Japan News: Submission of 1st Biennial Report and 6th National Communication Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (21 Jan 2014)

• Submission of 1st Biennial Report and 6th National Communication Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

• 

In accordance with the Cancun Accord and the Durban Decision under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, developed country parties, including Japan, shall submit their 1st Biennial Report (BR1), which includes policies and measures on mitigation actions of each country, to the secretariat by 1 January 2014. These parties also shall submit their 6th National Communication (NC6) under the UNFCCC by the same date.
The Ministry of the Environment developed BR1 and NC6 based on the Japan's new greenhouse gas emission reduction target (3.8% emission reduction in 2020 compared to the 2005 level), which was registered to the secretariat this November. 

• Submission of 1st Biennial Report and 6th National Communication Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
• Japan's 1st Biennial Report
• Japan's 6th National Communication(Chapter 1)
• Japan's 6th National Communication(Chapter 2-8)

source from: http://www.env.go.jp/en/headline/headline.php?serial=2045

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Event: Side Event and Exhibition at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),(13-16, 19 Nov 2013)

Side Event and Exhibition at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), COP19/CMP9

31th October, 2013 Mikiko KAINUMA, Fellow, Junichi FUJINO, Senior Researcher Center for Social and Environmental Systems Research Shogo MURAKAMI, Manager International Coordination Office, Planning Department National Institute for Environmental Studies

The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) will jointly host a side event with the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) with the title “Roadmap and Actions toward Low Carbon Societies in Malaysia and throughout Asia” at the 19th Conference of the Parties (COP19) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 9th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the parties (CMP9) to the Kyoto Protocol (November 11-22, 2013, Warsaw, Poland). At this side event of COP19/CMP9, the scenarios “Ten Actions towards Low Carbon Asia” implemented under the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund of the Ministry of the Environment will be presented. In addition, at the exhibition booth at the conference venue, the status and outcomes of a broad range of environmental research initiatives at NIES – with a focus on global warming - including scenarios towards the realization of low carbon Asia; results of future climate simulations using the global climate model MIROC5; the latest GHG monitoring data from the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (Ibuki, GOSAT); and the forthcoming Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite 2 (GOSAT-2) will be introduced.    At the Japan Pavilion of COP19/CMP19, NIES will also organize four events based on our research outcomes related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the future regime in regards to climate change.

1. Overview of Side Event “Roadmap and Actions toward Low Carbon Societies in Malaysia and throughout Asia”

Date: Friday, 15 November 2013

Time: 11:30 - 13:00

Venue: Room Wroclaw, Stadion Narodosy (conference venue, Warsaw, Poland)

Hosts: National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES, Japan)
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM, Malaysia)

Details: We will report on the latest research outputs relating to the potential GHG reductions from 10 key actions toward low carbon societies in Asia, a project which has been conducted under the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan. We will also discuss their barriers and opportunities for their implementation at international and domestic levels. A city-level case study will focus on LCS Implementation in Putrajaya, Malaysia.

Program: http://2050.nies.go.jp/cop/cop19/

2. Overview of NIES Exhibition

Date: Monday, 11 - Saturday, 16 November 2013

Time: 11:30 - 13:00

Venue: COP19/CMP9 Side Event and Exhibition Booth Venue at Stadion Narodosy (conference venue, Warsaw, Poland)

Details: We will present to the world the broad scope of NIES’environmental research initiatives – with an emphasis on climate change and global warming – and their outcomes. In particular we will exhibit on scenarios for low carbon societies using the Asia-Pacific Integrated Model; climate risk assessment using integrated climate, impact, and land-use models; future climate simulations utilizing the global climate model MIROC5; global monitoring of GHGs and carbon fluxes by means of various platforms, including the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (Ibuki, GOSAT) and Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite 2 (GOSAT-2).

3. Overview of NIES Events at the Japan Pavilion of COP19/CMP19

(1) Pathways toward Low Carbon Societies in Asia by 2050 and contributions of Japan to their realization

Date: Wednesday, 13 November 2013

Time: 15:00 - 16:30

Details: This event will present an overview of the Asia-Pacific Integrated Model (AIM) and research outcomes of low carbon society scenarios at national and city levels in Asia as analyzed using the AIM. It will then discuss the contributions from Japan which are imperative towards the implementation of leapfrog development in Asia in line with the outcomes of training sessions and workshops organized in collaboration with governments and research institutes in Asia.

(2) Responding to the adaptation challenges: an interactive session for mobilization of adaptation research and partner engagement

Date: Thursday, 14 November 2013

Time: 15:00 - 16:30

Details: This event will be an interactive consultation session on how to initiate a process to facilitate adaptation in the research community in order to engage with the development of research projects in line with identified research priorities and means for their implementation based on research outcomes from the UNEP‐hosted Programme of Research on Climate Change Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation (PROVIA) and the “Comprehensive Research on Climate Change Impact Assessment and Adaptation Policies,” implemented under the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan. This event will be co-organized by NIES and PROVIA.

