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InformalMeetingfortheHeadsofDelegationsofthePartiestotheUNFCCC

SummaryReport

7&8September2017|SofitelJardindesRoses|Rabat–Morocco

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Tableofcontent SummaryReport 3Introduction 3Summaryofthediscussions 5

1. ParisAgreementImplementationGuidelines 52. GlobalClimateActionAgenda 63. Meansofimplementation 74. UNFCCCBudgetworkprogrammeupdate 85. Facilitativedialogue 86. Pre-COPupdate 9

Acronyms 10

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SummaryReport

IntroductionMore than 40 Climate Change Heads of Delegations, attended the informal meetingorganized jointly by the Moroccan COP22 Presidency and the incoming Fijian COP23Presidency.Themeetingtookplacefrom7-8SeptemberinRabat,Morocco.Itwasattendedalso by officials from the UNFCCC secretariat, including the UNFCCC Executive SecretaryPatriciaEspinosa, theChairof theSubsidiaryBody for Implementation(SBI), theChairoftheSubsidiaryBody forScientificandTechnologicalAdvice (SBSTA)and theCo-ChairsoftheAdHocWorkingGroupontheParisAgreement(APA).Thepurposeof themeetingwas todiscuss theexpectations forCOP23andbeyond inaninformal setting1. It was an important milestone for the preparation of the Pre-COPMinisterial meeting to be held on 17 - 18 October 2017 and the upcomingintergovernmentalclimatechangenegotiations(6-17November2017,Bonn).Themeetingstartedwithopeningremarks fromtheCOP22/CMP12/CMA1President,H.E.SalaheddineMezouar, the incoming COP23 President, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama and theExecutive SecretaryMs.PatriciaEspinosa.The followingdiscussionswere chairedby theMoroccanChiefNegotiator,H.E.AmbassadorAzizMekouarandtheFijianChiefNegotiator,H.E.AmbassadorNazhatShameemKhan.Theparticipantsexchangedviewsandenhanced their commonunderstandingon severalkey areas, including on how to advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement andsecuremeansofimplementation.Inaddition,theHigh-levelClimateChampionsMs.HakimaEl-Haite (Morocco), Hon. Minister Inia Seruiratu (Fiji) and the Fijian Climate ChangeAmbassador, H.E. Ambassador Deo Saran, presented an update and sought views on theworkofMarrakechPartnershipandtheGlobalClimate-ChangeActionAgenda.TheUNFCCCExecutiveSecretary,Ms.PatriciaEspinosa,gaveapresentationandrespondedtoquestionsfromPartiesontheUNFCCCbudgetworkprogrammeforthe2018-2019biennium,whichwill be proposed for adoption at COP23. The meeting concluded with a discussion onexpectationsforthe2018FacilitativeDialogueandanupdatebytheincomingFijianCOP23PresidencyonthepreparationsforPre-COP,whichwillbeheldon17-18OctoberinNadi,Fiji.While themeetingwas conducted in a constructive spirit, itwas also characterized by asenseofurgencyas themost intenseAtlantichurricaneobserved inadecade-HurricaneIrmahit thenorth-easternCaribbean islandsofAntiguaandBarbuda,destroyingmostoftheir infrastructures, causingmanydeathsand leavinghundredsof inhabitantshomeless.

1Theagendaforthemeetingisavailableat:http://www.cop22presidency.ma/ProgramHoD.pdf

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Many Parties expressed their deep sympathy and solidaritywith the victims of this andother recent extreme weather events, which have been impacting numerous countriesaroundtheworld.In order to share information about the discussions at the informal Heads of DelegationMeeting with Parties unable to attend the Moroccan and the Fijian Presidencies havepreparedthissummaryreport,whichreflectstheirviewsofthediscussions.

