks with a delegate. Delegates from Ghana review a document. Members of the SBI Secretariat share a moment. Delegates speak informally between sessions. A delegate visits 'Awakening,' a photographic exhibition that confronts the urgency of sustaining life on earth by focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and challenging all people to 'design a world that works for everyone.' Delegates meet informally in the exhibit area. Materials on display.

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 Tuesday, 14 May 2019 The 4th annual STI Forum opened on Tuesday, 14 May 2019 Opening the Fourth Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum), Inga Rhonda King, President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), called attention to how science, technology and innovation (STI) is helping the world address global challenges. She also highlighted that these technological changes are still not deep or fast enough to fully respond to these challenges.Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, relayed a number of accomplishments of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM), such as the release of the “Guidebook for the Preparation of STI for SDGs Roadmaps,” and the development of a prototype of the online platform to help connect providers of technology solutions to those who seek them.Keynote presentations by Romain Murenzi, Executive Director, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), and Claudette McGowan, Chief Information Officer, Bank of Montreal, Canada, covered the “haves” and the “have-nots,” stressing that technology can be a force for good but has also resulted in severe disparities around the globe. Both speakers highlighted the importance of education, calling for initiatives that bridge gaps in technology and science.A ministerial segment featured country statements focused on strengthening capacity and policy for the development of STI roadmaps.Throughout the day, panels addressed the following topics, each with a discussion incorporating input and questions from various stakeholders, including intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and country representatives: Emerging technology clusters and the impact of rapid technological change on the SDGs; STI for education and decent work for the future (Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4 and 8); and Gender and STI for SDGs. The launch of an exhibition featuring innovative technology solutions for the SDGs took place during lunch, featuring the winning submissions from the call for innovations that support implementation of the SDGs. Solutions on display related to, inter alia, cookstoves, new pedagogical tools, redirection and prevention of waste, and protection of indigenous resources. The first day of the Forum included the launch of another exhibition on gender and STI, featuring prominent woman scientists from around the world and their contributions. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily web updates from the STI Forum 2019. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has publish a briefing note, which is available in HTML and PDF. Welcome Address and Opening: Appreciating the Cross-cutting Nature of STI Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Inga Rhonda King, UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) President Claudette McGowan, Chief Information Officer, Bank of Montreal, Canada Romain Murenzi, Executive Director, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) L-R: Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs; Elizabeth Thompson, STI Forum Co-Chair; Marie Chatardová, STI Forum Co-Chair; Inga Rhonda King, ECOSOC President; Secretary; Claudette McGowan, Chief Information Officer, Bank of Montreal, Canada; and Romain Murenzi, Executive Director, TWAS Session 1: Emerging Technology Clusters and the Impact of Rapid Technological Change on the SDGs Abby Shapiro, Senior Vice President, US Council for International Business (USCIB) Amir Dossal, President, Global Partnerships Forum Session 2: Ministerial Segment – Strengthening Capacity and Policy for the Development of STI Roadmaps Elizabeth Thompson, STI Forum Co-Chair Amb. Feda Abdelhady-Nasser, Deputy Permanent Observer, Palestine, for the G-77/China Motoko Kotani, Executive Member, Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI), Prime Minister Cabinet Office, Japan Adrián Bonilla, Secretary of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ecuador Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hungary Session 3: STI for Education and Decent Work for the Future (SDG 4 and SDG 8) Antonin Fejfar, Czech Academy of Science Kate Radford, The Netherlands, pitches her innovation submission ‘Can’t Wait to Learn’ Moderator Anne-Christine Ritschkoff, Senior Advisor, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. (and 10-Member Group), and Chaesub Lee, Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) L-R: Myung Ja Kim, President of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies; Stefan Schnorr, Directorate-General, Digital and Innovation Policy, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Germany; and Marie Chatardová, STI Forum Co-Chair Session 4: Gender and STI for SDGs James Heintz, Andrew Glyn Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, US Moderator Špela Stres, Head of Innovation and Technology Transfer Center, Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia (and 10-Member Group) Alice Abreu, Professor Emerita, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Member of Gender Advisory Board, Brazil Aliza Inbal, Director, Pears Program for Global Innovation, Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research, Israel Special Event 1: Launch of Exhibition of Innovative Technology Solutions for the SDGs Inga Rhonda King, ECOSOC President, opening the Exhibition Participants during the exhibition Launch of the Exhibition on Gender and STI Elizabeth Thompson, STI Forum Co-Chair, opens the Exhibition Around the Venue Women, who attended the Forum in record numbers, gather for a photo