The
29th session of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was held from 31 August - 4
September 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland, and was attended by more than
300 participants.
During
the meeting, which commemorated the IPCC˙˙™s 20th anniversary,
the Panel elected the new IPCC Bureau and the
Bureau of the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFB)
and reelected Rajendra Pachauri as the IPCC Chair. The result of Bureau
elections left delegates satisfied although some felt frustrated with
the lack of clarity in the Rules of Procedure.
The Panel also continued its discussions on the future of
the IPCC, agreed to create a scholarship for young climate change scientists
from developing countries with the funds from the Nobel Prize
and asked the Bureau to consider a scoping meeting on disaster risk
reduction.
A BRIEF
HISTORY OF THE IPCC
The
IPCC was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Its purpose is to assess
scientific, technical and socioeconomic information relevant to understanding
the risks associated with human-induced climate change, its potential
impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. The IPCC does not
undertake new research, nor does it monitor climate-related data, but
it conducts assessments on the basis of published and peer-reviewed
scientific and technical literature.
The
IPCC has three Working Groups: Working Group I (WG I) addresses the
scientific aspects of the climate system and climate change; Working
Group II (WG II) addresses the vulnerability of socioeconomic and
natural systems to climate change, impacts of climate change, and
adaptation options; and Working Group III (WG III) addresses options
for limiting greenhouse gas emissions an d mitigating climate change.
Each Working Group has two Co-Chairs and six Vice-Chairs. The Co-Chairs
guide the Working Groups to fulfill the mandates given to them by the
Panel, and are assisted in this task by Technical Support Units (TSUs).
The
IPCC also has a Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. The
Task Force oversees the IPCC National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
Programme, which aims to develop and refine an internationally-agreed
methodology and software for the calculation and reporting of national
greenhouse gas emissions and removals, and to encourage the use of this
methodology by countries participating in the IPCC and by parties to
the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The
IPCC Bureau is elected by the Panel for the duration of the preparation
of an IPCC assessment report (normally 5-6 years). Its role is to
assist the IPCC Chair in planning, coordinating and monitoring the work
of the IPCC. The Bureau is composed of climate change experts
representing all regions. Currently, the Bureau comprises 30 members:
the Chair of the IPCC, the two Co-Chairs of each of the three Working
Groups and of the Task Force Bureau (TFB), three IPCC Vice-Chairs, and
the Vice-Chairs of the three Working Groups. The IPCC Secretariat is
located in Geneva, Switzerland, and is hosted by the WMO.
IPCC
REPORTS:
Since its inception, the IPCC has prepared a series of comprehensive
assessments, special reports and technical papers subject to extensive
review by experts and governments, providing scientific information on
climate change to the international community, including policymakers
and the public. This information has played an important role in
framing national and international policies.
The
IPCC has so far completed four comprehensive assessments of climate
change, each playing a key role in advancing the negotiations under the
UNFCCC: the First Assessment Report was completed in 1990, the Second
Assessment Report in 1995, the Third Assessment Report in 2001, and
most recently the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4), which was completed
in 2007.
The
AR4 is structured in three volumes, one by each of the three Working
Groups, each comprising an underlying assessment report, a Technical
Summary and a Summary for Policymakers (SPM). All sections undergo a
thorough review process, and the SPM is approved line-by-line by the
IPCC. In addition to the three Working Group˙˙€™ contributions, the AR4
also includes a Synthesis Report (SYR), highlighting the most relevant
aspects of the three Working Group reports, and a SPM of the SYR, also
approved line-by-line by the Panel. The SYR Core Writing Team is
composed of lead authors and Co-Chairs from all Working Groups. The
review process generally takes place in three stages: a first review by
experts, a second review by experts and governments, and a third review
by governments. Overall, more than 2500 expert reviewers, 800 authors,
450 lead authors, and 130 governments participated in the elaboration
of the AR4.
In
addition to the comprehensive assessments undertaken, the IPCC produces
special reports, methodology reports and technical papers, focusing on
specific issues related to climate change. Special reports prepared by
the IPCC include: The Regional Impacts of Climate Change: An Assessment
of Vulnerability (1997), Aviation and the Global Atmosphere (1999), Land
Use, Land-use Change and Forestry (2000), Methodological and Technical
Issues in Technology Transfer (2000), Safeguarding the Ozone
Layer and the Global Climate System (2005), and Carbon Dioxide Capture
and Storage (2005).
Technical
papers have been prepared on Climate Change and Water (2008), Climate
Change and Biodiversity (2002), and Implications of Proposed CO2
Emissions Limitations (1997), among others.
The
IPCC also prepares methodology reports or guidelines to assist countries
in reporting on greenhouse gases. The IPCC Guidelines for National
Greenhouse Gas Inventories were first released in 1994, and a revised
set was completed in 1996. Additional Good Practice Guidance reports
were approved by the Panel in 2000 and 2003, and a guide with
Definitions and Methodological Options to Inventory Emissions from
Direct Human-induced Degradation of Forests and Devegetation of other
Vegetation Types in 2003. The latest version, the 2006 IPCC Guidelines
on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, was approved by the Panel in
2006.
For
all this work, and its contribution to ˙˙śbuild up and disseminate
greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the
foundations that are needed to counteract such chang˙˙€ť the IPCC was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with Al Gore, in December 2007.
