As early as 2006, Parties to the Kyoto Protocol recognised the importance of a balanced regional distribution of CDM projects around the world. In light of the benefits CDM can offer to the lesser developed regions of the world, RCC St. George's was tasked with tapping the potential of CDM projects and programmes in underrepresented countries in the region, by building their capacity and helping reduce risk for investors. 

We help alleviate the barriers to CDM project development and implementation in the region by: 

• Bridging the distance between the UNFCCC secretariat and the on-the-ground reality in developing CDM projects; 
• Supporting national governments to create the enabling environments for engaging with global carbon markets by facilitating the development and submission of proposals for Standardized Baselines (SBs) and administering capacity building training for local consultants, project developers and Designated National Authorities (DNAs); 
• Providing direct and immediate support to project developers in identifying suitable projects and assisting in the preparation and validation of Project Development Documents (PDDs); 
• Assisting project proponents through the CDM cycle, from verification or requesting registration, to the issuance of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) or post-registration changes; 
• Serving as a hub for information on CDM opportunities and linking project developers, service providers, and carbon buyers; and 
• Working with the financial sector and the donor community to coordinate and optimize the use of available funds for CDM project development and financing of projects. 

More on CDM here

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provides the foundation for intergovernmental action to combat climate change and its impacts on humanity and ecosystems. The ultimate objective of the Convention and any related legal instruments that the Conference of the Parties may adopt is to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.

To achieve the objective of the Convention, Parties need reliable, transparent and comprehensive information on GHG emissions, climate actions and support. Under the Convention, all Parties are obliged to communicate to the Conference of the Parties (COP) information relevant to the implementation of the Convention (Article 12). By communicating information on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and actions to reduce them, as well as on adaptation and means of implementation such as finance, technology transfer and capacity-building, the transparency and reporting system allows to understand ambition and progress on climate actions and support by Parties, – and informs the COP deliberation and guidance on these matters.

Over the past two decades, the arrangements for national reporting of the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol have evolved into a more comprehensive measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) framework. Measures to significantly enhance transparency of action and support under the Convention were adopted as part of the Bali Action Plan at COP 13 and elaborated in decisions adopted at subsequent COP sessions.

The reporting requirements and the timetable for the submission of national reports are different for Annex I Parties and Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention (non-Annex I Parties), in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

(resource: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/transparency-and-reporting/the-big-picture/what-is-transparency-and-reporting)

The overall goal of our work on climate finance is to assist in activities relating to region specific strategic implementation plans on public finance, private finance and partnerships based on the global climate finance architecture that takes into consideration, transparency of climate finance, needs of developing countries, alignment of financial flows (Art. 2.1.c. of the Paris Agreement) and long-term finance and identify green investment opportunities and set up a project pipeline in a country-driven manner.

We work with governments, financiers, project owners, and financial institutions to support the realigning of finance flows in the region to make them consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emission and climate-resilient development and helping to divert financial streams into sustainable projects, thereby reducing the risks from climate impacts.

The Needs-based Climate Finance (NBF) project was developed by UN Climate Change in response to a COP mandate whereby Parties requested the secretariat “to assist developing country Parties in assessing their needs and priorities, and in translating climate finance needs into action” (6/CP.23, para 10). In addition, the CMP and CMA requested the secretariat to support the financing of climate projects (3/CMP.1, 6/CMP.11 and 12/CMA.1). Collectively, these mandates form the basis for assisting developing countries in assessing their needs and for mobilizing support to address these needs.

The RCCs have underpinned initiatives in Climate Finance providing administrative, logistical and substantive support to workshops, liaising with regional integration organizations and UN agencies, business development in the case of the Asian and Arab regions, and intelligence gathering in the case of Africa.

Recently RCC St George’s is ongoing coordination with partners from Latin America such as Cuba, Dominican Republic and Belize to discuss on NBF, CIACA and NAMA projects.

The UNFCCC Secretariat is developing the Needs-based Finance (NBF) Project aiming to facilitate the mobilization of climate finance to support the needs identified by developing countries regarding the implementation of priority mitigation and adaptation actions, in accordance with the goals outlined in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), national adaptation plans (NAPs) and other relevant policies or strategies.

