UNFCCC – A framework convention → To reduce GHGs

Kyoto protocol

Adopted 1997, entered into force - 2005.

Target
• During the first commitment period, 37 industrialized countries and economies in
transition and the European Community committed to reduce GHG emissions to an
average of five percent against 1990 levels.

During the second commitment period, Parties committed to reduce GHG emissions by at least
18 percent below 1990 levels in the eight-year period from 2013 to 2020

One important element of the Kyoto Protocol was the establishment of flexible market
mechanisms, which are based on the trade of emissions permits.

Doha Amendment- 2012 – II phase of Kyoto

In meantime,

1. CoP 15 – Copenhagen – Copenhagen Accord → GCF fund 2009

Developing countries also voluntarily agreed on GHGs reductions

2. CoP 16 – Cancun, 2010

GCF launched @ Incheon, S. Korea

GCF – to assist developing countries in Mitigation and adaptation to counter climate change
Mainly – Climate Finance

Governed by GCF Board & World bank was chosen as temporary trustee

Goal of raising 100$bn per year by 2020

Three market-based mechanisms:

• International Emissions Trading
• Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
• Joint implementation (JI)

Annex System –

Annex I • List of industrialized countries and economies in transition

• pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year
2000.

Annex II • A sub-group of Annex 1 Countries,

• these Annex II countries are required to give financial assistance and
technology to the developing countries (non-Annex countries).
 Non • Developing countries like India, Brazil, China.
Annex • Non-binding for them

Annex A list of 6 Green House gases

1. Carbon dioxide (CO2);
2. Methane (CH4);
3. Nitrous oxide (N2O);
4. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs);
5. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs); and
6. Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)

Annex B • This gives the Annex I countries (Developed countries)

• compulsory binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emission.

Emissions Trading
• Greenhouse gas emissions a new commodity
• Emissions trading, as set out in Article 17 of the Kyoto Protocol, allows countries that
have emission units to spare - emissions permitted them but not "used" - to sell this
excess capacity to countries
• Since carbon dioxide is the principal greenhouse gas, people speak simply of trading in
carbon. Carbon is now tracked and traded like any other commodity. This is known as
the "carbon market."
• Other trading units in the carbon market
• More than actual emissions units can be traded and sold under the Kyoto Protocols
emissions trading scheme.

Joint implementation
• (Annex B Party) to earn emission reduction units (ERUs) from an emission-reduction or
emission removal project in another Annex B Party, each equivalent to one tonne of
CO2, which can be counted towards meeting its Kyoto target.
• Joint implementation offers Parties a flexible and cost-efficient means of fulfilling a part
of their Kyoto commitments while the host Party benefits from foreign investment and
technology transfer

Annex B -------------- → Annex B

Emission Reduction units (ERUs) are generated

The Clean Development Mechanism

• Allows a country with an emission-reduction or emission-limitation commitment under
the Kyoto Protocol (Annex B Party) to implement an emission-reduction project in
developing countries. Such projects can earn saleable certified emission reduction
(CER) credits, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2, which can be counted towards
meeting Kyoto targets
• It is the first global, environmental investment and credit scheme of its kind, providing
a standardized emissions offset instrument, CERs.

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 • Example, a rural electrification project using solar panels or the installation of more
energy-efficient boilers.

Annex B ------------- → Non Annex countries

Adaptation fund - 2001

It facilitates the development and deployment of technologies

The Adaptation Fund was established to assist developing countries

Funding → 2 % of CDM

GCF fund
• The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a fund established within the framework of
the UNFCCC
• As an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism to assist developing countries
in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.
• HQ: The GCF is based in Incheon, [Link]
• It is governed by a Board of 24 members
• The Copenhagen Accord, 2009 - "Copenhagen Green Climate Fund".
• Formally established during Cancun summit as a fund within the UNFCCC framework.

Paris Deal
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change.
Adopted – 2015 @CoP 21
Enforced – 2016

Its overarching goal is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well
below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase
to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”

To limit global warming to 1.5°C, greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 at the latest
and decline 43% by 2030.

