The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations in Limahave come to an end. Due to last minute haggling, the climate conference ran until Sunday morning, well after the official deadline on Friday. In the end, 190 countries agreed on the next steps needed for tackling climate change – what needs to be done now, and what information should be included in pledges by countries for COP 21 in Paris in December 2015, when countries are expected to submit commitments to reduce carbon emissions, and much more.
“Governments leave Lima on a fresh wave of positivity towards Paris with a range of key decisions agreed and action-agendas launched, including on how to better scale up and finance adaptation, alongside actions on forests and education,” said Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework on Climate Change. View more about the final outcomes on the UNFCCC website.
The Conference of Parties got off to a good start, thanks to the building momentum around the world calling for action on climate change. Before the Climate Summit in New York in September, hundreds of thousands took to the streets in 166 countries, calling for immediate action. At the UN Climate Summit businesses joined national and regional governments supporting a price on carbon.
In addition, the European Union reached agreements and, on November 12, the United States and China announced an ambitious cooperation plan for Paris 2015 and actions on climate change after 2020. This year has also played an essential role in preparing the “field” for solution-oriented agreements that will help fulfill the climate agenda in 2015 leading up to COP 21 in Paris in December.
In Lima, Connect4Climate supported several high-level sessions at COP 20, in particular the Global Landscapes Forum, organized by CIFOR, the Sustainable Innovation Forum, and events hosted by Connect4Climate partners such as TerrAfrica’s panel discussions, UNFCCC youth sessions and the Italian Ministry of the Environment’s high-profile events.
Capacity Building and Climate Strategies in Developing CountriesCapacity Building and Climate Strategies in Developing Countries
The Italian Ministry of the Environment, the Directorate General for Climate Action of the European Commission and the Italian Presidency of the European Council organized a joint event on December 5, Support to Capacity Building and Climate Strategies in Developing Countries, moderated by Mette Quinn, Deputy Head of Unit at DG Climate Action.
The session discussed the Low-Emission Capacity Building Program of the European Commission; one of the main initiatives the European Union is implementing to support climate strategies in developing countries. A speaker, Mr. Henry Bbosa of the Ministry of Water and Environment of Uganda, explained how the program has made a difference in his country. Jane Ellis, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), presented policy recommendations for investments in clean energy infrastructure.
“We have to deal with climate change not as an isolated issue but integrate it into our efforts,” said Cristóbal Reveco from Adapt-Chile.
Global Landscapes Forum
Andrew Steer, World Resources Instiute, at the Global Landscapes Forum, COP20 in Lima
On December 6, the Global Landscapes Forum featured a very dynamic youth session around four main themes: Green Economy, Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Integrated Landscape Approaches. The session’s mail goal was to give youth opportunities to express their ideas, concerns, and solutions through short pitches. After, scientists and policy-makers, including World Bank Group Special Envoy for Climate Change, Rachel Kyte, judged the ideas and provided feedback in a ‘dragon’s den’ forum.
Andy Jarvis, Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), emphasized: "The power of an idea is limitless. I’m a tough dragon. You’re going to use the power of youth, the capacity to do things differently."
"Don't get too comfortable", Rachel Kyte told the young people. "You're on the edge of finding climate change solutions. You are leaders, you have a responsibility to that leadership. A very small number of people can really make a change."
Rachel Kyte, Special Envoy and Vice President for Climate Change of the World Bank Group, at COP20
Italian Ministry of the Environment events
On December 8 and 9, the Italian Ministry of the Environment and the Italian Presidency of the Alpine Convention hosted two high-profile events: The role of mountain forests to climate adaptation, which brought attention to areas often overlooked when addressing climate issues, and The challenges of local adaptation and initiatives for communities, which focused on cross-cutting solutions and guidelines for local adaptation in mountain areas. Both sessions were moderated by Professor Antonio Ballarin-Denti, Italian National Focal Point to the Alpine Convention.
“Our goal today is to give visibility to the adjustment of mountain forest management practice,” Ballarin-Denti said. “Forests are necessary to work on a better integration, policy integration, research and activities focused on public awareness. Forests are a natural capital. We have to look at them the same way we look at the capital.”
“Mountain forests provide food security to many communities in the world,” said Thomas Hofer of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The Role of Mountain Forests to Climate Change Adaptation at COP20
Action4Climate Films
Connect4Climate also brought Action4Climate short documentaries to COP 20. Created by young filmmakers, the films were screened at the Global Landscapes Forum and Voces por el Clima (Voices for Climate), and contributed to the global call for an ambitious climate agreement. At the Global Landscapes Forum we screened At the Desert's Edge and Snows of the Nile.
At the Voces por el Clima / Voices for Climate exhibit in Lima three #Action4Climate films were shown for the whole two week festival: Back to Poayhan, Desplazada, and The Trail of a Tale
Watch Action4Climate films at www.action4climate.org