IPCC-28: This
session was held from 9-10 April 2008 in Budapest, Hungary, with
discussions centering on the future of the IPCC, including key aspects
of its Work Programme such as Working Group structure, main type and
timing of future reports, and the future structure of the IPCC Bureau
and the Bureau of the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
(TFB). The IPCC agreed to prepare a Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) and
to retain the current structure of its Working Groups. In order to
enable significant use of new scenarios in the AR5, the Panel requested
the Bureau of the Fifth Assessment cycle to ensure delivery of the
Working Group I report by early 2013 and complete the other Working
Group reports and the Synthesis Report at the earliest feasible date in
2014. The Panel also agreed to prepare a Special Report on
Renewable Energy to be completed by 2010.
IPCC-29
REPORT
CELEBRATION
OF THE IPC˙˙€™S 20TH ANNIVERSARY
On
Sunday afternoon, 31 August 2008, the IPCC gathered at the B˙˘timent des
Forces Motrices, Geneva, Switzerland, to open the session and
commemorate its 20th anniversary. IPCC Chair Rajendra Pachauri opened
the celebration and noted the historic juncture of the anniversary and
the accumulated knowledge it represents, as well as the recognition
brought by the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. He further pointed to the many
references made during the 2007 UNFCCC Bali negotiations to the IPCC
Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) as indicative of the Panel˙˙™s
contribution to the international climate policy process. In light of
the high expectations placed on the IPCC, he suggested that internal
changes may be needed to enable the Pan˙˙â˙™s future work at a time of
increasing demand for climate knowledge. He thanked the hundreds of
writers and reviewers who have contributed their expertise over the
years to the IPCC.
UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, congratulated the IPCC on its 20th
anniversary, underscored the importance of IPCC results, and thanked
WMO and UNEP for their support. Ban stressed the need to reach a
comprehensive, enforceable and ratifiable agreement in Copenhagen in
2009, saying we should learn from the experience of two decades of
environmental negotiations, but not be trapped by it. He compared
climate negotiations to a jigsaw puzzle, where a final deal is possible
only by building towards it in increments, chipping away at small
manageable pieces at a time and putting them to rest once that piece of
the puzzle is solved. He added that concrete outcomes from negotiations
were needed in Poznan, Poland, in December and called on Poland to
provide leadership and engage other national leaders.
Moritz
Leuenberger, Federal Councillor and Head of the Department of
Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication, Switzerland, thanked
IPCC Chair Pachauri for his commitment to a better understanding of
climate change. Pointing to the considerable time lag between the
science warnings of impending dangers to humanity and the response to
the challenge by policy makers and the public, he emphasized the
importance of the IPCC continuing its work to maintain sobriety in the
climate debate, and to disseminate its findings for a broad-scale
commitment to the necessary lifestyle changes.
WMO
Secretary-General Michel Jarraud noted his organizati˙˙â˙™s pride in the
achievements of the Panel. He stressed W˙˙â˙™s activities to bring
attention to human-induced climate change. Jarraud congratulated the
IPCC on its AR4 key messages, saying they served as basis for what was
agreed in Bali in 2007. Reaffirming the WMO˙˙™s continued support for the
IPCC he encouraged the Panel to maintain its current form and to
concentrate on supporting expertise and capacity development in
developing countries that will be most affected by climate variability
impacts.
UNEP
Executive Director Achim Steiner said bringing the world to the
negotiating table on climate change, despite the different countries˙˙™
realities, is a testimony to the power of knowledge and the importance
of the IPCC process. He noted knowledge and science create an
imperative to act and to think about how societies will develop in the
future. He underlined questions raised by the economic downturn on
whether we can afford to deal with climate change. Steiner said the
21st century will reshape the paradigm of development. He concluded
that science and knowledge empower politicians, business, the UN and,
particularly, the public, and said the IPCC has handed facts and
figures that cannot be ignored by the leadership of the world.
Roberto
Acosta, UNFCCC, highlighted the links between climate change impacts,
poverty and food supply. He said people of the world need to understand
how climate change will affect them if an agreement is not reached in
Copenhagen. He outlined the influence of the IPCC on UNFCCC
negotiations, and informed on the UNFCCC negotiations in Accra, Ghana,
noting a number of proposals that can set the foundations for an agreed
text in Copenhagen.
Renate
Christ, IPCC Secretary, asked to pay a special tribute to Professor
Bert Bolin, former IPCC Chair, and other contributors to the Pan˙˙â˙™s
work who had passed away.
THE
EVOLUTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE AS REFLECTED IN IPCC REPORTS: Following
the opening statements, Ralph Begleiter, University of Delaware,
moderated a panel session with several special guests, including James
Bruce, former WG II Co-Chair; Osvaldo Canziani, WG II Co-Chair;
Ogunlade Davidson, WG III Co-Chair; Yihui Ding, former WG I Co-Chair;
John Houghton, former WG I Co-Chair; Yuri Izrael, IPCC Vice-Chair;
Hoesung Lee, former WG III Co-Chair; James McCarthy, former WG II
Co-Chair; Bert Metz, WG III Co-Chair; Martin Parry, WG II Co-Chair;
Dahe Qin, WG I Co-Chair; and Robert Watson, former IPCC Chair.
