The Green Climate Fund (GCF), as UNFCCC’s operating financial entity, has been established to ensure financial support in addressing the adverse impacts of climate change. This fund will deliver its resources to help developing countries invest in climate resilient and low-emission economic development. The GCF will mobilize USD 100 billion by 2020 per year from public and private sources for supporting projects and programmes on climate compatible development.

Private Sector Facility (PSF), an innovative window of GCF, has been operationalised to catalyse private investments in projects/programmes pertaining to mitigation and adaptation actions.  GCF established a pilot programme to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises of up to USD 200 million (decision B.10/16) under the PSF. This is an opportunity for the small and medium-sized enterprises to obtain direct and indirect financial support to focus investments on renewable energy, transportation, energy efficiency, agriculture and water efficiency, forestry and land use, waste management, and urban planning. However private sector needs to be accredited entities and/or potential accredited entities in order to establish and manage the pilot projects/programmes.

GCF seeks to balance the allocation of its funds between adaptation and mitigation, while allocating a significant portion of its resources to engage the private sector. In addition, nearly half of the adaptation resources are expected to be allocated to Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and African states. This flexibility, scalable approach and aims to pursue climate compatible development in a way that facilitates transformation of business-as-usual while integrating environmental, social, economic and development benefits in an inclusive manner, makes GCF stand out from other global funds.

There is no denying that the private sector is an instrumental economic agent in development sector. Governments of developing countries, particularly LDCs, must understand the potential of private sector engagement in climate action. For instance, in Bangladeshi the private sector invested approximately 75% of the total national economy in 2013-2014. However, their engagement towards low-emission and climate resilient development has yet to gain adequate momentum in Bangladesh as well as in other LDCs. The private sector presents innovation and willingness to take new initiatives compared to the public sector. The private sector also has the ability to undertake effective adaptation and mitigation action, provided adequate funds and technologies are available and accessible. Flow of international finance would enable engagement of the private sector on climate action, to contribute to climate compatible development.

Effective mobilisation of the private sector would facilitate opportunities to initiate carbon trading through implementing internationally transferrable mitigation units. In accordance with Article 6 of the Paris agreement, implementation of the internationally transferred mitigation outcomes or units (also known as carbon credits), which is a voluntary activity, would help to achieve climate commitments put forth by countries in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). LDCs including Bangladesh have the potential to enhance existing carbon sinks and reservoirs to remove and reduce the carbon emissions from the atmosphere, providing opportunities for acquiring carbon credits which can be traded in the international market. The proceeds generated from selling the carbon credits can be used to meet the administrative expenses, and also assist the developing countries, particularly the vulnerable ones to meet the costs of adaptation and mitigation. Such mechanism would help to enhance their participation in contributing to the global goal of reducing emissions. Therefore, national policy must facilitate congenial environment for the private sector so that they can benefit the country by engaging in the said markets. Climate change policy of LDCs, however is lagging behind to facilitate framework to capture international benefits by engaging their private sectors in carbon trading.

As a part of the readiness programme, CDKN has been implementing a project in Bangladesh to mobilise the private sector and to raise their awareness on GCF’s PSF, identify their institutional strengths and weaknesses, and enhance their capacity to access resources from the PSF. CDKN is also extending help to the private sector in developing bankable proposals so they can successfully access resources from the PSF. The private sector in other LDCs will need similar support.

There is a growing concern, particularly from LDCs, regarding the operation of GCF. The GCF is a new concept and is evolving in its institutional mechanisms. Hence, the GCF and the PSF are not very clear to either the public or the private sector of LDCs. It is critical for the GCF to effectively engage with the private sectors in developing countries, more specifically with LDCs to mobilise the private sector in implementation of climate related projects and programmes.

While private sector is proactively involved in various areas of business, their investment in climate action is limited due to lack of information about the facility as well as their inability to understand potential benefits of engaging in PSF opportunities. It is expected that new climate financial mechanism i.e. the PSF may act as a catalyst to re-present the financial unpredictability and inadequacy perception that private sector has related to business opportunities in climate change. Therefore, engaging the private sector of LDCs through providing readiness and preparatory activities would facilitate them to effectively gain access and mobilise resources from the PSF.

