Spencer Thomas  Ambassador, Special Envoy for MEAs, Grenada  Member, Executive Board of CDM

The Regional Collaborative Centers (RCCs) are appendages of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).The CDM defined in Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol is best known as the supreme regulator of the carbon market regime of the UNFCCC and for its role in assisting developed country parties to the Convention in achieving compliance with their quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments under Article 3 of the Kyoto Protocol. Article 12 also provides that the CDM shall assist developing country parties in achieving sustainable development and in contributing to the ultimate objective of the Convention. The RCCs emerged out of the recognition of under-representation by many classes of countries and regions due to lack of capacity to actively participate in the mechanism. Thus building capacity to participate in the global carbon market was the raison d’etre of the RCC. With the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the RCCs have focused on supporting developing countries with implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions. I can testify to the tremendous support provided by RCC- St George’s to the Government of Grenada in building capacity and in coordinating the work on the revision and updating of the NDC. This expanded role will hold firm and deemed a critical imperative as we seek to transition from the CDM to the new mechanisms under the Paris agreement. The RCCs have a fundamental role to play for the full, effective and timely implementation and for meeting the various goals of the Paris Agreement. The work of the RCCs are beginning to bear fruits. The impacts are being felt by the targeted countries. It is envisaged that the RCC- St George’s will continue to support all Caribbean countries in the regionally determined priority areas including to support the implementation of NDCs; to increase transparency of climate action; to assist in building regional capacity for climate action; to share expertise and generate stronger policy-relevant carbon accounting; to assist the region in the development of carbon pricing approaches and instruments; to assist in the development of standardized baselines particularly for the power sector to facilitate renewables and energy efficiency projects; to advance the discussion on carbon pricing and to support in creating awareness on the topic of carbon pricing and options under the Article 6 of the Paris agreement. The establishment of the RCCs has been and should continue as a success story under the CDM and UNFCCC as a whole. The RCCs must continue to assist developing country parties in achieving sustainable development and in contributing to the ultimate objective of the Convention under any new dispensation to be agreed by the Conference of the Parties, the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and the Conference of the Parties serving of the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris agreement.