Credit: Kevin Edward Lara/Unsplash UN Climate Change News, 23 November 2020 - A new report released by UN Climate Change reveals that between 1990 and 2018, the greenhouse gas emissions of developed countries decreased by 13%, with emissions falling by just 3.4 % between 2010 and 2018. The report notes that while most developed countries expect to meet their 2020 emission reduction targets, some need to make a greater effort by implementing mitigation actions or by making use of market-based mechanisms. The Compilation and Synthesis reports, published every two years, are based on biennial reporting by developed countries under the international assessment and review process under the Convention. The biennial reports include information on GHG emissions and trends, quantified economy-wide emission reduction target, progress made towards achieving quantified economy-wide emission reduction targets, and the provision of financial, technological and capacity-building support to developing country Parties. The Compilation and Synthesis of fourth biennial reports of developed country Parties covers the period 2017-2018, set against the larger backdrop of emissions since 1990. With respect to future trends, the report finds that greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase slightly between 2017 and 2020 and then decrease by 2.2 % between 2020 and 2030. This suggests the need for stronger policies and actions that will effectively change the trajectory of emissions.    Nevertheless, for the majority of developed countries, economic and emissions data suggest a decoupling of emissions from economic growth. In view of emissions targets beyond 2020, most developed countries have steadily expanded their portfolio of policies and measures with a focus on increasing the share of renewable energy in electricity production, phasing out coal, carbon pricing and electrifying road transport. Many are planning to implement long-term low carbon and carbon neutrality strategies. Developed countries have increased their annual average financial support for climate action by developing countries in 2017-2018 by some 9.9% since 2015-2016.  Additionally, developed countries have scaled up their technology cooperation with developing countries, as well as their capacity-building support. The data captured in this new Compilation and Synthesis report clearly shows that developed countries have put in place well-functioning systems for the measurement, reporting and verification of climate actions. This is likely to act as a solid foundation for the reporting under the enhanced transparency framework of the Paris Agreement beyond 2020. Source：UN Author：UN Date：November 23, 2020

UN Climate Change News, 16 November 2020 – The upcoming meeting of the UNFCCC’s Technology Executive Committee (TEC) from 17 to 20 November (TEC21) will focus on key areas of the development and transfer of low-emission and climate-resilient technologies to support countries in achieving the objectives of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. At the meeting, organized with the support of the UNFCCC secretariat, the TEC will consider recommendations to governments in areas such as climate-smart cooling solutions for sustainable buildings and technologies for coastal zones, as well as the important issue of conducting Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs) that determine countries’ climate technology priorities. The meeting is open to the public (details of how to join are at the end of the article). Fostering innovative technologies Fostering and accelerating innovative climate technology is critical to an effective, long-term global response to climate change and for promoting economic growth and sustainable development. The meeting will examine how this can be achieved through international collaboration on climate technology RD&D - the first steps of the technology development cycle when new technologies are conceptualized and prototypes built and tested in lab and field conditions. To this end, the TEC will discuss a compilation of international technology RD&D partnerships and initiatives that analyses a set of representative case studies and draws some lessons and good practices. The compilation will be made public at a virtual meeting planned for early 2021. Furthermore, the TEC has mapped key emerging technologies in sectors with potential for climate mitigation and adaptation, such as energy supply, transport and agriculture, as well as technologies relevant to multiple sectors such as carbon removal and digital technologies. In collaboration with the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the TEC has also undertaken a number of activities to enhance understanding on how climate technology start-ups and entrepreneurs in developing countries could be supported most effectively through climate technology incubators and accelerators. At the meeting, the TEC will consider follow-up actions to assist the GCF in operationalizing support for these incubators and accelerators. Recommended actions following Technical Expert Meetings on mitigation in 2020 In 2020, the TEC participated in four regional virtual TEM-Ms and one global TEM-M on climate smart cooling solutions for sustainable buildings. Based on the outcomes of the TEMs, the TEC will make recommendations for governments and organizations on necessary actions to be taken to promote climate-smart cooling solutions, including financial incentives schemes, capacity building and awareness raising. Technologies for addressing loss and damage in coastal zones Various technologies are currently available to assess and manage climate change-related risks, as well as to identify recovery and rehabilitation measures to address climate-related impacts in coastal zones.  These range from technologies to assess the global risk of collapse for mangrove forests and coral reefs, a mechanism that funds risk-informed early warning services for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, to a data collection toolbox that can assist during recovery when communication systems are affected by a disaster. The TEC will encourage countries to consider these technologies in their national adaptation plans and disaster risk reduction strategies. As well as taking stock of activities implemented in 2020, the TEC will adopt its 2020 annual report to be considered at the next UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, in Glasgow next year. Source：UN Author：UN Date：November 16, 2020

