ISTANBUL, TÜRKIYE
The recently concluded Sixtieth Session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-60) in Istanbul has marked a significant turning point in the global efforts to address climate change, particularly in the realm of adaptation. Key decisions and breakthroughs, notably encapsulated in Decision IPCC-LX-9, promise to reshape the climate agenda and lay the groundwork for a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to adaptation, with a spotlight on Africa.
Decision IPCC-LX-9: A Leap Forward for Adaptation
Paragraph 11 of Decision IPCC-LX-9 holds the promise of a transformative shift in the approach to climate adaptation. Dr. Cromwell Lukorito, Vice Chair of IPCC Working Group II, emphasized the historic nature of this decision. It paves the way for revising and updating the 1994 IPCC Technical Guidelines on impacts and adaptation, introducing adaptation indicators, metrics, and methodologies as a distinct product. This development is poised to bring adaptation on par with mitigation efforts, allowing for quantification, tracking progress, and reporting in a standardized manner.
“The decision provides a much-needed framework for objectively agreed-upon approaches to track and report adaptation progress, fostering a common understanding globally. This is a resumption to the right path for developing countries, particularly in Africa, where diverse economic and livelihood drivers demand a nuanced lens for assessing capacities, limitations, and future needs.’’ Dr. Lukorito expressed with enthusiasm.
He emphasized that this consensus position is instrumental in framing a long-term vision for a dedicated Technical Support Entity for adaptation, akin to the Task Force on Greenhouse Gas Inventory driving the mitigation stream. The decision positions the entire seventh assessment cycle as an adaptation cycle, with a focus on producing two special reports, particularly on adaptation indicators, metrics, and methodologies.
Addressing the issue of adaptation finance, Dr. Lukorito clarified the role of the IPCC Working Group in synthesizing scientific knowledge to unlock adaptation financing. The group aims to develop a basis for capacity enhancement, allowing parties to make compelling cases for adaptation funding based on an understanding of their unique risk levels, vulnerability contexts, and impact extents.
He stressed the importance of demonstrating climate risk and attributing the need for funding to specific climate interventions. Dr. Lukorito cited examples of innovative approaches from Kenya, such as county government initiatives for financing locally-led adaptation, as models that could be shared globally.
Additional Outcomes and Challenges
Maesela Kekana, IPCC National Focal Point for the Republic of South Africa, shed light on the outcomes of IPCC-60, particularly focusing on the work program for the seventh assessment cycle.
Kekana highlighted the critical role of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) in the UNFCCC process, especially considering the impending COP29, where the new collective quantified goal (NCQG) is expected to be delivered. The submission of BTRs is pivotal for countries to track progress on implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
In response to this urgency, Kekana discussed a crucial decision made during IPCC-60 regarding a workshop on software tools for generating BTRs. The workshop, expected to take place in the second half of the year, aims to demonstrate the functionality of software tools that facilitate the efficient creation of these reports. Kekana emphasized the significance of understanding and using these tools to meet the upcoming deadlines. The workshop is important in bridging the gap between the tools developed by the UNFCCC and the IPCC software, facilitating a seamless and efficient submission process for BTRs.
This collaborative effort between the IPCC and the UNFCCC aims to equip countries with the necessary knowledge and tools to fulfil their reporting obligations, ultimately contributing to a more comprehensive and accurate global stocktake.
Telvin Muta Denje, a Research Associate from the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES), provided insights into the challenges ahead. The IPCC’s ambitious goals for the seventh assessment cycle, compressed timelines, and the need for inclusivity pose significant challenges. Denje emphasized the need for strategies to involve more reviewers and ensure the effective assimilation of scientific literature into the IPCC process.
Recent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emphasize the escalating impacts of climate change on the African continent and the region’s heightened vulnerability. In response to the urgent need for greater representation of African expertise in addressing climate change challenges, the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES) created a database of African climate change experts, professionals, and specialists across various disciplines to bridge the existing knowledge gap.
Looking Ahead: COP29, Global Stocktakes, and IPCC Scientists’ Roller Coaster Year
As the IPCC scientists gear up for a demanding year, with scoping for the city’s special reports and the nomination of authors, momentum for COP29 is building up on the other side. The focus will be on delivering the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), a critical milestone in the global climate agenda. Challenges such as compressed timelines, inclusivity, and the integration of scientific literature will be central themes in the IPCC’s efforts to shape a sustainable future.
In the face of these challenges, the IPCC-60 outcomes underscore a renewed commitment to adaptation and a call for collaborative action to address the pressing climate crisis. The decisions made in Istanbul lay the foundation for a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to climate change mitigation and adaptation.