Small Island Developing States

The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Wednesday, 17 May 2017: Addressing Vulnerability in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Countries: Adaptation, Capacity, People South-South Initiatives to Support Monitoring, Reporting and Verification, and Transparency of Action and Support Raising Ambition in Climate and Development: Adaptation Benefit Mechanism and Sustainable Development Goals Impact Quantification Supporting Loss and Damage for the Most Vulnerable: Experiences from Africa and Elsewhere Human Mobility and Climate Change: Synergies between the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Other Global Policy Processes Contribution of Forest Landscape Restoration to Nationally Determined Contributions IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage of selected side events at the Bonn Climate Change Conference, May 2017. Photos by IISD/ENB | Angeles Estrada Vigil For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Addressing Vulnerability in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Countries: Adaptation, Capacity, People Presented by the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group) and the African Union Commission (AUC) This side event centered on a dialogue and exchange of ideas among vulnerable ACP island states, least developed countries (LDCs), and landlocked and coastal countries. Viwanou Gnassounou, ACP Group Secretariat, moderated the event. Underscoring that “climate change is the single greatest threat to the security and livelihoods of our people,” Johnson Weru, Chair, ACP Subcommittee on Sustainable Development, highlighted close cooperation with the EU to undertake climate action and tackle other environmental problems. He noted the ACP is developing a dedicated programme to support small island developing States (SIDS) to address their unique vulnerabilities. Olushola Olayide, African Union (AU), underscored the vulnerability of the African continent. Among key initiatives the Union is engaged in, she highlighted: Climate for Development in Africa; the High-level Work Programme on Climate Change Action in Africa; the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative; the Africa Adaptation Initiative; and the initiative for the Adaptation of African Agriculture to climate change. Stressing that “the universality of the Paris Agreement is something we need to preserve and protect,” Elina Bardram, European Commission, highlighted the “special” nature of the ACP-EU partnership, highlighting the partnership’s potential to influence other global actors. She noted the EU is working through the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Partnership and the Global Climate Change Alliance to help partner governments meet their commitments. Deo Saran, Fiji, noted the incoming Presidency of the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 23) and the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 13) aims to maintain the momentum and cohesiveness from the two previous COPs, in order to continue to build the international climate change agenda. He highlighted groundwork to ensure completion of the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement, and preparations for the 2018 facilitative dialogue as priorities for COP 23. Kamal Djemouai, African Group of Negotiations (AGN), said there is a “vulnerability gap” in the UNFCCC process. He emphasized six key concepts that are important in this context: vulnerabilities, in their “plural form”; special circumstances; capacities and capabilities; NDCs; differentiation; and means of implementation. Stressing that “it’s not a beauty contest” about who is the most vulnerable, Amjad Abdulla, Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), underlined that unity will be critical to ensure the voices of developing countries continue to be heard going forward. He said said loss and damage action should be further strengthened, and called for COP 23 to advance discussions on how the Adaptation Fund will serve the Paris Agreement. Gebru Jember Endalew, LDC Group, said COP 23 should provide the basis for a clear roadmap on the final outcome of the Paris Agreement rulebook. He identified the 2018 facilitative dialogue as a key step to increasing ambition, and said the Group supports a political declaration at the end of 2018 to guide review of NDCs.  In the ensuing discussion, participants highlighted: COP 23 as a “COP for action”; the need for COP 23 to focus on capacity building; efforts to create “a high ambition coalition for shipping”; and the need for “all countries of the international community” to work together to defend the Paris Agreement and climate science. L-R: Amjad Abdulla, AOSIS; Deo Saran, Fiji; Elina Bardram, European Commission; Johnson Weru, Chair, ACP Subcommittee on Sustainable Development; Olushola Olayide, AUC; Kamal Djemouai, AGN; and Viwanou Gnassounou, ACP Group Secretariat Gebru Jember Endalew, LDC Group (center), highlighted the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiative for Sustainable Development as crucial for reducing LDCs’ vulnerability. Elina Bardram, European Commission, highlighted transparency and the 2018 facilitative dialogue as key issues to be addressed at COP 23. Viwanou Gnassounou, ACP Group Secretariat, moderated the event. Deo Saran, Fiji, stressed the need to “give confidence to the world that we are progressing at the right speed.”  Kamal Djemouai, AGN, underlined that “the more divided developing countries are, the more vulnerable they are to climate change impacts and their consequences.” Amjad Abdulla, AOSIS, stressed: “We will all only go far if we stay united.” A participant during the side event Contact: Pendo Maro | pendomaro@acp.int  Olushola Olayide | OlusholaO@africa-union.org  More Information: http://www.acp.int/content/bonn-climate-change-conference-vulnerability-africa-caribbean-pacific-countries-adaptation-c https://www.au.int/ South-South Initiatives to Support Monitoring, Reporting and Verification, and Transparency of Action and SupportPresented by the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) This side event showcased South-South cooperation success stories on: technical and financial support; strengthening in-country and regional institutional capacity for monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV), and transparency of action and support in developing countries; and sharing methods, tools and data. William Agyemang-Bonsu, UNFCCC Secretariat, moderated the discussion.  Toby Hedger, UNFCCC Secretariat, presented the UNFCCC Climate Action and Support Transparency Training (UNFCCC-CASTT) programme, an initiative for national readiness for implementation of the Paris Agreement developed jointly with the Greenhouse Gas Inventory & Research Center of Korea (GIR). She explained that the programme’s objective is to promote effective and universal participation of countries in MRV and the transparency framework under the Paris Agreement through targeted, professional and comprehensive capacity building, as well as to contribute to implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (quality education). She said the programme offers packages for policymakers, policy implementers, and technicians and development experts.  Jae Jung, GIR, elaborated on the Center’s collaboration with the UNFCCC-CASTT to provide a professional training programme on greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories for national experts from developing countries. He said the UNFCCC-GIR-CASTT programme has offered lectures and hands-on exercises to government officials and researchers from developing countries on GHG compilation and mitigation modeling since 2011, with 228 trainees from 52 countries successfully completing the programme.  Damiano Borgogno, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Global Support Programme (GSP), stressed the need to ensure that supported initiatives are sustainable over time, and to avoid redundancy. Among GSP-supported initiatives, he highlighted the West African South-South Network on MRV and the Latin American Network on GHG Inventories. Agré Mathieu Richemond Assié, Côte d’Ivoire, elaborated on the West African South-South Network on MRV, highlighting its vision to have operational MRV systems in West African countries by 2020. Among the Network’s objectives, he noted: facilitating the exchange of knowledge in the energy, and agriculture, forestry and other land-use sectors; supporting capacity development activities; and creating awareness within national institutions responsible for data collection.  Diana Camila Rodríguez Vargas, Colombia, showcased the Latin American Network on GHG Inventories. She highlighted challenges faced by Latin American countries, including: development of GHG inventories; maintaining stable inventory systems over time; and adequate institutional arrangements. She said the purpose of the Network is to: maintain South-South cooperation on national GHG inventories among Latin American Spanish-speaking countries; facilitate knowledge exchange through a range of tools; and provide technical support on, inter alia, different models of institutional arrangements and strengthening capacity for using the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National GHG Inventories. Kirsten Orschulok, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), Germany, presented on the Partnership on Transparency in the Paris Agreement (PATPA), formerly the International Partnership on Mitigation and MRV, outlining the Partnership’s current activities to promote practical exchange and political dialogue between countries on enhanced transparency. She noted that the PATPA seeks to foster transparency, communication, networking and trust between countries by bringing together negotiators and implementers.  During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: the role of adaptation in the Paris Agreement transparency framework; PATPA support on transparency of adaptation and support; and eligibility requirements for participation in UNFCCC-CASTT workshops. L-R: William Agyemang-Bonsu, UNFCCC Secretariat; Kirsten Orschulok, BMUB, Germany; Agré Mathieu Richemond Assié, Côte d’Ivoire; and Damiano Borgogno, UNDP GSP Jae Jung, GIR, said that the UNFCCC-GIR-CASTT programme on GHG inventories provides training on reporting and review under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, GHG inventory compilation and sectoral GHG MRV, among others. Damiano Borgogno, UNDP GSP (center), introduced the GSP-supported West African South-South Network on MRV and the Latin American Network on GHG Inventories. William Agyemang-Bonsu, UNFCCC Secretariat, noted that the UNFCCC-CASTT programme “allows us to move away from traditional workshops.” Among the main activities of the Latin American Network on GHG Inventories, Diana Camila Rodríguez Vargas, Colombia, highlighted establishment of formal arrangements to implement the Network, and identification of barriers and support needs. Kirsten Orschulok, BMUB, Germany, said PATPA’s formats include: partnership meetings on the margins of UN negotiations; capacity-building activities through peer-to-peer learning during technical workshops; and knowledge sharing. Contact: Marlan Pillay | Mpillay@unfccc.int More Information: http://unfccc.int/national_reports/non-annex_i_national_communications/unfccc_castt/items/10261.php https://www.transparency-partnership.net/ https://www.gir.go.kr/eng/ Raising Ambition in Climate and Development: Adaptation Benefit Mechanism and Sustainable Development Goals Impact QuantificationPresented by the Gold Standard Foundation (GSF) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) In this side event, panelists highlighted how sustainable development can catalyze greater climate ambition while helping developing countries meet their development objectives. Gareth Phillips, AfDB, moderated the panel.  