Picture Credit: Green MPs

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The Paris Climate Agreement announced in November 2015 marked the initiation of a new international agreement between the UN member countries for mitigation goals beyond 2020, i.e. to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) to limit global warming to 2°C, adapting and mitigating the adverse impacts of climatic change in the form of extreme weather events and slow on-set events.

Whilst acknowledging the need for development to achieve a middle income status by 2021, Bangladesh put forth ambitious targets for climate mitigation and contributions for climate adaptation to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These contributions, also known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), along with INDCs from 184 other countries shaped the Paris Climate Agreement.

Climate mitigation ambition in Bangladesh

Being one of the most vulnerable countries to the changing climate, Bangladesh showed strong leadership through deep engagement with the UNFCCC process on the new climate deal. Bangladesh proposed 5% reduction in GHGs from Business-as-Usual (BAU) levels by 2030 in three sectors; industry, power and transport. These three sectors account for 69% of total national emissions and are expected to increase to 264% by 2030 from 2011 level, from 64 MtCO2e in 2011 to 234 MtCO2e in 2030.

It’s important to note that the changing climate is expected to cause economic losses in Bangladesh amounting to 2% of GDP annually by 2050 and 9.4% by 2100. Even though the country is not a high emitter of GHG emissions, Bangladesh contributes less than 0.35% to global GHG emissions

Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT) Version 2.0. (Washington, DC: World Resources Institute, 2014)”. World Resources Institute, Bangladesh made a strong case to the UNFCCC for contributing to reduction of further 15% of its GHG emissions in the three aforementioned economic sectors, subject to availability of international financial, technological and capacity development support.

Addressing the two sides of the coin of climate action

Impacts of climate change are already affecting livelihoods of millions, which will exacerbate in the future. Based on the climate forecasting done by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), extreme temperatures, erratic rainfall, floods, drought, tropical cyclones, rising sea levels, tidal surges, salinity intrusion and ocean acidification will cause serious negative impacts on the lives and livelihoods of millions of people including the vulnerable population in Bangladesh. These impacts are gradually offsetting the remarkable socio-economic development gained over the past 30 years, as well as jeopardizing future economic development.

Reflecting the need to adapt to climatic impacts, Bangladesh has maintained the larger focus on climate adaptation and building resilience of it’s economy and population in the INDC submitted to UNFCCC. Aiming for a low carbon and resilient economic development, Bangladesh proposed mitigation actions which can contribute to the global efforts to limit temperature rise to 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Continuing domestic momentum on the Paris agreement

The momentum in Bangladesh has swiftly progressed from INDC submission to implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement.  Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), with support from Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) is taking an ambitious lead in initiating preparation and implementation of INDC by developing action plans for implementation of mitigation targets in the INDC, a roadmap for preparation and by mobilizing relevant stakeholders from across the government, civil society and private sector together.

This exercise is designed to translate INDC into guiding documents to guide key stakeholders in the country for implementation of mitigation actions in Industry, Power and Transport sectors. This sectoral planning will also investigate the financial, technological and capacity needs of government, developing this into a national narrative for support on capacity development which will be submitted by MoEF to UNFCCC’s Paris Committee on Capacity Building.

Parallel to this, MoEF has also initiated a project with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to develop a National Adaptation Plan of Action which will initiate planning on adaptation related commitments made in the INDC.

The question remains, how will these efforts ensure INDC is effectively implemented?

Government of Bangladesh is successfully portraying a collective, united front in efforts to make their economic sectors climate resilient and climate smart. Under MoEFs’ leadership, INDC advisory and technical committees have been established that comprise of representatives from most line ministries. These committees met regularly while developing INDC, and are now revived to identify priority actions compatible to climate that should be implemented by Industry, Power and Transport sectors.

Moreover, each economic sector is developing a working group comprising of relevant stakeholders. These groups will be consulted extensively, capturing sectoral knowledge when developing the action plans. These actions plans serving as the first pit stop for government racing to implement climate commitments, may be the first conscious attempt by the government to understand roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder for climate action in each economic sector. This will not only streamline implementation of INDC, but also sustain climate action beyond 2025 as the actions plans will comprise of actions that align to not only the INDC, but also to Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action plan, and the government’s seventh five year development plan.

