Climate Vulnerable Forum

Action for Survival: Vulnerable Nations COP25 Leaders Event

December 2, Monday  |  9:00-9:45 am CET, Room Chiloe, Hall 10, IFEMA

As global emissions continue to rise with accelerating climate change, the survival of the most vulnerable nations is reliant on the full and urgent implementation of the Paris Agreement, enhanced 2020 action by all countries and robust international cooperation and partnership. At the opening of COP 25 in Madrid, heads of state and government of climate-threatened nations, joined by international leaders and key UN partners, will present an action agenda delivering the Climate Vulnerable Forum’s (CVF) vision for a climate-resilient world.

The event will highlight a new financing mechanism to enhance South-South cooperation of the world’s most climate threatened nations and special efforts to address the increasingly widespread and far-reaching impact of climate change on human rights.

ICSC’s executive director is a member of the CVF Experts Advisory Group.

*Participation is open to UNFCCC registered COP25 delegates

Chair
President Hilda Heine of the Marshall Islands

CVF Leaders
President Carlos Alvarado Quesada of Costa Rica
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh (incoming CVF chair)
President Juan Orlando Hernández of Honduras

United Nations Speakers
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa

Guest Speakers
Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the United States
Youth delegate Lucie Pélissier of CliMates

Moderator
Global Center on Adaptation CEO Patrick Verkooijen

Hosted by CONSTRAIN

SIDE EVENT: “Net-zero policies, emission targets & and adaptation risks in light of the newest climate model results”

December 2, Monday  |  18:30-20:00 CET, Helsinki Room, EU Pavilion

How should policy makers interpret results from the latest climate models, in terms of both adaptation plans and the action needed to meet global temperature goals? We present these latest results and put them in context, discussing implications for climate risks and the pace of mitigation and adaptation action required.

The panel includes Piers Forster (CONSTRAIN and University of Leeds), Maisa Rojas Corradi (University of Chile), Paul Desanker (UNFCCC secretariat), Adelle Thomas (University of the Bahamas), and Leo Hickman (Carbon Brief).

The CONSTRAIN project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, is aimed at “constraining uncertainties in climate projections & addressing key gaps in climate science and policy.” ICSC, through its transitions advisor Rex Barrer, is the only Southern institution from Asia in the CONSTRAIN consortium.

SIDE EVENT: Informing the revision of NDCs: What can long-term strategies brings to NDCs?

December 3, Tuesday  |  15:00 – 16:30 CET, Side Event Room 3

The session seeks to review how long-term strategies (LTS) inform NDCs and influence near-term measures and investments consistent with a deep decarbonisation of the economy. Many transformative measures require early investments and policy planning.

The session will include input presentation from IDDRI and NewClimate Institute on the latest research on LTS and ambition raising, including key findings from the latest NDC Update Report This will be followed by a panel discussion where panelists be asked to share their perspective on LTS challenges and the way ahead, including also questions from the audience.

Frauke Roeser, NewClimate Institute
Lola Vallejo, IDDRI, France
Emilio La Rovere, Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Graduate Studies and Research in Engineering (COPPE), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Juan Pablo Bonilla, Inter-American Development Bank
Carlos Gentile, Secretaria de Ambiente, Argentina
Red Constantino, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, Philippines

Hosted by Germanwatch

PRESS CONFERENCE: GLOBAL CLIMATE RISK INDEX 2020

December 4, Wednesday  |  10:00 – 10:30 am CET  | Press Conference Room MOCHA, Hall 4

At the climate summit in Madrid, Germanwatch will present its Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) in its 15th edition. The ranking indicates which countries are especially affected by extreme weather events. Germanwatch ranks these countries based on data provided by the NatCatSERVICE-database of MunichRe.

This year’s analysis will focus on heat waves, storms and other climatic extreme weather events in 2018. In addition, the CRI will look at those countries that were impacted the most during the past twenty years. Furthermore, the authors link the outcomes to the COP25 Loss and Damage debate.

Panelists include:

Vera Künzel, Co-Author of the Global Climate Risk Index, Germanwatch
Laura Schäfer, Co-Author of the Global Climate Risk Index, Germanwatch
Dr Maik Winges, Co-Author of the Global Climate Risk Index, Germanwatch
Renato Redentor Constantino, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities

Hosted by Oil Change International, Christian Aid, Earthworks, and Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (FARN)

Working for Oil & Gas or 1.5C?: Why IEA and MDB reform is crucial for the Paris Goals

December 4, Wednesday  |  11:30-13:00 CET, Room 2 (Hall 4)

The side event will explore what a 1.5C limit means for oil & gas industry expansion, and in particular the disconnect with plans in the Permian (US), Vaca Muerta (Argentina), and Bolivia. The case will be made for how the International Energy Agency and multilateral development banks can play a stronger leadership role to help the world meet the Paris goals.

As advisor to the Climate Vulnerable Forum, ICSC executive director Renato Redentor Constantino will discuss why aiming 1.5 degrees is so critical, and why global institutions must get in line with this goal.

Context

• Elizabeth Bast, Oil Change International
• Renato Redentor Constantino, Advisor, Climate Vulnerable Forum
• Kelly Trout, Oil Change International
• Leo Roberts, Overseas Development Institute

Case studies from areas of rapidly expanding O&G development

• Vaca Muerta, Argentina
  • Maria Marta Di Paola, Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
• Permian Basin, US
  • Bekah Hinojosa, Sierra Club, Save RGV from LNG
  • Reverend Dave Rogers, First Christian Church of Carlsbad, New Mexico
• Bolivia
  • Miriam Jemio, Bolivia Climate Change Platform

Hosted by the Global Carbon Project and CONSTRAIN

LAUNCH: “The Global Carbon Budget 2019”

December 4, Wednesday  |  16:45 – 18:15 CET, Side Event Room 5

The Global Carbon Project and CONSTRAIN will release the latest Global Carbon Budget report. Speakers Glen Peters (CICERO Center for International Climate Research, Norway), Matt Jones (University of East Anglia), Joeri Roeglj (Imperial College London) alongside an expert discussion panel will discuss the latest global carbon budget figures, the remaining carbon budget, and what this means for the Paris Agreement and the UN climate negotiations.

The CONSTRAIN project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, is aimed at “constraining uncertainties in climate projections & addressing key gaps in climate science and policy.” ICSC, through its transitions advisor Rex Barrer, is the only Southern institution from Asia in the CONSTRAIN consortium.

Climate Action Tracker

SIDE EVENT: Launch of Climate Governance Series of reports, including the Philippines

December 6, Friday  |  Time: TBA

The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) is a joint initiative by Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute. It tracks the progress of countries towards achieving the climate targets they have set for themselves under the Paris Agreement and what the combined effect of these commitments and policies mean for global temperature levels at the end of this century.

In its Climate Governance Series, the CAT expands on its country analysis to evaluate the ability and readiness of national governments to enable the required economy-wide transformation towards a zero emissions society.

ICSC transitions advisor Rex Barrer is a co-author/reviewer of the Philippine report, which can be accessed here:
https://climateactiontracker.org/publications/climate-governance-in-the-philippines/