Summaryofthediscussions

1. ParisAgreementImplementationGuidelines:expectationsforCOP23Thesessionwasco-chairedbytheChiefNegotiatorforMorocco,AmbassadorMekouar,andtheChiefNegotiatorforFiji,AmbassadorKhan.AmbassadorKhanexpressedthedeterminationoftheincomingFijianCOP23PresidencytoenergizethespiritoftheParisAgreementanddemonstratethecontinuationofourglobalcommitment to climate action at a very important time in the history of internationalclimatenegotiation.ShehighlightedthejointresponsibilityofPartiestodeliverontheParisAgreement Implementation Guidelines resulting from the work on the Paris Agreementwork programme to accelerate the transition towards a safe and resilient low carboneconomy. Sheemphasized,“ourtask is immenseandchallenging,but Iamconfidentthatwe canbuild a high level of trust amongParties to reach an agreement onmostdifficultissues. More than ever, we need to work together and show our determination andcollectivecommitmenttoglobalclimateaction”.Ambassador Khan reassured the participants that the incoming Fijian Presidency willcontinuetoworkcloselywiththeCOP22Presidency(Morocco)andtheCOP24Presidency(Poland) to ensure a successful outcome at COP23. This means, among other things,providing certainty to theworld thatPartiesaremoving in the rightdirectionandat therightpacetofinalizetheParisAgreementImplementationGuidelinesatCOP24in2018inKatowice,Poland.AmbassadorKhanindicatedthatapriorityfortheincomingFijianCOP23PresidencywillbetomakeprogressontheParisAgreementImplementationGuidelinesina balanced manner on all of its elements, while at the same time securing continuousattention for enhanced pre-2020 action. The incoming Fijian COP23 Presidency iscommitted to presiding over and facilitating the negotiations with a high level of trust,transparencyandinclusiveness.Threequestionsguidedtheexchangeofviewsduringthissession:● WhatwouldtheCOP23outcomeneedtocontaintosignalthattheParisAgreement

ImplementationGuidelinesisindeedontrackforconclusionatCOP24?

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● How can COP23 capture the interim progress in 2017 and what, if any, type ofguidancewouldbeusefultoprovideatCOP23tosecuredeliveryofthefinalpackagein2018?

● WhatwillbeclearsuccessfactorsforCOP23?Thediscussionswereoverallveryconstructive.TherewasastrongsharedawarenessoftheneedtogettoworkandinfusetheprocesswithvisionandenergyatCOP23inordertobeable to arrive at a balancedpackage atCOP24.Manyparticipants indicated that they arewillingtomoveonfromthetechnicaldiscussions,whichstartedinMay2017,tocapturinginterim progress at COP23 and mandating Chairs and Co-Chairs to prepare draft texts,undertheguidanceofthePresidency,atlatestinthefirsthalfof2018.Ascurrentlysomeissuesareprogressingfasterthanothers,severalparticipantsproposedthatbetweennowandCOP24,moretimecouldbeallocatedtoelementswhicharelaggingbehind and that there be more interactive sessions such as roundtables, workshops orconsultationsfacilitatedbythePresidencyandtherelevant(Co-)Chairs.Otherparticipantsaddedthatprogressonallissuesshouldbemaximized.AnumberofparticipantsindicatedthatanadditionalworkingsessionbeforeCOP24couldbeuseful,butnotedtheremaybebudgetaryimplications.Manyparticipantsrecognizedthecriticalneedtoarriveatacoherentpackageofdecisionsacross all issues and ensure continued and enhanced coordination among the variousprocesses and constitutedbodies involved indelivering elements of theParisAgreementImplementationGuidelines.Itwassuggestedthatitmightbehelpfultoprojectforwardtoendof2018andworkbacktoidentifywhatweneedtoachieveandbywhen.The Chairs of the Subsidiary Bodies and the Co-Chairs of the APA, along with their co-facilitators are expected to play an important role in terms of collecting the inputs ofParties, listing elements and narrowing down clear options on the pathway towards abalancednegotiatingtext.ThePresidencyisalsoexpectedtoplayaproactiveroleinsettingupcleartimelinestoensurethedeliveryofthewholepackageatCOP24.

