1. Sierra Student Coalition International Committee
UNFCCC 101
Sierra Student Coalition International Committee
Find us at or @sierrastudent

2. Document Use and Instructions
This document was created by the Sierra Student Coalition’s International Committee in preparation for the COP20 negotiations in Lima, Peru in December of 2014
This presentation is solely intended for educational purposes to further the general public’s basic understanding of critical international climate policy events and issues
The information in this document may be periodically updated to reflect current events and new decisions by the UNFCCC

3. Climate Change: Defining the problem
Climate change is real and humans are the main cause:
The concentration of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere is directly linked to the average global temperature on Earth; 
The concentration has been rising steadily, and mean global temperatures along with it, since the time of the Industrial Revolution; and
The most abundant greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, is the product of burning fossil fuels 
The impacts are already being felt globally:
Agricultural yields are expected to drop in most tropical and sub-tropical regions 
Diseases, especially those carried by vectors like mosquitoes, could spread to new areas in the world
Millions of people are expected to be exposed to increasing water stress 
More intense weather-related disasters 
Rising sea levels
Extinctions are expected for large numbers of plant and animal species
Typhoon Hayen Aftermath. Photo from The Guardian

4. Why was the UNFCCC created?
Mission: “Preventing “dangerous” human interference with the climate system is the ultimate aim of the UNFCCC”
Scientists recognized that there was a problem
UNFCCC provides place for world leaders to gather to find shared solutions to shared problem
Put the onus on developed countries to lead the way
Direct funds to climate change mitigation and adaptation activities
Keep tabs on global emissions and climate impacts and what's being done about it
Chart the formal consideration of adaptation to climate change

5. Timeline of Significant Events
1992: Rio Earth Summit adopts UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UN Convention to Combat Desertification, and UN Convention on Biological Diversity
2010: COP16 establishes Green Climate Fund, the Technology Mechanism and the Cancun Adaptation Framework
2011: COP17 launches Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP)
1997: COP3 adopts the Kyoto Protocol, the world’s first greenhouse gas emissions reduction treaty
2013: COP19 in Warsaw establishes REDD+ and loss and damage mechanism
The United States fails to ratify the Kyoto Protocol
2005: Kyoto Protocol enters into force
2014: COP20 unveils new negotiating text in anticipation of 2015
First Meeting of the Parties (CMP1) occurs with COP11
2007: COP13 adopts the Bali Road Map, which lays out focuses on mitigation, adaptation, technology and financing
400K attend People’s Climate March in New York City
2015: COP21 in Paris is deadline for new post-Kyoto climate treaty
2009: COP15 failed to reach post-Kyoto commitment. Copenhagen Accord adopted to limit the global temperature rise to 2°C

6. UNFCCC Governance Structure

7. Conference of Parties (COP)
WHAT IS COP?
WHEN AND WHERE DOES COP HAPPEN?
COP stands for Conference of Parties
COP has met every year since 1995
Supreme decision making body of the UNFCCC
Host country shifts between regions each year
WHO IS A PARTY?
All States that are Parties to the Convention
WHAT HAPPENS AT COP?
Review the implementation of the Convention and any other legal instruments that the COP adopts
Promote the effective implementation of the Convention, including institutional and administrative agreements
Review national emission inventories submitted by Parties
Negotiate terms of new mechanisms, legal instruments, and treaties