The Paris Agreement is a landmark in the multilateral climate change process because, for the
first time, a binding agreement brings all nations together to combat climate change and adapt
to its effects.

How does the Paris Agreement work?

• Implementation of the Paris Agreement requires economic and social transformation
• The Paris Agreement works on a five-year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action
-- or, ratcheting up -- carried out by countries.
• Since 2020, countries have been submitting their national climate action plans, known as
nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

• In their NDCs, countries communicate actions they will take to reduce their
greenhouse gas emissions in order to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement.

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 • Countries also communicate in their NDCs actions they will take to build resilience to
adapt to the impacts of climate change.
• Long-Term Strategies
• To better frame the efforts towards the long-term goal, the Paris Agreement invites
countries to formulate and submit long-term low greenhouse gas emission
development strategies (LT-LEDS).

LT-LEDS provide the long-term horizon to the NDCs. Unlike NDCs, they are not
mandatory. Nevertheless, they place the NDCs into the context of countries’ long-term
planning and development priorities, providing a vision and direction for future
development.

How are countries supporting one another?

Provides a framework for
1. Finance
2. Technology
3. Capacity-Building

How are we tracking progress?

Enhanced transparency framework (ETF).

• Under ETF, starting in 2024, countries will report transparently on actions taken and
progress in climate change mitigation, adaptation measures and support provided or
received.
• It also provides for international procedures for the review of the submitted reports.
• The information gathered through the ETF will feed into the Global stocktake which
will assess the collective progress towards the long-term climate goals.
• This will lead to recommendations for countries to set more ambitious plans in the next
round.

INDCs of India
Targets for 2030

1. Reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP- By 33 to 35% by 2030 from 2005 level.
Revised - 45% by 2030 from 2005 level.

2. Power installed capacity from non-fossil - 40%

Revised - About 50%

3. Create an additional carbon sink through additional forest and tree cover.
2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of Co2 equivalent
Not Revised

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CoP 23 Bonn, 2019
• We are In
• Powering past coal Alliance – UK + Canada – phasing out of Coal
• Gender Action Plan – Role of women and impact on them
• Local Communities and Indigenous people’s platform- strengthen their role
• Ocean pathway partnership – Oceans to be included in UNFCCC talks
• Talanoa dialogue – discussions without confrontation

KJWA - Koronivia Joint Work for Agriculture

• Improved soil carbon, soil health and soil fertility under grassland and cropland as well as
integrated systems, including water management;
• Improved nutrient use and manure management towards sustainable and resilient
agricultural systems;
• Improved livestock management systems;
• Socioeconomic and food security dimensions of climate change in the agricultural
sector.

KJWA is the only programme to focus on agriculture and food security under UNFCCC.

CoP 24 Kattowice
• Paris rule book was agreed upon by the countries

CoP 26 Glassgow
• Panchamrit strategy by India
• Global Methane pledge – US and EU, 30% by 2030 reductions
• Glassgow financial alliance for Net zero (GFANZ) – Net zero by 2050
• World Economic Forum and the US government.
• Launched at COP26 as a flagship public-private partnership to clean up the most
carbon-intensive sectors.
• India is a member.

What is the Panchamrit Strategy?

At COP26 (2021 Glasgow Climate Conference), India's Prime Minister announced the Panchamrit,
a five-point strategy acknowledging the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities
and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC).

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The Five Pillars of Panchamrit:

CoP 27 – Sharm -al-sheikh

First Movers Coalition

• The FMC is a coalition of companies using their purchasing power to create early
markets for innovative clean technologies across eight hard to abate sectors.
• These in-scope sectors are responsible for 30% of global emissions–a proportion
expected to rise to over 50% by mid-century without urgent progress on clean
technology innovation.
• Commitments for the first four sectors (Aviation, Shipping, Steel and Trucking) were
launched in November 2021, at COP26 in Glasgow.
The Aluminum and Carbon Dioxide Removal sectors were launched at the May 2022 World
Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, and the Cement & Concrete sector was launched at
COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Forest and Climate Leaders' Partnership (FCLP)

• COP27 Launch: A voluntary partnership of governments, businesses, and communities
for accelerated forest action.
• India not a party
• Goal: Implement the COP26 commitment by 140+ countries to halt deforestation by
2030.
• Membership: 27 countries (including EU); over 60% of global GDP, 33% of forests. India
is not yet a member.
• Leadership: Co-chaired by the United States and Ghana.
• Accountability: Annual meetings and a Global Progress Report with independent
assessments.

