Climate Finance in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Posted on August 30, 2017 by

Mitigating and adapting to climate change will require significant financial resources to restructure and reorganize various systems in human society. Mitigation is the efforts taken to reduce the burning of fossil fuels and the creation and protection of carbon sinks. Energy systems need to be shifted from fossil fuel-based schemes to renewable energy sources appropriate to the region. Adaptation is the actions taken to respond to the consequences of a warmer planet. Buildings, infrastructure, healthcare, food production, and civil society must prepare for and cope with the increased risk of extreme weather events and previously unexperienced vulnerabilities. Climate finance is the utilization of funds on a local, national, or international scale from public, private or other sources to address the various issues related to climate change. Reaching a hopefully effective compromise in the various climate change negotiations is a success in its own right, but communities cannot take action to reduce carbon emissions or increase their resiliency unless they have the financial resources available to them to do so.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established the means to give developing countries, which are more vulnerable to climate change and economically weaker, access to climate finance. Countries such as Angola, Afghanistan, and Nepal are examples of countries that would benefit from economic assistance. Two operators of this financing mechanism are the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The Green Climate Fund began collecting funds in 2014 and gathered pledges worth USD 10.3 billion. Some examples of initiatives that need these funds are promoting sustainable forestry practices, building efficient public transport systems, and strengthening the agricultural resilience.

The Green Climate Fund is one of several mechanisms used to assist developing countries on mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Climate finance is an important aspect of global efforts to respond to climate change because of the inequality between nations in their responsibility of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and in the financial resources available to those nations in tackling climate mitigation and adaptation. The concept is outlined in the phrase “common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities” (UNFCCC article 3 paragraph 1). Heavily industrialized and developed nations have historically contributed to the majority of GHG emissions and therefore hold much of the blame for raising the average global temperature. These countries are also the most equipped to provide funds to lesser developed countries. These include the United States, Japan, and countries in the European Union. The UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement all call on more financially secure countries to assist countries that are not as economically developed and are more vulnerable to the consequences of climate change.

Works Cited

“About the Fund.” Green Climate Fund, www.greenclimate.fund/who-we-are/about-the-fund

“What Is Climate Finance?” UNFCCC EHandbook – Startpage, UNFCCC, bigpicture.unfccc.int

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UNFCCC: Negotiations

Posted on August 30, 2017 by

UN Climate Change Conference Berlin 2015

The topic I selected from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) interactive site, was the negotiations section. This section interested me because I think it is increasingly important to understand how to negotiate and solve problems fairly when multiple nations are involved with the agreements of the UNFCCC, including the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. I have been particularly interested in the controversy among demands on developing countries to also lower their emissions, when they have historically had very low emissions and are trying to develop and grow their nation. The website explains that the UN Climate Conferences are where most of the discussions occur surrounding climate change, but there are also several negotiating bodies that they’re broken up into. The groups listed include: Conference of the Parties (COP), the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) and the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP). The main goals of these conferences are to review progress in the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, to make sure that all agreements are being followed, and they also may bring up new legislation (UNFCCC 2014). The conferences are typically two weeks long and happen once a year; this includes things like workshops and preparation meetings. Agendas are also set before the conference meetings occur to give some order and ranking to things that will be discussed. IGOs, NGOs, bodies and agencies of the UN, as well as the press and media are just some of the groups of people that attend the conferences. Within those groups there are four “forums” for negotiating including: plenary meetings, contact groups, informal consultations, drafting groups, and consultations by presiding officers (UNFCCC 2014). One thing that seems to help the UNFCCC in the negotiation process is the rules set out for the negotiation and the conference guidelines in general, known as the rules of procedure. Another aspect of the conference is transparency, which is seen especially in the negotiations. There were previously instances where separate negotiations were occurring among officers in closed meetings, however the UNFCCC felt that this exclusivity from possible agreements did not fit with their mission so officers are no longer allowed to have negotiating groups of their own (UNFCCC 2014). Negotiating might be one of the most crucial part in the discussion on climate change; legislation is passed and agreements are made because of these conferences. The system that the UNFCCC operates under for negotiating, within their conferences, also holds nations accountable for the agreements they made. The system operates to keep others in check to ensure that actual progress will be made. I would be interested in learning how the UNFCCCs strategies for negotiation could be applied to political matters, and how these agreements manage to subvert political disagreements that typically hinder progress, although there are coalitions formed based on politics within the conferences. I also would be interested in knowing more about how they treat unpopular opinions, or if there is any sort of hierarchy within the negotiation process that could give some bias in decisions.

 

Citations:

“Conference Essentials.” United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, 18 Nov. 2015,  unfccc.int/essential_background/bare_essentials/items/6145.php. Accessed 29 Aug. 2017.

