Climate Change - International Efforts

Direct Observation of Climate Change Source: IPCC 4AR

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. Sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. 192 countries ratified 192 countries ratified Enter into forces: 21 March 1994 Enter into forces: 21 March 1994

UNFCCC Under the Convention, governments: Under the Convention, governments: gather and share information on greenhouse gas emissions, national policies and best practices gather and share information on greenhouse gas emissions, national policies and best practices launch national strategies for addressing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to expected impacts, including the provision of financial and technological support to developing countries launch national strategies for addressing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to expected impacts, including the provision of financial and technological support to developing countries cooperate in preparing for adaptation to the impacts of climate change cooperate in preparing for adaptation to the impacts of climate change

UNFCCC - Principles Article 3.1 The Parties should protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of humankind, on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Accordingly, the developed country Parties should take the lead in combating climate change and the adverse effects thereof. The Parties should protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of humankind, on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Accordingly, the developed country Parties should take the lead in combating climate change and the adverse effects thereof.

UNFCCC – Annex I Parties Australia, Austria, Belarus*, Belgium, Bulgaria*, Canada, Czechoslovakia*, Denmark, European Economic Community, Estonia*, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary*, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia*, Lithuania*, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland*, Portugal, Romania*, Russian Federation*, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine*, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America *Countries that are undergoing the process of transition to a market economy.

UNFCCC – Other Parties Parties not in Annex I (Examples in Asia) China (including Hong Kong), South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, ……

UNFCCC - Commitments Article 4 … 4.2The developed country Parties … shall provide new and additional financial resources to meet the agreed full costs incurred by developing country Parties in (preparation of national communications). They shall also provide such financial resources, including for the transfer of technology, needed by the developing country Parties to meet the agreed full incremental costs of implementing measures that are covered by paragraph 1 of this Article … 4.3The developed country Parties … shall also assist the developing country Parties that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in meeting costs of adaptation to those adverse effects. 4.4The developed country Parties … shall take all practicable steps to promote, facilitate and finance, as appropriate, the transfer of, or access to, environmentally sound technologies and know-how to other Parties, particularly developing country Parties, to enable them to implement the provisions of the Convention … …

Kyoto Protocol An international legal instrument under UNFCCC An international legal instrument under UNFCCC UNFCCC encouraged industrialised countries to stabilize GHG emissions UNFCCC encouraged industrialised countries to stabilize GHG emissions KP commits them to do so KP commits them to do so Sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions - an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year period Sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions - an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year period Recognizing that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity, the Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of “ common but differentiated responsibilities. ” Recognizing that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity, the Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of “ common but differentiated responsibilities. ” Adopted on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February Adopted on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February Parties of the Convention have ratified its Protocol to date. 182 Parties of the Convention have ratified its Protocol to date. The detailed rules for the implementation of the Protocol were adopted at COP 7 in Marrakesh in 2001, and are called the “ Marrakesh Accords. ” The detailed rules for the implementation of the Protocol were adopted at COP 7 in Marrakesh in 2001, and are called the “ Marrakesh Accords. ” Source: UNFCCC Website,

KP – Emissions Targets Country Target ( /2012) EU-15, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Monaco, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland -8% US-7% Canada, Hungary, Japan, Poland -6% Croatia-5% New Zealand, Russian Federation, Ukraine 0 Norway+1% Australia+8% Iceland+10% Source: UNFCCC Website,

KP - Kyoto Mechanisms Countries must meet their targets primarily through national measures. However, the Kyoto Protocol offers them an additional means of meeting their targets by way of three market-based mechanisms. Countries must meet their targets primarily through national measures. However, the Kyoto Protocol offers them an additional means of meeting their targets by way of three market-based mechanisms. Emissions trading – known as “ the carbon market ” Emissions trading – known as “ the carbon market ” the clean development mechanism (CDM) the clean development mechanism (CDM) joint implementation (JI). joint implementation (JI). The mechanisms help stimulate green investment and help Parties meet their emission targets in a cost-effective way. The mechanisms help stimulate green investment and help Parties meet their emission targets in a cost-effective way. Source: UNFCCC Website,

KP – Emissions Trading Source: CDM in Charts ver. 6.0 Aug

KP – Clean Development Mechanism Source: CDM in Charts ver. 6.0 Aug

KP – Joint Implementation Source: CDM in Charts ver. 6.0 Aug

KP – Progress Source: UNFCCC Website,

UNFCCC / KP – Bali Action Plan To launch a comprehensive process to enable the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention through long-term cooperative action, now, up to and beyond 2012, in order to reach an agreed outcome and adopt a decision by 2009 (in Copenhagen) To launch a comprehensive process to enable the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention through long-term cooperative action, now, up to and beyond 2012, in order to reach an agreed outcome and adopt a decision by 2009 (in Copenhagen)

Bali Action Plan – Goal of Future Cooperation A long-term global goal for emission reductions in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, and taking into account social and economic conditions and other relevant factors A long-term global goal for emission reductions in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, and taking into account social and economic conditions and other relevant factors

Bali Action Plan – Components of Future Cooperation Mitigation - mitigation commitments by all developed country Parties; mitigation actions by developing country Parties Mitigation - mitigation commitments by all developed country Parties; mitigation actions by developing country Parties Adaptation - international cooperation to support urgent implementation of adaptation actions; risk management and risk reduction strategies Adaptation - international cooperation to support urgent implementation of adaptation actions; risk management and risk reduction strategies Technology transfer - effective mechanisms and enhanced means for development and transfer of technology to developing country Parties Technology transfer - effective mechanisms and enhanced means for development and transfer of technology to developing country Parties Financial - improved access to adequate, predictable and sustainable financial resources for developing country Parties Financial - improved access to adequate, predictable and sustainable financial resources for developing country Parties

Future What will the future international cooperation on climate change be like? What will the future international cooperation on climate change be like?