Bonn Climate Change Conference

From the 4-15 June, 2014 the Bonn Climate Change Conference took place at the Maritim Hotel in Bonn, Germany. The Conference included the fortieth (40th) sessions of the  Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI-40) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological advice (SBSTA-40). Additionally, the fifth (5th) meeting of the second session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform (ADP 2-5) was also held. 

High-level ministerial events also occurred during this period. The first event involved a round-table aimed at assessing the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol while the second event involved a dialogue on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action which was intended to provide momentum for negotiations on the 2015 agreement. 

Participants which included observer states and organisations, country parties  to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the media. Trinidad and Tobago was represented by Ms. Rueanna Haynes, Second Secretary Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations. 

SBI- 40 made progress on issues concerning the Convention Article 6 on eduction, training and public awareness among other agenda items. Strides were on areas concerning agriculture, research and systemativ observation in SBSTA-40.  ADP 2-5 discussed areas of mitgation, adaptation, finance, technology, capacity building, transparency and intended nationally determined contributions and other issues related to these elements.

Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh (right) and Mr. Artur Runge-Metzger (left) ADP2-5 co-chairs at the bonn cliamate change conference, june 2014.

photo credit : iisd.ca

Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh, Head of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources served as the co-chair of the ADP along with Mr. Arthur Runge-Metzger of the European Union at the ADP 2-5.

 

 

United Nations Climate Change Conference: COP19/CMP9

The Warsaw Climate Change Conference took place from 11 - 22 November, 2013 in Warsaw, Poland. It included the 19th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 19) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 9th session of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 9).

In addition, it included meetings of three subsidiary bodies; the 39th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 39) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 39) and the 3rd part of the second session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durham Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP 2).

Trinidad and Tobago was represented by Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh, Head of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit (MEAU), Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR). Mr. Kumarsingh also served as the co-chair of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) along with Artur Runge-Metzger of the European Union.

L-R Mr. Runge-Metzger (EU) and Mr. Kumarsingh (MEWR) co-chairs  of the ADP at the UN Climate Change Conference, Warsaw, Poland November, 2013.

Negotiations in Warsaw centred on the implementation of agreements reached at previous meetings, including the work of the ADP. The meeting adopted decisions that are intended to keep governments on a track towards a universal climate agreements in 2015 and also included significant new decisions that will promote the minimisation of emissions from deforestation and on loss and damage.