Conference of the Parties. “Adoption of Rules of Procedure.” United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , 22 May 1996, pp. 1–16.

“Negotiations.” UNFCCC eHandbook , United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2014, bigpicture.unfccc.int/. Accessed 29 Aug. 2017.

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United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Response

Posted on August 30, 2017 by

Under the category of mitigation I am exploring a land use issue. In the Paris Agreement developed countries are encouraged to contribute to mitigation efforts through nationally determined contributions or NDCs. Whereas developing countries are urged to contribute in mitigation efforts by reducing the emissions caused by deforestation. Developing countries are to complete this task through “sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks”. This task is referred to as REDD+ or Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries. Deforestation is the conversion of forest lands into non forest lands, mainly agricultural lands. This process occurs at the distressing rate of 13 million hectares per year (1990-2005). When the process of deforestation occurs the carbon stored in the trees is released through the decay or burning of the trees. In the 1990s 5.8 GtCO2/yr were released into the atmosphere due to deforestation. Preventing deforestation is the most impactful short term action, per hectare, per year to mitigate the release of carbon into the atmosphere.


The UNFCCC has made a plethora of decisions concerning the mitigation of deforestation, they are detailed in Decision Booklet REDD+. Some decisions that I found to be particularly interesting include the recognition of the needs of local and indigenous communities when actions are taken to reduce emissions. The Conference of the Parties or the COP has also encourages all parties to participate in capacity building and highlights the role that technology can play in the effort to reduce emissions from deforestation through data collection, monitoring, reporting and constructing projections concerning deforestation, among other things. The COP moreover recognizes the diverse drivers that are present in different countries. The COP encourages parties to evaluate these drivers. The UNFCCC has conducted a fair amount of work to enable work related to the topic and has recognized the multifaceted nature of the task.
The REDD+ web platform details how the UNFCCC negotiations branched out to created nine topics that make up REDD+ implementation. These nine elements are the Warsaw Framework for REDD+, Safeguards, National Forest Monitoring Systems, Forest Reference Levels, National Strategy, Capacity Building, Drivers of Deforestation, REDD+ MRV result based payments and UNFCCC documents relevant for REDD+. The REDD web platform is an excellent resource that can be used to understand REDD+.
The work that the UNFCCC is doing concerning REDD+ is important, as forests are crucial carbon sinks. REDD+ provides a framework by which nations can work to reduce the emissions created by deforestation. However the language is incredibly vague and there does not seem to be any enforcement mechanism if a nation fails to meet the requirements of any agreements. I am left to wonder how much impact this well intended measure has on the mitigation of deforestation, if any.

Work Cited

UNFCCC. “Climate Get the Big Picture.” United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. http://bigpicture.unfccc.int/ (accessed 8/28/2017).

UNFCCC. “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 (REDD-plus).” United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. http://unfccc.int/land_use_and_climate_change/redd/items/7377.php (accessed 8/29/2017).

UNFCCC. “Key decisions relevant for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+).” United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
http://unfccc.int/files/land_use_and_climate_change/redd/application/pdf/compilation_redd_decision_booklet_v1.2.pdf (accessed 8/29/2017).

UNFCCC. “REDD+ Web Platform.” United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. http://redd.unfccc.int/ (accessed 8/28/2017).

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Posted on August 28, 2017 by

After reading Bones of the Tiger, protecting the man-eaters of Nepal, I have learned how Nepal has viewed tigers as important symbols and has helped shape ideas around culture, social construction and government involvement around conservation. The book went into great detail around the few number of tigers left in Nepal and the need to preserve them.  The book also went into great detail around how these tigers have a history around being “man-eaters” and how they have affected populated areas. The dense history surrounding tigers also includes rituals of British killing them as game as well as the economic value for different parts of a tiger.  All of these different social and cultural components make developing an ethical solution to the potential extinction of tigers extremely difficult.

I have developed a greater understanding that issues such as tiger extinction or climate change require much more thought than a single solution.  The book demonstrated to me that despite many different efforts and programs Nepal has been unable to make any real difference towards these issues around tigers and part of the reason around that is because other issues need to be addressed.  I think that is very representative of how other issues around conservation have played out.

Many issues that Nepal has around this does not stem from tigers becoming extinct. They stem from other social issues. One solution proposed in the book was “If you want to save tigers in the wild, you must first help the people who live near the tigers” (220). This highlights the idea that in order to save the tigers there are other social and cultural issues that need to be highlighted primarily. This program started strong but when violence began in 2003, this made this program very difficult to continue which is another example of why many issues around conservation are much more complicated than they appear on the surface.

These issues that need to be addressed in Nepal include poverty and living conditions. When the book talked about guards in many parks having inadequate living conditions it is understandable why some guards fall into selling the tigers into black markets. If these conditions were fixed it could stop.

