Mandate
The COP, CMP, and CMA, by their decisions 4/COP.25, 4/CMP.15, and 15/CMA.2,[1] mandated the forum on the Impacts of the Implementation of Response Measures and its Katowice Committee of Experts (KCI) to facilitate the exchange and sharing of experience and best practices in the identification and assessment of the impacts of the implementation of response measures while taking into account intergenerational equity, gender considerations, local communities and Indigenous Peoples, the youth, and other people in vulnerable situations, as part of the implementation of activity 9[2] of the workplan of the forum and its KCI.
Background
Climate change is one of the most concerning and urgent crises affecting human existence to date. To tackle this challenge, governments around the world are implementing various climate policies to mitigate and adapt to it. Mitigation policies, also known as response measures, are some of the policies implemented by countries. These include market-based policies such as the introduction of carbon pricing mechanisms and taxes, and non-market-based policies such as implementing energy-efficient standards and promoting the rapid deployment of low- and zero-emission technologies. These policies aim to limit global warming to well-below 2 degrees Celsius, with efforts to pursue 1.5 degrees Celsius as espoused in the Paris agreement.[3]
Mitigation policies are meant to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and accelerate the transition to low- and zero-carbon economies. The implementation of these policies, however, have numerous direct and indirect socio-economic consequences. These impacts do not affect individuals and communities equally, with some benefitting more than others, while others can disproportionately bear the unintended negative consequences. The burden of negative consequences has been shown to be borne by people in vulnerable situations including women, the youth, local communities and Indigenous Peoples, the elderly, persons with disabilities, amongst others.[4]
Further, the impacts of the implementation of mitigation policies can have far-reaching inter-generational impacts, with actions taken now either positively or negatively affecting future generations. Thus, the design and implementation of response measures should consider people in vulnerable situations and integrate intergenerational aspects to ensure they do not cause unintended harm.
To understand potential impacts, comprehensive impact assessments should be undertaken covering various social, economic, and environmental dimensions. Impact assessments are crucial in all processes along the policymaking cycle. Ex-ante assessments- those occurring before a policy is implemented- are key in understanding potential impacts. Ex-post assessments- those carried out after policy implementation- are essential in evaluating observed impacts of implemented policies. Impact assessments of mitigation policies on social dimensions are essential in understanding the impacts on workers, communities, level of cohesion and societal tensions, gender disparities, amongst others. On the economic dimension, impact assessments provide insights on aspects such as changes in the labour market, income levels, and productivity. Similarly, they also seek to understand various environmental effects such as biodiversity loss and air quality changes, and how these changes may affect communities.
Impact assessments are, thus, crucial in the planning processes for national climate policies such as nationally determined contributions (NDCs). They ensure policies can be designed while integrating safeguards against potential adverse effects while pursuing efforts to maximize the positive impacts.
Objective of the event
The objective of this event is to identify and discuss the approaches of assessing climate policies and highlight potential impacts. The event will be centred on the applications of various methodologies to assess climate policy impacts on people in vulnerable situations including women, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, local communities and Indigenous Peoples amongst others, while giving due consideration to intergenerational equity. Policymakers and experts will share best practices in conducting such assessments while considering the needs of populations in vulnerable situations. It will also seek to learn from various initiatives undertaken by countries in efforts to minimize the potential adverse effects of climate policies. Lastly, the event will also serve to disseminate key learnings and findings from an upcoming KCI publication on climate policy impact assessment.
Event agenda
Moderator: Francisco Cos-Montiel, Senior Research Coordinator, UNRISD
Format: Panel discussion
Opening
Welcome and opening remarks by the moderator. The moderator will also brief participants on basic housekeeping rules.
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Session 1: Keynote address by COP 30 Incoming Presidency
The keynote address by Pedro Nascimento will provide key broad insights into the importance of inclusivity in impact assessments and climate action, the barriers to such inclusivity and available solutions, the importance of considering intergenerational equity, human rights, amongst others. This address will set the scene for the event deliberations.
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Session 2: KCI Policy brief update
This session will feature the dissemination of key learnings and findings from a KCI policy brief on climate policy impact assessment while taking into consideration intergenerational equity, gender considerations, youth, local communities and Indigenous Peoples, and other people in vulnerable situations.
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Session 3: Identifying and Assessing Impacts on People in Vulnerable Situations
Policymakers and experts will share best practices into the use of available approaches to carry out impact assessment of climate policies, while considering people in vulnerable situations and intergenerational equity. It will also discuss the various approaches utilized by governments to minimize the potential adverse effects of climate policies on people in vulnerable situations.
Ice-breaker presentation
- Pat Bohland, Co-lead Environmental Education and Climate Policy, LIFE e.V
Presentation: Gender Impact Assessments in Climate Action
Panel discussion: Participants
- Jocelyn Soto Medallo, TUNGO
- Gertrude Kenyagi, Women & Gender Constituency (Executive Director, SWAGEN)
- Luisa Volpe, Farmers constituency (Advocacy, Policy and Partnerships Lead, World Farmers’ Organisation)
- Luna-Rossa Lomitusi-Ape, YOUNGO
- Tyler Schaffrick - Government of Canada
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Session 4: Open dialogue
Participants will engage and discuss with speakers in a question-and-answer session. Participants will also share their experiences in the assessment of climate impact policies while considering people in vulnerable situations.
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Closing
The moderator will summarize key discussion points and close the event.
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Guiding questions for interaction
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| 1. Impact assessments not only aim to understand and identify the impacts of climate policies on emissions, but also their broader social and economic impacts, particularly the different ways in which policies affect various stakeholders and groups. What best practices and examples exist from which lessons can be drawn in identifying and assessing climate policy impacts on various groups? What lessons, for example relating to processes, key metrics, or approaches, can be learned? |
| 2. Given the challenges experienced in considering the needs of people in vulnerable situations, what strategies can be utilized to ensure that climate policy impact assessments consider the needs of people in vulnerable situations- such as women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, and how can intergenerational concerns be included? What role do various stakeholders such as governments and civil societies play? |
| 3. What role can co-design or participatory approaches play in transforming impact assessments into tools for empowerment, and what would that practically require from institutions? |
| 4. Are there any specific risks of climate impact assessments unintentionally reinforcing existing inequalities and vulnerabilities? What safeguards can be developed to prevent this from happening? |