(3) Scenario development toward low carbon societies (LCS) in Malaysia and the direction of the policy planning: announcement of 10 policy actions toward the realization of LCS in Iskandar, Malaysia

Date: Monday, 18 November 2013

Time: 9:00 - 10:30

Details: NIES has conducted collaborative research with Kyoto University, Okayama University, and others, in order to develop low carbon scenarios and countermeasures for Iskandar, Putrajaya, and at a national level for Malaysia as a whole. This event will introduce the latest policy actions which have been developed centering on Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) and the research outcomes of low carbon scenario studies for Malaysia.

(4) Dialogue on the agreed outcomes by 2015 under the Durban Platform process

Date: Tuesday 19 November 2013

Time: 14:30 - 16:00

Details: The objective of this event is to discuss the items of potential agreement for 2015 under the Durban Platform by inviting panelists from Japan and overseas. It will be implemented on the basis of the outcomes of an international survey conducted as part of the research project "Study on international climate change framework for years beyond 2020” funded by the Environment Research Fund of Japan's Ministry of the Environment.

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Publications: UNFCCC Publishes Reviews of Individual Annual Submissions (24 Jul 2013)

UNFCCC Publishes Reviews of Individual Annual Submissions

24 July 2013: The UNFCCC Secretariat has published the reviews of the individual annual submissions of Finland, Slovenia, Japan and the UK.

In the report of Finland's Individual Annual Submission Review (FCCC/ARR/2012/FIN), the Expert Review Team (ERT) concludes that Finland's inventory submission was prepared in accordance with the UNFCCC reporting guidelines; and that the National Inventory Report (NIR) and the set of Common Reporting Format (CRF) tables for the years 1990-2010 are complete in terms of geographical coverage, years and sectors, as well as generally complete in terms of categories and gases. The ERT also provides cross-cutting and sector-specific recommendations for improvement.

In the report of Slovenia's Individual Annual Submission Review (FCCC/ARR/2012/SVN) the ERT concludes that its submission was prepared and reported in accordance with the UNFCCC reporting guidelines and that the set of CRF tables for the years 1986-2010 and the NIR submitted are complete in terms of geographical coverage, years and sectors, as well as complete in terms of categories and gases. However, the ERT notes some gaps in the reporting, including that Slovenia did not estimate the carbon stock changes in litter and mineral soils on areas under forest management for land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) activities under the Kyoto Protocol. ERT's recommendations include improving the information on the inventory preparation and reporting processes, as well as ensuring time-series consistency for all categories of gases.

In the report of Japan's Individual Annual Submission Review (FCCC/ARR/2012/JPN), the ERT indicates that Japan's submission was prepared in accordance with the UNFCCC reporting guidelines, and that the NIR and set of CRF tables for 1990-2010 were complete in terms of geographical coverage, years, gases and sectors, and generally complete in terms of categories. The ERT provides, among others,  cross-cutting recommendations concerning completeness and transparency of information on fluorinated gases.

In the report of UK's Individual Annual Submission Review (FCCC/ARR/2012/GBR), the ERT concludes that UK's submission was prepared  in accordance with the UNFCCC reporting guidelines and that the NIR and set of CRF tables for 1990-2010 are generally complete in terms of geographical coverage, and complete in terms of years, sectors, categories and gases. The ERT indicates that for some categories in the energy, agriculture and waste sectors there are still some gaps in the reporting of emissions. Among other things, the ERT recommends that the UK provide additional information on the inventory improvement programme, for example, regarding priority setting. 

[Publication:Report of Finland's Individual Annual Submission Review] 

[Publication: Report of Slovenia's Individual Annual Submission Review] 

[Publication: Report of Japan's Individual Annual Submission Review] 

[Publication: Report of the UK]

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Publications: UNFCCC Releases Annex I GHG Inventory Documents on 15 Jul 2013

UNFCCC Releases Annex I GHG Inventory Documents

15 July 2013: The UNFCCC Secretariat has published the review of the individual annual submission of Portugal and the Czech Republic, as well as a synthesis report on 2013 greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories.

In the report of Portugal's Individual Annual Submission Review (FCCC/ARR/2012/PRT), the Expert Review Team (ERT) concludes that Portugal's inventory submission has generally been prepared and reported in accordance with the UNFCCC reporting guidelines. It also finds that the party's National Inventory Report (NIR) is complete in terms of geographical coverage, years and sectors, but requires some additional information on GHG emissions for a few categories. The ERT also provides cross-cutting and sector-specific recommendations for improvement.