Remote review teams persevere to keep transparency processes on track while review reports showcase progress toward emission reduction targets and climate finance commitments UN Climate Change News, 10 November 2020 - The sixth round of reviews of developed country climate policies and actions wrapped up last week, marking the end of a busy period for the UNFCCC secretariat. The latest reviews, including Belgium, Denmark, Japan and New Zealand, highlighted a wide range of innovative domestic climate policy actions and broad financial, technical and capacity-building support for developing countries. Consistent with the findings of earlier reviews this year, the latest results indicate that developed countries are mostly on track to meet their 2020 targets, and where this is not the case, they are finding ways to bridge the gaps. The latest reviews also confirm that developed countries are increasingly focusing their view beyond 2020 and 2030, with many pledging to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Through wide-reaching policies such as cap-and-trade systems and emissions trading, Belgium, Denmark and New Zealand are working to reduce emissions across the largest emitting sectors of their economies, namely energy, while using complementary measures to address outside sectors, such as agriculture.  In Denmark, agriculture measures aim to improve overall sustainability through research and climate-smart approaches.  Similarly, New Zealand supports international collaboration on agriculture, as host of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA). However, in Japan, where industrial, commercial and residential energy sectors are responsible for significant emissions reductions, measures focus heavily on improving energy efficiency. Complementing these efforts, the latest reviews show a simultaneous push to increase removals through a range of measures to improve forest management and plant new forests.  New Zealand, for example, is aiming to plant one billion trees by 2028, to further enhance carbon sequestration in its forests.  Recent reviews also confirmed that developed countries have stepped up their efforts to support climate action in developing countries.  For example, to reinforce its more than USD 20 billion in climate finance support over 2017-2018, Japan has provided extensive technology transfer to developing countries via its joint crediting mechanism.  It has further supported 250 capacity-building projects over this period, in response to the requests of its developing country partners. The efforts of the expert review teams to complete their tasks under extenuating circumstances should also not go unnoticed. Faced with the dual challenges of balancing their existing responsibilities and working remotely across vastly different time zones (and for some, with intermittent internet connections), the international expert review teams still managed to complete their task on schedule. As Mahendra Kumar, an expert reviewer from the Marshall Islands noted: “The process went surprisingly well and was very well organized.”   Commenting on the use of online video conferencing tools to improve the interactivity within the review teams, Kumar further noted: “It was nice to see faces, and not just hear voices.” Lead reviewer Roberto Acosta from Cuba also praised the training programme for new review experts, reflecting that “the training was very effective – new experts were able to contribute in a meaningful way.” Together with the technical analysis of Biennial Update Reports (BURs) by developing countries, the technical reviews of Biennial Reports by developed countries form the basis of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), the reporting and review system which will cover all countries from 2020 onward. To date, 30 Biennial Reports have undergone review, with the remaining 11 to be reviewed in 2021.The BR review process will resume in January 2021, with reviews of all 42 developed country Party reports to be completed by April 2021. The completed review reports will serve as an input to the Multilateral Assessment (MA) sessions, with the first 10 countries scheduled to be assessed at the upcoming Climate Dialogues, 23 November to 4 December 2020.   Source：UN Author：UN Date：November 10, 2020

UN Climate Change News, 27 October 2020 – Increasing temperatures and sea levels, changing precipitation patterns and more extreme weather are threatening human health and safety, food and water security and socio-economic development in Africa, according to a new report devoted exclusively to the continent. The State of the Climate in Africa 2019 report, a multi-agency publication coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), provides a snapshot of current and future climate trends and associated impacts on the economy and sensitive sectors like agriculture. It highlights lessons for climate action in Africa and identifies pathways for addressing critical gaps and challenges. "This report shows increasing climate change threats for human health, food and water security and socio-economic development in Africa. Because of this, we need accurate and current data for adaptation planning," said Ovais Sarmad, Deputy Executive Secretary, UN Climate Change. The UN Climate Change secretariat is supporting countries in identifying and managing climate risks through the formulation and implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). Advancements in systematic observations and research that WMO is undertaking plays a key role in providing critical input to these efforts. The report was released on 26 October at a ministerial-level launch to highlight the urgency of climate action in Africa and the current state of capacity. The risks are becoming more severe. “Climate change is having a growing impact on the African continent, hitting the most vulnerable hardest, and contributing to food insecurity, population displacement and stress on water resources. In recent months we have seen devastating floods, an invasion of desert locusts and now face the looming spectre of drought because of a La Niña event. The human and economic toll has been aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. “Science-based climate information is the foundation of resilience building, a cornerstone of climate change adaptation, as well as an oasis for sustainable livelihoods and development. The State of Climate Report for Africa has, therefore, a critical role to play in this respect, including in informing our actions for achieving the goals of the Africa Agenda 2063,” said H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission. “The limited uptake and use of climate information services in development planning and practice in Africa is due in part to the paucity of reliable and timely climate information.  