Outlining a proposed adaptation benefit mechanism (ABM), Phillips underscored that, if created, the ABM will: use a credible and transparent process to provide a results-based mechanism; offer a price signal for adaptation benefits; and determine this price signal by verified costs defined by an approved methodology. He said that the ABM would likely be supported by: donors who wish to transfer climate funds for long-term adaptation in a “transparent, efficient and cost-effective manner”; and socially responsible corporate buyers who wish to demonstrate their global awareness to shareholders and stakeholders. Highlighting differences between the Clean Development Mechanism and the proposed ABM, Phillips stressed that: the ABM is simpler, as it is a “contract” and not an “uncapped environmental liability”; units are non-fungible and not designed for submission against an obligation; and the ABM will finance the most compelling adaptation needs. Noting a “preponderance of mitigation” among internationally-negotiated financing mechanisms, Axel Michaelowa, Perspectives Climate Change, said that the ABM could reduce this bias. He suggested that, to avoid potential “stumbling blocks,” the ABM should ensure that: the mechanism does not “crowd out” public finance; units provide an “open choice” for the private sector; and a sufficient number of methodologies allows for a “convergence” of similar approaches and metrics.  Chebet Maikut, Uganda, emphasized that current funding mechanisms are not sufficient to meet the needs of all developing countries. He called for fully capitalizing on current funding mechanisms and innovative approaches to mobilize additional resources. Maikut said that the ABM has the potential to “liberate” private sector financing.  Questioning why it has been an “uphill battle” to include sustainable development in climate negotiations, Marion Verles, GSF, underscored that public support for sustainable development can be the “driving force” for more ambitious climate action. Recalling the Kyoto Protocol and associated trading schemes, she emphasized that negative public perception linked to poor safeguard mechanisms and poor sustainable development objectives undermined the Protocol’s credibility. Verles said that the “elements are in place” for a paradigm shift that embeds sustainable development in climate policies.  Noting that the definition of sustainable development varies between countries, Sven Braden, Liechtenstein, stressed the importance of national prerogatives. He called for tools and forums to discuss potential contradictions within the Sustainable Development Goals. L-R: Marion Verles, GSF; Axel Michaelowa, Perspectives Climate Change; and Sven Braden, Liechtenstein Sven Braden, Liechtenstein, noted that his country was one of the first to link Certified Emission Reductions to labeling that ensures sustainable development. Chebet Maikut, Uganda, stressed the “moral responsibility” to finance adaptation needs of developing countries. Marion Verles, GSF, underscored that sustainable development can be the “key element to move the needle” on climate ambition. Gareth Phillips, AfDB, said that, in some parts of Africa, “adaptation is the new mitigation” as there is more potential for action in this area. Contact: Sarah Leugers | sarah.leugers@goldstandard.org Gareth Phillips | g.phillips@afdb.org More Information: https://www.afdb.org/en/topics-and-sectors/initiatives-partnerships/adaptation-benefit-mechanism-abm/ Supporting Loss and Damage for the Most Vulnerable: Experiences from Africa and Elsewhere Presented by CARE International, the ACT Alliance - Action by Churches, and Practical Action This side event, moderated by Sven Harmeling, CARE International, discussed key definitions and principles for financing loss and damage initiatives, including through climate risk insurance, and shared findings from the African Risk Capacity (ARC), a specialized agency of the African Union.  Idy Niang, Senegal, said that the challenge before the Executive Committee (ExCom) of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts (WIM) in its work on a clearing house for risk transfer is to develop a sound international framework to ensure that insurance companies help vulnerable populations. He noted the R4 Rural Resilience Initiative (R4) in his country, highlighting food security among its benefits. Sabine Minninger, ACT Alliance, hoped that the upcoming Group of 20 Summit, taking place in Hamburg. Germany, from 7-8 July 2017, will take forward Germany’s InsuResilience initiative, which aims to provide climate risk insurance coverage to 400 million poor and vulnerable people by 2020. She cautioned against addressing climate change by “dealing with the symptoms,” such as loss and damage. Minninger also urged civil society to work on making climate risk insurance premiums affordable, noting that the poorest “should not pay at all.” Vitumbiko Chinoko, CARE International, presented on the ARC, highlighting experiences from Southern Africa. Among recommendations for the ARC, he identified the need for: capacity building on, and affordability of, climate risk insurance; enhanced participation and transparency through involving non-state actors; enabling environments; using participation of the poor as a criterion for approving applications for certificates of good standing; and a participatory monitoring and evaluation process for the whole facility that should include poor women farmers. Swenja Surminski, London School of Economics (LSE), emphasized the importance of keeping in mind the aims and objectives behind using insurance as a tool to address loss and damage. Highlighting advantages of insurance over post-disaster aid, she noted incentivizing and enhancing risk reduction through insurance, and sharing loss and damage beyond the at-risk community through solidarity funds as key challenges to designing and implementing insurance in the loss and damage context.  Reinhard Mechler, International Institute for Advanced System Analysis (IIASA), outlined the pro-poor principles of the Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII), including comprehensive needs-based solutions, client value, affordability, accessibility, participation, sustainability and enabling environments. Among transformative measures for risk management, he highlighted: pooling and sharing risks in order to diversify them; innovative instruments involving public-private partnerships; livelihood transformation; and migration. Under “curative” options, he listed loss and damage mechanisms at the national level and a displacement coordination facility.   In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: the role of the WIM ExCom and the clearing house for risk transfer in initiatives, such as InsuResilience; innovative sources of, and accounting for, loss and damage finance; utility of indirect insurance mechanisms for the poor; links between insurance initiatives and humanitarian networks; involvement of multilateral development banks in climate insurance; and challenges associated with covering insurance premiums for the poor. In closing, Colin McQuistan, Practical Action, said that the key objective of the event was to “keep loss and damage on the agenda,” noting that capacity building is vital. Sabine Minninger, ACT Alliance; Swenja Surminski, LSE; Sven Harmeling, CARE International; Reinhard Mechler, IIASA; and Vitumbiko Chinoko, CARE International Sven Harmeling, CARE International, questioned whether insurance mechanisms have the capacity to address the growing risks of loss and damage. Reinhard Mechler, IIASA, observed that “there is not a single market-based insurance mechanism; there is always an element of solidarity involved.” Sabine Minninger, ACT Alliance, underscored that “climate insurance is not an answer to climate justice.” Noting that women are the most vulnerable to climate change, Vitumbiko Chinoko, CARE International, highlighted his organization’s efforts to ensure that women are protected. Contact: Sven Harmeling | sharmeling@careclimatechange.org  Isaiah Toroitich | ikt@actalliance.org  Colin McQuistan | colin.mcquistan@practicalaction.org.uk  More Information: http://www.care-international.org/ http://actalliance.org/ https://practicalaction.org/  Human Mobility and Climate Change: Synergies between the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Other Global Policy Processes Presented by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) This event discussed developments relevant to the Task Force on Climate Displacement under the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts, which was mandated by the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to develop recommendations to avert, minimize and address displacement. Atle Solberg, Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD), moderated the event. Michelle Yonetani, International Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), NRC, highlighted that displacement is more strongly recognized under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) than under its predecessor, the Hyogo Framework for Action. Among key recommendations of the PDD to the 2017 Global Platform for DRR, she noted: preventing displacement and reducing displacement risk; addressing protection needs and promoting durable solutions to displacement; and strengthening the systematic collection and monitoring of displacement data to inform policy and planning. Marine Franck, UNHCR, introduced the 2016 New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, noting processes to adopt a global compact on migration and a global compact on refugees as key outcomes. She highlighted the UNHCR’s work includes Guidelines on Temporary Protection or Stay Arrangements, which can apply in the context of climate change and disasters, and a 10-Point Plan of Action on Refugee Protection and Mixed Migration. Dina Ionesco, International Organization for Migration (IOM), said the global compact on migration offers an opportunity to integrate climate change into key migration policy processes. She also said climate change offers an opportunity to “green” and modernize migration policy. Noting that the human rights and vulnerabilities of those affected by slow onset events are often overlooked, Benjamin Schachter, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), highlighted his organization’s efforts to address information gaps in this area. He underscored the importance of human rights policy coherence across different global policy processes.  