Summary of the Lima Climate Change Conference: 1-14 December 2014

Abstract

Convening in Montreal, Canada, in 2005, the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 1) decided to establish the Ad Hoc Working Group on Annex I Parties' Further Commitments under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP) in accordance with Protocol Article 3.9, which mandated consideration of Annex I parties' further commitments at least seven years before the end of the first commitment period.In December 2007, COP 13 and CMP 3 in Bali, Indonesia, resulted in agreement on the Bali Roadmap on long-term issues.COP 13 adopted the Bali Action Plan (BAP) and established the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA) with a mandate to focus on mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology and a shared vision for long-term cooperative action.Negotiations on Annex I parties' further commitments continued under the AWG-KP.The deadline for concluding the two-track negotiations was in 2009 in Copenhagen. COPENHAGEN:The UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, took place in December 2009.The high-profile event was marked by disputes over transparency and process.Late in the evening of 18 December, these talks resulted in a political agreement, the "Copenhagen Accord," which was then presented to the COP plenary for adoption.After 13 hours of debate, delegates ultimately agreed to "take note" of the Copenhagen Accord and to extend the mandates of the negotiating groups until COP 16 and CMP 6 in 2010.In 2010, over 140 countries indicated support for the Accord.More than 80 countries also provided information on their national mitigation targets or actions.CANCUN: The UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico, took place in December 2010, where parties finalized the Cancun Agreements and extended the mandates of the two AWGs for another year.Under the Convention track, Decision 1/ CP.16 recognized the need for deep cuts in global emissions in order to limit the global average temperature rise to 2C above pre-industrial levels.Parties agreed to consider strengthening the global long-term goal during a review by 2015, including in relation to a proposed 1.5C target.Decision 1/CP.16 also addressed other aspects of mitigation, such as: measuring, reporting and verification (MRV); and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+).The Cancun Agreements also established several new institutions and processes, including the Cancun Adaptation Framework, the Adaptation Committee and the Technology Mechanism, which includes the Technology Executive Committee and the Climate Technology Centre and Network.The Green Climate Fund (GCF) was created and designated as an operating entity of the Convention's financial mechanism.Under the Protocol track, the CMP urged Annex I parties to raise the level of ambition towards achieving aggregate emission reductions, and adopted Decision 2/CMP.6 on land use, land-use change and forestry.DURBAN: The UN Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa, took place from 28 November to 11 December 2011.The Durban outcomes covered a wide range of topics, notably the agreement to establish a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, a decision on long-term cooperative action under the Convention and agreement on the operationalization of the GCF.Parties also agreed to launch the ADP with a mandate "to develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties."The ADP is scheduled to complete these negotiations by 2015, with the new instrument entering into force in 2020.In addition, the ADP was mandated to explore actions to close the pre-2020 ambition gap in relation to the 2C target.DOHA: The UN Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar, took place in November and December 2012.The conference resulted in a package of decisions, referred to as the "Doha Climate Gateway."These include amendments to the Kyoto Protocol to establish its second commitment period and agreement to terminate the AWG-KP's work in Doha.The parties also agreed to terminate the AWG-LCA and negotiations under the BAP.A number of issues requiring further consideration were transferred to the SBI and the SBSTA, such as: the 2013-2015 Review of the global goal; developed and developing country mitigation; the Kyoto Protocol's flexibility mechanisms; national adaptation plans; MRV; market and non-market mechanisms; and REDD+.WARSAW: The Warsaw Climate Change Conference took place from 11-23 November 2013, in Warsaw, Poland.Negotiations focused on the implementation of agreements reached at previous meetings, including pursuing the work of the ADP.The meeting adopted an ADP decision that invites parties to initiate or intensify domestic preparations for their INDCs, and resolves to accelerate the full implementation of the BAP and pre-2020 ambition.Parties also adopted a decision establishing the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage, and the Warsaw REDD+ Framework-a series of seven decisions on REDD+ finance, institutional arrangements and methodological issues.ADP 2-4: The fourth meeting of ADP 2 (ADP 2-4) took place from 10-14 March 2014 in Bonn, Germany.Under workstream 1 (2015 agreement), the meeting convened in open-ended consultations on agenda item 3, which addressed: adaptation; INDCs; finance, technology and capacity building (means of implementation); ambition and equity; mitigation; transparency of action and support; and other issues related to elements.An in-session workshop addressed domestic preparations for INDCs.Under workstream 2 (pre-2020 ambition), technical expert meetings (TEMs) on renewable energy and energy efficiency convened.BONN INTERSESSIONAL MEETINGS: The Bonn Climate Change Conference took place in Bonn, Germany, from 4-15 June 2014, and included the 40th sessions of the SBI and SBSTA, and the fifth meeting of the second session of the ADP (ADP 2-5).During the meeting, parties advanced negotiations on the ADP and prepared draft decisions to be submitted to the COP and CMP in Lima.Ministers participated in two highlevel events, a High-Level Ministerial Roundtable under the Kyoto Protocol, which aimed to assess implementation of the Protocol and provide ministers with an opportunity to increase their countries' quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments, and a High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on the Vol.