I also found it fascinating the ethical dilemma around protecting tigers. When a tiger kills someone it loses its respect that it once had but does that mean that we should not protect it? I think that that idea can also be projected onto other ideas around climate change and conservation. Overall I have learned that issues around conservation are much deeper than they appear on the surface. I think that this will be of great value to me because I now understand that many issues include sub issues that may not initially look like they connect but are really the first step to developing solutions to issues. I have also learned how many social and cultural issues are connected and how viewing all of these issues as a whole will help me to understand other issues in Nepal

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Battles of the New Republic a Contemporary History of Nepal by Prashant Jha- Reflections

Posted on August 27, 2017 by

Battles of the New Republic a Contemporary History of Nepal, by Prashant Jha, explained the fall of the monarch, the rise of violence, and the growth of political instability in Nepal which provides context for understanding how prepared and willing Nepal is to engage in global climate change negotiations and adaptive measures today. The following issues further complicate governing in Nepal by leaving an astounding majority of people struggling to survive: 71% of citizens live below the poverty line; 60% of citizens are illiterate; 90% of citizens live in rural areas (Jha 20). Considering the high rate of poverty and high rate of rural living combined with widespread illiteracy, how do the differing perspectives between the government, the Maoists, and the rest of the Nepali citizens create debilitating divisions in understandings of issues as urgent as poverty and climate change? Does lack of education, knowledge, or resources motivate good politics or enable poor politics?

With little prior knowledge of Nepal’s history before reading this book, I expected it to reaffirm my understanding that instability meant being under constant stress and stuck in recovery mode, with basically no chance for maintenance or improvement. Nepal’s political instability has prohibited progress by driving ongoing suspicion and distrust which has caused corruption and damaged public image for the Maoists and the government. What I did not realize is how recently these tumultuous events occurred, and more importantly how this increases Nepal’s vulnerability to the uncontrollable forces of conflict and destruction such as natural disasters and resource depletion. Understanding how political instability impacts other areas of development reveals how crucial Nepal’s history remains to the rise of the new republic. Without the promise of stable government, the citizens of Nepal cannot expect their government to take care of them when crisis breaks out. I expect to observe issues of prioritization and lack thereof in the government due to the overwhelming depth of Nepal’s problems concerning everything from brutal civil war to clean drinking water.

Knowing the contemporary political and historical context of Nepal reveals some of the tensions in policy debates especially when dealing with multifaceted issues such as climate change. Tensions such as regional versus national interests and short-term versus long-term approaches during policy making complicate the process by blurring the lines between right and wrong. For instance, many viewed Nepal’s relationship with India as exploitative because India received the benefits of most business deals while burdening Nepal with costs including loss of land, compensation, and resources (Jha 39). A mixture of state brutality and nationalism aided the Maoists in recruitment messaging during the rebellion, especially among those who were exposed early on. Students, like Krishna, who attended school in Katmandu and personally experienced state brutality became increasingly critical of India’s exploitative relationship with Nepal and participated in the students’ union (Jha 40). To what extent will India’s control over Nepali policy continue to hurt the nation’s ability to protect its own citizens in future crises?

The birth of the Maoist rebellion and the uncertain relationship between Nepali Maoists and the government will help me understand politicians’ and civilians’ viewpoints when we interact with them in Katmandu. Since Nepal’s absolute monarchy in 1960, motivation has been on the rise for Maoists in Nepal to challenge the system: Hindu Kingdom. Justifications for the revolution echoed the purpose of changing power dynamics, in favor of the worker– “tenancy rights were insecure,” “wages were low,” “absentee landlordism was rampant” … (Jha 22). During the years leading up to the second Janandolan (mass upsurge for democracy) in 2006, Maoist fighters engaged in armed battles with the Royal Nepali Army (RNA) in 2001 and 2003, overriding 2 ceasefire arrangements between the government and the Maoists. Disorder in power structure ensued because the king sought greater power, increased RNA brutality, and ultimately failed his duties to maintain the trust of his subjects and preserve the dynasty. I expect that we will interact with locals and political experts to gain a sense of the current political climate (with no monarchy) as well as reflections of the transition in establishing a new republic. Knowing that the Maoists have repeatedly denied the monarchy and government their loyalty, I am interested to find out where Nepali citizens’ loyalty lies now and what their expectations are for democracy moving forward. Understanding people’s opinions of the monarchy’s historic performance compared to people’s expectations for the new republic may reveal how the country’s ambitions have developed and why.