Meredith Byrne, International Labour Organization (ILO), welcomed the integrated approach of the Task Force on Displacement, and noted that it provides opportunities to make linkages with the Sustainable Development Goals and is in a “unique position” to bring together experts from cross-cutting areas. Stressing that there are 150.3 million migrant workers with “enormous development potential,” she additionally highlighted ILO’s work on green jobs. In the discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: several opportunities for civil society to engage in the global compact on refugees, including through the UNHCR’s 2017 non-governmental organization consultations; the need to raise awareness of what human rights are, and how they can be asserted; how climate finance can exacerbate human rights violations and the need for a regulatory framework to ensure businesses respect human rights; the IOM’s Environmental Migration Portal; and the need to “shine light” on good practices. L-R: Michelle Yonetani, IDMC, NRC; Marine Franck, UNHCR; Atle Solberg, PDD; Dina Ionesco, IOM; and Benjamin Schachter, OHCHR Benjamin Schachter, OHCHR, underscored that climate change puts human rights at risk and drives migration. Michelle Yonetani, IDMC, NRC, said climate-related disasters cause an average of 21.5 million displacements each year. Marine Franck, UNHCR, highlighted efforts to ensure synergies between the global compact on refugees and the Task Force on Climate Displacement. Dina Ionesco, IOM, stressed migrants can be powerful agents of adaptation and mitigation policies. Contact: Lena Brenn | lena.brenn@nrc.no Erica Bower | bower@unhcr.org More Information: https://www.nrc.no/what-we-do/speaking-up-for-rights/climate-change/ http://www.unhcr.org/climate-change-and-disasters.html http://disasterdisplacement.org/ Contribution of Forest Landscape Restoration to Nationally Determined Contributions Presented by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the international Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) This side event concentrated on the contribution of forest landscape restoration (FLR) to the achievement of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Panelists shared views on the design and successful implementation of FLR policies and practices, and discussed how FLR contributes to reducing emissions and enhancing carbon stocks in forest landscapes.  Sandeep Sengupta, IUCN, moderated the event. He noted IUCN’s Bonn Challenge, which aims to secure pledges to restore up to 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2050.  Nur Masripatin, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia, focused on the role of forest and land-use sectors in Indonesia’s NDC. She said that forestry is responsible for 17.2% of her country’s emissions reduction target of 29% of the business-as-usual scenario by 2030 reflected in its NDC.  Leticia Guimaraes, Ministry of Environment, Brazil, highlighted national instruments to support implementation of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+), and the national plan for recovery of native vegetation, including: the Brazilian forest code which requires land owners in the Amazon biome to maintain 80% of their land as forest; and the rural environmental registry, which enables the government to track implementation of the code. She said that her country’s NDC includes a target to reforest and recover 12 million hectares of land.  Florian Kraxner, IIASA, noted that global estimates of degraded area with potential to be restored vary from 1 billion to 6 billion hectares. Highlighting the RESTORE+ project, he said it aims to: identify degraded land; assess the implications of using different degraded land definitions; and assess the sectoral interaction of the food-land-energy nexus.  Ping Yowargana, IIASA, explained the limitations of remote sensing in identifying degraded land resources and described the potential of crowdsourcing to estimate land availability for reforestation. He detailed strategies for engaging grassroots actors in data collection and verification, including, inter alia: crowdsourcing of land cover analysis; in situ data validation using mobile applications; and visualization of land cover data sets and suitability maps.  Underscoring that FLR aims to regain ecological functionality across deforested and degraded forest landscapes, María del Carmen García-Espinosa, IUCN, said that it also promotes socioeconomic benefits by improving the wellbeing of forest-dependent communities. She highlighted IUCN’s Restoration Opportunity Assessment Methodology (ROAM) to identify and prioritize FLR opportunities at the national and subnational levels, noting that ROAM has been deployed in at least 26 jurisdictions or countries.  Ruth Irlen, Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), Germany, stressed that the Bonn Challenge is about “enabling informed decision making.” She identified as key to meeting the targets of the Bonn Challenge: development of sustainable restoration models that meet national needs; and innovation to combine “big data” with crowdsourcing and ground proofing of data.  During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: the role of indigenous peoples in Brazil in protecting forests; developing the national REDD+ project strategy and implementing reforestation projects; resilience of community conservation and restoration initiatives; and restoration of palm oil plantation land in Indonesia.  L-R: Sandeep Sengupta, IUCN; María del Carmen García-Espinosa, IUCN; Leticia Guimaraes, Ministry of Environment, Brazil; Ruth Irlen, BMUB, Germany; Nur Masripatin, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia; Florian Kraxner, IIASA; and Ping Yowargana, IIASA Ping Yowargana, IIASA, highlighted strategies for “citizen-empowered scientific assessment” of land-use degradation and restoration. Sandeep Sengupta, IUCN, moderated the event. Nur Masripatin, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia, said that the forest area in her country has decreased since 1990 but the rate of net forest loss has been cut by 50%. Leticia Guimaraes, Ministry of Environment, Brazil, highlighted her country’s recent commitment to the Bonn Challenge. Contact: Sandeep Sengupta | Sandeep.sengupta@iucn.org Susan Riley | riley@iiasa.ac.at More Information: http://www.bonnchallenge.org/content/challenge Around the Venue

On Wednesday, delegates to the eighteenth meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (ICP-18) participated in discussion panels on “cooperation and coordination in addressing the effects of climate change on oceans – current actions and opportunities for further enhancement.” In the morning, delegates heard five presentations on: science stewardship projects and programmes; the Global Ocean Observing System; the role of “blue forests” in capturing and storing carbon and providing ecosystem services nationally and globally; regional strategies for ecosystem-based adaptation; and building resilience into ocean management and marine reserves. Discussion topics included: collaboration between NOAA and the Research Center for Oceanography, Indonesia; kelp forests in temperate and polar regions; capacity-building in ocean science; difficulties in predicting El Niño events; and taking action despite the need for further scientific developments. Five presentations in the afternoon covered: the GEF, climate change finance, and lessons learned; awareness raising in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and assistance for national adaptation plans and implementation of field projects; CTI-CFF measures and steps to address climate change-related coral reef issues; the effects of climate change on people in coastal areas in Indonesia: mitigation and adaptation experience and possible international cooperation; and effects of rising sea levels on maritime boundaries and “deterritorialization”. Discussions focused on accessing climate finance and effectiveness of climate funds at the national level; the need for private and public financing for countries not covered under agency mandates; and integration of “local wisdom” in ecosystem-based fisheries management plans. Additional discussions included: early warning systems for atolls and precursor technology; legal implications of sea level rise for SIDS; addressing gaps related to climate-displaced persons; access to funding to address changing baselines; reopening existing joint development agreements under changed circumstances; and the applicability of the South China Sea arbitration case on Article 121 to the status of an island. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report in English and French from the 18th Meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Hernan Garcia, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Noureddine Yassaa, Algeria Vladimir Ryabinin, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC-UNESCO) From L-R: Vladimir Ryabinin, IOC-UNESCO; Hernan Garcia, NOAA; and Co-Chair Kornelios Korneliou, Cyprus Yolannie Cerrato Corrales, Honduras Lucía Raffin, Argentina Ko Barrett, US Michel Djimgou Djomeni, Cameroon Isaías Medina Mejías, Venezuela Elliot Harris, UN Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Bethan O'Leary, University of York, UK Jeung Sook Park, Republic of Korea Anastasia Strati, Greece Angel Horna, Peru Vasiliki Krasa, Cyprus The panel during the afternoon session Napoleon Beras, Dominican Republic Cyrille Barnerias, Global Environment Facility (GEF) Muhammad Lukman, Coral Triangle Initiative Hassan Moustahfid, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Makurita Baaro, Kiribati Nadia Deckert, France Carlos Garcia Soto, Spain Andi Eka Sakya, Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency, Indonesia Christina Hioureas, Foley Hoag Galuh Rarasanti, Indonesia Martin Zvachula, Federated States of Micronesia Dimitri Gutiérrez Aguilar, Peru Igor Bailen, the Philippines Roberto Sisilo, Solomon Islands Participants networking From L-R: Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, International Institute for Sustainable Development - Reporting Services (IISD-RS); Joan Yang, Nauru; Natalie Jones, IISD-RS; and Teya Penniman, IISD-RS