8. Party Classification Annex I Annex II Non-Annex I
Industrialized countries that were members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1992
Countries with economies in transition (Russia, the Baltic States, some Central and Eastern European States)
Annex II
Parties consist of the OECD members of Annex I, but not the EIT Parties.
Responsible for contributing to finance mechanisms, emission reduction activities, and technology transfers to EIT Parties and developing countries
Non-Annex I
Parties are mostly developing countries and those especially vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change
Parties are the recipients of investment, insurance and technology transfer from Annex II countries
Parties may volunteer to become Annex I countries when they are sufficiently developed
Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
49 Parties given special consideration on account of their limited capacity to respond to climate change
Parties are least responsible for anthropogenic climate change and least able to adapt to its adverse effects
Based on the tradition of the United Nations, Parties are organized into five regional groups:
African States,
Asian States,
Eastern European States,
Latin American and the Caribbean States, and
Western European and Other States.
But substantive interests of Parties and several other groupings are more important for climate negotiations. The major groupings, for substantive and political purposes, are
Group of 77 and China (G-77 and China) Developing countries generally work through the Group of 77 to establish common negotiating positions. The G-77 was founded in 1964 in the context of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and now functions throughout the UN system. It has over 130 members. The country holding the Chair of the G-77 in New York (which rotates every year) often speaks for the G-77 and China as a whole. However, because the G-77 and China is a diverse group with differing interests on climate change issues, individual developing countries and groups within the G-77 also intervene in debates.
Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) A coalition of some 43 low-lying and small island countries, most of which are members of the G-77, that are particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise. AOSIS countries are united by the threat that climate change poses to their survival and frequently adopt a common stance in negotiations.
Least Developed Countries (LDC) The 50 countries defined as Least Developed Countries by the UN regularly work together in the wider UN system. They have become increasingly active in the climate change process, often working together to defend their particular interests, for example with regard to vulnerability and adaptation to climate change.
European Union (EU) The 27 members of the European Union meet in private to agree on common negotiating positions. The country that holds the EU Presidency - a position that rotates every six months - then speaks for the European Union and its 27 member states. As a regional economic integration organization, the European Union itself can be, and is, a Party to the Convention, but it does not have a separate vote from its members.
The Umbrella Group A loose coalition of non-EU developed countries which formed following the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol. There is no formal list, but the Group is usually made up of Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the US. The Umbrella Group evolved from the JUSSCANNZ (an acronym for Japan, the USA, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Norway and New Zealand) group, which was active during the Kyoto Protocol negotiations.
Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) Formed in 2000, the EIG comprises Mexico, the Republic of Korea and Switzerland.
Other groups in the climate change process include the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Central Asia, Caucasus, Albania and Moldova (CACAM), the League of Arab States and the Agence intergouvernementale de la francophonie. A;so: BRIC (Brazil, Rusia, India, and China and sometimes South Africa)

9. Negotiating Blocs
Based on the tradition of the UN, Parties are organized into five regional groups:
African States,
Asian States,
Eastern European States,
Latin American and the Caribbean States, and
Western European and Other States
Non-regional negotiating blocs also exist based on shared interests:
Group of 77 and China (G-77 and China)
Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)
Least Developed Countries (LDC)
European Union (EU)
The Umbrella Group
Environmental Integrity Group (EIG)
Other groups in the climate change process include the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Central Asia, Caucasus, Albania and Moldova (CACAM), the League of Arab States and the Agence intergouvernementale de la francophonie.
Based on the tradition of the United Nations, Parties are organized into five regional groups:
African States,
Asian States,
Eastern European States,
Latin American and the Caribbean States, and
Western European and Other States.
But substantive interests of Parties and several other groupings are more important for climate negotiations. The major groupings, for substantive and political purposes, are
Group of 77 and China (G-77 and China) Developing countries generally work through the Group of 77 to establish common negotiating positions. The G-77 was founded in 1964 in the context of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and now functions throughout the UN system. It has over 130 members. The country holding the Chair of the G-77 in New York (which rotates every year) often speaks for the G-77 and China as a whole. However, because the G-77 and China is a diverse group with differing interests on climate change issues, individual developing countries and groups within the G-77 also intervene in debates.
Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) A coalition of some 43 low-lying and small island countries, most of which are members of the G-77, that are particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise. AOSIS countries are united by the threat that climate change poses to their survival and frequently adopt a common stance in negotiations.
Least Developed Countries (LDC) The 50 countries defined as Least Developed Countries by the UN regularly work together in the wider UN system. They have become increasingly active in the climate change process, often working together to defend their particular interests, for example with regard to vulnerability and adaptation to climate change.
European Union (EU) The 27 members of the European Union meet in private to agree on common negotiating positions. The country that holds the EU Presidency - a position that rotates every six months - then speaks for the European Union and its 27 member states. As a regional economic integration organization, the European Union itself can be, and is, a Party to the Convention, but it does not have a separate vote from its members.
The Umbrella Group A loose coalition of non-EU developed countries which formed following the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol. There is no formal list, but the Group is usually made up of Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the US. The Umbrella Group evolved from the JUSSCANNZ (an acronym for Japan, the USA, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Norway and New Zealand) group, which was active during the Kyoto Protocol negotiations.
Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) Formed in 2000, the EIG comprises Mexico, the Republic of Korea and Switzerland.
Other groups in the climate change process include the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Central Asia, Caucasus, Albania and Moldova (CACAM), the League of Arab States and the Agence intergouvernementale de la francophonie. A;so: BRIC (Brazil, Rusia, India, and China and sometimes South Africa)