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Forest Protection & Transparency
• REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation & Forest Degradation):
o Framework for forest-based climate action, providing payments for achieved
reductions.
o Guides all forest-related mitigation, regardless of funding source.
• Lima REDD+ Information Hub:
o Established by COP, enhances transparency on REDD+ actions and payments.

Mangrove Alliance for Climate

• COP27 Launch: Initiative to scale up conservation and restoration of mangroves as
climate solutions.
• Leadership: UAE, Indonesia, plus India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan, Spain.
• Goals:
o Raise awareness of mangroves' climate mitigation and adaptation role.
o Support mangrove planting and restoration efforts.
o Attract philanthropic funding.

Additional information on mangroves –

• Mangroves are salt tolerant plant communities found in tropical and sub- tropical
intertidal regions of the world.
• Such areas are characterized by high rainfall (between 1,000 to 3,000 mm) and
temperature (ranging between 26°C-35°C).
• Mangrove species exhibit a variety of adaptations in morphology, anatomy and
physiology to survive in water logged soils, high salinity and frequent cyclonic storms
and tidal surges.
• Mangroves are important refuges of coastal bio-diversity and also act as bio-shields
against extreme climatic events.

Note : Sunderban, located in the northern Bay of Bengal is the world's largest single patch of
Mangrove Forests. Spread over approximately 10,000 sq km, ni Bangladesh and India, Sundarban
is the first Mangrove forest in the world, which was brought under scientific management, as
early as ni 1892.

Mangrove Cover – ISFR, 2021

Mangrove cover in the country is 4,992 sq km, which is 0.15 % of the country's total geographical
area. (net increase of 17 sq km)
• Significant gain in Mangrove cover are Odisha (8 sq km) and Maharashtra (4 sq km) and
Karnattaka
• Top states –
o West Bengal
o Gujarat
o Andman
o Andhra

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MISHTI
• The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) scheme
• It is a government-led initiative in India aimed at enhancing mangrove coverage along
coastlines and saltpan lands to improve ecological health, protect against natural disasters,
and support local livelihoods
• Funded - by CAMPA and MGNREGS
• Launched for the 5 years (2023 budget )
• The sharing of best practices on plantation techniques, conservation measures,
management practices and resources mobilization through Public Private Partnership
are objectives of the MISHTI scheme.

Mangrove for Future –

• Mangroves for the Future (MFF) is a unique partner-led initiative to promote investment
in coastal ecosystem conservation for sustainable development.
• Co-chaired by IUCN and UNDP, MFF provides a platform for collaboration among the
many different agencies, sectors and countries which are addressing challenges to
coastal ecosystem and livelihood issues.

Under
The Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA)
• Collaboration of NGOs, governments, scientists, industry, local communities, and
funders towards a common goal of conserving and restoring mangrove ecosystems.
• Launched at the World Ocean Summit in 2018

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AWARE Initiative: Water & Climate Action
• Launch: COP27, highlighting water's role in climate challenges and solutions.
• Collaboration of various stakeholders, African union and WMO
• Goals:
o Reduce water losses and improve supply.
o Promote agreed-upon collaborative water adaptation actions.
o Link water and climate efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals
(especially SDG 6: clean water).

Enhancing Nature- based Solutions for an Accelerated Climate Transformation (ENACT)

Partnership
• Launched by: Germany and Egypt along with the IUCN at COP 27
• Aims to coordinate global efforts to address climate change, land and ecosystem
degradation, and biodiversity loss through Nature-based Solutions (NbS)
o India not a part.

Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP)

• Mechanism: G7-led program for assisting coal-reliant developing countries in shifting to
clean energy.
• How it Works: Partner countries commit to decarbonizing power sectors and phasing
out coal, receiving support to boost renewables.
• Funding: Partner countries and multilateral banks provide grants and loans.
• Members:
o South Africa (first member, partners include the US, EU, UK, France, Germany)
o Indonesia
o Vietnam

LeadIT (Leadership for Industry Transition) Summit 2022

• Hosted by India and Sweden
• focuses on low carbon transition of the hard to abate industrial sector.
• It was launched - UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019 and is supported by the
World Economic Forum.

Methane Alert and Response System (MARS)

• UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory.(IMEO)
• Aim: To accelerate implementation of the Global Methane Pledge by transparently
scaling up global efforts to detect and act on major methane emissions sources.
• It is satellite-based system that will alert governments, companies and operators about
large methane sources to foster rapid mitigation action.

Global Shield against Climate Risk

By- G7 and V20 (‘the Vulnerable Twenty’)

• V20 is a dedicated cooperation initiative of economies systemically vulnerable to climate
change.
• It was established in 2015 at Lima, Peru. o V20 Group membership stands at 58
economies
• Climate Risk Insurance

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 • World bank - Global Shield Financing Facility to support the initiative

Other initiatives –

Initiative on Nutrition and Climate change (I-CAN)

• By- WHO, FAO and UN agencies
• Aim – Ensure nutritious diet through sustainable food systems

Food and Agriculture for Sustainable transformation (FAST)

• FAO and Un Agencies
• Aim - Ensure climatic finance to transform agriculture and food system by 2030 (in
line with 1.5 degree)

Global waste initiative 50 by 2050

Voluntary agreement – 180+ countries
Aim – to trat 50% of solid waste by 2050 in Africa

Climate TRACE: Independent Emissions Monitoring

• Coalition: Non-profit group using technology to independently track greenhouse gas
emissions.
• Methods: Leverages satellite imagery, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and data
expertise.
• Benefit: Provides highly detailed and rapid tracking of human-caused emissions.

Global Financial agreement pact

This was not a ‘pledging’ conference, but some announcements were unveiled, perhaps in an
effort to address the thorny trust erosion issue.

1. MDBs: Multilateral Development Banks”

• Additional lending capacity of $200 billion would be unlocked for emerging economies.
• The World Bank announced disaster clauses for debt deals, that would suspend debt
payment in the case of extreme weather events
2. Special Drawing Rights: 100 billion in SDRs for vulnerable countries
3. A new JETP: A new 2.5 billion Euro JETP deal was announced for Senegal, with a consortium
of countries comprising of Germany, France, Canada, the European Union, the United
Kingdom, with the goal of increasing the share of renewable energy in installed capacity to 40
per cent of Senegal’s electricity mix by 2030.

Climate Club (G7 Proposal) at CoP 28.

• Focus: Forum for countries committed to ambitious implementation of the Paris
Agreement.
• Priorities:
o Accelerating climate action, particularly within industry.
o Addressing carbon leakage risks (emissions shifting to other locations due to
climate policies).
• Open Membership: Welcomes major emitters (G20), developing, and emerging
economies.

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UNCCD
Legally Binding - On Land degradation and on achieving land neutrality
• Global Voice for land

Reports -
1. Land in numbers
2. Drought in Numbers
3. Global Land Outlook

legally binding framework set up to address desertification mechanisms under UNCCD

1. Global mechanism –
Advisory service
• Set national land degradation neutrality targets
• Develop and scale up large projects that transform lives and livelihoods
• Develop national drought plans

In 2015, the GM supported the creation of the LDN Fund, a private sector-led initiative to raise
money for sustainable agriculture, sustainable livestock management, agro-forestry and
sustainable forestry projects

2. Drought Initiative- 2018

The Initiative is based on the premise that the impact of a drought is not determined solely by
the severity of the drought, but by the ability of communities and countries to anticipate and
prepare for it.