The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Monday, 15 May 2017: Ecosystems and Ecosystem-Based Adaptation: Advancing Action through Knowledge Achievements of the Consultative Group of Experts and Success Stories of National Communications and Biennial Update Reports from Developing Countries Climate and Development Benefits of Black Carbon Mitigation Arctic Council Ministerial and the Future of the Arctic under the Paris Agreement Integrating Climate Risk into the Finance Sector Poznan Strategic Programme on Technology Transfer IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage of selected side events at the Bonn Climate Change Conference, May 2017. Photos by IISD/ENB | Angeles Estrada Vigil For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Ecosystems and Ecosystem-Based Adaptation: Advancing Action through Knowledge Presented by the Nairobi Work Programme (NWP), the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) and Friends of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (FEBA) This session, moderated by Musonda Mumba, UN Environment, centered on the role of healthy ecosystems in helping people to adapt to climate change. Participants discussed building climate resilience of ecosystems, and facilitating the integration of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) approaches in national development plans. Tibor Schaffhauser, Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) Vice-Chair, on behalf of Carlos Fuller, SBSTA Chair, welcomed the NWP as “a knowledge-for-action network for climate resilience.” He invited NWP partners to pledge actions under the Programme. Ali Raza Rizvi, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)/FEBA Secretariat, presented on a recent synthesis paper on ecosystems and EbA prepared under the NWP. Among key messages, he identified: the need for due diligence in all EbA interventions to avoid maladaptation; potential synergies between adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk reduction (DRR) offered by EbA; and the need to link Paris Agreement implementation with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Angela Andrade-Pérez, Chair, IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM), underscored that EbA is often the best solution to address climate change impacts as it provides co-benefits, creates jobs and avoids maladaptation. She noted that this approach should be applied in conjunction with other solutions, and that “soft” measures, such as communication, education and capacity building, are key for successful implementation. Paul Desanker, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat, highlighted work by the LEG and partners to explore implementation of the SDGs through National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to assess progress in meeting the NAPs’ objectives. Ronald Jumeau, Ambassador for Climate Change and Small Island Developing State (SIDS) Issues, Seychelles, discussed his country’s intention to convert 30% of its Exclusive Economic Zone into Marine Protected Areas, contributing to marine conservation and EbA. He highlighted the pioneering of innovative funding mechanisms to implement this project, including a “debt swap” with the Paris Club, South Africa and other partners, and stressed the project’s emphasis on stakeholder participation. Paul Mafabi, Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda, addressed efforts to enhance resilience of ecosystems in the Mount Elgon region in Uganda. Among lessons learned, he noted the need for: sustained engagement; benefits to flow to communities; and collective ownership. Ninel Escobar Montecinos, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Mexico, shared experiences with the implementation of an integrated system of water reserves as an early adaptation strategy in Mexico, which aims to cover 356 river basins by 2018. She highlighted almost a million local beneficiaries from this work thus far. In the ensuing discussion, participants discussed, inter alia, the need for “hybrid” solutions with benefits for the climate, poverty reduction and communities, and experiences with Saint Lucia’s sustainable financing mechanism. Among different tools and platforms for promoting EbA, participants highlighted: tools provided by the UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre for addressing different ecosystem types; a Convention on Biological Diversity synthesis report on ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and DRR; the German Government’s ‘Mainstreaming EbA’ project; Partners for Resilience; and IUCN’s work on understanding legal and policy frameworks that support the uptake of EbA. (L-R): Ali Raza Rizvi, IUCN/FEBA Secretariat; Paul Desanker, UNFCCC Secretariat; Angela Andrade-Pérez, Chair, IUCN CEM; and Musonda Mumba, UN Environment Ali Raza Rizvi, IUCN/FEBA Secretariat (right), stressed that poverty reduction is critical to successful adaptation. Angela Andrade-Pérez, IUCN CEM (left),, highlighted ecosystems’ vital role in resilience, but warned that their capacity to deliver services is affected by climate change. (L-R): Paul Mafabi, Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda; Ronald Jumeau, Ambassador for Climate Change and SIDS Issues, Seychelles; Musonda Mumba, UN Environment; and Ninel Escobar Montecinos, WWF Mexico Paul Desanker, UNFCCC Secretariat, invited participants to reflect on how best to prioritize resources to meet the requirements of priority ecosystems. Musonda Mumba, UN Environment, moderated the event. Paul Mafabi, Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda, underscored that participatory planning is key for ensuring ownership and sustainability. Ninel Escobar Montecinos, WWF Mexico, stressed preserving water is “a race against time.” Contact: Rojina Manandhar | rmanandhar@unfccc.int  More Information: http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2017/sbsta/eng/03.pdf https://www.surveymonkey.de/r/ecosystemsNAPs http://www4.unfccc.int/sites/NWP/News/Pages/ecosystems-side-event-2.aspx Achievements of the Consultative Group of Experts and Success Stories of National Communications and Biennial Update Reports from Developing CountriesPresented by the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) This side event discussed the achievements of the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) on National Communications (NCs) in assisting developing countries in implementing the UNFCCC monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) and transparency framework. Dominique Revet, UNFCCC Secretariat, moderated the event. Stephen Mutua Kinguyu, CGE member, Kenya, reported that the CGE’s mandate was renewed at the 19th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 19) for the 2014-2018 period, highlighting its objective of improving the process and preparation of NCs and Biennial Update Reports (BURs) by developing countries by providing them with technical assistance and support. He highlighted five key strategic priorities of the CGE’s five-year programme, including: building developing countries’ capacity; enhancing the sustainability of the NC and BUR process, cooperation and collaboration with other global initiatives, and communication and outreach; and ensuring availability of resources. Among the CGE’s capacity-building activities, Kinguyu noted: developing tools and guidance materials; capacity-building workshops; developing collaboration with key global initiatives; monthly webinar series on vulnerability and adaptation, mitigation, national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories and support; and outreach activities. He further indicated that CGE training materials are easily downloadable on the UNFCCC CGE website, which also provides access to free e-learning courses, and that CGE training materials are also available in French and Spanish. Kok Seng Yap, Malaysia, shared lessons learned on overcoming challenges faced in preparing his country’s national reports. He outlined key findings of Malaysia’s BUR submitted on 3 March 2016, including that: effective institutional arrangements based on built ownership and a robust MRV system necessitate adjustments; good understanding of UNFCCC decisions and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines increases transparency of reporting; and the international consultation and analysis process enhances understanding of reporting requirements for future improvements. Regarding key challenges related to mitigation actions, he noted: operationalizing a robust MRV system; lack of information for quantification and reporting; and quantification of needs. Among GHG inventory-related challenges, he highlighted limited availability of activity data according to IPCC guidelines, and country-specific emission factors. He said these challenges could be addressed through continuous engagement with formal and informal stakeholders, trust-building and training.     In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: participants’ selection process in CGE training sessions; advantages of building national institutional capacity over short-term consultants’ engagement; the role of the CGE in Paris Agreement implementation and in building relationships with the Paris Committee on Capacity-building and the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency; and the impact of NC and BUR preparation on future country policies. (L-R): Bhava Dhungana, UNFCCC Secretariat; Dominique Revet, UNFCCC Secretariat; Stephen Mutua Kinguyu, CGE member, Kenya; and Kok Seng Yap, Malaysia Stephen Mutua Kinguyu, CGE member, Kenya, invited views from parties on “what the CGE could do for them it is not already doing.” Dominique Revet, UNFCCC Secretariat, said the UNFCCC Secretariat has supplementary funding for assisting developing countries with workshop participation. Contact: Bhava Dhungana (Organizer) | BDhungana@unfccc.int Dominique Revet (Moderator) | drevet@unfccc.int More Information: http://unfccc.int/national_reports/non-annex_i_natcom/cge/items/2608.php Climate and Development Benefits of Black Carbon MitigationPresented by the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the Governments of Canada, Chile and Mexico This side event highlighted the impacts of black carbon on climate and health, and discussed the scientific rationale for countries to include black carbon as a regulated emission in national and local air quality regulations and standards. Nathan Borgford-Powell, CCAC, moderated the event.  Noting that black carbon is the second most important warming agent in the atmosphere, Mark Lawrence, IASS, highlighted climate and health reasons to mitigate emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs). He stressed that fast action to mitigate SLCPs will: reduce near-term warming; contribute to the 2°C above preindustrial levels target; reduce the need for climate adaptation; and, while saving lives, improve health and productivity. Borgford-Powell concentrated on metrics for evaluating climate benefits and co-benefits of SLCP measures. He outlined the applications of these metrics, including: quantification of impacts and benefits of SLCP mitigation; standardization of reporting activities; measurement of progress towards long-term climate goals; and comparison between climate pollutants. Highlighting a recent CCAC Scientific Advisory Panel Expert Workshop on metrics, Borgford-Powell called for a “near-term temperature metric” for SLCPs that complements long-term temperature targets. Participating virtually, Drew Shindell, Duke University, described climate change as “both a short-term and a long-term problem.” He stressed that the long-term transition to a low-carbon society does not consider the short-term health and climate impacts of pollutants other than carbon, including: emissions released through burning waste; leaked methane from waste management; and biomass- and bioenergy-related emissions. Maria Amparo Martínez, Mexico, underscored that Mexican urban areas have air pollution levels above what is considered healthy by the World Health Organization. Reporting that Mexico’s 2013 black carbon emission inventory estimated 125,000 tons of black carbon emissions annually, Martínez highlighted an interinstitutional black carbon monitoring network and other strategic actions planned in the country’s “megalopolis” region around Mexico City. Felipe Osses, Chile, emphasized that Chile’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) includes actions to reduce SLCPs through climate-related instruments and environmental management. He highlighted his country’s mitigation actions to reduce SLCPs under its ‘Climate Change Action Plan 2017-2022,’ including: development of the ‘Climate, Clean Air and Capacity Building’ programme; assessment of black carbon and CO2 reduction potential through green freight; elaboration, updating and integration of inventories of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and SLCPs; a strategy for atmospheric decontamination; and hydrofluorocarbon replacement actions.  