Once developed, both the actions plans and the roadmap will have to be integrated with sectoral development plans by sectoral ministries. Embedded in economic sectors’ structures, INDC implementation will become part and parcel of economic development in Industry, Power and Transport sectors. The roadmap will map each step that government needs to take from 2017 till 2020 to prepare for implementation of INDC, and steps till 2025 to effectively achieve climate commitments. The former could include capacity development initiatives, developing climate governance structures, strengthening measuring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems, and ensuring institutional arrangements for implementation of actions plans.

The Paris agreement has made the global community hopeful of serious commitment to this global issue, particularly by developed countries. Already signed by 180 countries, the Paris agreement is a clear indication that progressive countries like Bangladesh despite their limited resources, are willing to contribute to the global mission. It is up to developed countries that have resources and are partly responsible for contributing to the issue to stand side by side with progressive vulnerable countries, to support them in their efforts.

Bangladesh is well ahead of other Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to take action on implementation of INDC as pre-2020 mitigation measures. The submission of the INDCs should be seen as a first step toward effective action against climate change. Bangladesh INDCs will be reviewed and updated on a regular basis in order to adjust its economic growth to make it compatible to a low carbon trajectory. Like other developing countries, Bangladesh is focusing on INDC implementation and the government will craft and deliver a roadmap to ensure the contributions proposed in the INDC to the global community are met.

Photo Courtesy: Panos Images

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Loss and damage has become a highly critical issue in climate vulnerable countries, as the impacts of climate change are being manifested in the form of intensification of natural disasters, sea-level rise and other climatic events. These climate-induced disasters are posing negative impacts in the form of sudden and slow onset disasters. The repercussions of such climatic aberrations are affecting people’s lives and livelihoods, economy and the environmental settings in developing countries.

This year can be flagged as the year of ‘Loss and Damage’ under the UNFCCC process. As decided in the Paris COP 21 and the Paris Agreement, the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) will be reviewed this year and further decision will be taken at COP 22 to address loss and damage. Bangladesh, as an active member of the least developed countries (LDCs), has been pushing this agenda from COP 16. Considering the importance of reviewing the WIM, CDKN co-organized a workshop on ‘Unpacking Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage in the National Context of Bangladesh’ from February 6-7, 2016 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The workshop was hosted by the Department of Disaster Management and Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, with support from ActionAid, C3ER and NACOM.

The primary objective of the workshop was to unpack the state of play at the global level to address loss and damage in Bangladesh. It also aimed at understanding the scope to develop a national mechanism to address loss and damage as part of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy.

Loss and Damage: need for better understanding  

The concept of loss and damage is quite complex. Addressing it requires understanding of climatic events and processes; however, this entails uncertainty. The exposure and sensitivity to risk is higher when the adaptive capacity is inadequate. Both slow onset and sudden events confirm that adaptation is not enough to address residual impacts of climate change. Such residual impacts, known as loss and damage, require measures beyond adaptation.

In Bangladesh, there are adequate policies and strategies to address DRR and the sudden onset of disasters. However, these policies and strategies are not necessarily enough to address loss and damage and there is lack of coordination among the different Ministries and technical agencies implementing said policies. Furthermore, the implementation of the policies is also delayed due to lack of capacity at institutional level.

The workshop brought together experts, policymakers and practitioners related to loss and damage and DRR to discuss the background, structure, process and next course of action of the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM). The participants also debated how the WIM will work in the future to address loss and damage due to adverse impacts of climate change. Legal aspects of WIM under the Paris Agreement were elaborated in the discussion to develop a strategic approach for contributing to climate negotiation under the UNFCCC. Though the aforementioned discussions deserve a feature of their own, highlights of the discussion in the national context are examined in this article.  Pressing questions were discussed with the national audience to provide clarity on the understanding of national circumstances to take action on loss and damage. Non-economic loss and damage, migration and rehabilitation of climate displaced populations was an integral part of these discussions.

Sectoral assessment process to identify and understand loss and damage

It is understood that key sectors of the economy which include agriculture, infrastructure (power, road, telecommunication etc), water, forests and health are under serious threat of impacts of climate change. However, the existing method to assess loss and damage such as the D-form[1], presently used by the Department of Disaster Management in Bangladesh is unable to sufficiently capture the severity of impacts and their associated loss and damage. The D-form must be reviewed, modified and statistically strengthened by including data from the affected areas and information on damages to ecosystem services. Furthermore, conducting a salinity analysis, physical survey, application of GIS tools and other scientific tools will be necessary to collect data on loss and damage of affected areas and communities. The non-economic loss can be quantified and assessed through group discussion and community consultations.

