1. ecbi european capacity building initiative
Ambition and the Talanoa Dialogue
Presentation given at the 2018 ecbi Bonn Seminar,
Dr. Achala Abeysinghe
Head, ecbi Training & Support Programme
Team leader, Global Climate Law, Policy and Governance team at International Institute for Environment and Development
european capacity building initiative
initiative européenne de renforcement des capacités
for sustained capacity building in support of international climate change negotiations
pour un renforcement durable des capacités en appui aux négociations internationales sur les changements climatiques

3. Introduction
Para 20, 1/CP.21 provides the mandate for the Talanoa Dialogue; references also to it in para16, 1/CP.22 and para 10, 1/CP23
Started in January 2018 and convene throughout 2018
“Is a process that has been designed to help countries to take stock of efforts to reduce carbon emissions and to uncover ideas, innovations and technologies that can help them to raise ambition in their nationally determined contributions”
Decides to convene a facilitative dialogue among Parties in 2018 to take stock of the collective efforts of Parties in relation to progress towards the long-term goal referred to in Article 4, paragraph 1, of the Agreement and to inform the preparation of nationally determined contributions pursuant to Article 4, paragraph 8, of the Agreement (1/CP.21, para 20)
Requests the President of the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-second session, in collaboration with the incoming President of the Conference of the Parties at its twenty- third session, to undertake inclusive and transparent consultations with Parties on the organization of the facilitative dialogue referred to in decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 20, including during the sessions of the subsidiary bodies to be convened in May 2017 and the twenty-third session of the Conference of the Parties, and to jointly report back to the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-third session on the preparations for this dialogue (1/CP.22, Para 16)
Talanoa concept
Inclusiveness
Transparent
Mythologies of telling stories
Making decision for collective good
Talanoa concept
Story telling, consensus building, decision making devoid of finger pointing.
Inclusive, participator, transparent
Making decision for collective good

4. Important because:
Opportunity to reflect on the adequacy of currently submitted Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) against the goals of the Paris Agreement and inform the preparation of new or revised NDCs to be presented by 2020.
Current NDC ambition leads to 3.2°C by Enhancing the level of ambition of current NDCs is crucial.
Provides new mode of engagement, recognising growing involvement of non-party actors in the UNFCCC process and their strength in climate change action. Different voices will he heard.
Opportunity to identify untapped mitigation possibilities, good policy and best practise, and solution-oriented examples to strengthen ambition in climate action.

5. Preparatory phase Political phase
Summary report on the organization of the TD
Synthesis of the preparatory phase
IPCC 1.5o Report (Oct)
SB48, May
COP24, Dec
Second deadline for inputs (29 Oct)
2 May, Opening meeting
6 May, Talanoa groups
8 May, Reporting back
9 May, Closing meeting
Possible local, national, regional or global events in support of the Talanoa Dialogue
Preparatory phase
Political phase

6. Overview of Inputs so far….
TD platform (220 inputs as of 2nd April) were collated and summarised in a synthesis note ahead of the April/May Bonn Session

7. Where are we? Inputs ranged across the following:
Sharing findings on GHGs
Sharing findings on climate impacts and vulnerability around the world
Showcase of initiatives and actions taken
Parties’ inputs share findings on GHGs and the initiatives and actions that they have taken for climate action (strategies/plans/policies for climate action)
Sharing means of implementation and support needs

8. Where do we want to go? Inputs ranged across the following:
Setting out a future vision towards zero net emissions and climate resilience (either for the specific constituency or globally)
Catalysing ambitious climate action and the achievement of poverty eradication and the SDGs
Emissions trajectories
In addition to the above, most Parties also focused on a vision for a functioning international regime to achieve the objective of the Convention and the Paris Agreement goals

9. How do we get there? Inputs ranged across the following:
Recommendations and calls to action for the secretariat, bodies of the Convention and national governments
Sustainable high-potential solutions with socioeconomic and environmental benefits, including on technology and collaboration models (with subnational inputs touching on collaboration models, human settlements, transport and energy)
Cross-cutting actions on the ground (including finance, gender, health, education, less well-represented constituencies and decent work)
Parties’ inputs mostly set out their action on the ground (i.e. their national climate plans and strategies). They also issue recommendations for peers and the secretariat and the bodies of the Convention
General examples of high potential solutions:
Examples for the land use sector turn on how to increase the mitigation and adaptation gains from soils and forests (e.g. carbon sink, resilience co-benefits), extending REDD, improving emissions reporting for the land use sector, and low carbon agricultural practices and technologies.
For the energy sector, examples include solutions for increased energy efficiency and financing for a scale up of energy technologies, notably renewables and other low emissions technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS), fossil fuel subsidy reform and moderating energy demand.
Examples for transport elaborate on achieving zero emissions through comprehensive plans, specific policy options, increased political will, and cooperation involving a wider variety of stakeholders.
Solutions put forward for the industry seek to ensure investment frameworks conducive to more widespread low emissions and climate resilient investment, particularly in technology, and to exploit the leadership of businesses and investors to generate appropriate shifts.
Specific examples:
G-STIC aims at identifying technological solutions that are scalable, feasible and realistic both from a societal and economic perspective to enable decision making for sustainability.
Global Energy Interconnection is an innovative global solution to facilitate the implementation of Paris Agreement and SDGs. GEI is a robust and smart power grid with Ultra-High Voltage (UHV) power transmission as the backbone framework, and a basic platform for the large-scale development, transmission and utilization of clean energies across the world. Its essence is “Smart Grid + UHV + Clean Energy” with strong economic competitiveness.
The Australian Rainforest Conservation Society is supporting natural solutions to climate change that can help achieve deep cuts in emissions, promote ecosystem integrity, human health and biodiversity.

10. Questions to Consider
How do we address lack of capacity of some countries to participate in the Talanoa Dialogue?
What could the outcome look like? (COP decision? Political declaration?) How do we capture concrete lessons from the stories told that catalyse real action?
How do we use the Talanoa Dialogue to ensure that there is enough support for where we need to be?
How can we utilize other high level events such as the UNSG summit to take raise ambition?
What can we learn and improve upon for the GST?
What should be the process between 2018 and 2020 and 2023?