10. Observer Groups and Civil Society
Observer groups are Intergovernmental and Non-governmental Organizations that are allowed to observe and indirectly influence the UNFCCC proceedings
The UNFCCC recognizes 1,598 NGOs known collectively as Civil Society
Civil Society self-organizes based on shared special interests
i.e. women and gender, youth, business, environmental
Civil Society groups do not have authority to negotiate, but can provide recommendations to Parties
Constituencies may deliver high-level interventions during plenaries
Any intervention must move through Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI)
Special interest constituencies don’t have formal decision making authority, but often promote recommendations

11. Current “big deal” mechanisms
Green Climate Fund: Developed countries agreed to provide biennial reports to ramp up finance
Developing countries pushed for $70 billion by 2016, which developed countries refused
Loss and Damage: A financial mechanism was tabled until COP22
REDD+: Adoption of guidelines so countries can use “reference levels” to determine qualifications for increased funding
Technology Mechanism: Adopted to help facilitate technology transfers

12. Post-Warsaw Attitudes
Flexibility from U.S. and EU
Rifts among G77/China
Low ambition
Rare consensus among observers during walkout

13. People’s Climate March
September 21, 2014 in New York City
Largest and most inclusive climate march in history
400k people and more than 50k youth
Pressured world leaders at UN Climate Summit to build ambition for mitigation and adaptation actions
Important for ramp-up to COP20 and Paris

14. The world’s next climate treaty
Kyoto Protocol has expired and new commitment to mitigation needed
New protocol needs to get Parties to commit to legally-binding emissions reductions to keep the global average temperature from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6F)
Post-2020 Action (ADP Workstream 1)
Draft negotiating text no later than 2015 to be adopted in Paris and for it to come into effect in 2020
Countries must pledge INDCs in 2015
Pre-2020 Action (ADP Workstream 2)
Mitigation efforts in the absence of a legally-binding agreement.
Some examples of possible recommended actions as a result Workstream 2 include:
Reduction of GHG in international transport
Reduction of production and use of HFCs
Enhancing energy efficiency
Promoting renewable energy
Encouraging further work on international sustainability standards and eco-labelling

15. Lima, looking ahead to Paris
The ultimate purpose of COP20 is to produce a treaty to be signed in Paris at COP21 in 2015
Key themes at COP20:
Equity
Green Climate Fund pledges
Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC)
Workable legal framework

16. Our strategy while in Lima
U.S. Youth Power
Equitable Solutions
Campus Divestment Movement
Campuses Beyond Coal
50k youth at People’s Climate March
1992 Action
Maintain principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities
U.S. must pledge to Green Climate Fund in addition to mitigation
Ensure our work to achieve 2030 clean energy outcomes emphasizes fairness and justice
The SSC COP20 delegation will leverage the power of youth successes and stories in the U.S. to influence negotiators to commit to equitable solutions and ambitious emissions targets in 2015
Strong Emissions Target
Advocate preventing an increase in global temperatures more than 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels
Advocate for U.S. carbon emissions to drop at least 50% below 2005 emissions levels by 2030
Adopt ambitious 2030 clean energy outcomes, including 100% carbon free in the power sector and 50% oil savings in the transportation sector

17. Appendix What is COP?- unfccc.int/bodies/body/6383.php
Workstream 1: unfccc.int/bodies/body/6645/php/view/reports.php
Workstream 2:
[J1]
[J2]
[J3]
[J4]
[J5] \
[J6]
[C1]
[C2]
[C3]
[C4]

18. Other Workstreams: Adaptation
Loss and Damage
Nairobi Work Program
Helps developing nations understand and assess vulnerability and adaptation and make informed decisions.
Expected Outcomes: Essentially, understanding among parties about global warming and cooperation to address it.
National Adaptation Plans
Objective: To reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change by building adaptive capacity and resilience
Funding will be available through the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Least Developed Countries Fund, and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF).
National Adaptation Programmes of Action
“NAPAs provide a process for the Least Developed Countries to identify priority activities that respond to their urgent and immediate needs with regard to adaptation to climate change - those needs for which further delay could increase vulnerability or lead to increased costs at a later stage.”