In the report of the Czech Republic's Individual Annual Submission Review (FCCC/ARR/2012/CZE), the ERT concludes that the party's inventory submission has been prepared and reported in accordance with the UNFCCC reporting guidelines and is generally complete. It also considers that the common reporting format (CRF) tables and the NIR are generally complete, noting that a lack of resources continues to affect the accuracy and continuous improvement of the quality of the inventory. The ERT commends the Czech Republic for the improvements in its reporting and provides a number of cross-cutting and sector-specific recommendations for further improvement.

The synthesis and assessment report on the 2013 GHG Inventories (FCCC/WEB/SAI/2013) intends to facilitate the consideration of inventory data across Annex I Parties, and to identify issues for further consideration during the reviews of individual inventories. It contains GHG inventory information compiled in tabular format and provides comparisons of implied emission factors (IEFs) and activity data (AD). [Publication: Report of Portugal's Individual Annual Submission Review] [Publication: Report of Czech Republic's Individual Annual Submission Review] [Publication: Synthesis and Assessment Report of 2013 GHG Inventories]

For more information: 

http://climate-l.iisd.org/news/unfccc-releases-annex-i-ghg-inventory-documents/209662/

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New Books: Post-2020 Climate Change Regime Formation Edited by Suh-Yong Chung (7 Jun 2013)

Post-2020 Climate Change Regime Formation

Edited by Suh-Yong Chung

Published 7th June 2013 by Routledge – 180 pages

Descriptions:

The fate of the climate change regime hangs in the balance as the UN-led negotiations try to forge a new international strategy for the post-2020 period. Since 1992, the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol has been the primary legal instrument to respond to the climate challenge. However, the intergovernmental process has been riddled with problems that have rendered it ineffective. The changing economic landscape has further made this country grouping problematic as some developing countries now emit more than some of their advanced counterparts. Such problems have crippled the existing regime in adequately addressing climate change.

Building upon the expertise of the contributors of this volume, this ground-breaking collection aims to show the way forward for the intergovernmental process. It is the first of its kind to explore the key features of the regime, featuring meticulously researched pieces from leading experts in the field. Each chapter responds to the questions surrounding the political and structural limitations of the current top-down approach taken in climate negotiations and proposes various alternatives countries can take to overcome such limitations in the process of building the post-2020 climate change regime. In particular, this collection underscores the concept of low-carbon development and green growth to make the climate change regime more effective.

Contents:

Introduction Suh-Yong Chung 

1. Why the World has Failed to Slow Global Warming David Victor2. Is an international treaty worth fighting for? Yvo de Boer
3. Post-2020 Climate Change Regime Building: An Advanced Developing Country’s Perspective Suh-Yong Chung
4. Post-Durban Prospects for Low-Carbon Green Growth Paul Ekins
5. Climate Negotiations: How to Break the Impasse and Deliver Juan Zak and Myung Kyoon Lee
6. China's Transition Towards a Low-carbon Economy: a Review of the 11th Five Year Plan Ye Qi and Hui-min Li
7. Moving Forward in the Climate Change Policies and Practices Wan Portia Hamzah Conclusion Suh-Yong Chung

For more information: http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415826068/

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Publication: IGES Briefing Note On REDD+ Negotiations: UNFCCC COP 18, Doha by Lopex-Casero, Federico (27 Mar 2013)

IGES Briefing Note On REDD+ Negotiations: UNFCCC COP 18, Doha


Author: Lopez-Casero, Federico|
2013/03
Language: English|
Publication Type: Discussion papers & Conference Papers|
Copyright: IGES. |
Contributor: Yamanoshita, Makino

Download:

File name	Size
Doha-COP-report-eng.pdf	471 KB

For more information: http://enviroscope.iges.or.jp/modules/envirolib/view.php?docid=4333

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Publication: A Mirage in the Deserts of Doha? Assessing the outcomes of COP 18 by Jessica Boyle (Dec 2012)

A Mirage in the Deserts of Doha? Assessing the outcomes of COP 18

» Jessica Boyle, IISD, 2012.Commentary, copyright: IISD

The recently concluded two-week conference in Doha, Qatar, marked the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 18) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

This commentary provides an analysis of the outcomes, arguing that insofar as the process did achieve the key procedural goals of securing a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, seeing the AWG-LCA track draw to a close, and continuing to shape discussions under the Durban Platform, Doha can be measured a “success.” But insofar as concrete or substantial progress was made on key issues including the architecture of a post-2020 agreement, mitigation and financing commitments, the outcomes were woefully inadequate.

Commentary

Commentary

PDF

• English (PDF - 736 KB)

• Hard copy not available.

• If you are having difficulty viewing a PDF or Flash Flip-page, please click here.

