Focused on ‘the way forward’, the first monthly multilateral consultations with Group Chairs and Heads of Delegation was used to seek guidance from Parties on how best to collectively advance work in 2021, despite the continued challenging circumstances, building on collective efforts last year.

Discussion Question
How might we collectively advance our work this year, despite the continued challenging circumstances, to ensure maximum progress is made ahead of COP 26?

Timing
The consultations were a single conversation involving all Parties, split across two days, in an effort to enhance inclusivity. Timings were as follows:

• Thursday, 28 January, 21:00 - 23:00 (GMT)
• Friday, 29 January, 06:00 - 08:00 (GMT)

Further information can be found here The Way Forward

Co-chairs’ summary

Discussion Questions

• What outcomes from COP 26 will be most effective in enabling practical progress on the global goal on adaptation of enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change? What steps should be taken ahead of and at COP 26 to facilitate that practical progress?
• What can be done ahead of and at COP 26 to improve the quantity, quality, accessibility, predictability and effectiveness of adaptation finance?
• How can the expected outcomes from the technical work by relevant constituted bodies, including the Adaptation Committee, best contribute towards a successful adaptation outcome at COP 26, in the context of their mandates?

Timing
The consultations were a single conversation involving all Parties, split across two days, in an effort to enhance inclusivity. Timings were as follows:

• Tuesday, 23 February, 19:00- 21:00 (GMT)
• Wednesday, 24 February 12:30-14:30 (GMT)

Further information can be found here

Co-chairs’ summary

The Bureau meeting took place on Thursday, 25 February, 16:30 - 18:30 (CET).

 Discussion Questions

• What are the key issues that require the attention of Heads of Delegations, and what solutions can we consider to overcome the existing divergences on those issues, in light of the compromise options proposed in COP25?
• How can we work together most effectively as Heads of Delegation this year to make progress on these key issues?
• What decisions (if any) could be needed from the CMP, for example to support any transition between the CDM and Article 6.4 mechanism, and what work could the Presidencies do with Parties in advance of Glasgow to prepare for any such decisions?

Timing
The consultations were a single conversation involving all Parties, split across two days, in an effort to enhance inclusivity. Timings were as follows:

• Monday, 29 March, 10:00 - 12:00 (GMT)
• Tuesday, 30 March, 00:00 - 02:00 (GMT)

Further information can be found here

Co-chairs’ summary

The Bureau meeting took place on Thursday, 15  April, 19:00 - 21:00 (CEST).

Timing

• Monday, 26 April, 13:00 - 16:30 BST (14:00 - 17:30 CEST)

Discussion Questions

• What are the key issues under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) that require the attention of HoDs, and what solutions can we consider to enable adoption of the ETF at COP26?
• What guidance can HoDs give to technical experts as they progress detailed work this year on the ETF? How could this work serve negotiations at COP26?
• What are the important considerations to be addressed in a substantive outcome on common time frames at COP26, and what concrete steps do we need to take between now and COP26 in order to resolve CTFs by then?

Timing
The consultations were a single conversation involving all Parties, split across two days, in an effort to enhance inclusivity. Timings were as follows:

• Wednesday, 28 April, 14:00 - 16:30 GMT (16:00 - 18:30 CEST)
• Thursday, 29 April, 06:00 - 08:30 GMT (08:00 - 10:30 CEST)

Further information can be found here

Co-chairs’ summary

The COP 25 Presidency and the incoming COP 26 Presidency held a series of bilateral consultations with negotiating groups on the climate finance agenda for COP 26.

The overall objective of the consultations was for the Presidency and the incoming Presidency to seek views on advancing intersessional work on climate finance ahead of COP 26.

Co-chairs’ reflections note

Plan for informal intersessional work on climate finance matters from the COP 25 Presidency and the incoming COP 26 Presidency

The workshop, hosted and chaired by the COP 25 Presidency and the incoming COP 26 Presidency, was the first of three workshops on the Global Goal on Adaptation as part of each of the Regional Climate Weeks. These workshops were held in response to Parties' requests at the Head of Delegation Adaptation Consultation in February to have more space for discussions on the Global Goal on Adaptation.