Catherine Stewart, Canada, underlined Canada’s recognition of the important role SLCPs play in meeting long-term temperature targets. She highlighted her country’s efforts to mitigate SLCPs, including through: its ‘mid-century, long-term low-GHG development strategy;’ the Pan-Canadian Framework for Clean Growth and Climate Change; and the implementation of air pollution regulations. Stewart said that Canada faces a “particular challenge” in reducing reliance on diesel for electricity and heating in Northern, remote and indigenous communities. During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: reduction of wildfires as a form of mitigation of black carbon and co-pollutants; inclusion of black carbon in the measurement of national emissions; and expansion of the CCAC. (L-R): Catherine Stewart, Canada; Felipe Osses, Chile; and Maria Amparo Martínez, Mexico Mark Lawrence, IASS, underscored that outdoor particulate matter causes approximately 4 million premature deaths annually worldwide. Nathan Borgford-Powell, CCAC, said the CCAC will “road test” proposed near-term climate metrics with interested countries and institutions. Catherine Stewart, Canada, stated that Canada’s investments in clean energy will result in reduced black carbon emissions. Felipe Osses, Chile, outlined Chile’s “integral policy-making approach” to reducing SLCPs emissions. Contact: Kathleen Mar | Kathleen.mar@iass-potsdam.de Erin Silsbe | erin.silsbe@canada.ca More Information: http://www.iass-potsdam.de/en/institute-advanced-sustainability-studies http://www.ccacoalition.org/en Arctic Council Ministerial and the Future of the Arctic under the Paris AgreementPresented by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) This side event addressed climate outcomes of the 10th Arctic Council Ministerial held in Fairbanks, Alaska, US, from 10-11 May 2017, and the role of the Paris Agreement in preserving the Arctic’s role in the climate system. Participants discussed the findings of the 2017 climate impact assessment by the Arctic Council titled ‘Snow, Water, Ice and Permafrost in the Arctic’ (SWIPA2), and their implications for the 2018 facilitative dialogue and the global stocktake envisioned under the Paris Agreement. Svante Bodin, Director, ICCI-Europe, moderated the event. Lars-Otto Reiersen, Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), Arctic Council, presented on SWIPA2. Among the report’s key findings, he noted: record high Arctic temperatures in the last decade; that by mid- and late 2100 the Arctic will be “very different”; and urgent mitigation action can stabilize parts of the Arctic towards the end of the 21st century. Underscoring the Arctic Council Fairbanks Declaration 2017, he identified the AMAP Working Group’s recommendations, including early, ambitious and full implementation of the Paris Agreement, and prioritization of research to enhance certainty in predictions.  Elvira Poloczanska, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II (WG II) Technical Support Unit (TSU), updated participants on progress on the preparation of the IPCC ‘Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate’ (SROCC) to be finalized in September 2019.  Outi Honkatukia, Finland, outlined Finland’s four priorities for its 2017-2019 chairmanship of the Arctic Council: environmental protection, including biodiversity conservation, pollution prevention, and climate change mitigation and adaptation; connectivity; meteorological cooperation, including on intensifying monitoring and filling geographical gaps in data collection; and education. Honkatukia underscored that sustainable development is “at the core of the Arctic Council’s mandate,” and called for exploring how the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development framework can be used for Arctic cooperation for the benefit of humans and nature.  Svante Bodin addressed the implications of the Arctic “passing irreversible thresholds” for the 2018 facilitative dialogue, and highlighted the need for new and additional measures. Linking the Arctic cryosphere with the Sustainable Development Goals, he stressed the need to reduce cryosphere climate change in the near term, reduce air pollution and feed a growing population through addressing Short-Lived Climate Pollutants. Bodin underscored that the only way to prevent irreversible changes in the Arctic is to accelerate all possible mitigation measures quickly and decisively “never to reach these temperatures at all,” as “a 2°C world is a 5°C Arctic.” He said that the choice for the 2018 stocktake is between Arctic-preserving mitigation or extreme adaptation and geoengineering.  Participants then viewed an intervention made during the Arctic Council Ministerial by Wallström, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden, who emphasized that “we have the knowledge, technology, money and capacity to save our planet.”  In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: methane release through the loss of permafrost; the need for a pamphlet “bringing science to the public” and associated communication challenges; the response of the negotiating and political communities to the situation in the Arctic and its global impacts; the irreversibility of changes in the Arctic; and civil society involvement and the role of intergenerational equity. (L-R): Elvira Poloczanska, IPCC WG II TSU; Outi Honkatukia, Finland; and Lars-Otto Reiersen, AMAP, Arctic Council Outi Honkatukia, Finland, said that “the Arctic is a global issue; you feel impacts not just in Greenland, but also in New York and Florida.” Lars-Otto Reiersen, AMAP, Arctic Council, described the Arctic as the “barometer of the globe.” Participants viewed an intervention made during the 10th Arctic Council Ministerial by Margot Wallström, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden, who said Sweden will be carbon-neutral by 2045. Elvira Poloczanska, IPCC WG II TSU, indicated that the SROCC will address, inter alia: high mountain areas; the polar regions; and sea-level rise and implications for low lying islands, coasts and communities. Warning that “what happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic,” Svante Bodin, Director, ICCI-Europe, highlighted the disproportionate impacts on poor populations. Contact: Pamela Pearson | pam@iccinet.org Svante Bodin (Moderator) | svante@iccinet.org More Information: http://iccinet.org/ http://www.amap.no/swipa2017 http://www.arctic-council.org/index.php/en/ Integrating Climate Risk into the Finance SectorPresented by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Worldwide, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) This session focused on the recommendations of the Financial Stability Board’s (FSB) Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) as a tool to manage climate risks. It was moderated by Nicolette Bartlett, CDP. Norbert Gorißen, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), Germany, welcomed the TCFD’s recommendations as “a very important piece of work,” noting they will showcase how financial markets can identify risk and barriers to shift finance closer to climate-related investments. Underscoring “there is lots of evidence of real-life action companies are taking,” Lois Guthrie, WBCSD and Founding Director, Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB), noted that investors still find it difficult to act on information because of a lack of standards and comparability. She called for “more infrastructure” to support commitments and actions towards improved policy making. Ed Wells, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), said the TCFD’s recommendations offer a framework to channel money in the “right direction” and ensure the right sectors are being supported. Suggesting that a mandatory legislative response “will take a long time,” he stressed that “the private sector can drive this soon.” Santiago Lorenzo, WWF, highlighted that climate change is “on top of our work’s systemic risk” and said the same applies to financial institutions, whose core businesses will be affected by climate change. He highlighted the TCFD’s efforts as vital for ensuring that good investment decisions are taken. In the ensuing discussion, participants raised the question of how to address “incumbents” who benefit from short-term investments that are destructive for the planet. They highlighted, inter alia: the importance of coherence and transparency for guiding good investments; the potential of multilateral development banks cooperating in this area; and the role of science in enhancing transparency. France’s ‘Article 173’ on climate risk reporting, the UK’s Public Services (Social Value) Act and the 2° Investing Initiative were lauded as positive examples and developments. Participants also highlighted that “we are talking about the trillions here” and questioned the prospects of “getting where we need to be” without a meaningful carbon price. L-R: Norbert Gorißen, BMUB, Germany; Lois Guthrie, WBCSD and Founding Director, CDSB; Nicolette Bartlett, CDP; Ed Wells, HSBC; and Santiago Lorenzo, WWF Lois Guthrie, WBCSD and Founding Director, CDSB, noted that current climate change activities are so fragmented that they do not “add up to a coherent whole.” Santiago Lorenzo, WWF, emphasized that ecosystems and the economy will benefit significantly from “preserving the world we live in right now.” Nicolette Bartlett, CDP, moderated the event. Ed Wells, HSBC, observed that “markets need good quality information to avoid mispricing of risk and misallocation of resources.” Contact: Shirin Reuvers | shirin.reuvers@cdp.net  Elise Buckle | buckle@wbcsd.org  Mandy Woods | mwoods@wwf.org.za  More Information: https://www.fsb-tcfd.org/ Poznan Strategic Programme on Technology TransferPresented by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) In this side event, panelists shared experiences and lessons learned from projects supported under the Poznan strategic programme (PSP) on technology transfer. They focused on the knowledge and networks of regional development banks, and provided inputs to an update of the evaluation of the PSP scheduled for 2017. Masako Ogawa, GEF, moderated the event. Noting that sustainable investing is “increasingly mainstream” for multilateral development banks (MDBs), Duarte da