Begleiter noted that the main achievements of the Panel are bringing
public attention to climate change issues and fostering advances in
climate-related sciences.
John
Houghton said that the IPCC over the course of its four assessments had
made significant progress in understanding, attribution and projections
of climate change and highlighted the key findings of the AR4 WG I
report. Robert Watson underlined the advancement in the work of WG II
on the understanding of the regional scale and observation of changes.
He also noted the findings of AR4 WG II regarding projected impacts by
sector and region. Ogunlade Davidson presented the key findings of the
WG III AR4 report, including the need for mitigation technologies and
interlinkages of climate policies with issues of sustainable
development and equity.
In
the subsequent discussion, other special guests made remarks on the
work and future of the Panel. Dahe Qin said that greater attention
should be paid to issues of sea level rise and that participation of
developing country scientists should be increased. Yuri Izrael stressed
the role of WG I and noted the need to take into account other climatic
factors alongside greenhouse gases. Osvaldo Canziani highlighted the
need for more data to address adaptation issues in future reports.
Martin Parry underlined the uniqueness of the Panel as an institution
involving both scientists and policy makers. James Bruce underscored
the remarkable development and evolution in understanding of equity and
economics, and stressed that the benefits of adaptation far outweigh
the benefits not adapting.
John
Houghton noted that the IPCC has tended to be conservative in its
reporting, never overplaying what scientists knew, which explains, in
part, the IP˙˙â˙™s credibility. He underscored that the public is ready
for the difficult messages coming from the assessments, and encouraged
policy makers to build on this emerging public sentiment. Ogunlade
Davidson remarked that politicians are faced with various climate
challenges, in many areas of the world, chief among them the need to
respond to increasing climate extremes and their costly human impacts.
He further noted that policy makers can gain climate advantages in
focusing on better energy policies. Robert Watson called for policy
makers to facilitate investment in future energy technology, also
including clean energy technology such as carbon capture and storage.
IPCC
REPORTS AS SEEN BY AN ARTIST: After the panel discussion,
delegates were presented photos by Yann Arthus-Bertrand from his
collection ˙˙śEarth From Abov˙˙â˙ť as well as a preview of his film on the
˙˙€śState of the Eart˙˙â˙ť
IPCC
ASSESSMENTS, THEIR RELEVANCE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY IN THE PAST AND
FUTURE CHALLENGES: Rajendra Pachauri recalled the
IPCC-28 decision to go ahead with the 5th Assessment Report, to be
finalized by 2014. He also noted agreement on a Special Report on
Renewable Energies, saying the relevance of renewables will increase.
Underlining th˙˙â˙śgiganti˙˙€ť expectations placed on the IPCC, Pachauri
said this should be a moment of humility. He said the 5-6 year cycles
of assessment reports are necessary because of the nature of the
process. Noting the growing demand for updated information, he said he
expected the Panel to deal with this issue. He underscored the need for
outreach, to respond to media coverage, and for more resources. He
stressed that the socioeconomic aspects of climate change will be of
growing relevance for the content of the assessments, and urged more
focus on vulnerability.
Pachauri˙˙™s
address was followed by a question-and-answer session where, among
others, the following issues were raised: expanded subject coverage and
increase in the available literature; non-policy prescriptiveness of
the IPCC; trade and climate change; collaboration with other
international institutions; and data gathering in developing countries.
On the issue of the IPCC helping ongoing climate negotiations,
including through updates, Michael Zammit Cutajar, AWG-LCA Vice-Chair
and former UNFCCC Executive Secretary, said the last thing that is
needed at UNFCCC is an excuse for negotiators to hold back while
waiting for input from the IPCC.
APPROVAL OF
THE AGENDA AND DRAFT REPORT OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH SESSION
On
Monday morning, 1 September, delegates reconvened at the Geneva
International Conference Center and adopted the provisional agenda
(IPCC-XXIX/Doc.1). The Russian Federation noted that the agenda item on
future IPCC activities includes both organizational and substantive
components. The Panel also approved the draft report of IPCC-28 (IPCC-XXIX/Doc.2).
IPCC
PROGRAMME AND BUDGET FOR 2009-2011
The
Financial Task Team, co-chaired by France, met three times during the
session to consider the budget prepared by the IPCC Secretariat for
2009 to 2011 (IPCC-XXIX/Doc.3).
On Thursday, the Panel approved the budget (IPCC-XXIX/Doc.13), which
included revisions to accommodate: an expert meeting on common metrics,
a preparatory meeting on extreme events, and an additional WG Co-Chair
for this assessment cycle.
USE OF
FUNDS FROM THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
On
Tuesday afternoon, New Zealand presented a proposal on behalf of the
Task Group set up at IPCC-28 to consider the use of funds from the
Nobel Peace Prize. He said the Task Group had focused its attention on
the proposal to create a scholarship fund for young post-graduate or
post-doctoral students in climate change sciences from developing
countries, especially least developed countries. The proposed
scholarship fund would, among other things: give opportunities to young
climate scholars from developing countries; be distinct from regular
IPCC activities; attract and accept additional funding; leave a
long-term legacy; have low administrative overheads; and be governed by
a small group of trustees elected as part of the IPCC Bureau elections.