Works Cited

Jha, Prashant. Battles of the New Republic: A Contemporary History of Nepal. Hurst, 2014

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Hemanta Mishra’s Windy Road: Navigating Controversy in Conservation

Posted on August 27, 2017 by

In his memoir The Soul of the Rhino, Nepali conservationist Hemanta Mishra reflects on the many challenges he faces on his mission to protect his country’s rhino population. He strives to help the Indian rhinoceros at Chitwan National Park grow and thrive, and aspires to eventually reestablish the species in other locations. Along the way, his judgement of how best to serve his post as a government conservationist is often put to the test. He faces a harrowing ethical dilemma when he is assigned to lead the Tarpan, a ritual rhino hunt. As someone committed to saving the species, he questions if it is justifiable for him to kill even a single rhino. When he chooses to participate, his careful balance of open-mindedness and integrity serves as a model for handling social-environmental conflicts, which those of us in the Mosaic program can apply to our work in Nepal.

In his response to his new assignment, Mishra must carefully take multiple perspectives into account, because the success of his conservation efforts depends on the support of the outside community. He recognizes that his Western education has imparted him with ideas that diverge from Nepali tradition. At first he is skeptical that the Tarpan is still relevant in modern Nepali society, but after listening to the views of traditionalists he realizes that many people still do consider it important (Mishra 174-178). Although the tradition has little significance for him personally, he recognizes that it is essential for social stability. This insight enables him to handle the situation diplomatically: rather than shut down the conversation by imposing his own view that the Tarpan is pointless and wrong, he accepts its place in his country’s culture, and in doing so maintains rapport with those who can help him reach his conservation goals. In this way, killing one rhino becomes an effective route to help secure the safety of the rest of the species.  His foresight sets an example for our approach to our own work. Like Mishra, those of us in the Mosaic program must bridge a cultural gap between ourselves and the people we work with in Nepal. Our conceptions of the “right way” to approach environmental problems may clash with the perspectives of others who are affected. In order to have effective conversations and develop research that is relevant to the situation in Nepal, we may have to shift our way of thinking.

There is a difference between open mindedness and a lack of moral integrity: viewing a problem from a new perspective does not mean abandoning one’s principles. Mishra admits that he has a selfish motive to go through with the Tarpan: if he disobeys a royal command, he will lose his government job (175). One could argue that he is taking others’ views into account only to justify his actions for personal gains. Similarly, our participation in this program is easily conflated with selfish motives: for example, our desire to advance our careers, to have new and interesting experiences, or to gain respect for our intelligence. However, selfish desires do not necessarily negate one’s motivation or potential to do good in the world. Mishra points out that by keeping his job, he can keep himself in a position to continue helping rhinos (175). In fact, the way he participates in directing the Tarpan adheres strictly to his professed goal of promoting rhino conservation.

As a part of the committee that determines how the Tarpan is conducted, Mishra influences the event to better promote Nepal’s national parks and conservation programs. Whereas others advocate for a private ceremony, he vehemently argues that the hunt should be made public. Mishra feels that dishonesty, if discovered, would hurt Nepal’s relationship with the global community, and undermine support for its conservation programs (186-187). Furthermore, he sees that the use of the rhino in a sacred ceremony demonstrates the species’ cultural importance (179). A public exhibition, if presented in the right way, could reinforce the Nepali people’s traditional reverence for rhinos, and perhaps gain sympathy for his efforts to save the species.Therefore, the best way to promote his conservation efforts is not to hide the Tarpan, but to bring it out in the  open and reap the benefits of its symbolic significance. Through careful discussion, Mishra convinces the other members of the committee to support a public production (188). This transparency is not only good for public relations; it keeps the integrity of the operation intact.  If the Tarpan is truly justifiable from a conservationist’s perspective, then there should be no need for deceit.

By remaining steadfast in our intentions but flexible in our approach, we, like Mishra, can greatly improve the effectiveness of our own work. In our research, we should ultimately seek to better the environments and communities we study. The path to that improvement may take a different shape from what we had envisioned, and it may challenge our belief in what is right. It is important that we find solutions rather than force them. We must focus on making adjustments in spite of difficulty, not because it is convenient. We must be aware of our own biases, and we must balance them with outside perspectives. As we open our methods to the communities we seek to serve and take the interests of those communities into account, our work may not become simpler, but it will become stronger.

 

Reference

Mishra, Hemanta. The Soul of the Rhino. Rowman & Littlefield, 2009.

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Welcome to the Human Security & Climate Change Nepal Mosaic Blog!

Posted on August 25, 2017 by

Welcome to Dickinson College’s blog for the Human Security and Climate Change Nepal Mosaic! We are a group of Dickinson College students and faculty members who are exploring questions about climate risks and resilience in Nepal. Our interdisciplinary program consists for four semester-long courses and three-weeks of field research in Nepal.

We invite you to read and comment on our posts.

 

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