Each of the workshops had the same objectives: to better understand each other’s views on how progress can be made on the Global Goal on Adaptation and come to a better understanding of principles for future discussion for the Global Stocktake.

Discussion Questions:

• How will assessments of progress on the GGA contribute to the Global Stocktake? What principles will need to be agreed and applied to enable this?
• What are the challenges that Parties face when attempting to report and aggregate progress on adaptation, given widely different national circumstances? What lessons about best practice are there?
• In your view, how central is the clear identification, communication and reporting of adaptation priorities, action taken and remaining needs to advancing the GGA, and what importance do you place on the Adaptation Communications as a means for achieving this goal?
• How will assessing overall progress toward meeting the global goal on adaptation capture progress towards meeting the specific needs of climate vulnerable countries?

Timing:

• Wednesday, 19 May, 16:00 - 18:00 (CEST)

Further information can be found here

Co-chairs’ summary

A recording is available for on-demand viewing here.

Discussion Questions

• What COP26 outcomes in relation to the $100bn per year climate finance mobilisation goal could best lead to the enhanced mobilisation of climate finance?
• Recognising that deliberations on the new collective quantified finance goal (post-2025) will be formally initiated in Glasgow, what could an agreed forward approach, such as a roadmap, for future deliberations coming out of Glasgow look like?
• Given the significant numbers of climate finance agenda items due to be negotiated in Glasgow, how can we, as Heads of Delegation, best work together to support informal progress across the range of climate finance issues ahead of  COP26? What guidance can we give to technical experts?

Timing
The consultations were a single conversation involving all Parties, split across two days, in an effort to enhance inclusivity. Timings were as follows:

• Monday, 24 May, 10:00 - 12:00 GMT (12:00 - 14:00 CEST)
• Monday, 24 May, 21:00 - 23:00 GMT (23:00 - 01:00 CEST (25 May))

Further information can be found here

Co-chairs’ summary

Weekly meeting during the May-June 2021 Climate Change Conference 

• Week 1: Tuesday, 1 June, 18:05 - 19:35 (CEST)
• Week 2: Tuesday, 8 June, 21:00 - 22:30 (CEST)
• Week 3: Wednesday, 16 June, 10:30 - 11:30 (CEST)

Timing

• Friday, 4 June, 18:30 - 20:00 (CEST)

Timing

• Monday, 14 June, 9:00 - 10:30 (CEST)

Further information can be found here.

Timing

• Tuesday, 15 June, 9:00 - 10:30 (CEST)

Further information can be found here.

The Bureau meeting took place on Tuesday, 15 June, 14:30 - 16:30 (CEST).

Timing

• Wednesday, 16 June, 9:00 - 10:30 (CEST)

Timing

• Monday, 23 June, 14:00 - 15:30 (CEST)

Further information can be found here

Chairs’ summary

Timing

• Monday, 28 June, 14:00 - 17:00 (CEST)

Presidencies’ amended second discussion paper

Discussion Questions

• Recognising the role of UNFCCC and COP26, what should be the next steps and priorities for addressing the ocean-climate nexus following the publication of the Summary Report?
• What specific actions would you like to have international consensus to move forward in strengthening action under the UNFCCC?
• What specific international actions would you like consensus on outside of the UNFCCC to address the ocean-climate nexus?

Timing

• Tuesday, 29 June, 16:00 - 17:30 (CEST)

Further information can be found here

Discussion Questions

• What are the steps that need to be taken to accelerate progress ahead of COP26, in light of the recent Subsidiary Bodies sessional period?
• What must a negotiated outcome that achieves the goals of keeping 1.5°C within reach, protecting people and nature from the impacts of climate change, mobilising finance and encouraging cooperation across borders and across societies include? And how do you see those elements fitting together?

Timing:
The below dates were intended as two parts of one meeting; all Parties were encouraged to participate in both parts.

