COP22… you’ve probably heard this term a lot lately. It is one of the most important events on Climate Change happening next month, and specifically from 7 until 18 November in Morocco. World Leaders and most of the countries will be discussing how will they fight climate change. During COP 22, parties will begin preparations for entry into force of the Paris Agreement. The following text focuses on Lebanon’s preparations for COP22, shedding light on major topics related to Climate change and the environment in our country as well.
In an interview with “greenarea.info”, Vahakn Kabakian Head the Climate Change Unit at the Ministry of Environment (MoE), who also leads the development of NAMAs, MRV framework & INDCs, and prepares Lebanon’s position and leads the technical team during the UNFCCC negotiations, talked about our country’s (Lebanon’s) preparation to COP22, and the effect of the waste crisis on the upcoming negotiations, the $100 billion that have been pledged annually to support developing countries in boosting the opportunities for innovation where climate change mitigation and adaptation is most urgently required, and many more topics…
The following interview covers a number of points that experts, environmentalists, and anyone concerned about the future of the planet, might be interested in, especially that the words are coming from a climate change professional.
1- What are the steps done by Lebanon since the COP21, until the COP22? Any specific preparations?
After COP21, Lebanon focused on the following points: starting the process to ratify the Paris Agreement which was just adopted, starting the implementation of its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), involving non-state actors in tackling climate change in Lebanon and improve its reporting and transparency framework.
A few months after COP21 it became apparent that the Paris Agreement’s entry into force was going to happen possibly sooner than 2020. This should encourage all Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to ratify domestically as soon as possible in order to take part in decision-making in the new climate era. Lebanon has kick-started the ratification process.
In September 2015, Lebanon submitted its INDC to the UNFCCC with a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target of 15% compared to the Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario in 2030, and 30% compared to BAU conditional to international support. After COP21, Lebanon proceeded to start executing its INDC; the first mitigation INDC working group meeting took place in July where all line ministries and institutions presented the status, gaps and needs of their respective policies which are included in the INDC. Moreover, the Council of Ministers is finalizing the establishment of the INDC Official Committee to follow-up with the achievement of the INDC. The climate contribution comprises ambitious targets, but Lebanon will need additional support, capacity-building and technology transfer to effectively realize the actions included in the energy, transport, waste and forestry strategies.
After COP21, it was apparent that non-state actors had a big role to play in helping the government achieve its climate targets. Case in point, Lebanon initiated the Lebanon Climate Act, an initiative is led by the Green Mind, in partnership with the UNDP and the Central Bank, which encourages private businesses to commit to innovative climate action, whether relating to adaptation, mitigation or both, and contribute to the low-emission and resiliency pathway Lebanon is on.
Moreover, all Parties have reporting obligations to the UNFCCC, namely GHG emissions, what are the mitigation actions put in place to curb those emissions and what is the status of vulnerability and adaptation in Lebanon. The Ministry of Environment is currently finalizing its Third National Communication (TNC) which includes the latest climate-related information from emissions to actions. Under the Paris Agreement, an enhanced transparency framework will be put in place which means that the reporting requirements will have to improve in clarity, completeness, consistency, accuracy and transparency. Lebanon is currently working on enhancing its institutional arrangements to improve inter-institutional exchange of information to better inform the international community on its climate efforts and corresponding challenges.
2- I read on the COP-22 website that Lebanon has not yet ratified the Paris Agreement. Why is that?
Lebanon, represented by His Excellency Prime Minister Tammam Salam, signed the Paris Agreement at the UN Headquarters in New York on April 22nd, 2016 which showcased Lebanon’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase adaptive capacity. The ratification file has been approved by the Council of Ministers on August 11, 2016 through official decision number 7, and has since then been sent to parliament for endorsement and final ratification (Decree 3987, 25 August 2016), which will allow Lebanon to deposit it instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession to the depository. This was preceded by securing the approval of both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice (Committee of Legislation & Consultations).
3- What will the role of the Climate change team from the Ministry of Environment in Lebanon be in COP22? What does the team focus on happening?