This report, focusing on Africa, will go a long way towards addressing this gap. The contribution of the Economic Commission for Africa to the production of this report, through the African Climate Policy Centre, seeks to highlight the nexus between climate change and development, and to emphasise that building forward better from the Covid-19 pandemic requires a development approach that is green, sustainable and climate resilient, informed by the best available science. The participation of multiple institutions and agencies in producing the report reinforces our principles and approaches of working as one,” said H.E. Vera Songwe, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Rising temperatures The year 2019 was among the three warmest years on record for the continent. That trend is expected to continue. African temperatures in recent decades have been warming at a rate comparable to that of most other continents, and thus somewhat faster than global mean surface temperature. The latest decadal predictions, covering the five-year period from 2020 to 2024, shows continued warming and decreasing rainfall especially over North and Southern Africa, and increased rainfall over the Sahel. Extensive areas of Africa will exceed 2 °C of warming above pre-industrial levels by the last two decades of this century under medium scenarios as reported in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report. Much of Africa has already warmed by more than 1 °C since 1901, with an increase in heatwaves and hot days. A reduction in precipitation is likely over North Africa and the south-western parts of South Africa by the end of the century, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Rising sea levels and coastal erosion There is significant regional variability in sea-level trends around Africa. Sea-level increase reached 5 mm per year in several oceanic areas surrounding the continent and exceeded 5 mm per year in the south-western Indian Ocean from Madagascar eastward towards and beyond Mauritius. This is more than the average global sea-level rise of 3–4 mm per year. Coastal degradation and erosion is also a major challenge, especially in West Africa. About 56% of the coastlines in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo are eroding and this is expected to worsen in the future. Sea level rise is currently not the dominant contributor but is expected to combine with other factors in future to exacerbate the negative consequences of environmental changes. Extreme events The report documents high-impact events in 2019.  Tropical Cyclone Idai was among the most destructive tropical cyclones ever recorded in the southern hemisphere, resulting in hundreds of casualties and hundreds of thousands of displaced. Source：UN Author：UN Date：October 27, 2020

UN Climate Change News, 9 October 2020 - The Collaborative Instruments for Ambitious Climate Action (CiACA) workstream of the UNFCCC  concluded the first series of regional dialogues on carbon pricing (REdiCAP) in 5 regions and sub-regions: Latin America, Caribbean, West Africa, East and Southern Africa and South East Asia. The dialogues came at a crucial time with Parties committed to revising their national climate action plans, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and willing to explore economic instruments to increase their ambition to tackle climate change. The main objective of the events, conducted in a virtual format, was to create a platform to provide an opportunity for peer learning to countries in the region that have an interest in carbon pricing instruments, which are crucial to help countries green their economies. Targeted participants were government officials at decision-making level in key ministries of finance, treasury, environment and climate change. In order to create a “safe space” for countries to share their experiences and lessons learnt in an open and transparent matter, the dialogues were facilitated by moderators and technical discussions were led by regional experts. Participants made important recommendations for the way forward, including the institutionalization of the platforms to allow for a regular fruitful exchange of experience and mutual learning. There was a general consensus that more frequent, regular and dedicated opportunities to  update neighboring countries on progress and challenges in promoting the adoption of carbon pricing instruments can assist in identifying successful strategies and replicate, where possible, efficient approaches. Progress is for example being made in countries such as Senegal, where relevant economic assessment are currently being conducted to measure the impact of a carbon tax in the cement sector, or in Thailand where a national Emission  Trading  Scheme is being explored. Many countries mentioned the need to specifically target private sector stakeholders from the very initial stages of consideration of plans and projects.  Several countries also expressed interest in receiving the support provided through the CiACA initiative to explore the adoption of carbon pricing instruments, including Barbados, Burundi, Cameroon, Nigeria, Philippines, Rwanda, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.  Once the request for support is formalized, the CiACA team through the RCCs can assist the targeted institutions in facilitating consultations with key stakeholder as well as in providing  technical assistance to conduct analysis and assessments to identify the most adequate economic instruments that can be adopted by the country to contribute to achieving a low carbon future. The five dialogues were conducted in close partnership with regional entities that have been collaborating for the implementation of the CiACA work programme, including MEXICO2 for the Latin America and Caribbean, GIZ and the World Bank for Africa, and the Asian Development Bank (whose Vice president inaugurated the dialogue for Asia Pacific) , UN Environment  and UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (UN ESCAP)  for South East Asia. They were attended by over 100 country representatives, including COP negotiators, directors in the ministries of environment and climate change, and UNFCCC national focal points. Source：UN Author：UN Date：October 9, 2020