The Caribbean Regional NDC Finance Initiative (NDCFI) aims to catalyze investments in resilient and low-carbon infrastructure across priority sectors as identified in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted by Member States of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The NDCFI seeks also to increase the number of infrastructure projects implemented in key sectors for low-carbon, resilient development in the OECS.

In collaboration with the OECS Commission and GIZ, elements of the NBF project were integrated with the ongoing activities of the NDCFI and the OECS Regional Needs Based Climate Finance Strategy was developed based on available information generated by different national, regional and international stakeholders and with inputs from national and regional finance experts.

(resource:https://unfccc.int/NBF%20Project/Nations#eq-1,https://unfccc.int/NBF%20Project/Regions#eq-4)

Technologies that we use to address climate change are known as climate technologies. Climate technologies that help us reduce GHGs include renewable energies such as wind energy, solar power and hydropower. To adapt to the adverse effects of climate change, we use climate technologies such as drought-resistant crops, early warning systems and sea walls. There are also ‘soft’ climate technologies, such as energy-efficient practices or training for using equipment.

Developing and transferring technologies to support national action on climate change has been an essential element from the beginning of the UNFCCC process. In 1992, when countries established the Convention, they included specific provisions on technology with the aim of achieving the ultimate objective of the Convention. The Convention notes that all Parties shall promote and cooperate in the development and transfer of technologies that reduce emissions of GHGs. It also urges developed country Parties to take all practicable steps to promote, facilitate and finance the transfer of, or access to, climate technologies to other Parties, particularly to developing countries. Furthermore, the Convention states that the extent to which developing country Parties will effectively implement their commitments will depend on the effective implementation by developed country Parties of their commitments under the Convention related to financial resources and transfer of technology.

Over the years, technology development and transfer with regard to adaptation has received increasing attention. The Paris Agreement speaks of the vision of fully realizing technology development and transfer for both improving resilience to climate change and reducing GHG emissions. It establishes a technology framework to provide overarching guidance to the Technology Mechanism.

(resource: https://unfccc.int/topics/climate-technology/the-big-picture/what-is-technology-development-and-transfer)

The Collaborative Instruments for Ambitious Climate Action (CI-ACA) is a workstream supported by the UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centres together with their partners. It was launched at COP22 in Marrakech.  

The initiative is purely voluntary and has successfully raised awareness and strengthened capacity in the collaborating countries on the adoption of carbon pricing instruments. It has further strengthened coordination mechanisms through the establishment of multisectoral advisory committees and facilitated regional cooperation. 

Under this initiative, RCC St. George's assists countries in enhancing knowledge on carbon pricing approaches and understand options in a national and regional context for implementing their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.  

Depending on circumstances, targeted support, including addressing of country capacity needs, can be delivered for the consideration, development, adoption, and implementation of carbon pricing proposals. 

More here

The Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, launched at COP 22, is designed to provide a strong foundation for mobilising the broadest possible coalition of actors to catalyse and support climate action by Parties and non-Party stakeholders in the period 2017-2020, giving effect to the long-term global transformation required by the Paris Agreement. The Marrakech Partnership enables and facilitates:

• Convening of Party and non-Party stakeholders on an ongoing basis;
• Showcasing of successes and providing a platform for new initiatives and greater ambition through events; and
• Reporting of achievements and options to enhance action to the COP
• Tracking of progress, through the Global Climate Action portal, achieved by those actors and initiatives, aligned towards the achievement of the purpose and goals of the Paris Agreement, and supporting the delivery of NDCs and the SDGs;
• Supporting organizations, governments, and individuals to work towards climate neutrality by helping them engage with the Climate Neutral Now (CNNow) initiative
• Facilitating the recognition of innovative and transformative regional solutions that address both climate change and wider economic, social and environmental challenges through the Momentum for Change initiative and the Global Climate Action Awards

In 2020, governments will communicate new/updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which will become the basis for the climate regime under the Paris Agreement, including the enhanced transparency framework (ETF) and the Global Stocktake (GST).

