IISD Reporting Services Blog

Bali Conference Ends With Agreement on Roadmap

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon after consensus was reached.

The Bali conference has ended on a high note, with agreement on a Bali roadmap after lengthy and at times difficult negotiations. During the closing plenary, many parties expressed their pleasure at the adoption of the Bali roadmap, and thanked their colleagues, the UNFCCC Secretariat and the Indonesian Government. Pakistan, for the G-77/China, highlighted the shared understanding that our partners “will not leave us again” and that “we are taking this step together.” Portugal, for the EU, noted that a busy two years lies ahead, and committed itself to working towards a final agreement in Copenhagen. Closing the meeting, President Witoelar said the decisions in Bali have launched a new process for reaching agreement by 2009. He labeled the meeting as a “breakthrough” where delegates demonstrated leadership to create a sustainable future, and identified the Bali roadmap as a tribute to delegates' solidarity to tackling climate change, the “defining challenge of the century.” He gaveled the meeting to a close at 6:27pm.

The Bali Roadmap 

The “Bali roadmap” refers to a decision by COP 13 and a series of COP/MOP 3 decisions that are designed to give direction and shape to a two-year negotiating process to finalize a post-2012 regime by COP 15 and COP/MOP 5 in December 2009. In the words of COP President Rachmat Witoelar, the roadmap has “several tracks and numerous milestones.”

Under the Convention, the COP launched “a comprehensive process to enable the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention through long-term cooperative action, now, up to and beyond 2012, in order to adopt a decision at COP 15.” To achieve this, the COP decided to establish an Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action that will complete its work in 2009, and will hold its first session no later than April 2008.

Under the Protocol, the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol, established by COP/MOP 1 in 2005, will continue its work with the aim of making recommendations to COP/MOP 5 on Annex I further commitments. As well, a decision was taken on a preparatory process for the second review of the Protocol under Article 9, scheduled to take place at COP/MOP 4.

IISD Website Coverage

Day 10: 2007 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Al Gore speaks at Climate Meeting in Bali

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Al Gore speaks at a side event organized by the Alliance for Climate Protection.

The corridors emptied at 7:30 pm Thursday for the special event featuring Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore. The event proved so popular that the doors were locked and many delegates were not able to get in, congregating instead around TV monitors. Security was so tight that even the co-recipient of the Nobel Prize, IPCC Chair Rajendra Pachauri, had problems getting into the room. Many participants left the meeting enthusing about Gore’s “compelling” intervention echoing other calls to do everything possible this side of a US election, and to revisit the US role in twelve months’ time.

Meanwhile, as the deadline for a Bali deal started to draw closer, delegates were bracing themselves for some long discussions as they witnessed an “intensification” of the ministerial-level negotiations taking place behind closed doors on Thursday afternoon and evening. A package of issues, notably linking the ambition of future targets for Annex I countries with “new and additional finance” for developing countries, was at the center of disputes that have reportedly started to cause some concern given the amount of time remaining to secure a deal on the roadmap. Such is the temperature within the ministerial sessions that one industrialized country minister reportedly threatened to “boycott” the next US-sponsored meeting for major economies, in Hawaii.

On the G-77/China side, insiders are suggesting that the emerging package would include such elements as reduced deforestation as a part of non-Annex I objectives, new and additional finance for adaptation, and technology transfer, linked to mitigation objectives for both Annex I and non-Annex I parties. Developing countries were reported to be insisting on pursuing financial issues on Thursday evening before returning to the mitigation options.

On mitigation and targets, a consensus was reportedly emerging among ministers on urgent action and the launch of a roadmap with an end date of 2009. It was also reported that remaining work included agreement on a package balancing Protocol Annex I (and US) commitments with enhanced action by non-Annex I parties. Agreement is also outstanding on the preambular text outlining the ambition of the roadmap, with the US and EU each offering different language. Ministers were expected to recommence discussions on whether to work on a comprehensive text, which would include process, building blocks and details, or whether to settle for a broadly-outlined process.