• Wednesday, 30 June, 5:00 - 7:00 GMT (7:00 - 9:00 CEST)
• Wednesday, 30 June, 16:00 - 18:00 GMT (18:00 - 20:00 CEST)

Co-chairs’ summary

Parties have signalled clearly that political guidance is needed on a number of unresolved issues within Article 6. The COP26 President Designate, Alok Sharma MP, has asked Minister Grace Fu of Singapore and Minister Sveinung Rotevatn of Norway to lead a series of informal discussions at ministerial level. These consultations provided a forum for political engagement, in which ministers addressed the key issues within Article 6 and brought forward solutions that can help bridge differences between Party positions. Further information can be found in the attached input paper.

Discussion Questions

• How can we avoid the double claiming of emission reductions from the Article 6.4 mechanism, in a way that respects the nationally determined nature of NDCs and is consistent with the aim to move over time towards economy-wide emission reduction or limitation targets?
• How can we balance recognising the investments of existing market actors whilst protecting overall ambition, when considering the potential use of pre-2020 units against NDCs?
• How can activity under both Article 6.2 and Article 6.4 support adaptation action, including through generating finance for adaptation, and could this be achieved differently between the two instruments?

Timing
The consultations were a single conversation involving all Parties, split across two days. Timings were as follows:

• Wednesday, 7 July, 15:30 - 17:30 (CEST)
• Monday, 12 July, 15:00 - 17:00 (CEST)

The input paper can be found here

The workshop, hosted and chaired by the COP 25 Presidency and the incoming COP 26 Presidency, was the second of three workshops on the Global Goal on Adaptation as part of each of the Regional Climate Weeks. These workshops were held in response to Parties' requests at the Head of Delegation Adaptation Consultation in February to have more space for discussions on the Global Goal on Adaptation.

Each of the workshops had the same objectives: to better understand each other’s views on how progress can be made on the Global Goal on Adaptation and come to a better understanding of principles for future discussion for the Global Stocktake.

Discussion Questions

• What will need to be agreed at COP26 to enable an assessment of progress on the GGA at the Global Stocktake?  
• What information is needed to understand progress against the GGA? and what role do Adaptation Communications play? How can we avoid burdening developing countries?
• How will assessing overall progress toward meeting the global goal on adaptation catalyse more action and support the specific needs of climate vulnerable countries?

Timing

• Friday, 9 July, 05:00 - 07:00 (CEST)

Further information can be found here

Chairs’ summary

Workshop mentimeter results

A recording is available here

Timing

• Friday, 16 July, 13:00 - 14:30 GMT (15:00 - 16:30 CEST)

Letter from the COP 26 President Designate, H.E. Alok Sharma

• 25-26 July: July Ministerial
• 27 July: Informal Heads of Delegation meeting as part of the July Ministerial

Chair's summary

Report by Minister Grace Fu (Singapore) and Minister Sveinung Rotevatn (Norway) on the Informal Ministerial Consultations on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on 7 and 12 July

July Ministerial Meeting - Finalising Article 6 in the Paris Rulebook

Acknowledging that Parties are generally at the preliminary stage of their thinking and recognising the mandate to initiate deliberations formally at CMA.3, we first undertook further technical informal bilateral consultations between the Presidencies and Parties to better understand expectations around the forward approach to be agreed in Glasgow. 

As set out in the Presidencies' informal intersessional work plan on climate finance, we issued an open call for negotiating groups and Parties to have further focused bilaterals with the Presidences on this topic over the course of July, in order to allow Parties and negotiating groups who wish to provide more detailed representations on their expectations of the form of the discussion and the outcome in Glasgow to do so. Interested Parties or negotiating groups who would like to make such representations were asked to indicate this to the incoming COP 26 Presidency by 9 July 2021 (by e-mail to rob.moore1@cabinetoffice.gov.uk and michael.button@cabinetoffice.gov.uk)

Reflections paper from the Presidencies on their informal bilateral consultations

