"The World and Japan" Database (Project Leader: TANAKA Akihiko)
Database of Japanese Politics and International Relations
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS); Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia (IASA), The University of Tokyo

[Title] The Eighth Informal Meeting on 'Further Actions against Climate Change' Co-Chairs Summary

[Place] Tokyo
[Date] March 2, 2010
[Source] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
[Notes]
[Full text]

The Eighth Informal Meeting on 'Further Actions against Climate Change' met in Tokyo, Japan, March 1st-2nd, 2010. The meeting was attended by officials from 28 countries, the European Commission and the United Nations as well as Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Groups under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol (AWGs). It was co-chaired by Mr. Akihiko Furuya, Ambassador for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan and Mr. Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado, Director General of the Department of Environment and Special Affairs, Ministry of External Relations, Brazil.

Participants discussed in an open and candid atmosphere a wide range of issues related to the outcomes of COP15, the expected outcomes of COP16 and the process to achieve them, as well as actions under the Copenhagen Accord. Participants welcomed the meeting as a timely opportunity to kick off and facilitate climate change discussions after the Copenhagen Conference.

Participants shared the view that climate change remains to be one of the most urgent challenges of our time and that it is important to further advance the discussions on the international framework to tackle the issue in a constructive and collaborative manner.

Participants recognized that the Copenhagen Accord contains political understandings in many areas and that many countries had announced their targets or actions. Participants also discussed the ways to make progress in such areas as mitigation, MRV, finance, technology, REDD-plus and carbon markets. These issues included the requirements for, and frequency of submission of, national communications for both Annex I Parties and non-Annex I Parties; fast-start financing; establishment of new mechanisms such as the Copenhagen Green Climate Fund, a REDD-plus mechanism, a Technology Mechanism, and so on. Participants also shared wide support for the meaningful outcomes at COP16 and expressed their willingness to cooperate with the in-coming Presidency for the success of COP16.

Participants shared the need to explore various ways and means to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the discussions under the AWGs and COP/CMP meetings. They also expressed the view that informal consultations among Parties could complement, and make substantive contribution to the success of, the UN negotiation, recognizing that such informal consultations should be inclusive and transparent and are not alternatives to the UN process.

Participants noted that this informal meeting had provided valuable support and impetus for the discussion of the international climate change framework and agreed that the ninth meeting be convened early 2011 in Tokyo.