Training Program on Climate Change on 23-24 November, 2011 in Khulna
International treaties, negotiations and
Bangladesh position
v
v
A.K.M. Saiful Islam
Associate Professor
Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM)
Bangladesh University of Engineer and
Technology (BUET)
Outlines

Responsibility : GHG Emission Scenarios

IPCC, UNFCCC and COP




Kyoto Protocol (COP1 to COP7)
The Bali Action Plan (COP 13) in 2007
The Copenhagen Accord (COP15) in 2009
The Cancun Agreements (COP16) in 2010
 Durban Conference (COP 17) in 2011

Bangladesh Position
v
Responsibility of GHG
emissions
v
Global warming
Green House gases
Gas
Formula
Water vapor
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Ozone
H2O
CO2
CH4
O3
Contributio
n
(%)
36 – 72 %
9 – 26 %
4–9%
3–7%
Global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions broken down into
8 different sectors for the year 2000.
CO2 from the measuring station at Mauna Loa (Hawaii) is
located at a volcano at an altitude of 3400 meters.
Global Emission
Per capita CO2 emission
Per capita emission
Bangladesh
1990 – 0.1 ton
2009 – 0.36 ton
v
IPCC, UNFCC and COP
v
The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC)

IPCC was established in 1988 by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and
the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

IPCC provides the world with a clear scientific
view on the current state of knowledge in
climate change and its potential
environmental and socio-economic impacts.

As an intergovernmental body the IPCC is
open to all member countries of the United
Nations and WMO.
The United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC)



UNFCCC has establish in 1994 to set an
overall framework for global efforts to tackle
the challenge posed by climate change.
UNFCCC recognizes that the climate system
is a shared resource whose stability can be
affected by industrial and other emissions of
carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Currently, there are 195 Parties (194 States
and 1 regional economic integration
organization) to the Convention.
The United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change
Governments are required to:
 gather and share information on greenhouse
gas emissions, national policies and best
practices
 launch national strategies for addressing
greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to
expected impacts, including the provision of
financial and technological support to
developing countries
 cooperate in preparing for adaptation to the
impacts of climate change.
COP

Since the UNFCCC entered into force in 1995,
the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the
UNFCCC have been meeting annually to
assess progress in dealing with climate change.

The COP adopts decisions and resolutions,
published in reports of the COP. Successive
decisions taken by the COP make up a detailed
set of rules for practical and effective
implementation of the Convention.
Chronology…(1)
1979 — The first World Climate
Conference (WCC) takes place.
 1988 — The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change is set up.
 1990 — IPCC’s first assessment report
released. IPCC and second World Climate
Conference call for a global treaty on
climate change. United Nations General
Assembly negotiations on a framework
convention begin.

Contd..(2)




1991 — First meeting of the Intergovernmental
Negotiating Committee (INC) takes place.
1992 — The INC adopts UNFCCC text. At the
Earth Summit in Rio, the UNFCCC is opened
for signature along with its sister Rio
Conventions, UNCBD and UNCCD.
1994 — UNFCCC enters into force. An
introduction to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change.
1995 — The first Conference of the Parties
(COP 1) takes place in Berlin.
Contd..(3)



1997 — Kyoto Protocol formally adopted in
December at COP3.
1996 — The UNFCCC Secretariat is set up to
support action under the Convention.
2001 — Release of IPCC’s Third Assessment
Report. Bonn Agreements adopted, based on
the Buenos Aires Plan of Action of
1998. Marrakesh Accords adopted at COP7,
detailing rules for implementation of Kyoto
Protocol, setting up new funding and planning
instruments for adaptation, and establishing a
technology transfer framework.
Contd..(4)


2005 — Entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol.
The first Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto
Protocol (MOP 1) takes place in Montreal.
In accordance with Kyoto Protocol requirements,
Parties launched negotiations on the next phase
of the KP under the Ad Hoc Working Group on
Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under
the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP). What was to
become the Nairobi Work Programme on
Adaptation is accepted and agreed on.
Contd..(5)


