1. Department of Finance and Treasury Conference Room
COP23 Training Series
Negotiations
3 October 2017
Department of Finance and Treasury Conference Room
2:00 – 4:00pm

2. Welcome Name Department
What’s one thing that you want to learn before the delegation goes to Bonn?
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

3. Agenda 1. Preparation Drafting country positions
Negotiating for Vanuatu
Negotiator strategies and skills
Meeting documents and other resources
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT02_The UNFCCC

4. But first
The Paris Agreement was adopted by the COP in 2015 (Decision 1/COP.21). This was a landmark moment for UN climate talks, with a clear outcome that was easy for everyone to understand: all countries agreed to take specific, ambitious, collective action to limit global warming.
“The Paris Agreement covers all countries and all emissions, and is designed to last. It solidifies international cooperation for climate change. It provides a way forward.
The PA sends a powerful signal to markets that now is the time to invest in the low emission economy. It contains a transparency framework to build mutual trust and confidence [between to the Parties to the UNFCCC].
It will serve as an important tool in mobilizing finance technological support and capacity building for developing countries. And it will help to scale up global efforts to address and minimize loss and damage from climate change.
Paris is a beginning—we now have to implement the Agreement.” (UN, 2016)
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

5. So what’s on the agenda for COP23?
This year’s COP negotiations are going to be very technical, focusing on the operative terms of the Paris Agreement.
For example:
How will the Parties to the UNFCCC make sure that their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are actually able to meet the PA’s 2°C (or even 1.5°C) temperature target?
How will developing countries’ adaptation needs and goals be met?
What support will be committed for loss and damage under the Warsaw International Mechanism?
Are countries doing enough right now to make sure that post climate plans can be implemented? [n.b. the PA comes into effect (becomes legally binding) in 2020]
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

6. So what’s on the agenda for COP23?
Preparation is absolutely critical if Vanuatu is going to do well at the negotiations this year
Helping to write Vanuatu’s country position for your thematic area is the number one best way that you can prepare for the COP.
There are several agenda items (negotiation topics) for each thematic area. Once you know what these are, you can find resources to help you understand the history of the issues, as well the expected outcomes of this year’s negotiations.
You will also be able to decide which issues are the most important for Vanuatu to follow and influence. These are the issues you should spend time understanding before COP, and that you should follow throughout the meetings in Germany.
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

7. Preparing Preparation is the foundation of good negotiating.
COP23 Preparation Checklist
Read the annotated meeting agendas for your area
Decide on the most important issues for Vanuatu
Read the background documents for each agenda item
Read past decisions for the agenda items you are following
Make a list of decisions that will be made at the upcoming meetings
Read the most recent Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) meeting summaries
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

8. Preparing COP23 Preparation Checklist
7. Read Vanuatu’s report of the last meetings
Discuss the negotiation topics with the members of your thematic work group, and any colleagues or non- government stakeholders whose work is relevant to the topic
Prepare a draft negotiation position for the Vanuatu Delegation to follow at COP23
Work with the NAB Secretariat to seek formal approval of the position
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

9. Drafting Negotiating Positions
As Ian Fry writes in Taking the Floor: A Pacific Island Country Guide to Negotiating International Environmental Agreements (2012):
“Preparing a draft national position [allows] your government to make key decisions on issues and provide a mandate to negotiate on these issues.”
Elements of a draft position
A draft position should include:
A copy of the meeting agenda (attached to the draft)
Identification of key issues in the agenda
A brief position statement on each issue, with recommendations
Brief background on the issue
A list of background documents, for more information
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

10. Drafting Negotiating Positions
The position of other governments (this can be discovered by reading the latest Earth Negotiations Bulletin, checking country submissions on the issue, or reading documents sent from Vanuatu’s negotiating groups)
Recommended positions for Vanuatu to adopt, including any possible economic, social or environmental consequences of taking that particular position on the issue
Approval space (an empty space for the Director- General of the Ministry of Climate Change to make any comments to the draft)
4. Seek formal approval from the Ministry of Climate Change. Once complete, submit the draft position to the NAB Secretariat for circulation to the NAB and COP23 Delegation.
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

11. Negotiating
Negotiating is a skill set that you’ll develop with time and experience. We’ve put together some resources to help you get started.
Note: these resources are adapted from existing training materials, and are included in the UNFCCC Pocket Guide that the Taskforce has prepared for the delegation to take to COP23.
Negotiator strategies and skills
UNFCCC meeting documents and other resources
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

12. Negotiating Negotiator Strategies and Skills Creating bargaining power
Bargaining power is built using Vanuatu’s “assets and disadvantages.”
Assets are resources that others want to have or preserve (e.g. high biological diversity, endangered species, natural resources). Disadvantages are factors that others feel sympathy or responsibility for (e.g. vulnerability to climate impacts, low GDP).
The Delegation will be prepped with talking points on Vanuatu’s assets and disadvantages before COP.
Hone your negotiating style
There are several approaches that a negotiator can adopt in a meeting room. See pages in Taking the Floor.
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

13. Negotiating Negotiator Strategies and Skills Building a package
Making interventions
Understanding decision text (Glossary of Legal Terms)
Information and “how to” guides on each of these issues are included in the Pocket Guide to the UNFCCC.
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

14. Negotiating Tips for good negotiating
Invest time in knowing the issues you are dealing with
Hear what others have to say
Know the view of your negotiating partners
Demonstrate respect for your negotiating partners
Show patience
Show polite assertiveness
Build coalitions with others that support your position
Be inclusive and build trust by talking openly and honestly
Use language sensitively
Understand negotiating language
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

15. Negotiating Tips for good negotiating 11. Watch out for tricks
12. Find common ground
13. Accentuate the positive elements of your position
14. Handle pressure, and know when to call small breaks for discussion
15. Know when to trade (make concessions)
16. Lock-in agreements by making sure points of agreement are written down
17. Never give up on achieving an agreement that suits your position
18. Ensure continuity by making sure you follow the issues for longer than just one meeting.
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

16. Negotiating UNFCCC Documents
There are three kinds of documents circulated under the UNFCCC:
Pre-session documents
Agenda with annotations: outlines the issues for negotiation
In-session documents
Conference room papers: produced during meetings, usually temporary draft
L documents: draft reports and outcome texts that are nearly complete
Miscellaneous documents: usually contain Party submissions
Addendum: an addition to a previously issued document
Non-papers: in-session documents, usually of a temporary nature
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

17. Negotiating UNFCCC Documents Post-session documents
Reports: produced for each body after a meeting, summarising decisions
Decisions: include recommendations and resolutions of the COP, CMP and CMA, and are contained in the addenda to reports
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

18. Next delegate training ! Note Taking and Reporting Thursday 12 October
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating

19. Key contacts: Chair of UNFCCC Taskforce: Sanlan Williams Strategic Manager of NAB Sec: Anna Bule NAB Sec:
UNFCCC Taskforce | COP23 | DT04_Negotiating