National strategy and coordination for addressing loss and damage

Institutional arrangements for addressing the loss and damage issue within the existing institutional setting of the country need to be developed. Loss and damage is a new dimension in adverse impacts of climate change that emphasizes institutional capacity building of a climate vulnerable country such as Bangladesh. The significance of capacity building lies with sectoral monitoring and coordination to effectively manage loss and damage, while also looking at multisectoral assessment and actions. Discussions at the workshop highlighted the need for systematic Disaster Impact Assessment (DIA) and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) methodological approaches to assessing loss and damage.

Institutional structure to address loss and damage at the national level

Given the lack of coordination among the ministries, a national coordination cell to implement the policies effectively is an urgent national need for Bangladesh. Lack of coordination contributes to delayed implementation of the policy and waste of time and resources; hence, the essence of the policy dismantles. Establishing a wing under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to address loss and damage associated with the effects of climate change is logical.

Support needed to address loss and damage

Climate vulnerable countries are looking for support from the UNFCCC process for adaptation and mitigation including loss and damage. The following are Bangladesh’s needs for addressing loss and damage:

• Financial, technical and intellectual support to conduct research on assessing and quantifying the loss and damages incurred due to climate change;
• Adequate budget to undertake projects on climate mitigation and adaptation;
• A legal framework to address loss and damage associated with climate change;
• A climatic model to understand magnitude of loss and damage due to slow onset and quick onset of climatic disasters. Narrowing down of the climate model at subnational level would be appropriate and comprehensive enough to understand the magnitude of loss and damage;
• National mechanism with a provision for supporting rehabilitation and well planned migration as a part of the coping strategy;
• National data set and knowledge hub/archive on loss and damage to operationalize the national mechanism;
• Strong coordination among the ministries and other relevant stakeholders to ensure effective support mechanism with good governance.

This year at COP 22, the UNFCCC process and negotiations will engender an acceptable and agreed mandate for WIM to handle loss and damage and to facilitate support to climate vulnerable countries. Developing comprehensive strategies on loss and damage in developing countries would be a timely approach for capturing critical elements of loss and damage within national circumstances and to facilitate establishing critical structure of national mechanisms for loss and damage.

[1] http://old.ddm.gov.bd/d-form.pdf

Picture Courtesy: DfiD

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In December 2015, governments of more than 190 nations gathered in Paris with immense enthusiasm and expectations for a global agreement to address climate change. The ‘Paris Agreement’ considered as an important milestone in the history of the international climate change negotiations, succeeded in providing a groundbreaking agreement among parties to deal with the adverse impacts of climate change. Unlike previous agreements, the Paris Agreement has recognised the urgency of holding the temperature increase to 1.5 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels, although that remains an aspiration more than a target for now.

The decisions under the Agreement are applicable to all countries, whether developed or developing, recognising common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. The Agreement will enter into force after 55 countries, which contribute at least 55% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions, enact their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. The signing of the instrument will commence in April 2016, allowing parties to sign and ratify the agreement within a year’s time. [Editor’s note: at the time of publication, Fiji just became the first country to ratify the Agreement.]

The Paris Agreement has opened up opportunities and challenges to developed and developing country parties in various ways at differentiated levels. It is important for developing countries to have a better understanding of the key opportunities and challenges of the Agreement.

Recognising rights of vulnerable populations

The Paris Agreement’s preamble recognises the interrelation between human rights and climate change. Human rights encompass a wide range such as rights to have shelter, and access to clean water, food and environment etc. Global warming is likely to lead to a 2.7 to 3 degree Celsius rise above pre-industrial levels (based on the current growth rates of emissions and in spite of the Paris Agreement’s lofty goals). This means crossing the 2 degree Celsius threshold that scientists deem the limit of safety, beyond which impacts of a changing climate – such as droughts, floods, heat waves and sea level rise – are likely to become catastrophic and irreversible. Reflecting the rights of individuals while addressing climate change ensures that planning to address vulnerability accounts for the rights of indigenous people and local communities as well as climate migrants. The inclusion of the rights of the vulnerable people, including climate migrants, in the Agreement ought to facilitate the provision of legal protection to the climate-displaced community. A section in the Agreement solely addresses the loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change; it calls for providing support to vulnerable populations by strengthening early warning systems and emergency preparedness, among other matters.