At COP 24 Katowice, Parties agreed on Further Guidance on NDCs, including elaborated guidance on the information to facilitate clarity, transparency and understanding (ICTU). This guidance, voluntary for the update/new NDCs to be submitted in 2020 but mandatory for the subsequent ones, provides clarification on the information that Parties need to provide in their NDCs.

Adaptation refers to adjustments in ecological, social, or economic systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli and their effects or impacts. It refers to changes in processes, practices, and structures to moderate potential damages or to benefit from opportunities associated with climate change. In simple terms, countries and communities need to develop adaptation solution and implement action to respond to the impacts of climate change that are already happening, as well as prepare for future impacts.

Adaptation solutions take many shapes and forms, depending on the unique context of a community, business, organization, country or region. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all-solution’—adaptation can range from building flood defenses, setting up early warning systems for cyclones and switching to drought-resistant crops, to redesigning communication systems, business operations and government policies. Many nations and communities are already taking steps to build resilient societies and economies, but considerably greater action and ambition will be needed to cost-effectively manage the risks, both now and in the future.

Successful adaptation not only depends on governments but also on the active and sustained engagement of stakeholders including national, regional, multilateral and international organizations, the public and private sectors, civil society and other relevant stakeholders, as well as effective management of knowledge. Adaptation to the impacts of climate change may be undertaken across various regions, and sectors, and at various levels.

Parties to the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement recognize that adaptation is a global challenge faced by all within the various local, subnational, national, regional and international dimensions. It is a key component of the long-term global response to climate change to protect people, livelihoods and ecosystems. Parties acknowledge that adaptation action should follow a country-driven, gender-responsive, participatory and fully transparent approach, considering vulnerable groups, communities and ecosystems, and should be based on and guided by the best available science and, as appropriate, traditional knowledge, knowledge of indigenous peoples and local knowledge systems, with a view to integrating adaptation into relevant socioeconomic and environmental policies and actions.

(resource:https://unfccc.int/topics/adaptation-and-resilience/the-big-picture/what-do-adaptation-to-climate-change-and-climate-resilience-mean)

Climate change has a greater impact on those sections of the population, in all countries, that are most reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods and/or who have the least capacity to respond to natural hazards, such as droughts, landslides, floods and hurricanes. Women commonly face higher risks and greater burdens from the impacts of climate change in situations of poverty, since the majority of the world’s poor are women. Women’s unequal participation in decision-making processes and labour markets compound inequalities and often prevent women from fully contributing to climate-related planning, policy-making and implementation.

Yet, women can (and do) play a critical role in response to climate change due to their local knowledge of and leadership in e.g. sustainable resource management and/or leading sustainable practices at the household and community level. Women’s participation at the political level has resulted in greater responsiveness to citizen’s needs, often increasing cooperation across party and ethnic lines and delivering more sustainable peace. At the local level, women’s inclusion at the leadership level has led to improved outcomes of climate related projects and policies. On the contrary, if policies or projects are implemented without women’s meaningful participation it can increase existing inequalities and decrease effectiveness.

Parties to the UNFCCC have recognized the importance of involving women and men equally in UNFCCC processes and in the development and implementation of national climate policies that are gender-responsive by establishing a dedicated agenda item under the Convention addressing issues of gender and climate change and by including overarching text in the Paris Agreement.

(resource: https://unfccc.int/gender)

Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) is a term adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to denote work under Article 6 of the Convention (1992) and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement.

The over-arching goal of ACE is to empower all members of society to engage in climate action, through education, training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information, and international cooperation on these issues.

Implementation of all six focus areas (Education, Training, Public Awareness, Public participation, Public Access to Information, International Cooperation) is crucial to the global response to climate change. Everyone, including and perhaps especially the young, must understand and participate in the transition to a low-emission, climate-resilient world.

Sustainable lifestyles, sustainable patterns of consumption and production, are fundamental to reducing greenhouse emissions and enhancing resilience to the inevitable effects of climate change. Success will require broad collaboration between all levels of government and all sectors of society.

(resource:https://unfccc.int/topics/education-youth/the-big-picture/what-is-action-for-climate-empowerment)

• Caribbean Agyle