“High expectations – Did the UN Climate Action Summit achieve higher climate ambitions?”

2 DECEMBER 2019 (Monday)
18:30 – 20:00
EU Pavilion, COP Venue

The UN Environment Emissions Gap Report 2018 and the Climate Transparency Brown to Green Report show alarming gaps in mitigation ambition and action, while also highlighting the many opportunities for narrowing these gaps.

This side event features presentations of the key findings of the two reports, followed by an interactive discussion between panelists and the audience on: which actors are needed now to step up action and what governments and civil society can do to overcome the hurdles to successful climate politics.

Speakers:
Anne Olhoff (UNEP DTU Partnership)
Takeshi Kuramochi (NewClimate Institute)
Hannah Schindler (Climate Transparency Secretariat)

Panelists:
Government representatives from South Africa, Germany, Denmark and the EU (tbc)
Spokesperson Fridays for Future (tbc)
Fabby Tumiwa (Institute for Essential Service Reform, Indonesia)
Liu Shang (Energy Foundation China) (tbc)
Fiona Reynolds (UN Principles for Responsible Investment initiative) (tbc)

Moderator: Gerd Leipold (Climate Transparency Secretariat)

“Building an Inclusive Global Stocktake: Independent and transparent assessments for greater ambition.”

3 DECEMBER 2019 (Tuesday)
16:45 – 18:15
Official UNFCCC side event
Room 3, COP Venue

Transformative partnerships are needed to strengthen agency for ambitious climate action in times of urgency. The session will bring together NGOs and government representatives from G20 countries to:

– Discuss the latest trends in climate action based on independent assessments,
– Discuss new strategies for strengthening ambition, and
– Discuss the need for civil society to advocate for a robust Global Stocktake and provide independent input into the process.

Speakers:
Hannah Schindler (Climate Transparency Secretariat)
Yamide Dagnet (WRI) (tbc)
Niklas Höhne (NewClimate Institute) (tbc)

Panelists:
Katia Simeonova (UNFCCC Secretariat) (tbc)
Government Representative of Indonesia (tbc)
Fabby Tumiwa (Institute for Essential Service Reform, Indonesia)
Government Representative of South Africa (tbc)/Andrew Marquard (University of Cape Town, South Africa)
Government Representative of the UK (BEIS) (tbc)
David Ryfish (Germanwatch, Germany) (tbc)

Moderator: Surabi Menon (ClimateWorks Foundation)

“The challenges of coal phase-out: insights from the G20 and developing countries.”

6 DECEMBER 2019 (Friday)
14:00 – 15:30
South African Pavilion, COP Venue

The challenges of decarbonization and fossil fuel phase-out are especially acute in developing countries with high dependence on coal for energy and economic growth. Yet, global analysis shows that all countries need to phase out coal in the power sector by 2040 for 1.5°C. What are the energy system, economic, and political challenges of a rapid phase-out for economies with high levels of poverty? What is the scale of the challenge for workers, livelihoods, and local economies? And what opportunities are offered by a just transition? The side event will present research from the Climate Transparency project on global coal phase-out pathways, as well as analyses of the coal transition dynamics in South Africa, Indonesia, and India.

Panelists:
Jesse Burton (University of Cape Town and E3G, South Africa)
Fabby Tumiwa (Institute for Essential Service Reform, Indonesia)
Paola Parra (Climate Analytics)
Leo Roberts (Overseas Development Institute)