Balanced approach between mitigation and adaptation

The Paris Agreement also recognises a balance between mitigation and adaptation to address climate change. Such initiative provides an opportunity for the developing and the least developed countries to access international climate funds for addressing adaptation needs which are urgent and immediate. The Agreement also contains provisions which, if effectively implemented, can generate demand for internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (that is, if you cannot manage to reduce your own emissions sufficiently, you can pay for mitigation action elsewhere). Article 6 (paragraph 6) of the Agreement states that the usage of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes, which is voluntary, to achieve nationally determined contribution would help to generate proceeds which can be used to meet the administrative expenses, and also assist the developing countries, particularly vulnerable countries, to meet the costs of adaptation.

Resourcing climate compatible development interventions

Effective implementation of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes would facilitate nations’ buying carbon credits to offset their carbon emissions. Developing countries including LDCs can enhance existing carbon sinks and reduce carbon emissions and hence benefit from such mechanisms. Alternatively, LDCs and other developing countries, with international financial support, can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sell the surplus carbon credits to other countries that need them (to reduce their own carbon footprints). The private sector could be involved by taking the lead in operating and managing these mechanisms. The proceeds generated could be utilised to eradicate poverty and enhance employment.

While developed country shall provide financial resources to assist developing country parties for both mitigation and adaptation as per the Paris Agreement, other parties are encouraged to provide support voluntarily, facilitating South-South cooperation to address adverse impacts of climate change.

Developing countries, particularly LDCs, must take advantage of the Paris Agreement by accessing finance, technology and capacity for implementing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) while reducing vulnerability through adaptive measures. New market mechanisms, as emphasised by the Paris Agreement, can be used as an economic vehicle for developed and developing countries’ private sector to initiate joint actions on both mitigation and adaptation.

Paris Agreement has its own sets of challenges

While discussing opportunities of the Paris Agreement, there are many challenges attached to its implementation. The Paris Agreement is not a legally binding instrument in its entirety (see this blog by Dean Bialek on which aspects are binding and which are not) and hence the parties have limited accountability for failure to fulfil their obligations. Therefore, the developed countries may not provide adequate funding to implement mitigation and adaptation activities for ensuring climate-resilient development. This would pose a serious challenge for the developing countries to pursue domestic mitigation and adaptation activities to address adverse impacts of climate change.

Although the Agreement has recognised the need to initiate approaches to enhance private sector involvement in its implementation, particularly technology development and transfer, however, the Agreement  does not explicitly mention Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). Therefore, the knowledge and the new technology generated through research and development (R&D) needs IPR protection. The private sector, profit seeking in nature, will have little incentive to invest in this sector unless they are assured of investment return with profit. As a result, huge upfront investment coupled with absence of intellectual property rights may hinder the private sector’s participation in implementation of the Agreement.

It is worth noting that the allocation of short-term, mid-term financial supports for the developing countries has not been specified in the Agreement. Absence of predictability and reliability of climate finance in terms of resource allocation would pose a serious challenge for the developing countries to implement the Paris Agreement.

Furthermore, although the phenomenon of climate-related loss and damage was recognised in the Agreement, the possibility of compensation for losses (i.e. compensation to affected peoples or countries) was not recognised. While the Agreement has recognised the interrelation between human rights and climate change impacts, there were no obligations on relocation stated in the article to address the rights of the people vulnerable to displacement.

It is worthwhile to mention that the developing and the least developed countries are already experiencing difficulty in developing their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), primarily due to inadequate funds. Climate vulnerable countries will face serious consequences of climate change impacts without adequate allocation of resources for implementation of NAPs as well as NDCs.

Finally, compliance of the Agreement is not sufficiently addressed to ensure effective and efficient implementation. Its non-punitive nature will be a serious limiting factor to achieving the goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. Parties should reach a further agreement, by consensus, on a fully legally binding framework, with enforcement mechanisms, for both pre-2020 and post-2020 climate action.

Image: Dhaka, Bangladesh, credit Aaron de Leeuw, flickr.com

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The Paris agreement frames future economic development pathways for the least developed and most climate vulnerable countries as an element of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Critically, it will increase the flow of additional public and private finance for vulnerable countries for both low carbon and climate resilient investments. Ambition, including the pathway towards a possible 1.5 degree limit and five-yearly reviews, will be played out through the national climate plans (the INDCs).

