Challenges of climate change and responses in Asia and the Pacific: implications for civil society UNESCAP

Transcription

1 Challenges of climate change and responses in Asia and the Pacific: implications for civil society World Civic Forum 5-8 May 2009, Seoul Sangmin Nam, PhD Environmental Affairs Officer Environment and Development Division UNESCAP

2 GHG Emissions and Rising Temperature 550ppm CO2 eq 450ppm CO2 eq Source: IPCC

3 Trends of Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific Temperature increase (A-P above the trend) Shrinking glaciers (e.g. Himalayan glacier) Sea level rise (many small islands in A-P) Changes in rainfall patterns change in river flow pattern more frequent and severe floods, droughts changes in coastal circulation patters Increase in extreme weather (A-P more vulnerable)

4 Climate change in Asia-Pacific context Geographic factors Many countries in lower latitudes Large coastal areas of low elevation Many small islands states Socio-economic factors Dependence on climate sensitive activities (agriculture, fishery, etc) Many poor Lack of resources for prevention, adaptation and mitigation measures Population growth more people living in higher risk areas such as coastal areas

5 Global Environmental Governance: Actors and Factors Actors Factors State Actors Non-state Actors International organizations Civil Society Epistemic Communities Interplay of interests Influence of Knowledge

6 Factor 1: Influence of Knowledge Knowledge in Multilateral Environmental Governance Asymmetrical information acts as an obstacle to building and implementing governance Thus, mutually or widely shared understanding of a problem is the first requirement of environmental governance. Required knowledge for multilateral governance: causality of the problem as well as the consequences of policies The specific roles of knowledge include identifying the nature of a problem; shaping states perception on an environmental problem; and creating bases for the choice of substantive approaches and rules of governance

7 Factor 2: Interplay of Interests National interests in multilateral environmental governance National interests: the outcome of calculations of expected environmental vulnerability and abatement costs A reflection of interactions among various domestic factors National interests are always heterogeneous. Thus, the important fact is the intensity of heterogeneity and the potential of a governance mechanism to alter or create incentives for cooperation State Actors: the agent of national interests State actors cannot be defined as an entity of a monolithic interest, but an entity with diverse interests.

8 Actor: Civil Society Two existential bases of CSO As external advocates for encouraging state actors to effectively respond to environmental challenges by creating required governance mechanisms As executors for CSO-initiated governance mechanisms or activities of formal governance mechanisms Roles of CSO Diffuse new information and knowledge; create new agendas of governance; form an encouraging political atmosphere towards new governance; and execute their own governance sphere.

9 Progress in GEG on Climate Change Bali Action Plan: Key Directions Achieving the ultimate objective of the Convention Deep cut NAMA MRV Technology and Financing Markets and costeffectiveness Adaptation Shared Vision for Long-term Global Goal Ambitious (meeting ultimate objective of the UNFCCC) Based on science Achievable and realistic Economic development Comprehensive (5 th Session of the AWG-LCA)

10 Goals of Post-2012 Action Developed Countries: Reducing 20-40% of 1990 level by 2020 Developing Countries: NAMA/ Substantial Deviation from Baseline At least 50% below 1990 level by 2050 Stabilizing GHG at the level of 450 ppm CO2 eq. in 2050 Limiting global warming to 2ºC increase

11 The Approach of the Kyoto Target Global temperature:? GHG concentration in 2050:? Global emissions by 2050:? Targets for Annex I: 5% Reduction by 2012 No quantified target for Non-Annex I

12 Implication for Developing Countries: NAMA Developed Countries: NAMC + Deep Cut Developing Countries: (1) NAMA (2) in the context of SD (3) in a MRV manner Encouraging Mitigation Action of Developing Countries Technology, Financing and Capacity Building for Developing Countries Formal TT and Financing Mechanism under UNFCCC Market-based Mechanism Globally required additional investment and financial flows in 2030: 0.3 to 0.5% of GDP and % of global investment (UNFCCC).