2007 — IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report
released. Climate science entered into popular
consciousness.
At COP13, Parties agreed on the Bali Road
Map, which charted the way towards a post2012 outcome in two work streams: the AWGKP, and another under the Convention, known
as the Ad-Hoc Working Group on Long-Term
Cooperative Action (AWG-LC) Under the
Convention.
Contd..(6)



2009 — Copenhagen Accord drafted at COP15
in Copenhagen. This was taken note of by the
COP. Countries later submitted emissions
reductions pledges or mitigation action pledges,
all non-binding.
2010 — Cancun Agreements drafted and largely
accepted by the COP, at COP16.
2011 — On the road to COP17 in Durban.
v
Kyoto Protocol
v
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement made
under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
 The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto,
Japan, on 11 December 1997.
 Countries that ratify this protocol commit to
reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide
and five other greenhouse gases, or engage
in emissions trading if they maintain or
increase emissions of these gases to a
5.37% less than 1990.

The Kyoto Protocol

It sets binding targets. At the real heart of
the Kyoto Protocol lies its set of legallybinding emissions targets for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions for 37
industrialized countries and the European
Union.

These emissions targets amount to a total
cut, among all Annex I Parties, of at least
5.37% from 1990 levels by 2008-2012.
Commitments: Annex B
Country
EU-15
US**
Canada
Japan
Russian Federation
Norway
Australia
Iceland
Target – 1990*
-8%
-7%
-6%
-6%
0
+1%
+8%
+10%
*Some EITs have baseline year other than 1990.
**US does not intend to ratify the Protocol.
Kyoto Protocol -Country Targets
Country
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Canada
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
European Community
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
% of base
108
92
92
92
94
92
92
92
92
92
92
92
92
92
94
110
Country
Italy
Japan
Lithuania
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russian Federation
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
% of base
92
94
92
92
100
101
94
92
92
100
92
92
92
100
92
93
Implementation: Mechanisms

The Kyoto Protocol defines three innovative
“flexibility mechanisms” to lower the overall
costs of achieving its emissions targets.

The Kyoto Protocol broke new ground with its
three innovative mechanisms:
 Joint implementation,
 The clean development mechanism (CDM)
 Emissions trading.
Implementation: Mechanisms

All three mechanisms operate on the basis
of accounting units.
 Joint
implementation projects result in
emission reduction units (ERUs)
 CDM
projects generate certified emission
reductions (CERs) and,
 Under
emissions trading, Annex I Parties may
exchange assigned amount units (AAUs).
Joint Implementation (JI)

Joint implementation (JI) allows Annex I
Parties to implement projects that reduce
emissions, or increase removals by sinks,
in the territories of other Annex I Parties.

For example, replacing a coal-fired power
plant with a more efficient combined heat
and power plant. Currently Russia and
Ukraine are slated to host the greatest
number of JI projects
The clean development mechanism
(CDM)

Provides for Annex I Parties to
implement project activities that
reduce emissions in non-Annex I
Parties, in return for certified
emission reductions (CERs).

The economic basis for including
developing countries in efforts to
reduce emissions is that
emission cuts are thought to be
less expensive and weaker
environmental regulations in
developing countries than
developed countries.
In 2005 , CDM expected
Emission trading


Emissions trading, allows countries that have
emission units to spare - emissions permitted
them but not "used" - to sell this excess
capacity to countries that are over their
targets.
Thus, a new commodity was created in the
form of emission reductions or removals.
Since carbon dioxide is the principal
greenhouse gas, people speak simply of
trading in carbon. Carbon is now tracked and
traded like any other commodity. This is
known as the "carbon market."
Land Use, Land-Use Change
and Forestry (LULUCF)