Implementation will need to begin immediately and ramp up. The agreement in Paris is encouraging but if ambition does not continue to increase in future years, then the achievement of a 1.5 or even a 2 degree target – and many of the SDGs – will be in danger.

Reflections on the opportunity and challenges ahead are given below by CDKN’s global, regional and country team leads.

Kiran Sura, CDKN’s Head of Negotiations Support:

“The Paris Agreement has delivered a universal and ambitious plan to halt dangerous climate change. This is an historic moment for the world and a life line to those climate-vulnerable countries and small island states on the front line of climate change. However, it is now up to us all to grab this life line and deliver the action needed to meet the challenging target of limiting warming to 1.5^oC and provide the international support climate-vulnerable countries need to protect themselves against the impacts we have already locked in. The Presidency’s skilful handling and diplomacy has not only ensured a deal was delivered but also that all voices – especially those of the poorest and most vulnerable that are often not so loud – were heard. Merci, Paris.”

Geoff Barnard, CDKN’s Senior Knowledge Management Advisor:

“The Paris Agreement is a much-needed shot in the arm for everyone who has been working to champion climate issues, ever since the disappointments of Copenhagen.  From exhausted negotiators to passionate civil society activists, the relief coming out of Paris is palpable. The hugging and whooping in the Conference Hall spoke volumes for the emotional response of many around the world who have put their combined shoulders to this huge and heavy wheel, which at times has felt hopelessly mired in disagreements and wrangling.  The wheel is finally moving, and the elation that so many of us feel is testament to the passion and commitment that has underpinned all the hard work up to now. There is a great deal more work to be done, starting today.  But let’s celebrate this moment of jubilation in Paris, and cherish the inspiration it provides us for the long road ahead.”

Mairi Dupar, CDKN’s Global Public Affairs Coordinator:

“Congratulations to the governments who rose above their differences in Paris and responded to climate experts’ warnings about the dangers of a 2 degree world. They have recognised that radical action on climate change is needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and protect the lives and prospects of the world’s poorest people.

Reining in dangerous levels of warming calls for astonishing reserves of human ingenuity – but this effort does not happen in a void. CDKN is among the many alliances that have already been trying and testing approaches to climate compatible development for several years: approaches to curbing emissions while achieving greater climate resilience and human development. CDKN doesn’t have all the answers, but we are committed to sharing best practices as well as beautiful failures; we do this in our new book ‘Mainstreaming Climate Compatible Development’, which summarises the first five years of CDKN’s experience. We hope others will join us in this spirit of expanding and strengthening knowledge networks, to empower everyone for the opportunities and challenges ahead.”

Carl Wesselink, CDKN’s Regional Director for Africa:

“The Paris Agreement is both a big step forward and a frustrating shortcoming. Its success will depend on the implementation of voluntary INDC targets. For African countries implementation will require more refined strategies and innovative finance.  Realising low (avoided future) emission development strategies will be a priority across the continent, and the sooner the better. Countries with heavy fossil-fuel use will need to grapple with the implications for their economies. The increased climate finance pledges, and particularly adaptation aid, is a victory but will fall short of the need. The financial implications of the loss and damage clause are still to be determined, and Africa will participate keenly in that process.”

Revocatus Twinomuhangi, CDKN’s Senior Strategic Advisor for Uganda:

“The new global climate agreement adopted in Paris represents important progress towards addressing the climate change that is currently threatening human survival on this planet. For the least developed countries are that a highly vulnerable, the Paris Agreement brings hope for accessing climate finance to invest in adaptation that will build climate resilient economies, communities and ecosystems. In particular, the establishment of a technical and knowledge platform under the Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change is crucial for capacity building. By supporting country-owned and country-driven adaptation actions, the implementation of the Agreement will contribute to poverty reduction, which is crucial to building climate resilience and ensuring sustainable development. It is time to build on this momentum to work for the achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals.”