The Presidencies would like to highlight a request in the reflections paper above for Parties to indicate, to the incoming COP 26 Presidency by Sunday, 19 September, their interest in further focused 30-60 minute bilaterals in September with the Presidencies on the new collective quantified finance goal based on this informal reflections note. The Presidencies will then seek to arrange bilaterals on this topic with the Parties and negotiating groups that have expressed such an interest ahead of the Pre-COP. The e-mail contact details to reach the incoming COP 26 Presidency on this matter are cop26-moi@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Plan for informal intersessional work on climate finance matters from the COP 25 Presidency and the incoming COP 26 Presidency

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for your comments on the paper we discussed at the meeting on the 28th June. An amended version is attached. This is the version that will inform the section of the Heads of Delegation meeting that will address next steps on the Santiago Network. This paper has also been placed on the Santiago Network website.

Presidencies’ amended second discussion paper
 

Timing
The consultations were a single conversation involving all Parties, split across two days, in an effort to enhance inclusivity. Timings were as follows:

• Tuesday, 3 August, 21:00 - 23:00 GMT (23:00 - 01:00 CEST)
• Wednesday, 4 August, 10:00 - 12:00 GMT (12:00 - 14:00 CEST)

Co-chairs’ summary

The COP 25 Presidency and the incoming COP 26 Presidency invited all Parties to an informal multilateral exchange of views on the Review of the Functions of the Standing Committee on Finance and the 7th Review of the Financial Mechanism. In the interest of inclusivity, UNFCCC observer constituencies were invited to observe the exchange of views.

As part of our commitment to encouraging inclusive participation, for each informal multilateral exchange of views we organised two sessions each in different time zones. Parties were invited to attend either session or both, according to their preferences and availability.

For both of the multilateral exchanges of views, Part 1 was held on Thursday, 5 August and Part 2 was held on Friday, 6 August. 

• Seventh Review of the Financial Mechanism
  • Part 1, Thursday, 5 August, 19:00 - 20:30 UTC / 20:00 - 21:30 BST / 21:00 - 22:30 CEST
  • Part 2, Friday, 6 August,  11:00 - 12:30 UTC / 12:00 - 13:30 BST / 13:00 - 14:30 CEST

• Review of the Functions of the Standing Committee on Finance
  • Part 1, Thursday 5 August, 20:30 - 22:00 UTC/ 21:30 - 23:00 BST / 22:30 - 00:00 CEST
  • Part 2, Friday 6 August, 12:30 - 14:00 UTC/ 13:30 - 15:00 BST / 14:30 - 16:00 CEST

Please see hyperlinked an Information Note from the COP25 and Incoming COP26 Presidencies for the multilateral exchanges of views, including proposed discussion questions, as well as background notes on the Seventh Review of the Financial Mechanism and the Review of the Functions of the SCF.

The Bureau meeting took place on Thursday, 5 August, 18:00-20:00 (CEST).

The workshop, hosted and chaired by the COP 25 Presidency and the incoming COP 26 Presidency, was the final of three workshops on the Global Goal on Adaptation as part of each of the Regional Climate Weeks. These workshops were held in response to Parties' requests at the Head of Delegation Adaptation Consultation in February to have more space for discussions on the Global Goal on Adaptation.

Each of the workshops had the same objectives: to better understand each other’s views on how progress can be made on the Global Goal on Adaptation and come to a better understanding of principles for future discussion for the Global Stocktake.

Discussion Questions:

• What should the review of overall progress made in achieving the GGA, as part of the Global Stocktake, accomplish? What will make it a success?
• What process should be put in place to enable a stocktake of adaptation progress and needs, both in terms of information needed and process to collect and evaluate the information?  What outcomes at COP26 could support this?
• What support is needed for Africa and LDCs to enable them to contribute to the  GGA? What support is available?

Timing:

• Tuesday, 17 August, 13:00 - 15:00 (CEST)

Further information can be found here

Recording available here

Presentation by the Adaptation Committee

Co-chairs’ summary

In the joint Presidencies Plan for Informal Intersessional work on Climate Finance Matters, the incoming COP26 Presidency and the COP25 Presidency set out our approach for taking forward informal work on specific mandated climate finance issues under the responsibility of the Governing Bodies. This followed the common desire expressed by Parties to engage in further informal intersessional work on Finance ahead of COP26, recognising the full finance agenda we will have in Glasgow and the need to make progress ahead of time.