Silva, Asia Climate Partners (ACP), pointed to significant for partnerships with institutions that have common goals and complementary capabilities to MDBs. He identified a “mismatch” between supply of, and demand for, environmental finance investments, where investor interest is estimated to be US$620 billion but current market size amounts to only US$120 billion. Da Silva outlined the ACP’s ‘Climate Public-Private Partnership Fund’ concept, underscoring that the Fund mobilizes capital at scale from global public and private sector investors. Abhilash Thirupathy, Gold Farm, identified key barriers to the development of renewable energy in India, including: limited access to venture capital funding; and the lack of a long-term view of capacity building. He highlighted Gold Farm’s partnership with the PSP and noted key achievements, including: installation of 750 off-grid solar pumps across five states in India; conversion of 1,500 hectares of barren land to cultivable land; and annual revenue of US$2.5 million in the last financial year. Astrid Motta, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), highlighted EBRD’s Finance and Technology Transfer Centre for Climate Change (FINTECC) programme, detailing its support for companies to implement advanced climate technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase climate resilience by providing grants and technical assistance. She said that the EBRD has signed 29 transactions to date that include a FINTECC grant component, with incentives worth US$7.3 million supporting US$100 million in green incentives. Motta provided three examples of EBRD FINTECC projects: reduction of the carbon footprint of plastic toy production in Belarus; energy efficient building management systems in hospitals in Georgia; and modernization of lightweight glass manufacturing in Moldova. Detailing an EBRD-financed project in Moldova, Boris Crivoi, JV Glass Container Company JSC, highlighted energy saving processes that were implemented in the glass manufacturing process with FINTECC support. He reported a reduction of 9-9.5% of total energy consumption as well as reduced CO2 emissions per unit. Elfriede-Anna More, Technology Executive Committee (TEC), outlined TEC activities on climate technology financing, including: preparation of policy briefs on key technology issues; delivery of key messages and recommendations to the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change on policies for climate technology actions; and stimulation of cooperation between key national and international donors. She introduced the TEC brief ‘Enhancing Access to Climate Technology Financing,’ pointing to a key finding that climate technology requires a combination of “long lasting, loud and legal policy incentives,” market facilitation and public finance. During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: linkages between solar technology and irrigation in India; replicability and diffusion of technology at the regional level; and monitoring and evaluation of the FINTECC programme and investment scheme. (L-R): Abhilash Thirupathy, Gold Farm; Astrid Motta, EBRD; Boris Crivoi, JV Glass Container Company JSC; and Masako Ogawa, GEF Boris Crivoi, JV Glass Container Company JSC, said that investing in green technology fosters “parallel” climate benefits. Astrid Motta, EBRD, highlighted 1,200 “green financing” projects supported by the EBRD from 2006-2016. Abhilash Thirupathy, Gold Farm, highlighted providing employment to 120 people among his company's key achievements. Masako Ogawa, GEF, moderated the event. Contact: Masako Ogawa | mogawa2@thegef.org More Information: https://www.thegef.org/content/poznan-strategic-program http://unfccc.int/ttclear/

The eighteenth meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (ICP-18) opened on 15 May 2017 at the UN Headquarters in New York, under the theme: “The effects of climate change on oceans.” In the morning, delegates heard opening remarks from: Co-Chairs Gustavo Meza-Cuadra and Kornelios Korneliou; Stephen Mathias, Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs; Thomas Gass, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), on behalf of Wu Hongbo, UN DESA; Shifaana Thowfeequ, Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), on behalf of Acting Under-Secretary General Heidi Schroderus-Fox; Peter Thomson, President of the UN General Assembly; and Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole (AHWGW) Juliette Babb-Riley and Carolyn Schwalger. In the afternoon, Co-Chair Korneliou introduced the informal session, a discussion panel on “the effects of climate change on oceans, including environmental, social and economic implications.” Delegates heard presentations on: findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report and preparations for the Sixth Assessment; ecosystem services and climate change, including thermal adaptation; climate projections and predictions: challenges and possible solutions; the effects of climate change on the coasts of a highly vulnerable and Megadiverse Country: the case of Colombia; effects of climate change on the oceans (via webcast); and oceanic impacts on regional climate and the Argo Programme. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report in English and French from the 18th Meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page View of the dais Co-Chair Kornelios Korneliou, Cyprus Peter Thomson, President of the UN General Assembly Thomas Gass, Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) Shifaana Thowfeequ, UN Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) Stephen Mathias, Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Co-Chair Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, Peru Juliette Babb-Riley, Co-Chair, Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole (AHWGW) Margo Deiye, Nauru, on behalf of Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) Carmen Mifsud, Malta, speaking for the EU Carolyn Schwalger, Co-Chair, AHWGW Diedre Mills, Jamaica Isaías Medina Mejías, Venezuela Andi Eka Sakya, Indonesia Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group Luis Oña Garcés, Ecuador, on behalf of the G-77/China Lucía Raffin, Argentina Tevita Suka Mangisi, Tonga Sesselja Sigurðardóttir, Iceland Kate Neilson, New Zealand Luke Daunivalu, Fiji Delegates from Indonesia Presentations View of the panel during the afternoon session Ko Barrett, Vice-Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Françoise Gaill, Committee for Marine and Coastal Research, France Fangli Qiao, Government Secretary General and Deputy Director General, First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, China Philip Sutton, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, New Zealand Francisco Armando Arias Isaza, Institute of Marine Research, Colombia Elva Escobar Briones, National Autonomous University of Mexico, talked about the effects of climate change on the oceans (via webcast) Around the Venue Sphere Within a Sphere, by Arnaldo Pomodoro Non-Violence, by Fredrik Reuterswärd A view of Long Island City, Queens from the UN Headquarters

The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Tuesday, 9 May 2017: Making Paris Work: Leveraging the Expertise of Non-Party Stakeholders to Design the Paris Rulebook Climate Action to Address Loss and Damage of Vulnerable Populations and Build Resilience Long-term Strategies for 1.5ºC New Approaches for Analyzing and Visualizing the Integrity of the Global Climate Governance Regime Coping with Climate Change in Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Aligning Adaptation Strategies with Comprehensive Climate Risk Management Making the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) Work for People and the Planet IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage of selected side events at the Bonn Climate Change Conference, May 2017. Photos by IISD/ENB | Angeles Estrada Vigil For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Making Paris Work: Leveraging the Expertise of Non-Party Stakeholders to Design the Paris RulebookPresented by the University of Lapland, the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, and the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) In this panel, participants shared their views on the positive role of non-state actors in designing a cohesive, robust and effective Paris rulebook. Harro van Asselt, UEF and Stockholm Environment Institute, moderated the event. Achala Abeysinghe, Chair, Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group, drew attention to the short time frame for negotiations on the Paris rulebook. Recognizing the key role that non-party stakeholders play, she identified three key processes they should support: expert review, national reporting and submission of relevant information to tackle barriers to implementation. She emphasized that “the Paris Agreement is just an empty shell without the rulebook.” Sébastien Duyck, University of Lapland, emphasized the importance of the next 18 months for the design of the Paris rulebook. He highlighted potential roles for non-state actors in the transparency framework, including: enhancing trust among parties; strengthening the capacity to assess potential gaps; and providing incentives for parties to deliver on NDCs. Yamide Dagnet, World Resources Institute (WRI), introduced the Project for Advancing Climate Transparency (PACT), a consortium of experts from developed and developing countries working to advance the development of robust and effective transparency and accountability rules and processes for the Paris Agreement. She agreed that the Paris Agreement could result in an “empty shell” and encouraged non-party stakeholders to contribute to “ratcheting up” ambition. Offering reasons for African support of transparency, Sam Ogallah, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), cited: a history of double-counting and mistrust; the special circumstances of developing countries which require international support to implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs); and the need for accountability and transparency in the delivery of NDCs. He emphasized that the Paris rulebook is key to effective implementation of NDCs in Africa. Monica Echegoyen, Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT), outlined ICAT’s collaboration with agencies and institutions to develop tools for transparency and capacity building. She stressed the present as the best moment to build bridges between the Secretariat, parties, and non-state actors. Dimitrios Zevgolis, Directorate-General for Climate Action, European Commission, underlined the importance of a robust and effective transparency scheme. He lauded practitioners and scientists for producing documentation and driving discussion outside the formal negotiations. He pointed to the level of “granularity” provided by civil society organizations as critical to parties’ information gathering. During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: direct work with civil society organizations via sharing platforms; the impact of transnational governance initiatives; and whistle-blowing mechanisms. Dimitrios Zevgolis, Directorate-General for Climate