Welcome to Bonn, Ministers! While it would have been nice to be in warm and sunny Fiji, the beautiful city of Bonn has welcomed us with its first snow of the season. If the
weather is forcing you to take time away from statement writing for coffee breaks, we at CAN have taken it upon ourselves to provide you with a cheat sheet to make
your lives easier. While there is much talk on transforming conceptual discussions to technical
work here at COP23, many items seem to be at risk of becoming more political. Unfortunately, the progress made so far lacks the urgency required and we need your help to clear these
roadblocks. With two full days left of technical negotiations, we hope that your negotiators
work effectively as a team to manage this task. Here is a list of things that we will all be taking note of and assessing you on.
Talanoa Dialogue:
The Talanoa Dialogue is critical in determining our pathway towards achieving the 1.5 degrees
limit set in the Paris Agreement. Talanoa must be a process that will unlock further ambition in the pre-2020 and post-2020 period. Both the Fijian and Polish presidencies will play a major role in making this a success. We hope that the Talanoa spirit of inclusiveness and transparency will expand cooperation with all stakeholders and be defining features of the Talanoa from Bonn through to Katowice.
Paris Agreement Implementation Guidelines:
Two years down, one to go. The Paris Agreement is an essential tool as we work toward our common goal of 1.5. With the non-negotiable 2018 deadline on the horizon, Parties need to accelerate discussions to ensure a robust set of guidelines for adoption in COP24. We need to come out of COP23 with streamlined draft texts that capture convergence around common ideas while ensuring that no issue is left behind. Progress in the implementation guidelines would send a strong signal to markets in the real economy and provide certainty that the world is moving in a positive direction.
Pre-2020:
With extreme weather events and other climate impacts already being felt by the most
vulnerable, concrete signals of support and recognition of the urgent need to step up action now
are crucial. While we must recognize the efforts that developed countries have already made,
much more is needed to answer the needs of developing countries. We need an outcome
at COP23 that will lay the groundwork for greater progress and concrete actions towards
enabling conditions for implementing climate action in developing countries.
Climate Finance:
Climate finance plays a key role in enhancing trust and confidence between Parties and it is
essential for continuous progress that climate finance remains high on the political agenda in the lead up to COP24.
While we have seen some steps towards fulfilling the US$100 billion goal, the finish line is not yet in sight. Developed countries need to show commitment to delivering on
this promise and take a bolder approach to financial contributions. In addition, to increase overall finance for climate
change, countries need to finally and fully shift finance away from fossil fuels and exercise innovative solutions such as engaging and leveraging Multilateral Development Banks and private finance institutions.
Climate finance plays a key role in enhancing trust and confidence between Parties and it is
essential that climate finance remains high on the political agenda in the run up to COP 24 to
ensure that progress is continuous.
Adaptation Fund:
The mandate from Paris is clear that the Adaptation Fund will serve the Paris Agreement.
Working on technical and legal issues should not be a barrier, nor a leverage, to a decision
affirming this. Excuses for delay on this issue, which has a clear mandate from the Paris Agreement, will gravely affect trust and confidence between Parties.
Loss and Damage:
Loss and damage is not a concept waiting in the distant future but a reality that millions of people already deal with in their everyday lives. Efforts must be stepped up to support the most vulnerable to build resilience while averting, minimizing and addressing losses. Five years from its establishment, the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) has minimal achievements to show for its efforts. The first Pacific COP must provide for a high profile, ongoing, action-oriented and participatory dialogue on loss and damage issues, including finance. Further support to the WIM Executive Committee is essential.