Climate Change

International and National

Institutional Frameworks – UN COPs

Dr. Abdul-Sattar Nizami

Sustainable Development Study Centre (SDSC)
Government College University, Lahore
 Decisions

Economically Sustainable Decisions

Socially Sustainable Decisions

Environmentally Sustainable Decisions

Climate change is undeniably one of the
most pressing issues of our time. Its
implications are vast, affecting every facet of
our life, from our environment, economies,
to our health and future generations. The
task to address it is monumental,
necessitating concerted efforts on all scales
- individual, national, and most critically,
international.
 Climate Change

o Definition: Climate change refers to significant changes in

global temperatures and weather patterns over time. While
climate change is a natural phenomenon, scientific
evidence shows that human activities are currently driving
an unprecedented rate of change.

o Causes: The primary cause of current climate change is

human activity, most notably the burning of fossil fuels
(coal, oil, and gas) and deforestation, which increase
concentrations of greenhouse gases in the Earth's
atmosphere.
o Impacts: The effects of climate change are diverse and
widespread, impacting our weather (increased frequency
and severity of storms, heatwaves), ecosystems (loss of
biodiversity, coral bleaching), sea levels (melting ice leading
to rising sea levels), and human societies (agricultural
challenges, health impacts, migration).

o Existing Knowledge: We've already discussed these

concepts in previous lectures, but it's important to recall the
basics as we delve into our focus for today's lecture:
International and National Institutional Frameworks – UN
COPs.
 The Urgency of Addressing Climate Change

o Recent Climate Trends: Increasing global temperatures,

more frequent and severe weather events, rising sea levels.
o Impacts: Destructive impacts on ecosystems, negative effects
on human health, increasing socio-economic inequalities.
o Future Projections: If current trends persist, the global
average temperature is projected to increase beyond 2
degrees Celsius, leading to catastrophic environmental and
social impacts.
o Urgent Action Needed: Immediate and robust global action is
necessary to mitigate the effects of climate change and
transition towards a sustainable future.
 Global Responses to Climate Change

o Overview: Global response to climate change has

seen various degrees of commitment and action
across nations, non-state actors, and international
organizations.

o International Treaties: Agreements such as the

UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris
Agreement represent attempts to coordinate global
action.
o Achievements: Adoption of renewable energy
technologies, efforts towards deforestation reduction, and
more stringent emission standards in many places.

o Challenges: Varying national interests, economic

disparities, the complexity of climate change, and policy
implementation gaps pose significant hurdles.

o Collective Action: Addressing climate change requires

an unprecedented level of global cooperation and shared
responsibility.
 United Nations - An Introduction

o Founding: Established post-World War II in

1945.
o Purpose: Maintaining international peace and
security, promoting human rights, fostering social
and economic development, and coordinating
international efforts to solve global problems like
climate change.
o Membership: Comprised of 193 member states.
 United Nations and Climate Change

o Role: The UN provides a platform for dialogue,

negotiation, and collaboration to combat climate
change.
o Initiatives: Launching programs such as the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC).
o Impact: The UN has been instrumental in raising
global awareness and orchestrating international
response to climate change.
Key UN Bodies Involved in Climate Change

o UNFCCC - United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change
o IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change
o UNEP - United Nations Environment
Programme
IPCC

UNFCCC
 The United Nations
Framework Convention
on Climate Change
(UNFCCC)
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 UNFCCC

o The science & politics of climate change are more than

100 years old. Historically important conferences
include:
‾ UN Conference on Human Environment held in 1972
‾ Toronto Conference on The Changing Atmosphere:
Implications for Global Security in 1988
o The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) was adopted at the UN Conference
on Environment & Development in Rio de Janeiro in
1992 26
 UNFCCC

o International treaty to address challenges of

climate change
o 192 countries have ratified
o Entered into force on 21 March 1994
o The Convention:
• Recognizes the global, shared problem
• Provides a framework for discussion
• Supports first steps: reporting, assessment, planning
• Establishes principle of "common but differentiated
responsibilities"
• Covers mitigation & adaptation
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 Article 2

“The ultimate objective of this Convention & any related legal

instruments that the Conference of the Parties (COP) may adopt is
to achieve, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the
Convention, stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the
atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system. Such a level should be
achieved within a time frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt
naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not
threatened, & to enable economic development to proceed in a
sustainable manner.”