2. GlobalClimateActionAgendaThesessionwasco-chairedbytheHigh-levelClimateChampionofMorocco,Ms.HakimaElHaiteandtheFijianClimateChangeAmbassador,H.E.DeoSaran.TheFijianHigh-levelClimateChampion,Hon.MinisterSeruiratuaddressedtheparticipantsvia a video message. He noted that "we need to do much more to convey the sense ofurgency theGlobalClimateActionAgendarepresents...Only thencanwemeet the targetssetoutintheParisAgreement,includingourgoaltolimittheriseinglobaltemperatureto1.5degreesabove thatof the industrial age".Heemphasized that asaHigh-levelClimateChampion, coming from a vulnerable small island developing state, he is committed tocommunicatingthissenseofurgencywidelyatalllevels.Hon.MinisterSeruiratuprovided

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feedbackontheClimateActionPacificPartnershipsconference,whichwasheldinSuvainJuly,andbroughttogethermorethan200participantsrepresentingvariousorganizationsintheregion.AttheconferenceaPacificPartnershipwasestablished,aspartoftheGrandCoalitionforcatalyzingmoreambitiousaction.

TheFijianClimateChangeAmbassador,H.E.AmbassadorDeoSaran,inhiscapacityasFijianCivilSocietyFocalPointonmattersrelatedtothenegotiations,informeddelegatesthat,asmandatedinMay2017,theFijianPresidencywillholdthe1stdialoguebetweenobserverorganizationsandPartiesshortlybeforeCOP23inBonn.HealsostressedtheimportanceofengagementbetweenthePartiesandnon-Partystakeholdersandthedeepsenseofsharedleadershipandglobalcooperation.

TheMoroccanHigh-LevelClimateChampion,Ms.HakimaEl-HaiteprovidedanupdateontheprogressoftheimplementationoftheMarrakechPartnershipforGlobalClimateAction,includingontheactivitiesoftheHigh-LevelClimateChampions.SinceCOP22inMarrakesh,the Champions,with the help of the GCA support unit and various coalitions, have beenhardatworkconsolidating the foundations for theMarrakechpartnershipbyprioritizingcoalitions action, creatingnew climate actiondisseminationnetworks and inventingnewinformationtoolstoaccelerateclimateactionontheground.Prioritize coalitions action.75 international coalitions set up their ownnavigation andpriority-setting tool: the draft impact and priority tracker. This tracker will be updatedperiodically to reflect the work plans and focus areas of the various institutions andorganizationsengaged.Inthedraftimpactandprioritytracker,thecoalitionsandinitiativesidentifiedinthesevenareascoveredbytheMarrakechPartnershipthedesiredimpactsintermsofadaptationandmitigationandtheactionstoachieveit.Foreachimpact,elementsconcerningpolicymakershavebeenidentified.Createnewclimateactiondisseminationnetworks.Threenewnetworkswillspreadtheclimateactionmessage:

1) the Climate leadership network, a voluntary network of high-level decision-makersandthoughtleaders(ministers,CEOs,governors,mayorsandcivilsocietyleaders)wouldbecalleduponforspecificadvocacyactivitiesupto2020andforenhancedhigh-levelengagementattheCOP.

2) The Climate Action Collaboration Forum to align a large broad range ofstakeholders efforts with the Marrakech Partnership in a model of sharedleadershiptomaximizesynergiesandimpact.

3) Communities of Climate Action Practice: To maintain establishedrelationships in the thematic areas and scale up the level of commitment, it isproposedtoestablishinformalcommunitiesofpracticeforeachthematicarea.

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Inventnewinformationtoolstoaccelerateclimateactionontheground:

1) The firstClimateactionyearbookwillbepresentedatCOP23. Itwill enablethePartiestohaveastrategicnavigationtoolbasedonthevoiceofthecoalitionsin the7areascoveredby theMarrakechPartnership:oceans,water, transport,energy, agriculture, human settlements, forests, and industry. It will include astrategic analysis for Parties to review the achievements of the MarrakechPartnershipanditsexpectationstoaccelerateclimateaction.

2) TheannualsurveyssentbyChampionstoallMarrakechPartnershipnon-state actors members in order to be informed of their progress, their bestpractices, their needs and, above all, their strategic observations from theground.ThesesurveyswillbeavailableonlineontheUNFCCCwebsiteatCOP23.

3) Theclimatestoriesbank,dedicatedtothemedia,willenablethemtoaccesstocoalitionsbestpracticesby sectorandgeographical area. Itwillhelp to spreadthebestpracticesofallourcoalitionswellbeyondthewallsof theCOPs in thesevenareascoveredbytheMarrakechPartnership.