The rate of build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere
can be reduced by taking advantage of the fact
that carbon can accumulate in vegetation and
soils in terrestrial ecosystems.
Any process, activity or mechanism which
removes a greenhouse gas from the
atmosphere is referred to as a "sink.“
A removal unit (RMU) on the basis of land use,
LULUCF activities such as reforestation
U.S. Response to the Kyoto
Protocol



The U.S. is the world’s single-largest source
of CO2 emissions, accounting for 36% in
1990.
As such, U.S. ratification would clearly push
the Kyoto thermometer above the 55%
threshold and thus, bring the Protocol into
force.
However, in March of 2001 President George
W. Bush steadfastly rejected the Kyoto
Protocol citing the “fact” that, “The Kyoto
treaty would severely damage the United
States’ economy…”
Why Does the U.S. Hesitate?

Developing Countries are not included
in the agreement.

Although the U.S. is currently the top
emitter of carbon, China will overtake
the U.S. by 2030.
U.S. Senate Opposition

In 2005, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed
by a 95–0 vote the Byrd-Hagel Resolution (S.
Res. 98) which stated the sense of the Senate
was that the United States should not be a
signatory to any protocol that did not include
binding targets and timetables for developing as
well as industrialized nations or "would result in
serious harm to the economy of the United
States".
Cutting Green house gas emission
Plan ?
Situation !
Future !
v
Recent COPs
(from Bali to Durban)
v
The Bali Action Plan
(5 point plan)


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The Bali Action Plan was agreed upon at COP 13 in
December, in Bali, Indonesia.
It calls for the full, effective and sustained
implementation of the UNFCCC through long-term
cooperative action up to and beyond 2012 by
addressing :
A shared vision for long-term cooperative action,
including a long-term global goal for emission
reductions.
Enhanced national/international action on mitigation of
climate change.
Enhanced action on adaptation.
Enhanced action on technology development and
transfer to support action on mitigation and adaptation.
Enhanced action on the provision of financial resources
and investment to support action on mitigation and
adaptation and technology cooperation.
The Copenhagen Accord





The 15th session of the Conference of Parties
(COP 15) to the UNFCCC took place in Denmark
in the city of Copenhagen.
COP 15 noted the Copenhagen Accord at the
final plenary on 18 December 2009.
Countries had to pledge their CO2 emission
reductions.
The Accord is not legally binding and does not
commit countries to agree to a binding successor
to the Kyoto Protocol.
An assessment of the implementation of this
Accord is to be completed by 2015.
The Cancun Agreements



COP 16 was held in Cancún, Mexico in 2010
Arising thereof the Cancun Agreements were
adopted.
The Cancun Agreements are a set of significant
decisions:
1.
The international community agreed to address the
long-term challenge of climate change collectively
and comprehensively over time and to take
concrete action now to speed up the global
response.
2.
The agreements represent key steps forward in
capturing plans to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and to help developing nations protect
themselves from climate impacts and build their
own sustainable futures.
Towards a new agreement
in 2012






Kyoto Protocol reaches its sell by date in
2012.
Processes have been taking place to
replace it with a new binding agreement.
In 2007, The Bali Action Plan sought such
an agreement.
COP 15 which took place in Copenhagen
called for a new deal but could only come up
with the Copenhagen Accord.
COP 16 which took place in Mexico in 2010
resulted in the CANCUN AGREEMENTS.
It is up to South Africa to ensure that a solid
agreement is to happen in 2012.
COP 17




Conference of Parties (COP) refers to the States
that have signed on to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC).
The parties have been meeting annually in
Conferences of the Parties (COP) to assess
progress in dealing with climate change since
1995.
COP 17 is therefore the 17th Conference that will
take place at the end of this year (2011).
The COP 17- CMP 7 will mark a critical moment in
the ongoing international climate change
negotiations. CMP 7 means the seventh meeting of
the Parties since the Kyoto Protocol was signed.
COP 17 : 2011 United Nations Climate
Change Conference