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 UNFCCC Parties

o Annex I: members of OECD in 1992 + economies in

transition (EIT).
o Annex II: OECD members of Annex I. Required to
provide financial resources to enable developing
countries to undertake emissions reduction activities
and to help them adapt to adverse effects of climate
change. Must also "take all practicable steps" to
promote development and transfer of environmentally
friendly technologies to EITs and developing countries.
Non-Annex I (NAI): mostly developing countries:
o Certain countries recognized as being especially
vulnerable to climate change, including countries
with low-lying coastal areas and those prone to
desertification and drought.
Others are more vulnerable to the potential
economic impacts of climate change responses
(e.g. fossil fuel exporting nations)
o The 48 least developed countries (LDCs) are given
special consideration under the Convention on
account of their limited capacity to respond to
climate change and adapt to
its adverse effects.
 Conference of the Parties (COPs)

o Definition: The supreme decision-making body of the

UNFCCC, consisting of the Parties to the Convention.

o Purpose: Review the implementation of the Convention

and make decisions necessary to promote its effective
implementation.

o Frequency: COP meetings are held annually, providing a

forum for discussions, negotiations, and decisions on
climate action.
 Significance of COPs

o Platform for Negotiation: COPs are the primary platform

where countries negotiate and make key decisions on global
climate action.

o Key Decisions: Many critical agreements, such as the Kyoto

Protocol and Paris Agreement, were adopted during COP
meetings.

o Global Attention: COPs bring global attention to climate

change, thereby pressuring countries to commit to stronger
actions.
 How COPs Work

o Sessions: During a COP session, various negotiation sessions,

presentations, and discussions are held over a period of two
weeks.

o Decision-making: Decisions are ideally made by consensus. If

that's not possible, the Convention allows for voting.

o Involvement: Various stakeholders, including UN agencies,

intergovernmental organizations, civil society groups, and the
private sector participate, providing a comprehensive approach
to climate change discussions.
 Participants in COPs

o Parties: All States that are Parties to the Convention are

represented at COPs.
o Observers: Non-Party stakeholders can attend as
observers, including UN bodies, specialized agencies,
other international organizations, and non-
governmental organizations.
o Role of Presidency: Each COP is presided over by a
representative of the host country, playing a critical role
in directing the negotiations and fostering dialogue.
 Importance of COPs in Climate Action

o Guiding International Action: COPs set the direction

for global climate action through decisions and
resolutions.
o Monitoring Progress: COPs serve as a platform where
countries report their progress in reducing emissions,
allowing for transparency and accountability.
o Encouraging Cooperation: By bringing together diverse
actors, COPs foster collaboration and partnership in
tackling climate change.
 Key Outcomes from Past COPs

o Progress: COPs have seen the establishment of

critical agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol and
the Paris Agreement.
o Cooperation: They have fostered unprecedented
global cooperation on climate action.
o Future Commitments: They have also set the stage
for future commitments to emission reduction and
climate change mitigation.
 The Kyoto Protocol - COP3

o Adoption: Adopted in 1997 at COP3 in

Kyoto, Japan.
o Entry into Force: Entered into force in
2005 after Russia's ratification.
o Commitments: Legally binding
commitments for developed countries to
reduce GHG emissions.
 Main Features

o Emission Targets: Specific targets for reducing

greenhouse gas emissions for each developed
country.
o Flexibility Mechanisms: Introduced Emissions
Trading, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM),
and Joint Implementation (JI).
o Compliance Mechanism: Established a
Compliance Committee to ensure countries meet
their commitments.
 Impact and Criticisms