Argentina, supported by Colombia and Ecuador, also called for
consideration of funds to be given to Latin Ameri˙˙â˙™s regional climate
research centers. Algeria, supported by Egypt, Togo, Nigeria and
Morocco, stressed Afri˙˙â˙™s special vulnerability to climate change
impacts, and the regio˙˙€™s need for capacity development. Nigeria and
Morocco suggested supporting small projects in Africa. Austria, supported
by Belgium and Togo, stressed regional and gender balance in the
selection of scholarship recipients. The Netherlands recalled that the
IPCC is not a capacity-building organization. Hungary and Belgium
stated their preference for the fund to be used for scholarships that
link directly to the IPCC and to commemorate the memory of the first
IPCC Chair, Bert Bolin. Kenya, supported by Mauritius, called for more
time to consider the details. The Panel decided to set up the
scholarship fund as outlined by New Zealand (IPCC-XXIX/Doc.8, Rev.1)
and to review the process in a ye˙˙â˙™s time.
ELECTION OF
THE BUREAU AND THE TASK FORCE BUREAU
Elections
were held for the IPCC Chair, Bureau Members and Task Force Bureau
(TFB) in accordance with the Rules of Procedure for the Election of the
IPCC Bureau and any Task Force Bureau as contained in Appendix C to the
Principles Governing IPCC work. The Rules of Procedure were adopted by
IPCC-25 in Port Louis, Mauritius, in April 2006. IPCC-28 decided that
the˙˙€śsize, structure and compositi˙˙â˙ť of the IPCC Bureau to be elected
for the Fifth Assessment cycle will remain the same as in the AR4. A
Credentials Committee and a Nominations Committee are appointed at
sessions where Bureau elections are held. The Rules of Procedure also
require regional balance in the Bureau across the six WMO regions:
Africa (Region 1); Asia (Region 2); South America (Region 3); North
America, Central America and the Caribbean (Region 4); South-West
Pacific (Region 5) and Europe (Region 6). In deciding the Bureau
positions, the Rules of Procedure encourage consensus decision-making
within regional groups. In the absence of consensus, the Rules provide
for a secret ballot to decide contested positions in the plenary.
The
Credentials Committee was appointed on Monday and comprised the
following six members: Yadowsun Boodhoo (Mauritius); Ricardo J˙˙Ă©
Lozano (Colombia); Natasa Markovska (the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia); Mohammad Koba (Indonesia); Ingrid Martinez (Guatemala); and
Aree Wattana Tummakird (Thailand), who chaired the Committee.
The
Nominations Committee was also appointed on Monday and consisted of
twelve members: Richard Odingo (Kenya); Yaya Bangoura (Guinea); Dong
Song (China); Aysar Tayeb (Saudi Arabia); Luis Vayas (Ecuador); Pauline
Davies (Uruguay); Edmundo de Alba (Mexico); Nathalie Burke (Barbados);
Susan Barrell (Australia); Rajendra Prasad (Fiji); Anne Mette ˙˙¸rgensen
(Denmark); and Milan Dacic (Serbia). The Committee was co-chaired by
Odingo and˙˙ørgensen.
On
Tuesday morning, the IPCC re-elected Rajendra Pachauri as IPCC Chair.
Pachauri promised to make every effort to ensure that the IPCC works in
an objective and transparent manner, and conducts its business in the
spirit of consensus and the highest standard of science.
Election
of WG Co-Chairs and TFB Co-Chairs began on Wednesday morning. Klaus
Radunski (Austria) and Ingrid Martinez (Guatemala) were appointed as
tellers for the vote. According to IPCC practice, one of the two
Co-Chairs for each WG and the TFB should represent a developed country
with the other representing a developing or a transition economy
country. Several candidates were elected by acclamation: Dahe Qin
(China) as WG I Co-Chair; Christopher Field (US) and Vicente Barros
(Argentina) as WG II Co-Chairs; Ottmar Edenhofer (Germany) as WG III
Co-Chair; and Thelma Krug (Brazil) and Taka Hiraishi (Japan) as TFB
Co-Chairs.
Delegates
had to vote for one WG I Co-Chair. The candidates were Francis Zwiers
(Canada), David Wratt (New Zealand) and Thomas Stocker (Switzerland)
and Stocker was elected.
Ramon
Pichs Madruga (Cuba) and Youba Sokona (Mali) were in the running for a
WG III Co-Chair position, however the elections encountered procedural
difficulties unforeseen by the Rules of Procedure, particularly in the
definition of simple majority if two elections take place on the same
voting slip. As a solution, the Russian Federation suggested electing
three WG III Co-Chairs and increase the number of Bureau members by
one. After plenary discussions and informal consultations the IPCC
agreed to increase the number of WG III Co-Chairs by one, while
maintaining the overall size of the Bureau, with the understanding that
this is a once-off solution, and does not imply changes in the Rules.
As a result, both Pichs Madruga and Sokona were elected to the Bureau.
Ogunlade
Davidson (Sierra Leone) and Jean-Pascal van Ypersele (Belgium) were
elected by acclamation as IPCC Vice-Chairs. A vote took place for the
third IPCC Vice-Chair position between Hoesung Lee (Republic of Korea),
who was elected, and Mohan Munasinghe (Sri Lanka).