Focuses on –
Drought preparedness
Provides toolbox – to handle drought

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 Other related initiatives

Global Land Initiative :

• Intergovt panel
• Launched @ Riyadh, 2020
• Devd. + Developing
• India : Yes
Target - Reduce degradation of land by 50% by 2040
International Drought Resilience Alliance
• First announced by Spain at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in September
2022 to be officially launched at the UNFCCC COP27 in November 2022.
• Spain + Senegal
• Efforts - Political, Pvt. sector, facilitate knowledge and consolidate regional initiatives
Bonn Challenge
• Germany and IUCN
• Goal - to bring in 350 mn/Hect, by 2030 under restoration
• Approach - forest landscape restoration (IUCN + WWF)

India -
▪ 13 mn hect → 2020
▪ 8 Mn hect. → 2030

Land Degradation Atlas : ISRO

Other initiatives
World meteorological organisation
1. Global Greenhouse Gas watch
• Aims - space-based and surface-based observing systems, as well as modelling and data
assimilation capabilities
o To be built on WMO’s Global Atmosphere Watch established and its Integrated
Global Greenhouse Gas Information System.

2. Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure (GGMI)

• Launched by: WMO
• Aim: to Measure planet-warming pollution and help inform policy choices.

Reports under WMO

• The State of the Global Climate report
• Greenhouse Gas Bulletin
• State of Global Water Resources 2022

Other Green House gas related –

Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA)

• Launched in 2009 to promote international cooperation and investment in research
to mitigate the effect of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.
• India not a member

Data in Climate Resilient Agriculture (DiCRA)

• UNDP + NABARD signed am MoU
• DiCRA is a collaborative digital public good that provides open access to key

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 geospatial datasets pertinent to climate-resilient agriculture.
o Curated by UNDP and partner organizations to inform public investments in
agriculture.

UNEP
1. Cool Coalition • UNEP
• Launched by: UNEP at the First Global Conference on Synergies. between the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.
• A global network of partners working to provide efficient, climate-friendly cooling for
all.
o Global Cooling Watch report 2023
“Keeping it Chill: How to meet cooling demands while cutting emissions”.
▪ Released to support the Global Cooling Pledge and the Cool Coalition.

The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE)

• Alliance of five UN agencies, funding partners, and 22 partner countries
• To transform economies into drivers of sustainability by supporting nations and
regions in reframing economic policies and practices around sustainability.

Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP)

• Network of experts and organizations dedicated to providing the policy,
business and finance communities with knowledge, guidance, data and tools to
transition to an inclusive green economy.
• The GGKP was founded in 2012 by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), OECD ,
UNEP and World Bank.

Global ABC- the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction

• Founded at COP21, hosted by UNEP and with 290 members, including 41 countries
• The leading global platform for all buildings stakeholders committed to a common
vision: A zero-emission, efficient and resilient buildings and construction sector.

The One Planet network

• A global community of practitioners, policymakers and experts, including
governments, businesses, civil society, academia and international organisations, that
implements the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and
Production and works towards achieving SDG 12: ensuring sustainable patterns of
consumption and production.

Urban Shift program

• Funded by the GEF + UNEP
• UrbanShift is working to transform cities for people and planet through sustainable,
integrated, zero-carbon urban development

Reports under UNEP –

• Emission Gap report
• Adaptation gap report
• Global Environment Outlook
• Global Climate Litigation Report
• The Production Gap Report — first launched in 2019 — tracks the discrepancy
between governments’ planned fossil fuel production and global production levels

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consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C or 2°C.

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Other initiatives

Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2024

• India ranked at 7th position (last year it was 8th).

Released by Germanwatch.
o Independent monitoring tool for tracking climate protection performance.
o Releases a report The Global Climate Risk Index.

• Assesses performance in four categories:

a) GHG emissions (40% of the overall score)
b) Renewable energy (20%),
c) Energy use (20%),
d) Climate policy (20%).

• first three positions remain vacant in CCPI.

Climate Policy Initiative

• CPI: An analysis and advisory organization.
• Mission: To help governments, businesses and financial institutions to drive economic
growth while addressing climate change.
• Has six offices - Brazil, India, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and the United States

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