ParticipantsprovidedinformationaboutvariousinitiativesandreflectedontheactivitiesoftheClimateChampions.Somekeymessagesfromthediscussionwerethat:● It is important to involve non-state actors, as they play a critical role for the

implementationofclimateaction.TheMarrakechPartnershipseekstoharnessandsharetheircontributions.

● Non-stateactorscanbringvaluableinputstothe2018FacilitativeDialogue.● The High-Level Climate Champions and governments should look to widen

engagement beyond the groups, which are already active on climate change andreachouttothegeneralpublic.Onlythen,deepergreenhousegasemissioncutscanberealizedtoachievethe1.5Cobjectiveandhelpthemostvulnerabletoadapttotheimpactsofclimatechange.

3. MeansofimplementationThesessionwasco-chairedbytheChiefNegotiatorforMorocco,AmbassadorMekouar,andtheChiefNegotiatorforFiji,AmbassadorKhan.AmbassadorMekouarrecalledthatCOP22inMarrakechgaveafirmsignalabouttheneedtoenhanceactionandsupport,andemphasized the importantroleof finance, technologyand capacity building for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. He shared vividexamples of groundbreaking human achievements from the past, which would not havebeenpossiblewithoutinternationalcollaborationoncapacitybuilding,technologytransferandfinance.Thediscussionrevolvedaroundfourquestions:

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● WhatguidanceshouldbeprovidedtotheFinancialMechanismtomakefinanceflowfastertodevelopingcountries?

● Whatcouldbedonetotriggermorefinanceforadaptation?● SupportingtheimplementationoftheParisAgreement:howtoacceleratedelivery?● WhatisneededtodecideonthefutureoftheAdaptationFund?

Several participants stated that guidance to the financial mechanisms must focus onenablinggreateraccessibilityfordevelopingcountries,inparticularsmallislandstatesandleast developed countries, such as through further simplified access procedures and theprovisionofreadinesssupportandcapacitybuilding.TheyalsocalledforensuringbalancedfinanceformitigationandadaptationbyGEF,GCFandotherfunds.Whilesomeparticipantswere of view that opportunities to use private finance for adaptation are limited and assuch most adaptation finance should be expected to come from public sources, otherparticipantsnotedtheincreasingengagementoftheprivatesectorinadaptationactions,inparticular insurance, and the need to providemore incentives and use public funding toleverageprivateinvestments,includingforadaptation.Oneparticipantproposedtolookatinnovative finance tomobilizeclimate investments, suchasexploringoptions tomobilizeidlefinance.Participants from developed countries emphasized their continued commitment to theUSD100 billion Roadmap for climate finance by 2020. Many developed country Partiesinformed themeeting that they are already aiming for a balanced split inmitigation andadaptationfinance.AnumberofPartiesrecognizedtheneedforfurthercapacitybuildingtoaccess theexisting financialmechanismsandrecalled thedifferentactionsundertakenbytheGEF,GCFandotherfunds.Itwasnotedthatanimportantaspectofscalingupadaptationfinanceismainstreamingitintonationalplanninganddevelopment.AlmostallparticipantsrecognizedthevaluablecontributionoftheAdaptationFundanditssuccess in providing direct access to finance so far as well as its possible link to futurefunding fromthemechanismtobeestablishedunderArticle6(4)of theParisAgreement.Whileparticipantsfromdevelopingcountriesexpectconcretestepstoensurethatit"shallserve"theParisAgreementwithoutdelayandbeforealloperationalandfundingissuesareresolved,manyparticipantsfromdevelopedcountriesexpressedpreferencetofinalisetheoperationaldiscussionsbeforetakingadecision.

4. UNFCCCBudgetworkprogrammeupdateTheUNFCCCExecutiveSecretary,PatriciaEspinosa,updatedtheparticipantsonherplannedadjustmentsoftheworkprogrammeoftheUNFCCCsecretariat,inresponsetotherequestofPartiesatSBI46(May2017,Bonn).Theadjustmentsconcernre-allocationofsomeresourcesandarewithintheappropriationlinesofthecorebudgetagreedatSBI46.Thesecretariatwillsubmititsrevisedworkprogramme,asmandatedbyParties,forconsiderationatSBI47,andsubsequentapprovalbyCOP23.

