Key Topics during the Bonn Conference

By Rafael Ponte*

Servindi, May 4, 2018.- "Urgency, ambition and opportunity" were the three words that will guide the development of global conferences on climate change during 2018 according to Patricia Espinoza, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Her words were accompanied by an exhortation to the countries. "We must raise (climate) ambition," said Espinoza, referring to national contributions to counteract the impacts of climate change.

Her speech was given during the press conference for the opening of the Climate Change Conference in Bonn, which takes place at the United Nations headquarters in Germany until May 10. The conference is the framework of the intermediate sessions between each Conference of the Parties (COP).

The event will follow the mandates and decisions reached at COP23, leading the negotiations towards the COP24 to be held in the city of Katowice, Poland, next December.

The forty-eighth session of the subsidiary bodies (SBSTA 48 and SBI48) and the fifth part of the first session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA 1-5) will take place at this conference.

Servindi recommends to follow-up on three issues that are relevant for indigenous peoples globally and that will mark the way of some decisions during the next climate summit.

Traditional Knowledge Platform

The Paris Agreement recognized the role of indigenous peoples and local communities in building resilience to climate change (decision 1, paragraph 135) by establishing the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (hereinafter referred to as the platform).

The objective of the platform and the functions it would fulfill when it starts operations was decided at COP23. It was also decided that during SBSTA 48 an open multi-stakeholder dialogue would take place, which will happen on May 1 and that it will be co-facilitated by an indigenous representative in addition to providing intervention spaces for indigenous peoples.

It is expected that the results of this dialogue will be considered in the recommendations the subsidiary body will provide to the Chair of the COP24.

• Open dialogue: Tuesday, May 1 / 10:00 - 18:00 / Genf Room, World Conference Center, Bonn

Gender Action Plan

Another result of the COP23 was the acceptance of the Gender Action Plan (GAP), which proposes a road map to incorporate the gender equality approach and the development of capacities in order for women to influence decisions relating to climate action.

Likewise, it is expected that the GAP promotes the equitable representation of women in the UNFCCC spaces in order to make their participation effective.

Two workshops on Gender and Climate Change will take place during the Bonn Conference. The first workshop will focus on the differentiated impacts of climate change and gender sensitive actions and policies. On the other hand, the second workshop will address the issue of policies, plans and progress in improving gender balance in national delegations.

• Workshop (part 1): Wednesday May 2 / 11:00 - 7:00 PM / AH Upper Conference Room, UN Campus, Bonn Campus, Bonn
• Workshop (part 2): Wednesday 9 May / World Conference Center, Bonn

Talanoa Dialog

The term "Talanoa" comes from Fiji and the Pacific region, and refers to a process of transparent, participatory and inclusive dialogue. These characteristics were added to the facilitation dialogue that the Parties or countries carried out with other sectors.

It is because of this, and following the mandates reached during COP23, the presidencies of the subsidiary bodies and the groups of observer organizations will meet to exchange views on what they expect from this space that began its activities in January of this year.

In the great climate event, some panelists will be invited to share relevant stories about three key questions: what situation we are in, what situation we want to reach, and how we achieve that goal.

The Talanoa Dialogue will begin on May 2 and will end on May 9. The central date will be on May 6, in which group discussions will take place in "Talanoas".

• Opening Session: Wednesday, May 2 / 10:00 - 12:00 / Plenary New York, World Conference Center, Bonn
• Discussion Groups: Friday, May 6
• Closing Session: Wednesday, May 9 / 12:00 - 2:00 pm / Plenary New York, World Conference Center, Bonn

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*Rafael Ponte is a member of Servindi. Twitter: @rafa_pont
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Source URL: https://www.servindi.org/30/04/2018/conferencia