RAIV-17/Doc.4.2(1), DRAFT 1DRAFT 2, p. 4
World Meteorological OrganizationREGIONAL ASSOCIATION IV (NORTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN)
Seventeenth Session
San José, Costa Rica, 27 to 31 March 2017 / RAIV-17/Doc.4.2(1)
Submitted by:
Secretary-General
129.III.2017
DRAFT 1DRAFT 2
AGENDA ITEM 4: PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES — REGIONAL ASPECTS
AGENDA ITEM 4.2: CLIMATE SERVICES, SUPPORT TO CLIMATE ACTION AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE
PARIS AGREEMENT
SUMMARY
DECISIONS/ACTIONS REQUIRED:
Adopt draft Decision 4.2(1)/1 — WMO support to implementation of the Paris Agreement.
CONTENT OF DOCUMENT:
The Table of Contents is available only electronically as a Document Map[*].
DRAFT DECISION
Draft Decision 4.2(1)/1 (RA IV-17)
WMO SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT
THE ASSOCIATION,
Recalling:
(1) Resolution 9 (Cg-17) - Identifiers for cataloguing extreme weather, water and climate events,
(2) Resolution 23 (Cg-17) – Pre-operational phase of the WMO Integrated Global Observing System,
(3) Resolution 39 (Cg-17) - Global Climate Observing System,
(4) Resolution 46 (Cg-17) - Integrated Global Greenhouse Gas Information System,
(5) Resolution 63 (Cg-17) - Energy as an additional priority area of the Global Framework for Climate Services,
(6) Resolution 64 (Cg-17) - Development of a results-based framework for WMO support to the implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services,
(7) Resolution 1 (EC-68) – WMO support to the Paris Agreement,
Recalling also that the Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016, and that the twenty-second session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP 22) held in conjunction with the twelfth session of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Paris Agreement (CMA 1), was held in Marrakech, Morocco from 718November 2016,
Recalling further that COP 22 adopted Decision 19/CP.22 entitled “Implementation of the Global Observing System for Climate”,
Noting the text of the Paris Agreement, in particular with respect to:
(1) Recognizing the need for an effective and progressive response to the urgent threat of climate change on the basis of the best available scientific knowledge,
(2) Calling for Parties toshould strengthen their cooperation on enhancing action on adaptation, taking into account the Cancun Adaptation Framework, particularly item (c) paragraph7 of Article 7, “Strengthening scientific knowledge on climate, including research, systematic observation of the climate system and early warning systems, in a manner that informs climate services and supports decision-making”,
Observes that:
(1) Enhanced observation of Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) ismay be critical for the global stocktake, since the climate data records based on ECVs are used to close budgets of energy, carbon and water and to study changes in the growth rate of the atmospheric composition of greenhouse gases (GHGs), or interaction between land and atmosphere, in a more integrated way;
(2) The Integrated Global Greenhouse Gas Information System (IG3IS) willcould promote the success of post-COP 21 actions of nations, sub-national governments including cities, and the private sector to reduce climate-disrupting GHG emissions through a sound scientific, measurement-and-modelling-based approach;
(3) The support of climate services to the energy, water, public health, transport and industry, agriculture and land use sectors can play a vital role in reaching a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy through the Global Framework for Climate Services;
(4) The forty-fifth session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA-45) held in November 2016 welcomed the submissions from WMO: The Global Climate in 2011–2015 and the WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, and invited WMO to provide submissions on the state of the global climate on a regular basis, as appropriate, at subsequent sessions of the SBSTA;
Invites Members of the Association:
(1) To work at a national level to fully promote the full engagement of NMHSs as critical actors in cataloguing ofunderstanding extreme events, advancing adaptation programmes, mitigation, and other areas that fall within the competency of their respective Services, and to contribute to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), GHG monitoring systems and other observing systems;
(2) To engage at a national level, as appropriate, in the design and implementation of projects submitted to the Green Climate Fund, through National Designated Authorities (NDAs), and in the process of developing and implementing National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and in generating relevant climate information and services, particularly through implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services;
(3) To engage in or, where necessary, establish institutional frameworks for climate services at national level that will serve as key coordination mechanisms to bring together stakeholders needed for the successful generation, tailoring, communication and use of climate services for enhanced decision-making;
(4) To promote the value and relevance of scientific information and data in global stocktaking for the Paris Agreement through national delegations participating at COP sessions;
(5) To actively participate in major UNFCCC meetings, such as COPs, SBSTA, and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation, including the participation of directors of NMHSs as Members of country delegations;
(6) To work towards the full implementation of the Global Climate Observing System implementation plan and to consider what actions they can take to contribute towards its implementation;
(7) To encourage active contributions by scientists to the body of knowledge for in the region to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, expected to be published in September 2018, by pursuing research efforts to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5 ℃ above pre-industrial levels and, thereby, to contribute to the production of sufficient relevant scientific information;
Requests the Secretary-General:
(1) To include information on high-level climate policy issues at all relevant events for NMHS directors, to enhance their access to information on the role of NMHSs in contributing to the high-level climate policy agenda and implementation of the Paris Agreement;
(2) To continue communicating to Members through Ministries of Foreign Affairs to sensitize them on the need to invite NMHSs to contribute to periodic updates on adaptation communication, referenced in the Paris Agreement, Article 7, paragraphs10 and 11, including concerning their support to NAPs and NDCsas appropriate;