It was also being reported that Ministers were issued a table setting out sets of options for commitments or efforts for Annex I and non-Annex I parties. At one end, the first option involves “comparable commitments” among Annex I parties and “enhanced and incentivized mitigation [that is] measurable, reportable and verifiable” in non-Annex I parties. At the other end, the final option would have both Annex I and non-Annex I parties taking on “enhanced national mitigation action… that culminates in an international agreement,” with comparability between similar countries. “The options are starting to become clear; which one they select is still anyone’s guess,” said one negotiator.

The news was more clear-cut earlier in the day on technology transfer, as negotiators concluded an informal agreement. Many delegates who had spent the last year working on the issue since it was tabled in Nairobi were showing clear signs of relief. Some movement was also noted on the issue of deforestation.

A deal on the Russian proposal was also being mentioned, with the procedural elements reportedly being considered in the context of the Article 9 review, and its substantive aspects discussed in the context of the Convention track.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin summary and analysis of COP 13 and COP/MOP 3 will be available on Monday, 17 December 2007 online at: http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop13/

Full IISD Report HTML and PDF   IISD Coverage

Day 9 at Bali Climate Talks: Australia hands over instrument of ratification of the Kyoto Protocol to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd hands over the instrument of ratification of the Kyoto Protocol to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

On Wednesday morning, the high-level segment began, with opening statements from the UN Secretary-General, the President of Indonesia and other invited speakers. This was followed by presentations from heads of UN bodies and specialized agencies, and statements from 48 ministers and heads of delegation. In addition, contact groups and informal consultations were held throughout the day on issues relating to the Bali roadmap, the CDM, joint implementation, and compliance.

Full IISD Report HTML and PDF   IISD Coverage

Day 8 at Climate Talks: Birthday celebrations for the Kyoto Protocol's 10 year anniversary

Japanese Environment Minister Ichiro Kamoshita cuts the birthday cake for the Kyoto Protocol's 10 year anniversary.

Delegates met in contact groups and informal consultations throughout Tuesday to conclude work under the SBI and SBSTA. On Tuesday afternoon and evening, the SBSTA and SBI convened, concluding their work early on Wednesday morning. Both SBI and SBSTA adopted conclusions as well as various draft decisions that will be forwarded to the COP and COP/MOP. The AWG also met, although it was not able to conclude its work, and will convene for a final plenary later in the week.

Full IISD Report HTML and PDF   IISD Coverage

Day 7 at Climate Talks: Delegates agree on adaptation fund

Delegates were able to watch a live feed of the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony from Oslo, Norway, during which Al Gore and Rajendra Pachauri received their prizes.

Delegates were reporting mixed results on Monday in their scramble to finish work under the multitude of SBI and SBSTA agenda items. One notable success was the agreement on Monday evening on the Adaptation Fund, with the final text being greeted by enthusiastic applause. “The decision on the GEF as the Secretariat and the World Bank as trustee was widely expected, although the reference to this as an interim arrangement up for review every three years was a surprise to me,” said one observer. “I think most of us are delighted to have finalized the Fund whether you like the precise details or not,” added another.

Meanwhile, delegates were also discussing the Co-Facilitators’ “non-paper” on the Convention track distributed late on Saturday. While there was almost universal endorsement of the text as a sound basis for negotiations, the jury was still out on the ability of parties to project a common vision in a Bali roadmap. Some parties were already positioning themselves for several long days of talks, with initial sparring reported regarding language on targets, and which countries these should apply to. “The text is a good start, but I don’t think we’ll see an agreement on the roadmap before Friday,” warned one. Some also predicted that the second review of the Protocol under Article 9 and even the AWG would be sent to ministers and solved at the end of the meeting.

Delegates were also talking about the IPCC’s Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded today in Oslo and screened live to delegates in one of the Bali conference rooms. Unfortunately, and somewhat ironically, some delegates were unable to view the event, since they remained locked in evening negotiations…. on text about the IPCC.

Full IISD Report HTML and PDF   IISD Coverage

Day 6 at Climate Talks: Bali Roadmap to take the form of a COP President's Declaration

COP 13 President Witoelar takes a bike ride around Nusa Dua.