As set out in the work plan, we would like to invite Parties for informal written inputs on the Seventh Review of the Financial Mechanism, the Review of the Functions of the Standing Committee on Finance, and Long-Term Finance. Further details on each of these can be found in the following documents:

Invitation from the COP 25 Presidency and the Incoming COP 26 Presidency for Informal Written Inputs on the Seventh Review of the Financial Mechanism, the Review of the Functions of the Standing Committee on Finance and Long-Term Finance.

Please send your informal written inputs by 19 September 2021 to the incoming UK COP26 Presidency team at COP26-Moi@cabinetoffice.gov.uk and copying the UNFCCC secretariat climate finance team at climatefinance@unfccc.int.

Informal written inputs received will be made available on the Presidencies page of the UNFCCC website. The Presidencies will compile all informal inputs after the 19 September deadline and circulate them to all Parties for information. Inputs will also be used to inform any further informal intersessional work on these matters. Parties also have the option, at their own discretion, of uploading their written input to the UNFCCC Submission Portal.

Discussion Questions

• Santiago Network:
  • What process is needed at COP26/CMA3 to continue the development of the Santiago Network
    • Does the development of the Network need a new decision?
    • If so, what kind of decision is needed  - an endorsement of the current process led by the Presidencies, or a new negotiating strand to work through the SBs and COP/CMA to develop the network? 
• Parties have been clear that early practical action on the Santiago Network is needed. How can this be assured?
• Governance of the Warsaw International Mechanism: 
  • An opportunity for an initial exchange of views. 

Timing

Timings were as follows:

• Tuesday, 31 August, 22:00 - 00:00 (CEST)
• Wednesday, 1 September, 12:00 - 14:00 (CEST)

At the recent July Ministerial Meeting in London, the COP26 President Designate Alok Sharma MP announced that he had asked Minister Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya of Rwanda and Minister Simonetta Sommaruga of Switzerland to lead ministerial level informal discussions on Common Time Frames for nationally determined contributions referred to in Article 4 of the Paris Agreement. The ministers will report back to the COP26 President Designate ahead of the pre-COP in late September/early October.

These ministerial consultations will build on the extensive efforts by the SBI Chair, co-facilitators and all Parties during the May-June 2021 SB sessions, during which valuable progress was made. These consultations will complement prior progress by providing a forum for political engagement, which Parties have identified as necessary to unlock some elements of further progress. There will be an opportunity for Ministers to address the key issues within Common Time Frames discussions and bring forward solutions that can help bridge differences between Party positions. Group chairs and coordinators will be asked to coordinate attendance at the informal ministerial consultations from within their respective groups. Discussion questions will be shared with Parties shortly.

Timing

Timing was as follows:

• Tuesday, 7 September, 11:00 - 13:00 (CEST)

Meeting Structure

These ministerial consultations will be co-chaired by Rwanda and Switzerland. All Ministers are invited and eligible to intervene, subject to time constraints. To accommodate as many speakers as possible, interventions should be limited to 3 minutes.

Etiquette & Technical Information

A note with further information on meeting etiquette, the technological platform to be used and wider logistical matters for this briefing session has been shared with Parties.

The background paper, including guiding questions, can be found here.

Letter from the COP 26 President Designate, H.E. Alok Sharma

Discussion Questions

• The structured summary is a key vehicle to report information to track progress made in implementing and achieving NDCs. What are the key outstanding issues to be resolved in the development of this element of the ETF, and how might we reconcile different views on the format of the structured summary?
• Recognizing the different starting point in reporting by Parties, how should flexibility be best reflected in reporting formats, to ensure that the ETF can be implemented by all Parties and facilitate reporting over time?