(3) To continue communicating with Members through Ministries of Foreign Affairs to encourage involvement of NMHSs in national COP delegations.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION SUPPORTING THE DECISION
NOT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SESSION REPORT
References:
1. Paris Agreement (All language versions)
http://unfccc.int/meetings/paris_nov_2015/items/9445.php
2. Report of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties on its twenty-first session
http://unfccc.int/documentation/documents/advanced_search/items/6911.php?priref=600008865
3. All COP 21 Outcomes (2015)
http://unfccc.int/meetings/paris_nov_2015/session/9057.php
4. All COP 22 Outcomes (2016)
http://unfccc.int/meetings/marrakech_nov_2016/items/9980.php
5. The role of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in Implementation of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs)- Full Analysis Report
http://ane4bf-datap1.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wmocms/s3fs-public/NDCs-NMHSs_analysis_Report.pdf?KH4D8KTrtP_n0I2t5KOfuGKIjkTGLLwL
6. WMO Key Messages at COP 22
http://ane4bf-datap1.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wmocms/s3fs-public/COP22_Key_Messages_en.pdf?lL6d11Xkx_Dgr2YLQYI6YGdMfd0AOLhB
Introduction
1. Outcome of UNFCCC COP 21- Paris Agreement (Paris, France, 30 November–11 December 2015)
The most important outcome of COP 21 is the Paris Agreement, which represents the culmination of more than two decades of negotiations by Parties. The full text of the Agreement can be accessed in the following link: http://unfccc.int/meetings/paris_nov_2015/items/9445.php
The Paris Agreement is composed of 16 preamble clauses and 29 operative clauses (Articles). The preamble addresses, among others: that the Agreement is guided by the Convention’s principles, including the principle of equity and common, but differentiated, responsibilities. It also emphasizes the need for an effective and progressive response to the urgent threat of climate change on the basis of the best scientific knowledge. A main decision in Article 2 (purpose) of the Paris Agreement is “holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change”.
2. Outcomes of the UNFCCC COP 22 (Marrakech, Morocco, 7-18 November 2016) relevant to WMO Members
The twenty-second session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP 22) was held in conjunction with the twelfth meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 12) and the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Paris Agreement (CMA 1). The Conference also included the following sessions:
(a) The forty-fifth session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 45);
(b) The forty-fifth session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 45);
(c) The first session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA 1-2).
COP 22 adopted Decision 19/CP.22 entitled “Implementation of the Global Observing System for Climate”, following the recommendation of SBSTA 45. COP 22 welcomed the implementation plan of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) and noted with appreciation the assessment of observations that provides for multiple uses. COP 22 noted the introduction of new ECVs and the plan’s wider consideration of atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial observation requirements and their connection for mitigation and adaptation, in particular for early warning systems, including the relationship of ECVs for the Earth’s water, carbon and energy cycles.
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2016/sbsta/eng/l26a01.pdf
The following COP 22 related developments are particularly important for WMO and its Members:
2.1 Forty-fifth session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 45)
Research and systematic observation
The SBSTA welcomed the submissions from WMO: The Global Climate in 2011–2015 and the WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, and invited WMO to provide submissions on the state of the global climate on a regular basis, as appropriate, at subsequent sessions of the SBSTA.
Under SBSTA, Parties noted the need for regional workshops, as identified in the plan and invited GCOS to organize such workshops in collaboration with relevant partners, including UNFCCC, IPCC and regional climate centres.
SBSTA 45 recognized the role of WCRP and the wider research community in developing the new essential climate variables identified in the GCOS Implementation Plan 2016 with a view to supporting decision-making on adaptation and mitigation.
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2016/sbsta/eng/l26.pdf
2.2 Forty-fifth session of the Subsidiary body for Implementation (SBI 45)
National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)
The SBI welcomed the progress made by the Adaptation Committee and the Least Developed Countries Expert Group in the fulfilment of their respective mandates relating to providing information on accessing funding from the Green Climate Fund for the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans. SBI noted that most countries that have embarked on the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans are supported either by bilateral and multilateral agencies, or by domestic resources.
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2016/sbi/eng/l32a01.pdf
2.3 The High Level Segment
The joint high-level segment under the COP, CMP and CMA brought together over 70 heads of state and government, in addition to ministers and heads of delegation, to generate political will. The high-level outcome of COP 22 is called “Marrakech Action Proclamation for Our Climate and Sustainable Development”.
http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/marrakech_nov_2016/application/pdf/marrakech_action_proclamation.pdf
The Proclamation was issued by heads of states and delegations on the occasion of the first session of the Conference of Parties serving as the Meeting of the Paris Agreement. It recognized extraordinary momentum on climate change worldwide, and in many multilateral fora. The Proclamation states that “This momentum is irreversible – it is being driven not only by governments, but by science, business and global action of all types at all levels”. The Marrakech Proclamation emphasized the task to rapidly build on that momentum of the Paris Agreement, together, moving forward purposefully to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to foster adaptation efforts, thereby benefiting and supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals.
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