13 Approaches to NAMA Sustainable Development Policies and Measures Low-carbon development plans and strategies Sector-based mitigation actions and standards Technology deployment Programme Cap-and-trade schemes Registry of NAMAs MRV Link NAMAs with pledges or sources of support

14 Moving towards Committed Actions

15 Key Approaches to Implementing Mitigation Actions Co-benefits approach to attain multiple outcomes Holistic approach to designing socioeconomic policies Cooperative approach to developing and implementing policies Inclusive development approach to simultaneously achieving key social development goals including MDGs

16 Enabling Climate Action in Developing Countries TT, Financing and CB under formal mechanism Cooperative sectoral approaches and sector-specific actions Create crediting mechanisms for NAMA through a registry of NAMAs so as to improve commercial viability of investments in mitigation actions in developing countries.

17 Enabling Sector-specific Actions Options (1) Sector-wide transnational approaches, e.g. transnational industry-led approaches (2) Country-specific quantitative sectoral approaches, possibly combined with no-lose targets (3) Top-down sectoral crediting as an incentive mechanism, e.g. a sectoral Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) (4) Policy or technology-oriented sectoral approaches Target sectors (1) Domestically-oriented sectors: power generation, transport, residential building, etc (2) Internationally-oriented/ operating sectors: manufacturing industry

18 Sector End Use/ Activity GHG Energy Transportation 13.5% Electricity & Heat 24.6% Other fuel Combustion 9.0% Industry 10.4% Fugitive Emissions 3.9% Industrial Processes 3.4% Land Use Change 18.2% Agriculture 13.55% Waste 3.6% Road 9.9% Air and Transport 3.9% Residential & Commercial Buildings 9.9% Unallocated fuel Combustion 3.5% Iron & Steel 3.2% Other metals 4.4% Chemicals 4.8% Cement 3.8% Other Industry 8.3% Oil/Gas Extraction, Refining & Processing 6.3% Forest Change 18.2% Agricultural Use 13.4% Livestock & Manure 5.1% Source: WRI Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 77% Methane (CH4) 14% Nitrous Oxide (N2O) 8% HFCs, PFCs SFs 1%

19 Key Sectors and Actors Number of participating countries covering 80-90% of non-annex I GHG emissions in particular sectors Asian Countries on the Top Ten For All Sectors: China, India, and South Korea For Selected Sectors: Electricity - Indonesia, Thailand; Chemical and Petrochemical -Indonesia; Cement - the two countries and Pakistan (Source: Center for Clean Air Policy)

20 Enabling Sector-specific Actions - Sectoral Crediting Mechanism (SCM) Policy-based crediting, where credits would be generated by adopting and implementing GHG friendly policies in particular sectors; Rate-based (indexed) crediting, where GHG emissions below a certain intensity level (e.g. per product output or per value of output) would generate emission credits; and Fixed sectoral emission limits, where emissions credits could be generated if a sector or company emits at a lower level than an agreed, fixed, limit. Source: OECD/IEA

21 Financing Climate Action New Crediting Mechanism? New Funding Mechanism? Enhancing the roles: a fundamental requirement for financing

22 Financing Mitigation Actions: proposals Contributions based on national capacity and responsibility An assessed contribution from developed country based on GDP An assessed contributions from all Parties based on GHG emissions and respective capacities. Levies on commercial and individual activities A uniform Global levy on CO2 emissions International aviation and maritime transport Air travel International monetary transactions Engaging market Auctioning of assigned amounts or emission allowances A share of proceeds from CDM, JI and ET

23 Continuing Roles of Civil Society in Climate Actions Framing climate change into political agenda Facilitating actions of sub-state actors and the private sectors Interpreting scientific information into common knowledge and practical action Building hubs of vertical and horizontal interactions Acting as an agent for citizens voluntary action such as carbon offsetting Linking climate agenda into broader sustainable development/ green growth agenda Attaining the ultimate objective of the UNFCCC and sustainability of humanitarian planet

24 Thank you very much for your attention Sangmin Nam