19. Other Workstreams: Adaptation
Adaptation Committee
Promotes enhanced action on adaptation in a coherent manner under the Convention, inter Alia, through:
Providing technical support and guidance to the Parties
Sharing of relevant info.
Promoting synergy and strengthening engagement with national, regional, and international orgs.
Providing info and recommendations, drawing on adaptation good practices, for consideration by the COP when providing guidance on means to incentivize the implementation of adaptation actions, (e.g. finance, technology and capacity-building)
Considering info communicated by Parties on their monitoring and review of adaptation actions, support provided and received.
LDC Expert Group
The LEG was established by the COP in 2001.The LEG is requested by the COP to provide technical support and advice to the least developed countries (LDCs) on the national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs) and the LDC work programme, and to provide technical guidance and support to the national adaptation plan (NAP) process.
Loss and Damage Executive Committee (See “Loss and Damage”)

20. Other Workstreams: Loss and Damage
The Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage is and attempt to…
Clearly define “loss and damage” under the Convention
Prepare a comprehensive loss and damage model for risks associated with climate change (especially in vulnerable areas).
Contribute to new ways of viewing the climate challenge
Mobilize resources and capacity to help mobilize vulnerable countries/areas.
The Loss and Damage Workstream was considered as part of the Cancun Adaptation Framework (COP 16), and established at COP 19 (in Warsaw).
Loss and Damage is separated into two types:
Extreme events: (tough to find a definition, presumably its supposed to be self explanatory).
Slow Onset Events: sea level rise, increasing temperatures, ocean acidification, glacial retreat (and related impacts), salinization, land and forest degradation, loss of biodiversity, and desertification.
Jack is interested

21. Other Workstreams: Loss and Damage
The SBI includes three “Thematic Areas”:
Assessing the risk of loss and damage associated with adverse effects of climate currently known
A range of approaches to address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, including impacts related to extreme weather and slow onset events, taking into consideration experiences at all levels
Which in turn includes four meetings of regional experts (Africa, Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe, and Small Island Developing States)
The role of the Convention in enhancing implementation of approaches to address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change
For more details, technical papers, reports, etc. check out these links

22. Other Workstreams: REDD+
Collaborative initiative on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (since 2008)
Deforestation and forest degradation are the second leading cause of global warming, responsible for nearly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions
Address environmental degradation and encourage enhancement of forest carbon stocks by assigning an economic value to forests; allocates carbon offsets; provides funding for REDD projects
Part of the UN’s REDD initative; other multilateral initiatives include the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) and Forest Investment Program (FIP) hosted by The World Bank
To date, donor contributions total US$215.2 million, 91% of which is already allocated
Issues/controversy:
Implementing Measuring and Monitoring Systems compliant with the Measuring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) to prove how much carbon is stored in forests
Working WITH indigenous peoples
Privitizing forests which allow wealthy companies to buy carbon offsets instead of reducing carbon emissions

23. Other Workstreams: Climate Finance
Standing Committee on Finance: This Committee was established at COP16 to assist the COP in exercising its functions in relation to the financial mechanism of the Convention. This involves improving coherence and coordination in the delivery of climate change financing, rationalization of the financial mechanism, mobilization of financial resources and measurement, reporting and verification of support provided to developing country Parties.
Global Environment Facility: Since 1991, the GEF has provided $12.5 billion in grants and leveraged $58 billion in co-financing for 3,690 projects in 165 developing countries. For 23 years, developed and developing countries alike have provided these funds to support activities related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, and chemicals and waste in the context of development projects and programs.
Adaptation Fund: The Adaptation Fund was established to finance concrete adaptation projects and programmes in developing country Parties that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. The Adaptation Fund is financed by a 2 per cent share of the proceeds from certified emission reductions issued by the Executive Board of the Clean Development Mechanism and from other sources of funding.
Climate finance refers to local, national or transnational financing, which may be drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing. Climate finance is critical to addressing climate change because large-scale investments are required to significantly reduce emissions, notably in sectors that emit large quantities of greenhouse gases. Climate finance is equally important for adaptation, for which significant financial resources will be similarly required to allow countries to adapt to the adverse effects and reduce the impacts of climate change.
In accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities set out in the Convention, developed country Parties (Annex II Parties) are to provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties in implementing the objectives of the UNFCCC. It is important for all governments and stakeholders to understand and assess the financial needs developing countries have so that such countries can undertake activities to address climate change. Governments and all other stakeholders also need to understand the sources of this financing, in other words, how these financial resources will be mobilized.
Equally significant is the way in which these resources are transferred to and accessed by developing countries. Developing countries need to know that financial resources are predictable, sustainable, and that the channels used allow them to utilize the resources directly without difficulty. For developed countries, it is important that developing countries are able to demonstrate their ability to effectively receive and utilize the resources. In addition, there needs to be full transparency in the way the resources are used for mitigation and adaptation activities. The effective measurement, reporting and verification of climate finance is key to building trust between Parties to the Convention, and also for external actors.
The contribution of countries to climate change, and their capacity to prevent and cope with its consequences, vary enormously. The Convention and the Protocol therefore foresee financial assistance from Parties with more resources to those less endowed and more vulnerable. Developed country Parties (Annex II Parties) shall provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties in implementing the Convention. To facilitate this, the Convention established a financial mechanism to provide funds to developing country Parties.
The Convention, under its Article 11, states that the operation of the financial mechanism is entrusted to one or more existing international entities. Currently, the operation of the financial mechanism is partly entrusted to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on an on-going basis, subject to review every four years. The financial mechanism is accountable to the COP, which decides on its climate change policies, programme priorities and eligibility criteria for funding, based on advice from the SBI.
The Kyoto Protocol also recognizes, under its Article 11, the need for the financial mechanism to fund activities by developing country Parties.
In addition to providing guidance to the GEF, Parties have established four special funds: the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), both managed by the GEF, and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) under the Convention; and the Adaptation Fund (AF) under the Kyoto Protocol.
Funding to climate change actvities is also available through bilateral, regional and multilateral channels.