Action, European Commission, noted that non-state actors are the “watchdogs of transparency and ambition.” Sam Ogallah, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, questioned “why transparency? For who and by whom?” Harro van Asselt (center), University of Eastern Finland and Stockholm Environment Institute, said that now is a critical juncture for discussion of non-state actors and the Paris rulebook. Yamide Dagnet, World Resources Institute, said that “without transparency, it will be very difficult to build trust between countries.” Achala Abeysinghe, Chair, Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group, underscored that the LDC group pushed for the “highest possible ambition” in the Paris Agreement. Sébastien Duyck, University of Lapland, underscored that umbrella references are insufficient to elaborate the role of non-state actors. (L:R): Achala Abeysinghe, Chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) group; Yamide Dagnet, World Resources Institute; Sam Ogallah, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance; Harro van Asselt, University of Eastern Finland, Stockholm Environment Institute; Sébastien Duyck, University of Lapland; Dimitrios Zevgolis, Directorate-General for Climate Action, European Commission Monica Echegoyen, Initiative for Climate Action Transparency, said that national governments need guidance on how to engage with non-state actors. Lukas Hermwille, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy Contact: Sébastien Duyck (Organizer) | sebastien.duyck@ulapland.fi Harro van Asselt (Moderator) | harro.vanasselt@uef.fi More Information: http://www.wri.org/our-work/project/project-advancing-climate-transparency-pact Climate Action to Address Loss and Damage of Vulnerable Populations and Build ResiliencePresented by the World Food Programme (WFP) This event, moderated by Martin Frick, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), concentrated on ways to address loss and damage in vulnerable communities, building resilience and enhancing food security, and provided examples of best practices. Noting that the Paris Agreement’s preamble contains a “strong mention” of food security, Frick stated that, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), climate change is expected to increase the risks of hunger and malnutrition by 20% by 2050, with Africa and Asia most affected. He outlined loss and damage and resilience initiatives, including: the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts (WIM); the Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape (A2R) initiative; and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Nurul Quadir, Bangladesh, noted that his country’s government is: providing agricultural loans to farmers affected by flash floods, along with food “until the next harvest;” investing in researching new varieties of rice that can tolerate salinity and flooding; and working on early warning systems that would increase lead time.  Pepetua Latasi, Tuvalu, stressed that the fisheries sector is the main driver of her country’s economy, noting that climate change affects tuna fisheries in Tuvalu’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as tuna’s migration patterns change with the rising ocean temperatures. She highlighted climate change impacts that increase farmers’ vulnerabilities, such as sea level rise, droughts, salt water intrusion and inundation. Latasi emphasized Tuvalu’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), noting ongoing efforts to assess loss and damage through early warning systems and meteorological data. Clifford Mahlung, Jamaica, stated that smallholder farmers in his country, who comprise a significant part of the economy, face numerous climate change impacts, including hurricanes, drought and flooding. He highlighted the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), and said that making money available to those affected immediately after disasters strike is a challenge.  Describing insurance as a “major intervention” that can help vulnerable communities, Lucy Nganga, Kenya, highlighted the index-based Kenya Livestock Insurance Programme (KLIP). She explained that, since insurance premiums in vulnerable areas are higher than elsewhere in the country, the government covers 50% of the cost. Nganga also stressed the need for data that insurance companies can use. In the ensuing discussion, participants considered, inter alia: the difficulty of accessing international funding to enhance resilience of vulnerable communities; ways to address climate-induced conflicts in pastoralist communities; the need for location-specific data; national risk reduction strategies by 2020 in line with the Sendai Framework for DRR; infrastructure resilience; and non-economic loss and damage. In conclusion, Frick stressed the need to: address the interdependence of international, national and grassroots resilience action; use and improve existing data; develop regional and programmatic approaches; and make available fast and easily accessible international funding. (L:R): Nurul Quadir, Bangladesh; Martin Frick, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO); Pepetua Latasi, Tuvalu; Clifford Mahlung, Jamaica; and Lucy Nganga, Kenya Martin Frick, FAO, highlighted the importance of innovative loans and insurance systems, and investment in research and development. Clifford Mahlung, Jamaica, highlighted the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) in his region. Nurul Quadir, Bangladesh, emphasized the need to address food security as “a hungry man is an angry man.” Lucy Nganga, Kenya, stressed the need for location-specific data. Pepetua Latasi (center), Tuvalu, outlined the property registration system in her country, which aims to collect data to define the baseline for assessing infrastructure resilience. Contact: Katiuscia Fara (Coordinator) | katiuscia.fara @wfp.org More Information: http://www1.wfp.org/ Long-term Strategies for 1.5ºCPresented by Climate Action Network (CAN) International, CAN Europe and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) European Policy Office This session, moderated by Ulriikka Aarnio, CAN Europe, discussed options for limiting the global average temperature rise to 1.5ºC and the importance of developing national long-term climate strategies towards achieving this goal. Bill Hare, Climate Analytics, discussed the required emissions reductions for limiting global warming to 1.5°C and the implications this would have for policy makers. Among key messages, he noted that: the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C temperature limit should be understood in the context of a “global average annual increase in temperature above the pre-industrial average” over a 20-year period; investors and policy makers should reconsider the role of coal in the energy mix; and accelerated deployment of renewables would not avoid the need for negative CO2 emissions. Stressing that “2050 is now,” Paula Caballero, World Resources Institute (WRI), outlined the benefits of developing long-term climate strategies, including: avoiding lock-in of emissions; informing NDCs, development planning and short-term decisions; realizing financial savings; and fostering innovation by providing the private sector with the right signals. Imke Lübbeke, WWF European Policy Office, presented findings of the MaxiMiseR project, which assesses the Low-Carbon Development Strategies of EU Member States, taking into account factors such as ambition, actionability, process and public transparency, stakeholder participation, and monitoring plans. Tom van Ierland, Directorate General for Climate Action, European Commission, discussed the EU’s 2050 low-carbon roadmap developed in 2011. He noted that its targets can be achieved with existing technologies, and stressed the importance of covering all sectors and identifying intermediate milestones. Ilka Wagner, Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), Germany, introduced the German Climate Action Plan 2050, which aims for carbon neutrality by mid-century. She highlighted that all ministries will be asked to propose measures to achieve the plan’s targets and broad civil society participation in the plan’s development. In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: the ‘2050 pathways platform’ launched at the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 22), which aims to support those seeking to devise long-term climate and sustainable development plans; concerns about the desirability and technological feasibility of bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), given issues related to biodiversity loss, land-use conflicts and water supply; long-term planning as a skill that must be learned; and the “fundamental need” to ensure long-term climate planning is accessible to developing countries. Bill Hare, Climate Analytics, highlighted “very real differences” in impacts and risks between 1.5°C and 2°C global warming scenarios. Ulriikka Aarnio, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, moderated the event. Ilka Wagner, Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), Germany, noted that adaptation and sustainable development strategies form a “next step” to her country’s 2050 mitigation strategy. Tom van Ierland, Directorate General for Climate Action, European Commission, welcomed the upcoming Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C noting the need to better understand the science surrounding this temperature limit. Paula Caballero, World Resources Institute (WRI), underlined that, “the more we delay, the more difficult the transition will be.” Participants during the side event (L-R): Bill Hare, Climate Analytics; Ulriikka Aarnio, CAN Europe; Paula Caballero, WRI; Imke Lübbeke, WWF European Policy Office; Tom van Ierland, Directorate General for Climate Action, European Commission; and Ilka Wagner, BMUB, Germany Contact: Gillian Nelson (Organizer) | gnelson@climatenetwork.org Eddy de Neef (Organizer)| eddy@caneurope.org More Information: http://climatenetwork.org/publication/can-position-national-long-term-strategies-sustainable-development-and-decarbonization www.maximiser.eu/ New Approaches for Analyzing and Visualizing the Integrity of the Global Climate Governance RegimePresented by the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM-VU), and the University of Melbourne In this panel, participants shared and discussed new approaches for analyzing and visualizing connections between UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) bodies and institutions, cooperative initiatives and non-state actors. Tim Cadman, Griffith University, moderated the event. Cadman introduced a theoretical basis for analyzing the climate regime as an “integrity regime.” Outlining characteristics of institutional integrity systems, he stressed that the more comprehensive a regime’s governance values, the greater its legitimacy. He also noted that a lack of clarity on the UNFCCC’s institutional architecture contributes to a perceived lack of transparency around the UNFCCC’s institutional sub-components and activities. Oscar Widerberg, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, outlined preliminary results of