The Copenhagen Accord on Climate Change: A legal analysis Prof. - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

▶
the copenhagen accord on climate change a legal analysis
SMART_READER_LITE
LIVE PREVIEW

The Copenhagen Accord on Climate Change: A legal analysis Prof. - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Nov 07, 2022 191 likes •389 views

Fordham University New York 22 February 2010 Understanding Copenhagen: U.S and E.U. Negotiation Positions and the Landscape for Future Negotiations The Copenhagen Accord on Climate Change: A legal analysis Prof. Barbara Pozzo

slide-1
SLIDE 1

The Copenhagen Accord on Climate Change: A legal analysis

  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente Fordham University – New York – 22 February 2010 Understanding Copenhagen: U.S and E.U. Negotiation Positions and the Landscape for Future Negotiations

slide-2
SLIDE 2
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

Framework Background The Copenhagen Accord

  • Some legal issues
  • The EU’s Position

Next steps and conclusions

slide-3
SLIDE 3
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

United Nations Convention on Climate Change (1992, in force 1994, 194 countries): Stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system Common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities

slide-4
SLIDE 4
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC (1997, in force 2005, USA not Party)

  • sets legally binding targets for the reduction of

GHG emissions (-5.2%) by industrialised countries (Annex I) within commitment periods E.g. EU: -8% by 2008-2012 as compared to 1990 (base year)

  • Introduction of three flexible mechanisms

(international emission trading, CDM, JI)

  • Parties need to implement national climate

change policies and measures

slide-5
SLIDE 5
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

Article 3.9 Kyoto Protocol « consideration of commitments for subsequent periods at least seven years before end first commitment period » 2005 Ad Hoc Working Group on further commitments by Annex I Parties (AWG KP):

  • Aggregate and individual emission reduction

targets

  • ‘other issues’? (flexibility mechanisms, LULUCF,

potential consequences)

slide-6
SLIDE 6
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

2007: Bali Action Plan (after Convention Dialogue) Focus on:

  • 1. Mitigation (+ shared vision/long term global goal)
  • 2. Adaptation
  • 3. Finance
  • 4. Technology
  • 5. Capacity Building

Ad Hoc Working Group on Long Term Cooperative Action (AWGLCA): conclude in 2009

slide-7
SLIDE 7
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

Negotiated by around 30 countries during the last 2 days, at heads of state level From all UN regional groups, LDCs and the alliance of small island states, covering more than 80 % of the global CO2 emissions

slide-8
SLIDE 8
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

Covering all UN regional groups, LDCs and the alliance of small island states:

  • Algeria
  • Australia
  • Bangladesh
  • Brazil
  • China
  • Colombia
  • Ethiopia
  • Sweden
  • European Commission
  • Germany
  • France
  • Grenada
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Japan
  • Republic of Korea
  • Lesotho
  • Maldives
  • Mexico
  • Norway
  • Russian Federation
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Spain
  • Sudan
  • UK
  • US
slide-9
SLIDE 9
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

Recognition of 2 C objective Recogniton of need for peaking A review to be completed by 2015, with a reference to exploring pathways to remain below 1.5 Celsius global temperature increase

  • No targets that can deliver that at present
  • No peaking year [E.U.: before 2020]
  • No global mid-term or long term reduction targets [E.U.
  • 50% by 2050]
slide-10
SLIDE 10
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

Mitigation: Economy-wide emission reduction targets for developed countries [E.U.: -20-30%* to 1990]

  • USA on board?

Mitigation action by developing countries

  • de facto differentiation between developing countries
  • to be enlisted by February 1, 2010?
  • Aggregate number/ overall level of ambition?
  • No explicit common accounting rules for developed countries,
  • nly common reporting (pledge-and-review approach).
slide-11
SLIDE 11
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

Transparancy + accounting is rigorous, robust and transparent

  • Meaning that...? Ex ante?

+ Measurement, reporting, verification (MRV) for developed countries based on existing guidelines

slide-12
SLIDE 12
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

Transparancy ++ MRV for developing countries: Low-emission development strategy National Communication every 2 years, including inventories, with an international follow up process Unsupported actions MRV-ed domestically but results will be included in National Communications; Supported actions MRV-ed internationally

slide-13
SLIDE 13
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

Finance: ++ significant commitment by developed countries to provide new and additional financial resources + 30 bn $ fast-start for 2010-2012 [E.U.:7.2bn ] + 100 bn $ by 2020 Variety of sources, both public and private, bilateral and multilateral, including alternative sources of finance Prioritized for vulnerable developing countries, e.g. The LDCs, small island developing states and Africa. ++ institutional mechanisms + Copenhagen Green Climate Fund + High Level Panel

slide-14
SLIDE 14
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

+ Register to record supported actions and the support itself, be it technology, finance and capacity building ++/- Establish a comprehensive adaptation programme including international support, but also response measures +/- Technology Mechanism to accelerate technology development and transfer (not specified) +/- Mechanism for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and other uses (REDD) (not specified);

slide-15
SLIDE 15
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

  • Very weak on market mechanism and nothing

explicit on sectoral trading mechanisms -> linking of cap-and-trade systems?

  • No reference to international aviation and maritime

transport -> IMO and ICAO?

  • No reference to F-gases -> Montreal Protocol?

+ No references to trade, IPR or historic responsibility

slide-16
SLIDE 16
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

  • The Copenhagen Accord does not meet the criteria of an

international agreement as defined by the Vienna Convention,

  • CA is not (internationally) legally binding no explicit language

referring to a process to deliver this : continuation of Kyoto Protocol??

  • COP15 did “take note” of the Copenhagen Accord, it didn’t

adopt it (consensual process, and Venezuela, Columbia, Cuba and Tuvalu blocked)

  • Possible solution for the way forward is Article 7(2)(c) of the

Convention, which allows the COP to facilitate, at the request

  • f two or more Parties, the coordination of measures adopted by

them

slide-17
SLIDE 17
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

Expression of association and submission of targets and/or actions to be seen (by 31 January 2010) Who may submit? Formalities? EU calls for other countries to associate and plegdes “20-30%” target  “immediately operational?” supplemented with COP implementing decisions

slide-18
SLIDE 18
  • Prof. Barbara Pozzo

Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente

  • Copenhagen Accord is a step forward compared to

stalemate in AWG LCA and AWG KP.

  • Deserves strong support, stepping stone to a more

ambitious future. Those negotiating need to be ready to fill in targets/actions before by February 1, 2010

  • Need to consider follow up process under the UNFCCC, AWG

LCA and KP track? How to ensure the outcome becomes legally binding?

  • Other processes that will be important: Major Economies

Forum, US legislative debate

  • EU internal: Decarbonisation vision 2050