Developed countries try to ‘bury’ report on their poor show

Emissions from coal.

Bonn, 10 June (Radhika Chatterjee) – According to the syntheses of biennial reports from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention by the UNFCCC secretariat, the information reveals startling facts that shows that on the basis of existing measures, aggregate emissions of Annex 1 Parties are projected to increase by 0.5 per cent between 2020 and 2030.

Further, the information also shows that no Annex 1 Party will achieve their 2030 target set out in their NDCs, with existing measures.

Further, the report also reveals that the total aggregate GHG emissions without land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) for Annex I Parties taken together, decreased by only 17.3 per cent by 2021 in `of the SBI on this agenda item.

Discussions under this item were carried over from SB59 that was held in Dubai at COP28. At that time, Parties could “not conclude consideration of the matters” and the consideration is currently underway at the Bonn session. With the reluctance of the developed countries in acknowledging these shortcomings openly, it is likely that SB60 will also not be able to conclude a proper consideration of the matter.

Presided over by Co-facilitators Tian Wang (China) and Toby Hedger (United States), three informal consultations have been conducted on the matter so far during the first week of the Bonn talks.

According to UNFCCC reporting guidelines on annual inventories for Parties included in Annex I countries to the Convention as per Decision 24/CP.19, Annex I Parties are  required to “provide its annual GHG inventory covering emissions and removals of direct GHGs (carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)) from five sectors (energy; industrial processes and product use; agriculture; land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF); and waste), and for all years from the base year (or period) to two years before the inventory is due.”

There are three items that are being considered in this matter, as follows:

“Item 3a: Status of submission and review of national communications and biennial reports from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention;

Item 3b: Compilations and syntheses of biennial reports from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention;

Item 3c: Report on national greenhouse gas inventory data from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention.”

(Brazil on behalf of South Africa, China, India and itself (BASIC) had raised in the opening plenary of SB60 for the three items to be considered separately. See this TWN update for details).

Discussions on this matter began with the draft text of SB59 and were subsequently revised based on submissions received from Group of 77 and China.

Developed country like US, European Union (EU), Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, Norway and Japan expressed a preference for only taking note of the report and refused to acknowledge the findings of the report. Japan and the US said they preferred this because “the report was already there”.

Developing countries displayed a united stand and insisted on acknowledging the findings of the report in the draft decision. Led by G77 and China, all developing countries groups like the Arab Group, Alliance of Small Island Developing States (AOSIS), Africa Group, Alliance of Latin America and Caribbean (AILAC), Least Developed Countries (LDC), Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) said they would prefer to reflect the findings of the report in the SB decision. They provided the following language for item 3b, which is now incorporated in the draft text:

“1. The Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) considered the compilation and synthesis prepared by the secretariat of fifth biennial reports of Parties included in Annex I to the Convention (Annex I Parties) and acknowledged that the report provides valuable information to Parties and the general public including lessons learned relevant to implementing the Convention.

2. Recalls that in the years when the full national communications are submitted, developed country Parties should present the biennial reports as an annex to the national communications or as a separate report as per paragraph 15 of Decision 2/CP.17,

3. Recalls paragraph 21(g) of Decision 2/CP.17 which requests the secretariat to prepare a compilation and synthesis report on the information reported by developed country Parties for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at COP, according to Article 7, paragraph 2(g), of the Convention3, mandating to review the implementation of the Convention and make necessary recommendations.

4. Welcomes with appreciation the report of the Secretariat on compilation and synthesis of fifth biennial reports of Parties included in Annex I to the Convention.

5. Recognizes the importance of compilation and synthesis reports of the biennial reports to support better understanding and build trust on the implementation of the Convention.

6. Notes that, according to the report referred to in paragraph 1 above, nearly all Annex I Parties met their quantified economy-wide emission reduction targets under the Convention for 2020.

7. Notes that the total aggregate GHG emissions without LULUCF for Annex I Parties taken together, decreased by 17.3 per cent by 2021 in relation to 1990 levels. Also notes that a substantial part of this emission reduction was driven by EIT (Economies in Transition) Parties and emissions without land use, land-use change and forestry of Annex I Parties that do not have economies in transition fell by 7.4 per cent in the same period.

8. Notes the information contained in paragraph 51 of the executive summary of the report, which states that total climate finance, as reported in the BR5s, averaged USD 51.6 billion annually in 2019–2020.

9. Notes with concern paragraph 182 which concludes that no Annex 1 Party will achieve their 2030 target set out in their NDCs, with existing measures.

10. Further notes that, on the basis of existing measures, aggregate emissions of Annex 1 Parties are projected to increase by 0.5 per cent between 2020 and 2030.

11. Invites Annex I Parties to submit additional information on how the outcomes of the compilation and synthesis report, have been considered towards the formulation additional policy and measures under the Convention and its instruments before COP29.

12. ⁠The SBI called on developed country Parties (Annex II Parties) to scale up their financial support to non-Annex I countries across all channels in accordance with their obligations under Article 4 of the Convention.

13. The SBI agreed to continue its consideration of this matter at its 61 session (November 2024) and provide guidance for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at COP, according to Article 7, paragraph 2(g), of the Convention.”(Emphasis added).

Due to the deadlock in the discussion, co-facilitators suggested the addition of following language towards a procedural decision on the matter for item 3b:

“The Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) considered the compilation and synthesis prepared by the secretariat of fifth biennial reports of Parties included in Annex I to the Convention (Annex I Parties)5 and agreed to continue consideration of this agenda sub- item at the next session (SBI 61).”

The co-facilitators suggested the inclusion of similar language for all sub sections under SBI agenda item 3. This suggestion was accepted by all developed country Parties.

Brazil speaking for the G77 and China said it agreed to the inclusion of the procedural text but also requested that the entire draft text be placed within brackets.

The latest version of the draft text is available here. A note by the secretariat on the status of the submission and review of national communications and biennial reports can be found here.

One more informal consultation on the matter is scheduled to be held in the second week of SB60 to finalise the conclusions.

- Third World Network