o Impact: Led to quantifiable emission

reductions in many developed countries.
o Participation: Major emitters like the U.S.
and China were not bound by the protocol.
o Future Role: Laid groundwork for
subsequent international agreements,
including the Paris Agreement.
 Bali Action Plan - COP13

o Established: Agreed upon at COP13 in

2007.
o Main Objective: To establish a new
negotiating process aimed at tackling climate
change.
o Four Pillars: Mitigation, Adaptation,
Technology Development and Transfer, and
Financial Resources and Investment.
 The Copenhagen Accord - COP15

o Established: Crafted in 2009 during COP15.

o Main Elements: Recognizes the scientific view
that the increase in global temperature should
be below 2 degrees Celsius and that climate
change is one of the greatest challenges of our
time.
o Pledges: Collected emission reduction pledges
from developed and developing countries alike.
 The Paris Agreement - COP21

Goal 1: Limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C

Goal 2: Foster resilience and adaptation to adverse
climate impacts
Goal 3: Align financial flows with low GHG emission
development
Goal 4: Regular reporting and global stock take to assess
progress
Goal 5: Enhancement and support for capacity-building
actions
 Paris Agreement - Nationally Determined Contributions

o NDCs: Country-specific climate action plans

o Legally Binding: Regular reporting process is
mandatory
o Transparency: Enhances global clarity and
tracking of progress
o Review: NDCs reviewed and updated every five
years
o Collaboration: Encourages cooperation between
nations
 Progress of Paris Agreement

o Ratification: Over 189 countries ratified and submitted

NDCs
o Energy Transition: Significant strides in renewable
energy adoption
o Sustainable Practices: Progress in sustainable
transport, deforestation reduction
o Challenges: Need for vast changes in various sectors
o Continuous Monitoring: Regular assessment of
progress towards goals
 Future COPs and Paris Agreement's Role

o Roadmap: Future COPs to enhance and refine

NDCs
o Accountability: Focus on implementation,
transparency, and accountability
o Adaptation: Emphasis on strategies for resilience
and adaptation
o Engagement: Continued participation of all
nations
o Financial Support: Reinforcing financial
 NDCs and Future Climate Action

o Enhancement: Update and enhance NDCs every five

years
o Global Participation: Strive for universal engagement
o Gap Bridging: NDCs to bridge current pledges and
required emission reductions
o Transparency: Continued assessment for
transparency and understanding
o Long-term Strategy: Encourage countries to
formulate long-term low GHG emission development
strategies
The Paris Agreement – Future Plans
 Climate Action in Pakistan - An Overview

o Climate Policies: Overview of Pakistan's national

climate policies, including the Climate Change Policy
2012.
o Institutions: Key institutions in Pakistan such as the
Ministry of Climate Change.
o Legislation: Overview of Pakistan's climate-related
laws, e.g., Pakistan Environmental Protection Act.
o Challenges: Vulnerability to climate change impacts.
o Successes: Highlights of successful initiatives, such as
the Billion Tree Tsunami project.
 Role of Pakistan's Government in Climate Action

o Policy Formation: Role of the government in creating

and implementing Pakistan's Climate Change Policy.
o Regulation: Enforcement of Pakistan Environmental
Protection Act.
o Public Engagement: Efforts towards raising public
awareness and participation, like the Clean Green
Pakistan Movement.
o International Cooperation: Participation in
international climate negotiations, such as COPs.
 Pakistan's National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)

Development
o Ministry of Climate Change leads the
development of NAPs.
o Collaboration with provincial governments and
NGOs.
o Primary focus on agriculture, water, and health
sectors.
 NAPs - Implementation and Challenges

o NAPs implementation is multisectoral and

multilevel.
o Provincial initiatives include specific projects
such as irrigation improvements.
o Challenges include limited resources,
technical capacity, and coordination issues.
 NAPs - Success Story

o The Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF)

project is a notable success.
o GLOF enhances resilience in communities at
risk of flooding.
o The project is funded by the Green Climate
Fund and implemented by UNDP.
 Climate Finance in Pakistan