Connie Espinosa, CDKN’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean:

“For the Latin American and Caribbean Region, the Paris Agreement rises above the different views of sub-regional groups towards a common objective for a low carbon and resilient future. We celebrate this historic moment and acknowledge the trust our governmental leaders have put in an organised and cooperative international context that will facilitate climate finance to our region. We are proud of the three Latino figureheads who paved the road towards the Paris Agreement: the Peruvian Minister of Environment, Manuel Pulgar Vidal, responsible for the 20^th COP Presidency and who worked for achieving consensus among Parties. The Argentinian Pope Francisco with the presentation of the encyclical “Laudato Si” on climate and environment and by directly talking with Presidents and mayors for their support to achieve an Agreement; and finally, Christina Figueres from Costa Rica, as Executive Director of the UNFCCC , who orchestrated all the support needed for negotiations to happen.”

Claudia Martinez, CDKN’s Senior Strategic Advisor for Colombia:

“After the excitement of the signature of the Paris agreement, Ban Ki Moon stated that “we shall all stay united and bring the same spirit to the crucial test of implementation”.  The Paris agreement sets for the first time a long term goal for every country that has committed to achieve its INDC.  In the case of Latin America and the Caribbean, our overall emissions account for 11% of the world’s emissions, mostly related to deforestation and land use change followed by energy including transport.  In this emerging region,  in a business as usual (BAU) scenario, the trend is to shift to a more carbon-intensive economy that looks similar to the current developed economies. However, the challenge is to grow and decarbonise our economies at the same time.  In this context,  the LAC region has great challenges such as preserving the Amazon, the world’s biggest forest and managing land use change and agriculture in a more climate compatible manner.  In terms of energy, 92% of the region is interconnected (OLADE, 2010). However, a large effort is needed to transition from oil and coal- dependent economies and achieve energy efficiency as well as leapfrog to alternative energies. In terms of transport, the region still lacks infrastructure and has the opportunity to develop resilient and efficient transport options. And finally, there is a need to involve the industrial sector in not only lowing their emissions but helping in the overall challenge of adaptation. Countries in the LAC region will need to rethink their long term vision of change, uniting forces in order to emerge with climate compatible economies.”

Ali Sheikh, CDKN’s Regional Director for Asia:

“At the heart of Paris Agreement is the process and mechanism to increase the ambition as part of periodic reviews. The nations will meet every five years to revise their national action plans or what is generally known as the INDC. CDKN can have a genuine pride in having catalysed and fostered the INDC process in many, many ways – ranging from helping some countries develop their distinct contributions by adapting unique methodologies and internal processes, by supporting research and investments in methodologies, by developing toolkits for least developed countries and by supporting their participation in a wide range of capacity building and training exercises. CDKN has also galvanised support for INDC implementation, which we hope will serve as an important building block for the implementation of the historic Paris Agreement.”

Munjurul Khan, CDKN’s Senior Strategic Advisor for Bangladesh:

“Adoption of the Paris Agreement is a historic landmark achievement of the global community. This Agreement created an opportunity to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels by taking into account of the objective of the Convention, and being guided by its principles, including the principle of equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR) and Respective Capabilities (RC), in the light of different national circumstances. Inclusion of human rights and climate justice in the Agreement shall provide scope for stronger argument for demanding climate action for vulnerable. However, the non-punitive nature of compliance measure may be a serious limiting factor for implementation of the Agreement.”

Ari Huhtala, CDKN’s Deputy CEO and Climate Finance Lead:

“The Paris Agreement sets a target for financial commitments from developed countries, but it is important to remember that what is needed for the required transformational change is trillions, not billions. The floor of $100 billion per annum should be used as a catalyst to accelerate the shift of all resource flows towards climate compatible options. Meeting this commitment is doable, fossil fuel subsidies alone amount to significantly more and carbon pollution can and should be priced. Instead of only tracking flows from developed to developing countries, we should focus on ensuring the effectiveness of the committed funds, and support developing countries in that endeavour.”

Jebi Rahman, CDKN’s Partnerships and Networks Programme Manager:

“The Paris Agreement resonates with CDKN’s strong partnership work to date, and the task ahead to continue forging knowledge networks at the subnational, country, regional, and global levels. Partnerships will be needed at all these levels to create the disruptive change required for enhanced pre-2020 action by developing country Parties.  Much work needs to be done to innovate, share lessons learned, and support capacity development, before reviewing and ratcheting up ambition in the next five years.  The road ahead is long, and I look forward to continuing with colleagues and partners, old and new, on this journey.”

Image: entrance to COP21 showing national flags – credit COP Paris, flickr.com

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