Work stream 2 – It’s time to act

If you have read yesterday’s ECO (or the IPCC’s newest report), you know why we need ADP Workstream 2 (WS2). We need to close the ambition gap ASAP to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. To stay below 1.5°C, we need to phase out all fossil fuels and phase in 100% renewable energies, with energy access for all by 2050 at the latest. To achieve this transition, we have to avoid any further lock-in into unsustainable high-carbon infrastructure.

That’s why ECO was pleased that the draft decision text on WS2 calls for its continuation until 2020 and for enhancing the technical expert meetings (TEMs). The TEMs have highlighted many opportunities for additional action and their multiple benefits – particularly for deploying renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. But, how do you move from identifying options to implementing effective action on the ground in terms of reducing GHG emissions?

ECO has a few suggestions:

1. Establish a process building on the TEMs for Parties to announce which of the identified policy options they plan to implement either on their own or in partnership. This should be the objective of a regular high-level ministerial engagement – and the decision needs to say so.

2. Establish a Forum on Accelerated Implementation in June, to consider the strengthening of existing commitments, enhanced means of implementation and formulating of new NAMAs. In addition, Parties should come ready to explain which of the policy options emerging from the TEMs they are in a position to implement. Bonn would then become a forum for ideas for additional action and creating new partnerships allowing ministers to prepare ambitious announcements for Paris.

Enhanced means of implementation are necessary to drive actions. Simply “inviting” the technology and financial mechanisms to provide that support is too weak. Instead, why not “request” the GCF to prioritise, in its mitigation window, those activities that contribute to closing the pre-2020 gap and achieving a zero-fossil future.

Finally, the Technology Executive Committee has mined the Technology Needs Assessments to find that the most sought after technologies in developing country energy sectors (aka the low-hanging fruit) and they are (you guessed it): renewable energy and energy efficiency. The TEC could scan the horizon specifically on innovative energy sector technologies, including preliminary assessments of the economic, social and environmental impacts of their implementations in various environments.