Elections
for other positions in the IPCC Bureau continued on Thursday. For the
positions of WG Vice-Chairs, candidates from Regional Groups 1, 3, 4
and 6 were elected by acclamation (see a table on the composition of
the Bureau below). Votes took place among four candidates from the
Asian regional group for two positions of WG Vice-Chairs: Fatemeh
Rahimzadeh (Islamic Republic of Iran); Amjad Abdulla (Maldives); Taha Zatari
(Saudi Arabia); and Anvar Homidov (Tajikistan). Rahimzadeh was elected
as WG I Co-Chair and Abdulla as WG II Co-Chair.
Votes
also took place among candidates from the South-West Pacific regional
group for three WG Vice-Chair positions: Mezak Ratag (Indonesia); David
Wratt (New Zealand); Neville Smith (Australia); and Fredolin Tangang
(Malaysia). Wratt was elected WG I Vice-Chair and Smith WG II
Vice-Chair.
After
the elections, Saudi Arabia, China and Tajikistan expressed concern
that, as a result of decreasing the number of WG III Vice-Chairs
because of the increase in WG III Co-Chairs, the Asian regional group
is not represented on the bureau of WG III. Slovenia, with New Zealand,
suggested evaluating and improving the Rules of Procedure, inter alia, to
ensure regional representation in each WG.
The
rest of the TFB positions were elected by acclamation. The composition
of the newly elected TFB is as follows: Co-Chairs Krug and Hiraishi;
Washington Zhakata (Zimbabwe); Emmanuel Mpeta (United Republic of Tanzania);
Zhou Linxi (China); Sirinthotutep Towprayoon (Thailand); Leonidas
Girardin (Argentina); Sergio Gonzalez Martineaux (Chile); Art Jaques
(Canada); William Irving (USA); Robert Sturgiss (Australia) shared with
Leonard Brown (New Zealand) in turn; Rizaldi Boer (Indonesia); Detelina
Petrova (Bulgaria) shared with Sadeddin Khefran (Syria) in turn; and
Jim Penman (UK).
PROCEDURAL
MATTERS
PROCEDURES
FOR TECHNICAL PAPERS: On Monday afternoon, Australia
proposed a process for technical papers to be reviewed with the
assistance of at least two review editors (IPCC-XXIX/Doc.4).
The issue was taken up again by plenary on Thursday afternoon and the
Panel agreed to Australi˙˙€™s proposal.
FRAMEWORK
AND CRITERIA FOR SPECIAL REPORTS, METHODOLOGY REPORTS AND TECHNICAL
PAPERS: On
Thursday afternoon, Australia introduced its proposal to consider
cross-cutting issues that require input from more than one working
group on the framework and criteria for Special Reports, Methodology
Reports and Technical Papers (IPCC-XXIX/Doc.4).
The Panel agreed to the proposal with a minor amendment.
SPECIAL
OBSERVER STATUS FOR REGIONAL INTEGRATION ORGANIZATIONS: On Tuesday
afternoon, the European Community (EC) presented a proposal to grant
special observer status to regional economic integration organizations
that are parties to the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol (IPCC-XXIX/Doc.5).
He said the EC seeks the right to participate in discussions, but not a
role in the decision-making process, nor the right to vote or power to
block consensus. He also underscored the EU is a special organization
because, while not being a state, states have transferred some
sovereign powers to it. Belarus, Japan, Russia, Benin, China, Venezuela
and others expressed concerns with the proposal and a contact group was
established, co-chaired by Andrej Kranjc (Slovenia) and Hiroshi Ono
(Japan).
The
contact group met on Tuesday afternoon and evening. Japan requested
clarification whether the EC seeks the right to participate in closed
meetings. Russia requested clarification of the ˙˙â˙™s membership status
in the IPCC˙˙™s parent organizations, UNEP and WMO. Venezuela expressed
concern that the ˙˙â˙™s request appeared to restrict the future
possibility of other regional integration organizations to seek the
same status. The US supported the E˙˙€™s request subject to specific
language on the Communi˙˙â˙™s rights within the IPCC. Canada questioned
whether the current rules for observers limit the ˙˙â˙™s ability to
participate. Bahamas and Saudi Arabia expressed concern about setting a
precedent. China questioned if the EC can be considered part of an
intergovernmental panel. The contact group reconvened in the evening to
consider draft texts tabled by Venezuela, Russia and the US. The
contact group agreed to request further contributions by members and
consider the issue at the next IPCC session.
On
Thursday afternoon, Andrej Kranjc reported the results of the contact
grou˙˙€™s deliberations to the Panel. He noted the need to open up the
IPCC while avoiding being inflated with a large number of observers.
The Panel agreed to consider the report from the contact group and
further submissions on the issue at IPCC-30.
FUTURE IPCC
ACTIVITIES
Under
this agenda item delegates considered a report on future IPCC
activities resulting from the task group set by IPCC-28. The Panel also
considered a proposal for a Special Report on disaster reduction, and
information on new emissions scenarios.