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Some participants were interested in receiving more information about financialcontributionsbynon-PartystakeholdersandinquiredaboutthepossibleroleofPartiesindiscussing criteriaandmodalities for such contributions.Participantswere informed thatallfinancialcontributionsreceivedbythesecretariatareregularlyreportedtoPartiesandverifiedbyexternalauditors..

5. FacilitativedialogueThesessionwasco-chairedbytheChiefNegotiatorforMorocco,AmbassadorMekouar,andtheChiefNegotiatorforFiji,AmbassadorKhan.AmbassadorKhan reflectedon the consultationprocess thathasbeenundertakenby thePresidencieswithPartiesandobserverorganisationsandnoted that therewasapositiveresponsetohavingaprocessratherthananeventin2018.ShenotedthattheFijianconceptof'Talanoa'hadbeenbroadlywelcomedasapossiblewayofframingthe2018FacilitativeDialogue.Sheexplainedthat:"Talanoa isa traditionalwordused inFijiandthePacific toreflectaprocessof inclusive,participatory and transparent dialogue. The purpose of Talanoa is to share stories, buildempathy and to make wise decisions, which are for the collective good. The process ofTalanoainvolvesthesharingofideas,skillsandexperiencethroughstorytelling.Duringtheprocess,partiesbuild trustandadvanceknowledge throughempathyandunderstanding.Blaming others and making critical observations are inconsistent with the building ofmutualtrustandrespect,andthereforeinconsistentwiththeconceptofTalanoa.Talanoafosters stability and inclusiveness in relation to dialogue, by creating a safe spacewhichembracesmutualrespectforaplatformfordecisionmakingforagreatergood."Ambassador Khan gave an overview of the areas of convergence that were emerging inrelation to the design of the 2018 Facilitative Dialogue, in particular that the dialogueshould be constructive, facilitative and solutions oriented. It should not single outindividual Parties. She noted that there had been widespread support among Parties tostructuretheDialogueacrossthefollowingcentralquestions:

o Wherearewe?o Wheredowewanttogo?o Howdowegetthere?

AmbassadorKhansuggestedthattheDialoguecouldconsistofapreparatoryandapoliticalphase,with the preparatory phase starting in early 2018 and continuing throughout theyearuntilthepoliticalphase,focusedonMinisterialengagementatCOP24.ThePresidencyandincomingPresidencystressedtheimportanceoftheIPCC's1.5degreereport as a key input which would require its earliest consideration by Parties. The

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PresidencyandincomingPresidencyalsonotedthepossibilityofusinganon-lineplatformtoinviteinputsfromPartiesandnon-StateActors.The participants confirmed their continued support and trust in both Presidencies toprepareandpresentthedesignofthe2018FacilitativeDialogueforendorsementatCOP23Several participants highlighted that the High-level Climate Champions can play animportantroleininformingthedialoguebyservingasabridgebetweengovernmentsandnon-Stateactors.AnumberofparticipantsalsoproposedacontinuedrolefortheincomingFijian COP23 Presidency in convening the Facilitative Dialogue in the course of 2018, incollaborationwiththePolishCOP24Presidency.Ambassador Khan noted that consultations remained ongoing and welcomed furtherfeedbackbyPartiesonthedesignandtheprocessforadoptingit.

6. Pre-COPupdateThe Chief Negotiator for the Fijian COP23 Presidency, Ambassador Khan, informed theparticipants that Pre-COPwill be held in Nadi, Suva at the Sheraton Resort on DenarauIsland. All participants are invited to attend the traditional welcoming ceremony in theeveningof16October2017.TheMinisterialmeetingwillformallybeginat9.00a.m.on17October2017andsessionswillconcludeearlyafternoonon18October2017.Afterwhich,MinisterswillbeinvitedtojointheorganizedsitevisitstolocalclimatechangeinitiativesandattendaformalclosingPresidencydiner.SeparatelyfromthePre-COPaPartnershipsDaywillbeheldon16October2017.

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AcronymsAPA Ad-HocWorkingGroupontheParisAgreementCOP ConferenceofthePartiestotheUNFCCCGCF GreenClimateFundGEF GlobalEnvironmentFundSBSTA SubsidiaryBodyforScientificandTechnologicalAdviceSBI SubsidiaryBodyforImplementationUNFCCC UnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange