ECO Newsletter

There is no debating the critical importance of the ocean in the climate change debate. In terms of chemistry, thermodynamics, economics, geography, food security – the list goes on. And in return, the ocean impacts all our efforts towards meeting the Paris Agreement goals whether it is mitigation or adaptation. The ocean is the big blue pool that connects all Parties, including the land-locked nations, to this issue. 

So, it is no surprise that there is an unrelenting effort by the ocean champions to find a place and a process for the biggest ecosystem on our planet within the Paris Agreement, against the strong currents of narrowing space and appetite for any broadening of scope. 

Of course, it is no small feat to find a simple space for the big blue, that covers such a huge area with a vast range of links to climate change.

It is both timely and apt that this Chilean COP in Madrid is dubbed the ‘Blue’ COP. 

Just a few months ago, the IPCC published a Special Report on Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. It spoke to the severity of the situation we are already in, and where we will find ourselves without deep decarbonization, that is in line with the 1.5℃ goal.
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What is the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism doing right now to help prepare the communities in the Philippines in advance of the Cyclone Kammuri? The transformative role of appropriate climate technologies is indisputable, and it will be increasingly important as climate change accelerates. Nine years ago, the Technology Mechanism (TM) was created to enhance technology development and transfer in developing countries. Next year we enter the implementation phase of the Paris Agreement. But what has actually been achieved in the course of the years is simply not enough, and there is an urgent need to evaluate if any transformative change on the ground has been delivered.

The Technology Executive Committee (TEC), as the policy arm of the TM, is, among other things, supposed to provide (much needed) guidance on climate technologies. Any policy guidance developed at a global level is meaningful only if it is mainstreamed into robust policies at national levels. Yet, it was crystal clear in the TEC side event that the committee cannot provide any feedback on performance. In this time of a climate emergency, each action needs to be accountable. We can’t follow the old ways of empty words, nor can we justify expert meetings that do not result in tangible improvements for those at the forefront of climate change.
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ECO is happy to share this part of our platform with the Indigenous Peoples Caucus to help amplify their voice.

Today young Indigenous Peoples from across the world took collective action on the floor at COP25, calling on states to #FixArticle6. 

World governments are currently negotiating the technical advice for the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Rulebook. Article 6 relates to the creation of both market and non-market mechanisms to reduce emissions. The outcomes of the negotiation must uphold and extend existing protection of human and Indigenous rights. Just like we need ambitious commitments in all climate mitigation strategies. It is not just the inclusion of human rights that the indigenous caucus is calling for, but, the inclusion of indigenous rights. It is specifically about protecting collective rights, which are crucial to the customary governance and traditional ways of life of Indigenous Peoples. 

Words, prayers, songs, and chants were propelled across Hall Four by young Indigenous People in an attempt to remind negotiators of the human element inherent in Article 6. Ta’kaiya Blaney Tla’Amin, Nation Coast Salish delegate, shared her frontline experiences of fossil fuel expansion, enabled by state governments within the occupied territories of so called Canada, “…this looks like Teck Mine, this looks like coastal Gaslink pipeline, the Trans-mountain pipeline and many more industrial mega projects that Canada pushes through –  meanwhile claiming to be a climate leader.
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While getting ready for COP25, ECO was energized by the upcoming discussions on the review and renewal of the Lima Work Programme on Gender and its Gender Action Plan. Why? Because if there is one thing you don’t need to argue for it is that fighting for gender justice and climate justice are two sides of the same coin. So, ECO expected to see Parties ready to aim higher, building on the work achieved over the past few years to advance the centrality of gender equality to the UNFCCC and climate action.

Alas, on Tuesday, ECO learnt the hard way that nothing should ever be taken for granted ⎯ not even the opening statements from the Paris Agreement! Yes, you read that right. Among the 196 Parties who four years ago committed to “respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights, (..) as well as gender equality, empowerment of women” when taking action to address climate change, some now have second thoughts and have bracketed such references in the draft decision text proposed by the co-facilitators. Are we really here to renegotiate the principles of the Paris Agreement? No – ECO doesn’t think so.

ECO urges Parties to think twice before going into the nitty gritty line-by-line negotiations of the text – and instead articulate a vision about what it is that we want to achieve with this updated gender framework and how.
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“I gotta feeling, 

That this week we will make good progress

That this week we will think of workers

That this week we’ll discuss diversification 

Ouh! 

I gotta feeling, 

That countries will adopt the workplan

And the forum will share best practices

And contribute to more climate ambition!”

Wow, well this morning, ECO feels like singing! 

Yesterday, ECO saw countries engage constructively on their first negotiations on the adoption of the six-year work-plan for the forum on the impact of the implementation of response measures. They agreed to streamline a work process that has been delayed by one year. And it’s particularly encouraging that all countries agreed in principle, to allow observers to stay in the room during the two hours of informal negotiations that took place yesterday. 

ECO also finds it encouraging when countries decide to address, in the most honest way, issues related to just transition and economic diversification. In a climate-changing world, these are not easy discussions. They can be painful because change means there will be some losers. But for the global community to work together to hold the global temperature rise below 1.5^°C, cooperation among and within countries will be essential to ensure that the transition is fair, equitable, inclusive, and responsive to gender, class, and race, and disabled people.
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Dear delegates,

Today, at the Stocktake on Pre-2020 implementation and ambition, you will have one of the last opportunities to reflect on how well (or how badly?) you are doing in meeting your 2020 targets. One of them is the climate finance goal of US$100 billion a year that developed countries promised to provide and mobilise by 2020. With the deadline looming large, three things need to be foremost in your minds ⎯ and your interventions during the session:

Time to acknowledge and bridge the adaptation finance gap. On the last count only around a fifth of the overall climate finance provided and mobilised went to adaptation. Despite repeated commitments to balance adaptation and mitigation finance, you, developed countries, are still failing to respond to the growing needs of vulnerable populations on the frontline of the climate crisis. The Pre-2020 Stocktake is your chance to fix this, by committing to urgently increasing your adaptation finance. Making new pledges to the Adaptation Fund would not be such a bad idea.

Time to be transparent and fair. Today, we expect you to say that you will meet the USD100 billion goal… but let’s be honest, if you do, it will be entirely on your own terms and much of what is being counted should not be – “clean” coal and non-concessional loans to name two examples.
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Today and tomorrow, COP25 will see some focus on pre-2020 implementation and action in the Stocktake on Pre-2020 Implementation and Ambition, with the technical part today and the high-level part tomorrow. 

According to the concept note for the Stocktake, “all Parties share the view that pre-2020 implementation and ambition are of utmost importance”. We have a hard time believing that you all really feel that way. 

In the pre-2020 period, you, the Parties

have had the chance to get the world on track to avoid catastrophic climate change and the resulting loss and damage to people, particularly in vulnerable countries. 

have invited the IPCC to help us establish sound scientific knowledge on the impacts and risks of climate change, and the need to combat it. 

have seen report after report demonstrating the co-benefits of climate action, including for poverty reduction, equality, pollution, health, and more. Early action would have even been more cost-effective. 

Also in the pre-2020 period, have brought us promises, and speeches. You have not brought the necessary emission reductions and finance. 

What you, the Parties, have not had in the pre-2020 period is the political will and courage matching the challenge we face, to stand up to those who want to continue profiting from climate-destroying practices, and stand up for those vulnerable people facing devastating losses and damages.  
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