FUTURE
ACTIVITIES OF THE IPCC: Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, Chair of
the Task Force established to consider future activities of the IPCC by
IPCC Chair Pachauri at IPCC-28, consisting of China, Morocco, the
Netherlands, Uganda, the US, Belgium, Pachauri, and the IPCC
Secretariat, explained that the Task Force had met twice during this
session, and produced an interim report (IPCC-XXIX/INF.5). He said the
group wanted to capitalize on the experience of the old and new Bureau
and Technical Support Units (TSUs). Van Ypersele explained the group
had structured the issues on future activities of the IPCC along three
axes: future challenges; methods and procedures; and subjects to be
emphasized in AR5. Hungary said some guidance should be given to the
new Bureau. Benin, Togo and others underscored regional balance,
particularly consideration of Africa. Bolivia stressed vulnerability
assessment in Andean and Amazon regions, as well as climate risks and
human development. New Zealand highlighted the ability of IPCC to
respond to a more dynamic environment. France emphasized financial
implications, methodology for prioritization of Special Reports, and consideration
of IP˙˙â˙™s political neutrality in outreach activities. Colombia
stressed guidelines and indicators for the next assessment report.
Argentina emphasized climate change economics. Van Ypersele said
another interim report will be prepared for the next Bureau Meeting in
November, and a final report will be presented at IPCC-30.
SPECIAL
REPORT ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION: On
Wednesday afternoon, Norway introduced a proposal, co-developed with
the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), for an IPCC
Special Report on managing risks of extreme events to advance climate
change adaptation (IPCC-XXIX/Doc.6).
Norway stressed the urgent need for information on how to manage
disaster impacts to be available to the policy community, and
underscored the linkages between disaster reduction and adaptation to
climate change. Numerous countries supported a special report. Sri
Lanka and Bangladesh underscored the repor˙˙€™s importance for developing
countries given their higher socioeconomic vulnerability during
disasters. Finland stressed the repo˙˙â˙™s significance to developed
countries as well. France underscored current lack of financing for the
report. Hungary emphasized the policy-relevance of the report, and that
it meets items identified in the Task Force that deals with the future
of the IPCC. Germany, joined by Sudan, stressed the urgent need for the
repo˙˙â˙™s information to policy makers. Japan and others commented on the
scope of the disasters to be covered by the report. The UK urged
caution to differentiate between climate events and other
vulnerabilities, and for the report not to replicate ongoing work at
the WMO and in the UNFCCC Nairobi Work Programme. The UK, supported by
the US, noted a piecemeal approach to deciding on special reports in
the future has to be avoided. The US cautioned that the new Bureau has
to be involved in the scoping of the report. The Panel agreed the new
Bureau will decide on the scoping meeting.
NEW
EMISSIONS SCENARIOS: Richard Moss, Co-Chair of the
Steering Committee on New Scenarios, informed on progress on new
emissions scenarios. He said that the work was still ongoing on the
lowest radiative forcing pathway and that scenarios are expected to be
transferred to climate modeling as well as impacts, adaptation and
vulnerability communities in December 2008. Moss also noted that the
report of the Expert Meeting on New Scenarios, which took place in
Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands, in 2007, will be translated into all
UN languages.
OUTREACH
IPCC
Secretary Christ presented a progress report on outreach, including an
extensive list of public activities (IPCC-XXIX/Doc.7; Doc.7/Add.1;
Inf.2; Inf.2/Add.1).
She said the success of the AR4 and the Nobel Peace Prize have resulted
in a high demand on the Secretariat, Bureau members, TSUs, and others
for outreach activities including interviews, speeches and permission
to reproduce materials, as well as translations into non-UN languages.
She further pointed out that while all efforts were made to ensure full
regional coverage in dissemination, there were gaps in some areas.
Christ outlined that while education and training were not in the IPCC
mandate, the IPCC Secretariat was playing a facilitating role to
support such activities. She thanked the European Commission for its ˙˙¬1
million contribution to a joint project with the IPCC, WMO and UNEP to
support the dissemination of the AR4 in developing countries. She also
asked the Panel to consider in the future how the IPCC should respond
to climate research criticism.
MATTERS
RELATED TO THE UNFCCC
On
Thursday afternoon, IPCC Secretary Christ introduced the issue
(IPCC-XXIX/Doc.11), including UNFCCC AWG-KP conclusions on
methodological issues (FCCC/KP/AWG/2008/L.14)
acknowledging that there are common metrics other than global warming
potentials (GWP), including global temperature potentials (GTP), and
inviting the IPCC to undertake further technical assessment of
alternative common metrics. Brazil, supported by Argentina, South
Africa and others, and opposed by the US and Saudi Arabia, proposed to
host an expert meeting, with a view to develop a technical paper.
Pachauri, supported by Switzerland and Norway, proposed that the new
Bureau consider the issue and report back to the IPCC. New Zealand and
others underscored the urgency of the issue. Taka Hiraishi, TFB
Co-Chair, noted IPCC procedures and outlined potential difficulties
with a technical paper. Argentina underscored the need to respond
promptly to the UNFCCC. Pachauri said that while the UNFCCC is the
Pane˙˙€™s main customer, ˙˙śthe IPCC is not a fast food place˙˙€ť The IPCC
agreed to give the Bureau the authority to convene an expert meeting
before the next session.
CLOSING OF
THE SESSION
On
Thursday afternoon, Turkey offered to host IPCC-30 in Istanbul in early
April 2009. Many members expressed their gratitude to the outgoing
Bureau and welcomed the new Bureau. Chair Pachauri closed the session
at 4:12 pm.