network mapping of the connections between non-state and sub-national actors in the climate regime. He highlighted ‘Connect-it,’ a new project which visualizes collaborative climate actions and provides a tool to discover individual and corporate initiatives. Concentrating on equity and human rights as key governance values in the climate regime, Kate Dooley, University of Melbourne, stressed that differing interpretations of how these values should be implemented leads to “sticking points” in negotiations. She underscored that equity is operationalized through the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR). Lisa Elges, Transparency International, delivered preliminary results of a comparative assessment of the accountability mechanisms of four UNFCCC climate funds. She drew attention to the chains of actors involved in the delivery of climate finance. Elges stressed that clear efforts to establish accountability mechanisms “at the top” of these funds are critical to strengthening institutional governance, providing anti-corruption and development benefits and setting the stage for greater reform. Klaus Radunsky, Austrian Federal Environment Agency, thanked the scientific community for its contribution to the development of the Paris Agreement’s enhanced transparency framework. He noted the importance of taking stock of transparency mechanisms, and identifying weaknesses and areas for improvement. Celebrating the Paris Agreement’s “reasonably high standard of integrity,” he stressed continuing opportunities for improvement while the rulebook remains under development. During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: the need for a conflict-of-interest policy in the climate change regime; the utility of tools to visualize and analyze governance regimes; and centrality measures as decision-support tools. (L-R): Tim Cadman, Griffith University; Oscar Widerberg, Vrije Universitiet Amsterdam; Lisa Elges, Transparency International; Kate Dooley, the University of Melbourne; Klaus Radunsky, Austrian Federal Environmental Agency Oscar Widerberg, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, is mapping the role of non-state and sub-state actors in the climate regime. Klaus Radunsky, Austrian Federal Environment Agency, lauded the role of the scientific community in improving transparency. Kate Dooley, the University of Melbourne, regretted that human rights are not yet formally incorporated into the global climate regime. Lisa Elges, Transparency International, said that “accountability might be an afterthought” in climate financing. Contact: Tim Cadman (Moderator)  | t.cadman@griffith.edu.au More Information: https://www.climateregimemap.net https://www.routledge.com/Governing-the-Climate-Change-Regime-Institutional-Integrity-and-Integrity/Cadman-Maguire-Sampford/p/book/9781138216440 Coping with Climate Change in Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Aligning Adaptation Strategies with Comprehensive Climate Risk Management Presented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII) This side event, moderated by Vera Scholz, GIZ, addressed strategies for coping with climate change in the SIDS and ways to link and coordinate adaptation and climate risk management strategies. Noting that adaptation and disaster risk management (DRM) are treated separately at the institutional level, Scholz called for consideration of ways to align adaptation and risk management, and for defining the role of civil society in this process.   Highlighting his country’s membership in the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and the Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Group, Emmanuel de Guzman, the Philippines, noted the Philippines’ microinsurance system benefits nearly 30 million people, but said it was far from providing universal coverage to people at risk. De Guzman said South-South and triangular cooperation could help today’s initiatives reach hundreds of millions. Sönke Kreft, Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII), introduced the initiative, noting that MCII aims to use insurance for the benefit of vulnerable people and nations. He explained that insurance goes beyond the immediate effect of payout, being part of comprehensive climate risk management. Outlining MCII’s seven principles for benefitting the poor, including comprehensive needs-based solutions, client value, affordability and accessibility, Kreft discussed the initiative’s work with the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF). Orville Grey, Jamaica, outlined his country’s efforts to build resilience by enhancing adaptive capacity in all sectors. He reported that Jamaica’s Climate Change Policy Framework mainstreams climate change “across the board.” He called for finding alternatives to insurance, noting that people on the ground are often unable to afford it. Clarence Samuel, Marshall Islands, identified the need to stimulate risk insurance in other vulnerable countries through the V20. He observed that indirect insurance is not a good tool to cover recurrent events, such as drought, and suggested exploring other options. Philipp Knill, Germany, observed that insurance schemes in Africa and Latin America are relatively young and identified the need to engage the private sector. He said progress on mitigation is required to enable progress on adaptation and resilience. Dustin Schinn, Global Environment Facility (GEF), said the GEF has supported holistic management of adaptation through the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), which together comprise a US$1.5 billion programme. On DRM, he highlighted the importance of reducing people’s vulnerability and exposure in the first place. Sven Harmeling, CARE International, highlighted a community perspective on increasing resilience, citing a CARE International project in Peru addressing the risks associated with glacial melting. He stressed the need to identify capacities on the ground to help people prepare for and manage emergencies. In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: issues associated with relocation of people from zones no longer fit for human habitation; building codes and their enforcement; and criteria for selecting projects for funding. (L-R): Sven Harmeling, CARE International; Philipp Knill, Germany; Orville Grey, Jamaica; Dustin Schinn, Global Environment Facility (GEF); and Vera Scholz, GIZ Sönke Kreft, MCII, said climate risk does not only affect people, citing a decrease in Jamaica’s credit rating as an example. Clarence Samuel, the Marshall Islands; Sven Harmeling, CARE International; and Philipp Knill, Germany Orville Grey, Jamaica, called for finding alternatives to risk insurance as many people on the ground are unable to afford it. Philipp Knill, Germany, reported on the V20 Dialogue with High-Level G20 representatives held in April 2017 where ministers discussed risk management and capacity building in vulnerable countries. Participants during the side event Contact: Vera Scholz (Moderator) | vera.scholz@giz.de Lea Thin | lea.thin@giz.de Michael Zissener | zissener@ehs.unu.edu More Information: https://www.giz.de/en/html/index.html http://www.climate-insurance.org/home/ Making the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) Work for People and the PlanetPresented by Germanwatch, Association Actions Vitales Pour Le Developpement Durable (AVD) and Réseau Action Climat - France (RAC-F)  This event focused on civil society perspectives on AREI launched at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 21). It was moderated by Lutz Weischer, Germanwatch. Jens Klawitter, Germanwatch, introduced AREI and its working structure, highlighting the initiative’s aim to harness the African continent’s renewable energy potential. He noted that 19 recent projects approved in Conakry, Guinea, had raised critical questions about whether AREI criteria were being bypassed and whether the projects are new and additional. Augustine Njamnshi, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), highlighted the results of a recent African Coalition for Sustainable Energy Access (ACSEA) survey on African civil society organizations’ (CSOs) perspective on AREI. Among key findings, he noted respondents’ views that African civil society should have a voting power in the AREI Steering Committee, and their desire to see Northern CSOs bring the positions of African CSOs to the attention of Northern states. Aïssatou Diouf, Réseau Climat et Développement, underlined the need to ensure AREI “is truly African-led to meet the needs of African people,” recommending capacity building, awareness raising, and increased transparency of pipeline and approved projects to this end. Stressing “the future has to be renewable-energy based,” Paul Alain Nana, AVD, presented on projects in Cameroon to raise awareness among young people about sustainable development and renewable energy, including through renewable energy field visits. Seyni Nafo, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), emphasized that AREI is a product of the “new African climate diplomacy,” in which the continent “does not victimize itself, but takes its destiny into its own hands.” He highlighted four additional initiatives led by African heads of states, on: adaptation, the Sahel region, the Congo Basin, and islands, that also form part of this vision. Among recommendations for the way forward for AREI, Frank Fass-Metz, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany, included: maintaining a high level of political commitment in African countries; a need to identify implementation priorities; and the need to mobilize private sector investment. In the discussion, panelists and participants discussed the manner in which the AREI Board had chosen its recent 19 recent projects, with one participant positing these had been approved “in contempt of the initiative’s principles,” while others urged caution in characterizing the Board’s decision-making in this way in the absence of sufficient information. (L-R): Paul Alain Nana, AVD; Augustine Njamnshi, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA); Lutz Weischer, Germanwatch; Aïssatou Diouf, Réseau Climat et Développement; Seyni Nafo, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN); and Frank Fass-Metz, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany Augustine Njamnshi, PACJA, questioned “why is Africa still in darkness as far as energy is concerned?” and called for AREI to integrate stakeholder involvement in its activities to realize its intended results. Lutz Weischer, Germanwatch, moderated the event. Frank Fass-Metz, BMZ, Germany, welcomed the “productive process” of engagement between African countries and donor countries in the run-up to AREI’s development. Among recommendations for AREI, Seyni Nafo, Chair of the AGN, highlighted finalization of the initiative's governance framework and multi-stakeholder engagement with African countries. Contact: Marc Beckmann (Organizer) | marc.beckmann@germanwatch.org Jean Paul Brice Affana Affana (Organizer) | jeanpaulaffana@yahoo.fr Lucile Dufour (Organizer) | lucile@rac-f.org More Information: http://germanwatch.org/en/download/18246.pdf http://www.arei.org/