ENBOTS Coverage of Side Events at the Katowice Climate Change Conference – Issue#7

The side event presented on what is needed for landscapes and cities to be compatible with the 1.5ºC goal. Panelists presented their visions of the systemic transformations compatible with the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Jeremy Oppenheim, SYSTEMIQ, moderated the event.

Naoko Ishii, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson, GEF, underscored the importance of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5ºC (SR15), stressing that transformation is needed in all aspects of society. She noted that humans have become the dominant economic forces putting pressure on ecological systems to a breaking point.

Elmar Kriegler, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, presented on the key findings of the IPCC 1.5 Report, noting that the transition across all sectors in limiting warming to 1.5 degrees is being done in an unprecedented scale that involves behavioral change and new technologies. He highlighted that no single exclusive successful pathway exists in reaching the 1.5 degree goal and urged the embedding of transformational change in the sustainable development agenda to make it politically acceptable and incentivize it.

Fabiola Muñoz, Minister of Environment, Peru, highlighted the need for vulnerable countries to develop synergies and expand their collaboration with NGOs, indigenous peoples, and the private sector. She stressed that decision-making has to become more efficient and faster through open dialogue with stakeholders.

Johan Rockström, Stockholm Resilience Centre and Stockholm University, highlighted that, according to scientific evidence, resilience is crucial. He stressed that tipping points are a reality, and expressed the need to define planetary boundaries. He noted that a transformation will become a reality if civil society and business coordinate in a constructive way. He also stressed that there is a need for planetary stewardship, highlighting the efforts of some countries to decouple economic growth from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adopting a price for carbon.

Raphaël Edou, Deputy-Mayor, Cotonou, Benin, stated that the municipality of Cotonou has designed a climate action plan for the city in order to tackle climate change, including mitigation and adaptation, with a wide range of stakeholders being involved in its implementation phase. He noted that close collaboration with the private sector is needed and clarified the integrated approach as the best way to address the issue.

Bernhard Stormyr, Yara International, noted that humans are “chewing away” at natural resources and expressed the need to work towards a vision of healthy people on a healthy planet. He noted that they have developed precision farming technologies that support farmers by reducing the amount of fertilizer while increasing yields, and urged for changing the business logic on how farmers are incentivized.

Moderator Oppenheim highlighted that people need to understand the implications of their consumption patterns, and urged the creation of real ownership of work plans in communities by the local populations.

In the ensuing discussion, panelists responded to questions on the viability of spreading regenerative agroecology practices to mitigate climate change; the role of the scientific community in propagating information to the policy community; incentives for sequestering carbon in agriculture; and the configuration of urban development for sustainable cities.

The event, moderated by Junichi Fujino, IGES, illustrated a joint research initiative between China, Japan, and Korea on concerning towards decarbonization and sustainable development in cities across the three countries, including their efforts to support low carbon and sustainable development in other Asian cities, such as Iskandar, Putrajaya, and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President, IGES, stressing the cities’ role in taking practical actions in reducing CO2 emissions, said that this event highlights best practices in cities from China, Korea, Malaysia and Japan.

Xu Huaqing, Director-General, NCSC, noting the need for cities to set more ambitious GHG emissions targets, said that the Chinese government supports low-carbon energy systems and sustainable lifestyles in more than 80 cities.

Frank Rijsberman, Director-General, GGGI, said that climate change is a key driver for most Asian cities moving towards sustainable energy use; finding solutions on air pollution and sustainable lifestyle; and contributing to a circular economy.

Moderator Junichi Fujino, IGES, announced the launch of two joint reports, including cases studies, on local governments’ climate actions towards decarbonization and sustainable development.

Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President, IGES, citing the inclusion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Japan’s new Fifth Basic Environment Plan, stressed a concept of regional, circular and ecological sphere which helps integrate social, environmental, and economic approaches.

Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs, China, noted the recent progress in China’s efforts on low-carbon technology and circular economy, said that the future of the China-Japan-Korea environmental collaboration will be “more pragmatic and effective,” and suggested a joint work on carbon pricing and low-carbon technologies.

Yang Xiu, NCSC, said the NCSC helps cities achieve low-carbon transition through policy guidance, building platforms for knowledge change, and supporting projects, citing pilot projects in Wuhan, Zhenjiang, and Shenzhen.

Sang-In Kang, KEI, said that 72% of non-industrial GHG emissions reductions are under the authority of local governments in Korea, and highlighted efforts in advancing low carbon science and technology in Gwangju Metropolitan City, Suwon City, and Jeju Province.

A second panel, moderated by Ho Chin Siong, UTM, shared various urban climate strategies and actions towards decarbonization, introduced by: Datuk Hj. Mahadi Che Ngah, Executive Director of Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Malaysia; Dato’ Omairi Hashim, Senior Vice President of Putrajaya Corporation, Malaysia; Yeom Tae-young, Mayor of Suwon City, Korea; Jiang Kejun, Energy Research Institute (ERI); Eri Nakajima, Vice Governor of Nagano Prefecture, Japan; and Toshiyuki Yamazoe, Toyama City, Japan.

In his concluding remarks, Yoshiaki Harada, Minister of the Environment, Japan, stressed the important role of cities in decarbonization, noting that the three countries are doing their best for accelerating the region’s efforts to move from vision to action.

Cho Myung-rae, Minister of the Environment, Korea, concluded by calling for this joint research project among three countries to lead collaborative efforts on environmental cooperation as a whole.