A BRIEF
ANALYSIS OF IPCC-29
The
29th session of IPCC began with a high-level celebration, including UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the heads of the IPCC parent
organizations UNEP and WMO, and other dignitaries. The celebratory mood
was justified. It has been 20 years since WMO and UNEP established an
Intergovernmental Panel to assess available scientific literature on
climate change. Although young in human terms, the Panel is a veteran
among multilateral environmental organizations, and has an impressive
list of achievements. Over the past 20 years, the Panel has conducted
four comprehensive climate change assessments, the most recent
finalized in 2007. Each of these assessments has resulted in landmark
developments in the international response to climate change and,
particularly, UNFCCC negotiations. Through its assessments, Special
Reports and other activities, the Panel has played a key role in
raising awareness on climate change and its consequences. In 2007 the
IPCC was co-awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts t˙˙â˙śbuild up
and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change.˙˙ť
Given
the past successes and in IPCC Chair Rajendra Pachauri˙˙™s words, the
˙˙€śgigantic expectation˙˙€ť placed on the IPCC, the future of the IPCC is
arguably one of the most important issues to be discussed since the
completion of the AR4. The first post-AR4 meeting took place in
Budapest. It was largely a wrap-up exercise after the completion of AR4
and a reflection on the future of the Panel. The Panel decided to carry
out a Fifth Assessment, including preparation of a Synthesis Report,
and to maintain the existing structure of the Bureau.
In
Geneva, some aspects of the future work of the IPCC were briefly
considered but mostly deferred until the new Bureau was elected and new
Technical Support Units were in place. As a result, the session was
dominated by a single agenda item: the election of a new Bureau, which
will serve for the next assessment cycle, expected to conclude in 2014.
As an intergovernmental body, the Panel always faces the challenge of
not only electing candidates highly qualified in scientific matters but
also ensuring wide geographical representation, in particular, of
developing countries. The IPCC is the most authoritative source of
scientific information on climate change, widely referred to in various
international fora. Its Bureau makes many decisions that shape
assessment outputs and the importance of Bureau elections comes as no
surprise. After three days of discussions in six regional groups, the
Nominations Committee and the plenary, and after putting to test the
new Rules of Procedure adopted in 2006, which proved no easy task, the
composition of the new Bureau was finalized and now the IPCC is ready
to dig deep into further work and the next assessment cycle.
There
are many issues in the pipeline for the Panel and newly elected Bureau
to deal with. The most important of them, as noted above, is the future
of the IPCC. The Panel will have to make progress on ongoing work
related to: lessons from AR4; ways to strengthen the Secretariat;
institutional memory, particularly in the Technical Support Units; and
improving geographical representation, in terms of developing country
scientist participation, data coverage, and assessment of non-English
scientific literature. As for the new agenda, the elections of the
Bureau held at the Geneva meeting showed that there is a need to
improve the Rules of Procedure. This, particularly, relates to
clarifying that voting for different positions should take place on
different voting slips, in order to define simple majority for each
position separately.
The
Panel will also have to start planning for AR5 and address such issues
as improving collaboration between the working groups and early
consideration of the Synthesis Report. The newly elected Bureau will
have to ensure delivery of the WG I report by early 2013 and complete
the other WG reports and the Synthesis Report at the earliest feasible
date in 2014. As for the substance of AR5, much work needs to be done
on treatment of regional aspects, handling of crosscutting issues and
addressing socioeconomic aspects of climate change.
In
addition, since there were several calls in Budapest for possible
Special Reports, with one of them already taking shape˙˙€“ a Norwegian
proposal for a Special Report on disaster risk reductio˙˙â˙“ the Panel
will have to decide on topics and priorities for possible Special
Reports and Technical Papers. Last but not least, following the
decision in Geneva to establish a scholarship fund for young scientists
from developing countries with the Nobel Peace Prize money, the Panel
now has to focus on its operationalization.
In
summary, IPCC 29 was about Bureau elections. Despite some tense moments
due to procedural issues not contemplated in the Rules, the Panel
managed to solve its problems in the spirit of cooperation and to elect
a Bureau, avoiding any long-term divisions and confrontation. Now the
IPCC has completed its transition from the Fourth to the Fifth
Assessment Report and must now enter full sail into its next cycle.