Timing

Timings were as follows:

• Thursday, 9 September, 14:00 - 16:00 GMT (16:00 - 18:00 CEST)
• Friday, 10 September, 06:00 - 08:00 GMT (08:00 -10:00 CEST)

Further information can be found here

Co-chairs’ summary

Discussion Questions

• What are your main priorities and expectations for technology development and transfer at COP26? In particular, what do you see as the key issues that parties need to come to agreement?
• What outcomes do Parties expect to see on the COP and CMA agenda items?
  • Review of the constitution of the Advisory Board of the Climate Technology Centre and Network;
  • Second independent review of the effective implementation of the CTCN; and
  • First periodic assessment referred to in paragraph 69 of decision 1/CP.21.

Timing

Timing is as follows:

• Thursday, 7 October 2021, 14:00 - 16:00 CEST

Further information can be found here.

Written inputs from Parties and observer organizations can be found here.

Co-chairs’ summary

The current and incoming COP Presidencies will convene a series of knowledge sharing sessions between 14 and 21 October.

The aim of these discussions is to support technical experts’ understanding of GHG inventory tables. Recognising that there are different experiences in terms of reporting detailed GHG inventories, and in response to calls for capacity building support for developing country Parties, this will be an opportunity for experts to familiarise themselves with the inventory tables before they are negotiated at COP26. To support these discussions, we will consider the inventory tables included in the annex to the co-facilitators informal note prepared following the discussions during the June SB session.

Discussion will focus on the practical implications of reporting using these tables and will be an opportunity for Parties to ask questions and share views based on their experience of reporting to date. These sessions were referenced by the COP President Designate last week at pre-COP.

Five sectors will be discussed across three sessions:

The Bureau meeting will take place on Tuesday, 19 October, 13:00 - 15:00 (CET).

The timing for the informal meeting is as follows:

• Wednesday, 20 October 2021, 11:00 - 13:00 CEST

Further information will be made available in due course.

All delegates interested in joining remotely must have completed the Virtual ID check or have acquired a COP 26 badge at the venue in Glasgow. To find and join your meetings you will need to login to the COP 26 platform https://cop26platform.unfccc.int. The workshop will be included on the COP26 platform in advance of the meeting.

Context to the event

At the closing of the SBSTA May-June session, many Parties highlighted the importance of engaging, particularly in-person, in further technical work on methodological issues under the Paris Agreement prior to their arrival in Glasgow, particularly on the common reporting tables and formats referred to in paragraph 12 of decision 18/CMA.1.This message was reinforced by many Parties during the July Ministerial meeting hosted by the COP26 Presidency in London and during the pre-COP26 in Milan (30 September–2 October 2021), as well as during various bilateral consultations held by the SBSTA Chair and Presidencies over the past few months.

More information is available in the Concept Note.

Please find the related information note.

The COP 25 Presidency and the incoming COP 26 Presidency are pleased to publish a summary of informal intersessional work on mandated climate finance issues under the responsibility of the Governing Bodies, in line with the plan for informal intersessional work on climate finance matters we published at the end of June 2021.

We have been encouraged by the active engagement of Parties in the informal work we have facilitated on climate finance. We wish to thank Parties for the support and trust given to us in this regard.

These documents provide reflections, under the authority of the Presidencies, of views expressed by Parties in these engagements. We have not attempted to capture all views expressed by all Parties, and the papers should be read as non-exhaustive summaries, created to highlight the key issues on which we feel Parties will need to continue to engage as we approach Glasgow. As with all work under the joint Presidencies informal work plan, these are informal products with no formal status which we hope Parties will find useful as a reference point when they begin their formal discussions in Glasgow.

Links to the summary documents are as below:

1. Summary of informal intersessional work on climate finance 
2. Second reflections paper from the joint Presidencies on the new collective quantified goal
3. Summary of informal intersessional work on Long-Term Finance and a compilation of written inputs from Parties 
4. Summary of informal intersessional work on the Seventh Review of the Financial Mechanism and a compilation of written inputs from Parties 
5. Summary of informal intersessional work on the Review of the Functions of the Standing Committee on Finance and a compilation of written inputs from Parties

Summary from informal ministerial consultations on keeping 1.5c alive

Summary from informal ministerial consultations on common time frames for nationally determined contributions