Importance and Mechanisms:

o Climate finance is vital for Pakistan to meet
Paris Agreement commitments.
o Key sources of climate finance include
international funding like the Green Climate
Fund.
o Domestic initiatives for climate finance include
green bonds.
 Challenges and Success

o Challenges include mobilizing sufficient

finance and ensuring it reaches vulnerable
communities.
o GLOF project is a successful example of
effective use of climate finance.
o The project has implemented early warning
systems and community-based disaster risk
management strategies.
 Involvement of Non-State Actors

o Non-state actors such as businesses and NGOs

contribute to both mitigation and adaptation
efforts.
o Their involvement promotes local ownership and
increases the reach and effectiveness of
initiatives.
o The Pakistan Youth Climate Network is an
example of successful involvement of non-state
actors in climate action.
 Aligning National and International Commitments

o National frameworks, such as Pakistan's NDCs,

ensure accountability to international commitments
like the Paris Agreement.
o Alignment ensures cohesion between national
policies, like Pakistan's National Climate Change
Policy, and global goals like Sustainable Development
Goals.
o International support, like the $35 million approved by
the Green Climate Fund for Pakistan's GLOF project,
aids countries in meeting their goals.
 Harmonizing Framework Challenges

o Challenges include resource limitations,

technical capacity deficiencies, policy gaps, and
the complexities of aligning international,
national, and sub-national frameworks.
o Countries like Pakistan often face these
challenges in aligning with international
commitments.
o Different priorities at each level can add to the
complexity of achieving harmony.
 Solutions for Harmonization

o International cooperation, such as UNDP's

support for Pakistan's NAP process, can aid in
capacity building.
o Greater international financial support, like Green
Climate Fund's support for Pakistan's GLOF
project, can alleviate resource constraints.
o Ensuring policy coherence and stakeholder
engagement at all levels can promote harmony.
 GLOF Project Success
o The GLOF project, funded by the Green Climate
Fund, is a successful example of national
actions aligning with international commitments.
o It has enhanced resilience to glacial lake
outburst floods in northern Pakistan,
demonstrating the effectiveness of international
support.
o The successful model holds future potential for
replication in similar risk areas.
 CDM Projects Success

o Registered Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

projects in Pakistan align national climate actions
with international Kyoto Protocol commitments.
o These projects have achieved GHG emission
reductions and sustainable development,
illustrating the benefits of market-based
mechanisms.
o The future potential lies in expanding such
mechanisms to boost alignment and climate action.
 Emerging Trends in Climate Action

o Net-Zero Commitments: More than 120 countries,

including Pakistan, have pledged to achieve net-zero
emissions by 2050, a trend that's expected to gain
momentum (UNFCCC, 2021).
o Nature-Based Solutions: There is a growing focus on
nature-based solutions for climate change, such as
reforestation and sustainable agriculture
o Climate Justice: The principle of climate justice, ensuring
that the transition to a low-carbon future is fair and
equitable, is gaining prominence in climate discourse.
 Role of Innovations in Climate Action
o Clean Technologies: Advancements in renewable
energy, energy storage, and carbon capture
technologies are playing a crucial role in climate
mitigation (International Energy Agency, 2021).
o Climate Analytics: New technologies like AI and Big
Data are enabling more accurate climate modeling
and risk assessment (Nature, 2021).
o Digital Solutions: Digital platforms are facilitating
stakeholder engagement, transparency, and
accountability in climate action.
THANK YOU !!!

Email: nizami_pk@yahoo.com
asnizami@gcu.edu.pk

Website: https://abdulsattarnizami.academia.edu/