24. Other Workstreams: Climate Finance
Green Climate Fund: Intended to be the main fund for global climate change finance in the context of mobilizing USD 100 billion by The GCF was established by COP16
Least Developed Countries Fund: The Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) was established to support a work programme to assist Least Developed Country Parties (LDCs) carry out, inter alia, the preparation and implementation of national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs)
Special Climate Change Fund: The Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) was established under the Convention in 2001 to finance projects relating to: adaptation; technology transfer and capacity building; energy, transport, industry, agriculture, forestry and waste management; and economic diversification. This fund should complement other funding mechanisms for the implementation of the Convention
Climate finance refers to local, national or transnational financing, which may be drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing. Climate finance is critical to addressing climate change because large-scale investments are required to significantly reduce emissions, notably in sectors that emit large quantities of greenhouse gases. Climate finance is equally important for adaptation, for which significant financial resources will be similarly required to allow countries to adapt to the adverse effects and reduce the impacts of climate change.
In accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities set out in the Convention, developed country Parties (Annex II Parties) are to provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties in implementing the objectives of the UNFCCC. It is important for all governments and stakeholders to understand and assess the financial needs developing countries have so that such countries can undertake activities to address climate change. Governments and all other stakeholders also need to understand the sources of this financing, in other words, how these financial resources will be mobilized.
Equally significant is the way in which these resources are transferred to and accessed by developing countries. Developing countries need to know that financial resources are predictable, sustainable, and that the channels used allow them to utilize the resources directly without difficulty. For developed countries, it is important that developing countries are able to demonstrate their ability to effectively receive and utilize the resources. In addition, there needs to be full transparency in the way the resources are used for mitigation and adaptation activities. The effective measurement, reporting and verification of climate finance is key to building trust between Parties to the Convention, and also for external actors.
The contribution of countries to climate change, and their capacity to prevent and cope with its consequences, vary enormously. The Convention and the Protocol therefore foresee financial assistance from Parties with more resources to those less endowed and more vulnerable. Developed country Parties (Annex II Parties) shall provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties in implementing the Convention. To facilitate this, the Convention established a financial mechanism to provide funds to developing country Parties.
The Convention, under its Article 11, states that the operation of the financial mechanism is entrusted to one or more existing international entities. Currently, the operation of the financial mechanism is partly entrusted to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on an on-going basis, subject to review every four years. The financial mechanism is accountable to the COP, which decides on its climate change policies, programme priorities and eligibility criteria for funding, based on advice from the SBI.
The Kyoto Protocol also recognizes, under its Article 11, the need for the financial mechanism to fund activities by developing country Parties.
In addition to providing guidance to the GEF, Parties have established four special funds: the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), both managed by the GEF, and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) under the Convention; and the Adaptation Fund (AF) under the Kyoto Protocol.
Funding to climate change actvities is also available through bilateral, regional and multilateral channels.