Link to the PDF document: http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2012/com_mirage_desert_doha_cop18.pdf

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Updates: Doha Climate Change Conference and relative documents (Decisions adopted by COP 18 and CMP 8)

Doha Climate Change Conference - November 2012

The 18th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and the 8th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol opened on Monday, 26 November and continued until Saturday, 8 December 2012 at the Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha, Qatar.

Decisions adopted by COP 18 and CMP 8

• Reports
• Decisions
• Documents
• Logistics
• Press
• Webcasts
• Virtual participation
• Elections
• Statements
• PaperSmart Services

• Schedule of Meetings
• Daily Programme
• COP 18
• CMP 8
• SBI 37
• SBSTA 37
• AWG-KP 17-2
• AWG-LCA 15-2
• ADP 1-2
• Workshops
• Side Events
• Exhibits

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Decisions adopted by COP 18 and CMP 8

COP 18	CMP 8
Agreed outcome pursuant to the Bali Action Plan (216 kB)	Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol pursuant to its Article 3, paragraph 9
Advancing the Durban Platform (63 kB)	Addressing the Implications of decisions -2/CMP.7 to -5/CMP.7 on the previous decisions on methodological issues related to the Kyoto Protocol including those relating to Articles 5, 7 and 8 of the Kyoto Protocol
Work programme on long-term finance(22 kB)	Report of the Adaptation Fund Board (98 kB)
Report of the Standing Committee on Finance (64 kB)	Initial review of the Adaptation Fund (105 kB)
Report of the Green Climate Fund (76 kB)	Guidance relating to the clean development mechanism (105 kB)
Arrangements between the COP and the Green Climate Fund (18 kB)	Guidance relating to joint implementation(77 kB)
Review of the financial mechanism (20 kB)	Supplementary information incorporated in national communications from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention that are also Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and submitted in accordance with Article 7, paragraph 2, of the Kyoto Protocol (90 kB)
Report of the GEF and additional guidance to the GEF (24 kB)	Methodology for the collection of international transaction log fees in the biennium 2014-2015 (96 kB)
Further guidance to the Least Developed Countries Fund (97 kB)	Proposal from Kazakhstan to amend Annex B to the Kyoto Protocol (20 kB)
Work of the Adaptation Committee (21 kB)	Capacity-building under the Kyoto Protocol for developing countries (92 kB)
Approaches to address loss and damage associated with climate change impacts in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change to enhance adaptive capacity (219 kB)	Capacity-building under the Kyoto Protocol for countries with economies in transition (27 kB)
National Adaptation Plans (97 kB)	Report of the Compliance Committee (96 kB)
Report of the Technology Executive Committee (90 kB)	Administrative, financial and institutional matters (104 kB)
Arrangements to make the Climate Technology Centre and Network fully operational (157 kB)
Doha work programme on Article 6 of the Convention (157 kB)
Prototype of the registry (100 kB)
Composition, modalities and procedures of the team of technical experts under international consultations and analysis (125 kB)
Work of the Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention (134 kB)
Common tabular format for the "UNFCCC biennial reporting guidelines for developed country Parties" (CTF) (348 kB)
Fifth national communications from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention(88 kB)
Capacity-building under the Convention for countries with economies in transition (31 kB)
Activities implemented jointly under the pilot phase (21 kB)
Promoting gender balance and improving the participation of women in UNFCCC negotiations and in the representation of Parties in bodies established pursuant to the Convention or the Kyoto Protocol (103 kB)
Draft decision on economic diversification initiative (61 kB)
Administrative, financial and institutional matters (118 kB)
Dates and venues of future sessions (105 kB)
Resolution adopted by COP 18 and CMP 8
Expression of gratitude to the Government of the State of Qatar and the people of the city of Doha (94 kB)

For more information: http://unfccc.int/2860.php#decisions

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Publication: Methodological guidance for activities relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries. Submissions from Parties.

United Nations: Framework Convention on Climate Change

Symbol

FCCC/SBSTA/2012/MISC.22

Title

Methodological guidance for activities relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries. Submissions from Parties.

Corporate Author

UNFCCC. Secretariat
Colombia
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Indonesia
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Viet Nam

Full versions

 EN

Text preview

EN

Abstract

The secretariat has received two submissions from Parties relating to this agenda item. In accordance with the procedure for miscellaneous documents, these submissions are attached and reproduced in the language in which they were received and without formal editing

Notes

Agenda item 5
Methodological guidance for activities relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stock in developing countries
This document is available in English only

Meeting

Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), Thirty-seventh session, 26 November - 1 December 2012, Doha, Qatar

Document type

IGO submissions

Topics

REDD/REDD+

Keywords

developing countries
forest degradation
submissions
sustainable development

Countries

-

Published by

United Nations Office at Geneva | Geneva (Switzerland) | 01/12/2012

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