The 2011 United Nations Climate Change
Conference will be held in Durban, South Africa,
from 28 November to 9 December 2011.
Officially it is referred to as the 17th session of the
Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the
UNFCCC.
It is also the 7th session of the Conference of the
Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties (CMP
7) to the Kyoto Protocol.
In addition, the two permanent subsidiary bodies of
the UNFCCC – the Subsidiary Body for Scientific
and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the
Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) – are
likely to hold their 35th sessions.
v
Bangladesh Position
v
Source: MoEF, Bangladesh
Mitigation: Bangladesh Position




Emphasizing a legally-binding mid term and long term
emission reduction targets by Annex I Parties with
40% by 2020 and 85% by 2050 below 1990 levels.
Based on IPCC AR4, global emission reduction
efforts must ensure at least 25-40% below 1990
levels by 2020 for Annex I and significantly below
business as usual (BAU) emissions in 2020 for the
non-Annex I countries as a group.
Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA)
Registry , proposed in Bali, should be web based and
supported by developed countries.
Registry should not become a prior requirement or
bottleneck to access funding, including from the
Green Climate Fund (GCF).
Source of information: Dr. Monjurul Hannan, Deputy Sec., MoEF
Mitigation: Bangladesh Position cont…




Loopholes in LULUCF and market-based mechanisms
that degrade reduction targets need to be excluded.
The global goals and limits must include emissions
from international shipping and aviation
A legally binding agreement that is fair, effective,
comprehensive and robust ensuring global
environmental integrity
Durban should launch a clear roadmap with
reasonable timeframe agreed by Parties towards
reaching a legally binding agreement.
Source of information: Dr. Monjurul Hannan, Deputy Sec., MoEF
Adaptation: Bangladesh position
Adaptation
Committee for Macro
Management
Priority should be country driven
GCF or other financial entities will
allocate resources for project
implementation
Linkages with funding mechanism and
technology
Source of information: Dr. Monjurul Hannan, Deputy Sec., MoEF
Adaptation: Bangladesh position





Finalization of adaptation text in Durban and
operationalization adaptation activities
Member from LDCs in Adaptation Committee
Adaptation Committee must be under COP, not
under any other subsidiary body such as SBI
Balanced allocation for Adaptation and Mitigation
Urgent and immediate fund for NAPA and
BCCSAP implementation
Source of information: Dr. Monjurul Hannan, Deputy Sec., MoEF
AWG-KP: Bangladesh position
Five year 2nd commitment period of KP
after 2012
 Strong political decision is critical
 Finalization and adoption of legally
binding agreement ASAP
 No more flexible mechanism for parties
those are not in favor of KP 2nd cp

Source of information: Dr. Monjurul Hannan, Deputy Sec., MoEF
Technology: Bangladesh position

Operationalization of Clean Technology
Center (CTC) and Networks at Durban

Country driven priority for technology access
and transfer

Technology access, transfer and capacity
building must be supported

Emphasis on both adaptation and mitigation
technology

Linkages of technology with finance
Source of information: Dr. Monjurul Hannan, Deputy Sec., MoEF
Finance: Bangladesh position






Transparency on Fast Start Fund (proposed in Copenhegen
and Cancun of US$ 30 billion for the period 2010-2012)
with urgent and immediate fund release
Mobilize of Green Climate Fund (GCF) in Durban [pledged
100 billion per annum]
A clear work plan on pledged of Annex I from post 2012 and
up to 2020 for approval by COP 17
Direct access of fund by LDCs through national funding
mechanism i.e. BCCTF (trust) and BCCRF (resilience)
Balanced allocation for adaptation and mitigation
Urgent and immediate fund for National Adaptation Program
of Action (NAPA) and Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy
and Action Plan (BCCSAP) implementation
Source of information: Dr. Monjurul Hannan, Deputy Sec., MoEF
Thank you