Author: Samuel Pickerill

The ‘Bula’ Negotiations Zone at COP 23

The 23rd Conference of the Parties has now concluded, and left some significant takeaways. The event produced several headlines, from Syria joining the Paris agreement to notable presentations from Al Gore, Angela Merkel and a U.S. group supporting continued use of coal. The bulk of the event happened outside these publicized events however, in negotiation rooms where more finite and intricate policies are shaped. While negotiators pushed many tough questions into next year, delegations attempted to define the rulebook for Paris implementation, and began to delve into larger questions such as a carbon trading mechanism and transparent reporting.

From a US perspective, this was an interesting COP. It was the first since President Trump’s election and subsequent announcement of intent to withdraw from Paris, and both domestic and international players had questions on the United States’ new position. An unofficial coalition of primarily democrat subnational actors pitched tents just yards from the offices of the national delegation from the Trump Administration. The opportunity to meet with both groups showed me how the US sends a mixed message to the world on climate change, yet these groups’ positions may not be as fundamentally antagonistic as portrayed in the media.

The COP is a collection of many events, private and public, official and unofficial, but the variety of which is incredibly important. While the negotiations of the Paris Agreement rulebook take place, the COP serves an equally if not more important role serving as a marketplace of ideas. Countless new concepts, techniques, case studies and prototypes are brought to one place as policymakers, scientists, activists and citizens try to tackle one of humanity’s most existential problems. Some progress will be made through successful implementation of Paris Agreement goals. But much more needs to be done than what is possible through Paris, and the next solution will be born out of innovation from knowledge sharing events like the COP.

Being partnered with IUCN, I was able to see how a non-governmental institution attempts to affect policies at this event. While the larger organization had several policy interests, my team spent the week highlighting the benefits of one concept, ecosystem-based adaptation. Through a variety of side events, IUCN promoted EbA techniques, brought together students and experts in the field, and discussed means for improvement in the field.

A common focus throughout many fields was the need for capacity building and improved knowledge sharing. Developing international platforms to connect researchers with local policy actors and project implementation remains equally important as any technological advancements. The COP as a whole naturally promotes a mood of increased cooperation and knowledge sharing, as a mulitinational, multisectoral event. In this way the spirit of the COP is important towards environmental progress each year, even in years without major developments within the negotiations themselves. 

In the afternoon of the second day of the COP came some unexpected good news. Syria, the final country to have not joined the Paris Agreement, announced its intent to sign into the accord. When the Paris Agreement was first reached in 2015, only Nicaragua and Syria declined to sign — Nicaragua in protest to the leniency of the agreement and Syria due to a bloody civil war. Nicaragua joined in October, and despite President Trump’s announcement of an intent to withdraw, the United States cannot fully and officially exit until three years after the Agreement entered into force — in other words, November 2020. For now, all recognized countries are essentially signatories to the Agreement, a success which has lifted spirits in the opening week of COP 23.

Delegates deliver opening statements in the APA plenary

Much of the run-up to the COP and the first day and a half was in the shadow of the United States’ stated intent to withdraw, leaving a large gap as both a major funder and polluter. An American pavilion was ostensibly missing from the international pavilions in the Bonn Zone, and the French pavilion challenged Trump directly with its “Make our Planet Great Again” slogan. While delegates from other nations stressed that the Paris Agreement was irreversible and non-negotiable, there was a clear elephant in the room causing a feeling of uncertainty. The addition of Syria does not solve the problem of losing American funding or support, but it does deliver an important emotional victory in the early days of this COP. The mood across the conference is markedly different, and hopefully this update can motivate further action as delegates attempt to hammer out the Paris Agreement’s rulebook before the close of COP 24 next year in Poland.

While the US was already clearly far apart from other countries in its rebuttal of the Paris Agreement, the inclusion of Syria makes it strikingly clear that it is the United States against the world. Other attendees have been generally welcoming of American student and NGO delegations, but there have been many interactions of confusion and surprise that Americans remain present here in Bonn. On Thursday a group of American NGOs and sub-national actors will open a tent promoting the We Are Still In campaign, but as of now few around the conference are aware of such an exhibition. Much more known is the decision of the official United States delegation to host a talk promoting the use of coal, only days after a major Greenpeace protest criticized Germany’s use of brown coal mines. The talk is far apart from all other presentations delivered here in Bonn, as the United States federal government is isolated in its stand against the Paris Agreement.

The shadow of United States withdrawal will continue to hang over this COP, especially from the perspective of being an American student. But the addition of Syria onto the Paris Agreement injected this conference with confidence in its solidarity, and gave tangible evidence towards the continuance of progress. Hopefully this optimism will spill over throughout the COP and lead to a surge in productive action.

It is the opening day of COP 23 and the streets of Bonn, Germany are full with negotiators, observers, activists and students. Local fanfare shows a dedication to this climate conference with art installations, an illuminated ferris wheel and a giant inflated globe. After registering I met with my client, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), who is hosting an event at the nearby German Development Institute. The event features a number of experts promoting the utilization of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) techniques. These techniques promote using natural strategies in increasing human resilience to climate change, such as planting mangroves instead of building a sea wall.

Presentation on quantifying the benefits of Ecosystem-based adaptation

An introduction by Mr. Felix Ries began the discussion by focusing on two main points, communicating the benefits of ecosystem-based approaches and developing financing strategies. In communication, Mr. Reis proposes demonstrating the benefits of EbA through the combination of telling stories and providing numbers, through case studies and economic analysis. For financing the German Ministry of the Environment’s International Climate Initiative (IKI) has committed 150 million euro to EbA, including a record amount in 2016. Although private sector options remain a struggle, microfinancing presents an option. Further, the GCF has included a result area for ‘’increased resilience of ecosystems and ecosystem services.”

Currently 73% of NDCs feature nature-based approaches and 50% have commitments towards EbA, but only 8% set targets. This discrepancy is due in large part to the difficulty of quantifying EbA actions into measurable targets. Many of the targets that are seen are in the forestry sector in terms of acres restored, and agroforestry is the most utilized EbA activity. When surveying countries protecting nature is a top 5 reason for enacting adaptation strategies, listed above human health. In low to middle income countries, EbA is used more than grey infrastructure. Moving forward IUCN hopes to help extend EbA approaches from NDCs into NAPs and NAPAs.

A successful EbA project in Peru demonstrated the importance of of connecting adaptation with other industries. This project utilized the culinary to engage the government and indigenous communities in the preservation of vital crops. The success of this project drove regional adoption of EbA strategies in Brazil. Mexico will utilize this industry engaging approach with the ADAPtour project to begin this year. Mexico’s large tourism industry faces the dangers of increased hurricanes and decreasing biodiversity, leading to this project engaging the private sector.

Engaging communities is critical to the success of adaptation projects, and a primary way to address through community priorities is through the food supply. EbA can be eaten in many instances, and this can drive a bottom up implementation technique from the community level through national policy. This strategy is effective in Large Ocean Countries – nations which are often identified as small islands of land mass, but with large areas of ocean. This region is often used as a petri dish for new technologies, and will benefit by re-including women in conservation.

To conclude the event with a marketplace of ideas, several poster projects were presented, addressing concerns over visualizing EbA benefits, enacting behavioral change, communicating evidence effectively, and developing criteria and standards.

As the COP moves forward, EbA and other nature-based approaches will continue to be a focal point for my client. In other realms the overarching themes of community engagement, bottom-up project management, and engaging private industry will continue to be featured throughout the conference.