C2ES - Outcomes of the U.N. CCC

Question 1

What are the two main characteristics of the Paris Agreement/PA (as a learning of former agreements)?

Answer 1

1 Hybrid approach blending bottom-up flexibility
2. To achieve broad participation: top-down rules to promote accountability and ambition

Question 2

Legal Character of the PA

Answer 2

• Treaty under international law
• Only certain provisions are legally binding (Those that are expressed as shall and not should)

Question 3

Differentiation in PA

Answer 3

• Principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities
• Shift away from categorical binary approach of Kyoto toward nuanced forms of differentiation
• Common commitments while allowing flexibility to accommodate different national capacities and circumstances

Question 4

Long-term goal of PA

Answer 4

Keeping average warming below 2°C =>pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C

Question 5

Mitigation in PA

Answer 5

Two long-term emission goals:
1. A peaking of emissions as soon as possible
2. A goal of net greenhouse neutrality

Countries’ individual mitigation efforts:
- Set of binding procedural commitments to prepare, communicate and maintain an INDC
- clarity and transparency
- Communicate a new INDC every five years
- Each INDC is a progression beyond the previous one
- implementation or achieving of INDC is not binding
- does not require countries to develop and communicate long-term low emission development strategies
- Developed countries should undertake economy-wide reduction targets; developing countries are encouraged to move toward economy-wide targets over times
- Developing countries receive support to implement their commitments
- INDCs are recorded in a public registry

Question 6

Global Stocktake of PA

Answer 6

• assess collective progress toward meeting the agreement’s long-term goals;
• e.g Finance

Question 7

Transparency in PA

Answer 7

• Transparency = means of holding countries accountable
• submit emissions inventories and the information necessary to track progress made in implementing and achieving their INDCs
• report support provided and support received
• report on adaptation efforts
• reports will undergo expert technical review and peer review
• Developing countries are promised capacity-building support

Question 8

Implementation/Compliance of PA

Answer 8

Committee of experts report annually to the COP

Question 9

Finance

Answer 9

• wealthier developing countries contribute as well
• Developed countries provide finance for mitigation and adaptation in developing countries

Question 10

Adaptation

Answer 10

• Goal of enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change
• all parties plan and implement adaptation efforts
• all parties to report in their efforts or needs
• enhances adaptation support for developing countries
• review of adaptation progress and adequacy and effectiveness of adaptation support every five years

Question 11

Loss and damage

Answer 11

• Help vulnerable countries cope with unavoidable impacts (e.g. early warning systems and risk insurance)

Question 12

What was new with the Paris Agreement?

Answer 12

• ends strict differentiation between developed and developing countries
• all parties to report regularly on their emissions and implementation efforts and undergo international review
• Submit new INDCs every five years
• Extend financing
• Mechanisms do address loss and damage