Buzz in the corridors on Saturday evening was mostly about the non-paper developed by the Co-Facilitators of the group discussing long-term action under the Convention. “I can see the post-2012 talks and the Bali roadmap finally taking shape,” said one delegate.

A few were pointing out that the text referred to “quantified national emission objectives,” which might be viewed as a “step back” from Kyoto’s language on “quantified emission limitation or reduction commitments.” Some observed that the language in the text was likely to be acceptable to a wider range of parties, thus making agreement more likely. “Besides, this is just a draft – anything could happen to it in the coming days,” added one observer.

News that the Bali roadmap is to take the form of a “President’s Declaration” triggered speculation about the timing of the COP President’s announcement. Some felt that the timing would provide an early opportunity for parties to respond to the proposal to use the President’s statement as a device to wrap up elements of decisions of both the COP and COP/MOP. Others noted the likely role of the roadmap in striking a balance between the implementation of current commitments and the future of the climate regime.

Full IISD Report HTML and PDF   IISD Coverage

Day 5 at Climate talks: Solar powered taxi arrives at the UN Climate Change Conference

Five months after a pioneering world tour from Switzerland to Bali, a solar powered taxi has arrived at the UN Climate Change Conference.

Contact groups and informal consultations were held throughout the day on a wide range of issues, including: the AWG; second review of the Protocol under Article 9: long-term action under the Convention; the Adaptation Fund; the Buenos Aires programme of work on adaptation and response measures (Decision 1/CP.10); CDM; compliance; joint implementation; reducing emissions from deforestation; and technology transfer. In addition, an in-session workshop was held on mitigation, focusing on non-CO2 emissions, and an IPCC briefing on the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) took place.

Full IISD Report HTML and PDF   IISD Coverage

Day 4 at Climate Talks: Polar bears protest on behalf of humans

Used to getting all the attention in the context of global warming, polar bears hold picket signs and protest on behalf of humans.

Contact groups and informal consultations were held throughout the day on a wide range of issues, including: AWG, second review of the Protocol under Article 9; long-term action under the Convention; the Adaptation Fund; Annex I and non-Annex I communications; the Buenos Aires programme of work on adaptation and response measures (decision 1/CP.10); capacity building; carbon capture and storage under the CDM; the financial mechanism; LDCs; the Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation; privileges and immunities; reducing emissions from deforestation; and technology transfer.

Full IISD Report HTML and PDF   IISD Coverage

Day 3 at Climate talks: “More complicated and hectic than ever,” is how one delegate described the climate process as Wednesday drew to a close

CDM Executive Board Chair Hans Jürgen Stehr, Kai-Uwe Schmidt, Secretariat, Halldor Thorgeirsson, Secretariat, and Richard Kinley, Secretary of the COP.

In the morning and afternoon, the COP/MOP convened in plenary to consider issues relating to the CDM, joint implementation (JI), the second review of the Protocol under Article 9, the compliance committee, and various other matters. SBI took up agenda items on reporting and review of information submitted by Annex I parties to the Protocol, capacity building, Protocol Article 3.14 (adverse effects), the international transaction log, and compliance. Contact groups convened on the Adaptation Fund, reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries, long-term cooperative action under the Convention, technology transfer, and the AWG’s work programme and timetable.

Full IISD Report HTML and PDF   IISD Coverage

Day 2 at Climate talks. Discussions on reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries

SBI Chair Bagher Asadi (right) formalizes the adoption of the agenda after a lengthy debate on the agenda item on technology transfer.

The SBI and SBSTA convened in plenary sessions throughout the day. SBSTA took up agenda items on reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries, the Nairobi work programme, research and systematic observation, the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report (AR4), and methodological issues. SBI considered organizational matters, education, training and public awareness, administrative, financial and institutional matters, national communications, Convention Article 4.8 and 4.9 (adverse effects), capacity building, the Adaptation Fund, and technology transfer.

Full IISD Report HTML and PDF   IISD Coverage