BASIC and Climate Change

Ministers from Brazil, China, India and South Africa (BASIC) concluded their 11th Meeting on Climate Change with the adoption of a joint statement. Therein, leaders reiterate their commitment to a successful outcome of UNFCCC/COP-18, reaffirm the UNCSD (Rio+20) outcome document, as well as the outcome from UNFCCC/COP-17. Furthermore, the statement expresses concerns over the inclusion of international aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS), and the planned unilateral inclusion of other sectors, noting that this apporach "undermines confidence and weakens efforts to tackle climate change on a multilateral basis."
 
BASIC Joint Statement

Environmental Laureates and Rio+20

The European Environment Foundation sponsored the 1st International Covention of Environmental Laureates from 8-11 March 2012 with 63 participants from 37 States convening in Freiburg (Germany. The meeting concluded with the adoption of the "Freiburg Call for Action" in relation to UNCSD (Rio+20) calling upon the Conference to come up with actionable means to achieve sustainable development in the following critical areas:

• We urge governing bodies on all levels, as well as business and civil society, to become pioneers of change and successful social innovators;
• We have to move towards equitable budgets per capita for energy, emissions, land use, water and resources;
• To be sustainable, economic development must reduce overconsumption, be based on an ethical and fair financial system, eradicate poverty, and be in harmony with nature;
• Sustainable Development is a key security issue for all nations and has to be treated and funded as such.

UN/S-G Adresses REDD+

Speaking at a news conference in Indonesia, Ban Ki-Moon stated that, while REDD+ is a win-win-win situation for local communities, Indonesia and the world, it is no substitute for deep greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions in developed countries.
Full Statement

UN-SG: Report on the Work of the Organization

The UN/GA has circulated the Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization (A/66/1). Coverage includes:
-  responses to disasters and the fact that the UN has begun to place a higher premium on disaster risk reduction and to forge new types of partnerships with the business community and civil society;
- responses to development needs underlining the outcome of LDC-IV, by which States committed to address the structural challenges faced by LDCs;
- a call for UNCSD (Rio+20) to agree on “an ambitious and actionable framework that complements the Millennium Development Goals” (MDGs), to follow the 2015 target date for meeting the eight MDGs;
- the needs of Africa and the worsening problems (extreme poverty, unemployment, armed conflicts, sexual and gender-based violence) masked by the region’s overall economic growth. In response, the UN is working to advance implementation of the Declaration on Enhancing UN-African Union (AU) Cooperation: Framework for the 10-Year Capacity-Building Programme for the AU, and partnering with governments to boost financing in sustainable forest management and other areas;
- climate change and its importance to global peace and prosperity; calling for “sustained global cooperation coupled with accelerated national actions to reduce emissions and strengthen climate resilience.” It praises the results of the Cancun Climate Change Conference as having provided an important set of tools that now must be put into practice;
- the Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP), which aims to provide a practical road map for sustainable, climate-resilient development that addresses poverty eradication, energy, food, water and other key issues, the recommendations of which are expected to provide input to UNCSD (Rio+20);
- participation of the business community and the successful integration through the “private sector track” at LDC-IV providing a model for closer engagement around UNCSD (Rio+20) and other high-level events.

Lastly, the report notes that “achieving sustainable development is imperative" and in the view of the UN-SG, a crucial part of this agenda will be forging a sustainable global energy strategy.

South African Priorities for UNFCCC COP-17

In a press briefing, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa and incoming President of UNFCCC/COP-17, together with South African Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa, described South Africa's preparations for the Durban Climate Change Conference.

According to IISD-RS, Minister Nkoana-Mashabane underlined that her Government has been working closely with Mexico in its capacity as current COP President. She explained that South Africa has undertaken informal consultations at all levels to "facilitate a credible outcome that is equitable, fair and inclusive," underlining the importance of the party-driven principle. She also listed the events that she will host or organize, including: with Mexico, a Leaders’ Dialogue on Climate Change on the margins of the 66th session of the UN/GA; a negotiator-level meeting and an informal ministerial meeting in September 2011, in South Africa; a stakeholder meeting on 5 September; and a “Pre-COP” Informal Ministerial Consultation on 20-21 October 2011, in South Africa. She stressed the need for ministers to focus on finance, means of implementation and the other outstanding political issues.

Minister Molewa stressed the need for COP-17 to "at least" put in place the "necessary building blocks to deliver a balanced agreement that takes historical responsibilities into account." She indicated her Government's commitment to develop a common African position in the negotiations, underlining that Africa is the continent most affected by climate change. She outlined the following priorities for Durban, as identified at the AU Summit: maintaining the integrity of the multilateral process; determining the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and a comparable emission reduction regime for non-Kyoto Parties; affording a central place to adaptation; and focusing on finance discussions, particularly the design of the Green Climate Fund.

Molewa's Remarks
Nkoana-Mashabane's Remarks

UNEP: New Draft Treaty Text for Mercury Negotiations

UNEP has released a an advanced copy of the "new draft [treaty] text for a comprehensive and suitable approach to a globally legally binding instrument on mercury" in preparation for the 3rd round of negotiations under the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-3) from October 31-November 4 in Nairobi (Kenya). The text addresses challenges including:
- supply of, and interantional trade in, mercury;
- products and processes that use mercury, including artisanal and small-scale gold mining;
- emissions and releases of mercury into the atmosphere, water and land; and
- mercury storage, wastes and contaminated sites.

IMO: Mandating Emissions Reductions

Measures to reduce greenhouse gases from shipping have been adopted by parties to Annex VI (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) represented in the Marine Environment Protections Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organizations (IMO), which met for its 62nd session from 11-15 July. The adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI add a new chapter on regulations on energy efficiency for ships to make mandatory the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), for new ships, and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships. Other amendments to Annex VI add new definitions and the requirements for survey and certification, including the format for the International Energy Efficiency Certificate.

The new regulations apply to all ships of at least 400 gross tonnage and are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2013. In some cases, the requirements may be waived by the administration.

World Bank: Low Emissions Development

The World Bank convened close to 70 senior policy makers and opinion leaders from around the world to a High-Level Dialogue on Low Emissions Development Policy Implementation on 13 July in Washington, D.C (USA). During the event, speakers identified poverty and climate change as the two defining challenges of this century, warning against the risk of reversing any gains on poverty if climate change is not addressed.
Dialogue Website

2011 MDG Report

The report was launched by UN/S-G Ban Ki-moon on 7 July, during the high-level segment of the ECOSOC. IISD-RS provided the following summary regarding MDG 7 (environmental sustainability):

[T]he report indicates that the rate of deforestation and loss of forests from natural causes is slowing down. It notes that most forest loss is occurring in countries in the tropics, while the net gain is mostly found in countries in the temperate and boreal zones. The report estimates that the forestry sector, in particular deforestation, is responsible for one-sixth of all human-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It highlights the growth in the establishment of protected areas, which covers 13% of the world’s forests. On the target to reduce biodiversity loss, the report stresses that, despite the increase in protected ecosystems, biodiversity is still in decline due to inadequate management, underlining the need for efforts and innovative approaches to meet new targets for the conservation of priority ecosystems.

Using 2008 data, the report notes that global carbon dioxide emissions continue to increase. It indicates that, although per capita emissions remain highest in the developed countries, the gap in carbon dioxide emissions per capita between developed and developing countries has diminished since 1990. The report notes that emissions per unit of economic output fell by more than 36% in the developed regions and by about 9% in the developing regions. In terms of steps forward, the report highlights: the REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, as well as conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of carbon stocks) mechanism; the Cancun Agreements of December 2010; and the success and continued work under the Montreal Protocol.

REDD+: Initiative to Prepare National Laws

Senior legislators from Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia and Mexico met to launch the GLOBE Legislator Forest Initiative to develop complementary legislation to prepare the way for efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD). During the meeting each group of legislators outlined the current status of their legislation that is relevant to forestry and the drivers of deforestation. Over the next year, GLOBE will work with legislators to identify how legislation could be amended or advanced to provide REDD+ with a stable foundation for success. The legislators involved in this new initiative will report back on their progress at the World Summit of Legislators prior to UNCSD (Rio+20).

European Commission: Proposed Energy Tax Overhaul

The European Commission has unveiled a proposal to overhaul the rules on the taxation of energy products in the EU. The proposal includes new rules to restructure the taxation of energy products to remove current imbalances and take into account both their emissions and energy content. The proposal is expected to favor renewable energy sources and encourage the consumption of energy sources emitting less carbon dioxide, as well as to complement the existing EU Emission Trade Scheme (ETS) by applying a carbon dioxide tax to sectors that are out of the ETS scope (transport, households, agriculture and small industries). The proposal needs to be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers of the EU, and is expected to enter into force in 2013.

EU Press Release

UNEP: UN Emissions Report

UNEP has released a report titled “Moving Towards a Climate Neutral UN,” which details the greenhouse gas emissions for 52 UN institutions. The report states that the UN's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for 2009 was 1.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide  equivalent.

According to the report, the GHG inventory includes emissions from all activities that are under the direct financial control of the UN, including the heating and cooling of buildings and the travel of staff. Over 50% of the UN's emissions are derived from air travel, approximately 37% of emissions are from buildings, and 13% from vehicles.

European Commission: Power Sector Rules and Transport 2050 Strategy

The European Commission has issued rules on the transitional free allocation of allowances to the power sector, in preparation for the third phase of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) (2013-20), when the power sector will have to buy its allowances.

Press Release on the Decision

The strategy “Transport 2050” has been adopted for a competitive transport system that will increase mobility, fuel growth and employment, dramatically reduce Europe's dependence on imported oil, and cut carbon emissions in transport by 60% by 2050.

EU Press Release on the Strategy