ECRAN supports discussions around implementation of COP21

On 3 June 2016, 45 senior climate policy officials from six ECRAN beneficiary countries attended a meeting of a Regional Dialogue of EU with EU Candidate Countries and Potential Candidates on the Outcomes of the Paris Agreement and its implications for national actions, in Zagreb, Croatia, that was facilitated by the Human Dynamics run ECRAN project.
13.06.2016

On Human Dynamic’s team who are working with the Environment and Climate Regional Accession Network (ECRAN) recently facilitated a regional dialogue on the outcomes of the COP21 climate change conference.

It was at the Paris climate conference (COP21) in December 2015 that 195 countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal. The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C. The historic Paris Climate Agreement paves the way for a global transition to low-emissions, climate resilient economies, and sends a signal to businesses and investors that this shift is irreversible.

The Agreement contains the key features necessary to deliver its objectives - a long-term goal, a dynamic mechanism to take stock and strengthen ambition over time, and a legally binding obligation for Parties to pursue domestic mitigation measures. The Agreement also brings together mitigation and adaptation in an equally ambitious and balanced manner, establishing a global goal on adaptation, which is particularly important as we are already experiencing impacts of climate change.

Within the EU, implementation of the Agreement means proceeding with the 2030 climate and energy framework.  Internationally, the focus will be on ratification of the Paris Agreement and implementation of the national climate plans - the Intended 

Nationally Determined Contributions, which was put forward before Paris.

In this context and as a follow-up to successful regional high-level dialogues held in 2015 under the ECRAN framework, 45 senior climate policy officials from six ECRAN beneficiary countries attended a meeting of a Regional Dialogue of EU with EU Candidate Countries and Potential Candidates on the Outcomes of the Paris Agreement and its implications for national actions, in Zagreb, Croatia on 3 June 2016.

The countries included Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. Kosovo was participating only as an observer, as not being part of UNFCCC. Each country had an opportunity to present domestic climate and energy policy developments and implementation, including the plans for implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement and potential reviews of (I)NDCs.

The meeting was opened by Mr. Imre Csikos, ECRAN Key Expert;  Ms. Marija Sculac Domac, Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection of Croatia, and Mr. Philip Owen, Acting Director, Directorate-General

for Climate Action of the European Commission.

“This meeting provided a very early opportunity of exchanging views and comments on the Agreement, and discussion of next steps on implementation of national climate plans and what can EU do to provide adequate assistance to candidate countries and potential candidates. This early opportunity emphasises the high importance of both early action and continued collaboration in the area,” said Mr Imre Csikos.

Apart from country representatives and representatives from the European Commission, international donors also took part in the event in order to share their experience and knowledge in the ratification of the agreement. Representatives from USAID, UNDP, GIZ, US Embassy in Hungary, and Energy Community presented their way of contribution to the implementation of Paris Agreement.

This event also welcomed participants from the Environment and Climate forum of ECRAN and provided members of civil society with an opportunity to express their ideas and concerns about the role of civil society in the ratification of the agreement.