The Importance of Compliance: Lessons learned and best practices as input into the effective functioning of the Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee

I. Context

Implementation and compliance of Parties with the provisions of the Paris Agreement are central elements for the effective functioning of the Agreement. The Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee (PAICC) is a body constituted under Article 15 with the mandate to facilitate implementation and promote compliance. The Committee is currently drafting recommendations on its rules of procedure for adoption by CMA 3 in Glasgow in 2021.

II. Description/Objective

The work of compliance and implementation committees established under other international environmental treaties could provide helpful insights and inputs into the ongoing work of the PAICC in drafting recommendations on its rules of procedure for adoption by CMA 3 in Glasgow in 2021. It is understood that the mandate and context of those mechanisms and bodies differ and are different from those of the PAICC. However, the PAICC believes that it may benefit from information on lessons learned and possible best practices established in other fora.

Representatives from Parties (on the basis of geographic representation) as well as chairs of different compliance committees have been invited to share their experiences with a view to help promoting implementation and compliance of the Paris Agreement.

III. Programme  (120 minutes)

• Introduction by the Co-chairs of the Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee, 
  Ms. Christina Voigt and Mr. Haseeb Gohar
• Opening remarks by Ms. Hafida Lahiouel, Principal Legal Advisor, UNFCCC
• Remarks by Parties: H.E. Mr. Wael Aboulmagd, Ambassador at Embassy of Egypt, Brazil, H.E. Ms. Janine Felson, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Belize to the United Nations and Ms. Johanna Lahti, Legal Officer Legal Service, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
• Presentation by the Chairs of other Compliance Committees: Mr. Milan Zvara, Chair of the enforcement branch of the compliance committee of the Kyoto Protocol, Mr. Kunihiko Shimada, Vice-chair of the facilitative branch of the Kyoto Protocol and Ms. Juliette Kohler, Committee administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. 
• Question and Answer session