UPCOMING
MEETINGS
TWENTY-SIXTH
COMMITTEE ON EARTH OBSERVING SATELLITES (CEOS) WORKING GROUP ON
INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND SERVICES (WGISS-26): WGISS-26
is scheduled to meet from 22-26 September 2008, in Boulder, Colorado,
USA. WGISS-26 is sponsored by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration˙˙™s National Environmental Satellite Data and Information
Service. For more information, visit: http://www.joss.ucar.edu/joss_psg/meetings/Meetings_2008/ceos_wgiss/index.html
WORLD
TRADE ORGANIZATION 2008 PUBLIC FORUM TO DISCUSS MUTUAL SUPPORTIVENESS
OF TRADE, CLIMATE AND DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES: The WTO
Public Forum will meet from 24-25 September 2008, in Geneva,
Switzerland. For more information, contact the WTO Public Forum: tel:
+41-22-739-5677; fax: +41-22-739-5777; e-mail: Publicforum2008@...;
internet: http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/public_forum08_e/hot_topics_e.htm
SIXTEENTH
SESSION OF THE GLOBAL CLIMATE OBSERVING SYSTEM (GCOS) STEERING
COMMITTEE: The GCOS Steering Committee is meeting from
14-17 October 2008, in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information,
contact the GCOS Secretariat: tel: +41-22-730-8067; fax:
+41-22-730-8052; e-mail: GCOSJPO@...;
internet: http://www.wmo.ch/pages/prog/gcos/index.php?name=calendar
KYOTO
PROTOCOL SIXTH MEETING OF THE DESIGNATED NATIONAL AUTHORITIES (DNA)
FORUM: The
meeting of the DNA Forum will take place from 27-28 October 2008, in
Santiago, Chile. For more information, contact UN ECLAC: tel:
+56-2-210-2000, +56-2-471-2000; fax: +56-2-208-0252, +56-2-208-1946;
e-mail: secepal@...; internet: http://cdm.unfccc.int/DNA/DNAForum/index.html
TWENTY-SECOND
COMMITTEE ON EARTH OBSERVING SATELLITES (CEOS) PLENARY MEETING: The 22nd
CEOS Plenary Meeting and associated events will be held from 10-13
November 2008, in George, South Africa. The 2008 Plenary will convene
from 11-12 November 2008. For more information, contact the
Secretariat: e-mail: info@...;
internet: http://www.ceosplenary2008.com/index.html
TWENTIETH
MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL (MOP-20): This
meeting is scheduled to take place from 16-20 November 2008, in Doha,
Qatar, in conjunction with the eighth Conference of the Parties to the
Vienna Convention. For more information, contact: Ozone Secretariat;
tel: +254-20-762-3850/1; fax: +254-20-762-4691; e-mail: ozoneinfo@...; internet: http://www.unep.org/ozone/
FOURTEENTH
CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UNFCCC (COP 14) AND FOURTH MEETING OF
THE PARTIES TO THE KYOTO PROTOCOL (COP/MOP 4): UNFCCC COP
14 and Kyoto Protocol COP/MOP 4 are scheduled to take place from 1-12
December 2008 in Poznan, Poland. These meetings will coincide with the
29th meetings of the UNFC˙˙â˙™s subsidiary bodies and the fourth meeting
of the Ad Hoc
Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA) and the resumed
sixth session of the AWG on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under
the Protocol (AWG-KP). For more information, contact: UNFCCC
Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815-1000; fax: +49-228-815-1999; e-mail: secretariat@...; internet: http://unfccc.int
SYMPOSIUM
ON RENEWABLE ENERGY AND WATER PRODUCTIVITY: This
symposium is scheduled to take place from 7-9 December 2008, in Manana,
Bahrain, and is co-organized by Crans Montana Forum Middle-East in
association with the Bahrain Economic Development Board and UNIDO. For
more information, contact: UNIDO Energy and Cleaner Production Branch;
tel: +43-1-260˙˙â˙“3034.
THIRTY-EIGHTH
SESSION OF THE IPCC BUREAU: This meeting of the IPCC Bureau
is scheduled for 24-25 November 2008, in Geneva, Switzerland. For more
information, contact: IPCC Secretariat, tel: +41-22-730-8208/84; fax:
+41-22-730-8025/13; e-mail: IPCC-Sec@...;
internet: http://www.ipcc.ch/
FAO
HIGH-LEVEL CONFERENCE ON WATER FOR AGRICULTURE AND ENERGY IN AFRICA:
THE CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE: This
meeting will take place from 15-17 December 2008, in Sirte, Libya. The
purpose of this conference is to address the availability of water
resources in Africa under the context of increased demand by the
agricultural and energy sectors and changing climatic conditions. For
more information, contact FAO: e-mail: Maher.Salman@...; internet: http://www.fao.org/nr/water/events.html
or http://www.fao.org/nr/water/docs/sirteconceptnote.pdf
THIRD
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMMUNITY BASED ADAPTATION (CBA): This
conference will take place from 22-26 February 2009, in Dhaka,
Bangladesh. This meeting is being jointly organized by IIED, CLACC and
the RING. It will include a two-day field visit to a CBA site. For more
information, contact: Dr. Saleemul Huq, International Institute for
Environment and Development; tel: +44-20-7388 2117; fax: +44-20-7388
2826; e-mail: saleemul.huq@...;
internet: http://www.iied.org
AWG-LCA
5 AND AWG-KP 7: The Fifth Meeting of the Ad hoc Working
Group on Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA) and the Seventh Session
of the AWG on further commitments for Annex I Parties under the Protocol
(AWG-KP) is scheduled to take place from 30 March to 9 April 2009, in
Bonn, Germany. For more information, contact: UNFCCC Secretariat; tel:
+49-228-815-1000; fax: +49-228-815-1999; e-mail: secretariat@...;
internet: http://unfccc.int
30TH SESSION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON
CLIMATE CHANGE (IPCC-30): IPCC-30 is scheduled to take place
in Istanbul, Turkey, in the first half of April 2009. For more
information, contact: IPCC Secretariat; tel: +41-22-730-8208; fax:
+41-22-730-8025/13; e-mail: IPCC-Sec@...;
internet: http://www.ipcc.ch/
Having problems with message search?
Send Email