The post-COP21 era will focus on establishing the way forward to implement the Paris Agreement. Therefore COP22 will be a negotiating ground for Parties to discuss how best to satisfy the provisions of the Agreement to satisfy its goal. The Lebanese climate change team will focus on the upcoming discussions of INDC features and accounting, the adaptation communication, and the modalities, procedures and guidelines of the enhanced transparency framework. Moreover, in COP22 the delegation will focus on the proper provision of means of the implementation, namely the improved finance flows for INDC implementation and the capacity-building for effective and sustainable achievement of climate goals. Lebanon climate change team has been involved since Paris in various climate change expert platforms; the climate change expert group of the OECD, the informal Friends of Rules, and co-chairing the Cartagena Dialogue Rules-based Regime group. These informal fora shapes the technical discussions at the COP22.
4- COP 22 will be the first COP since the “legally binding global climate target was agreed at COP 21 by all 196 member parties with the aim of capping climate change well below two degrees of warming”. What does that signify?
It means COP 22 is the first COP after the Paris Agreement was adopted. The Paris Agreement is a legally-binding agreement whose aim is to tackle emissions in order not to cross the two degrees Celsius threshold, and even thrive to not cross the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold. These targets are what the UNFCCC will compare the achievement of Parties’ INDCs to, the implementation of INDCs must be ambitious enough as to not go over the temperature limit, and therefore avoiding catastrophic climate changes.
5- How is Lebanon trying to lower its emissions, based on COP21 goals?
Lebanon’s mitigation actions have been put forth in national communications and its biennial update report before COP21. Moreover, in Copenhagen in 2009, Lebanon pledged to a 12% renewable energy target by 2020. Nevertheless, the most recent and up-to-date target is the INDC target, which is a 15% emission reduction by 2030, which becomes 30% conditional to support. A few of the strategies and plans that will help achieve this target are the Ministry of Energy and Water’s Policy Paper for the Electricity Sector, the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan 2016-2020 (NEEAP), the National Renewable Energy Action Plan 2016-2020 (NREAP), the Ministry of Public Works and Transport’s Land Transport Policy and Action Plan for the Public Transport Sector and the Ministry of Agriculture’s 40 million trees programme, among others. With the adequate resources, institutional cooperation and ambitious leadership, the implementation of the mitigation INDC will inevitably lower Lebanon’s national emissions, and satisfy the goal of the Paris Agreement.
6- There has been much talk lately in Lebanon on solar energy. Where have we reached in clean energy solutions this year?
The renewable energy sector has picked up in recent years and the prices of using solar technologies have decreased, making market penetration much easier. The global renewable energy momentum has certainly affected Lebanon, and just recently, a solar farm has been installed in Zahrani. The Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation, the Small Decentralized Renewable Energy Power Generation project (DREG), and the Country Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Demonstration Project for the Recovery of Lebanon (CEDRO) have been actively working with the private sector and government institutions to increase the share of renewable energy and hence solar power in Lebanon.
More information on loan schemes to increase renewable energy share in Lebanon can be found on this link: http://lcec.org.lb/en/NEEREA/AboutUs
7- How is our country developing strong low carbon strategies, driving the partnerships and funding opportunities to accelerate this transition?
Lebanon’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution’s mandate is till 2030 and acts as a low emission strategy for the short-term. Moreover, Lebanon is preparing its Low-Emission Climate Resilient Development Strategy which will aim to provide objectives and roadmaps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase adaptive capacity till 2050 or more. Also, the climate change office has developed the study: Fossil Fuel Subsidies in Lebanon: Fiscal, Equity, Economic and Environmental Impacts, which shows that the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies will benefit the national budget and enhance low carbon development.
8- Can you tell us more about the $100 billion that have been pledged annually to support developing countries in boosting the opportunities for innovation where climate change mitigation and adaptation is most urgently required? (Lebanon’s case)
The commitment to provide 100 billion US dollars annually to developing countries to help achieve their obligations under the Paris Agreement is crucial for Lebanon. The fact that developed countries are working to communicate an adequate and predictable target for support helps Lebanon in planning and prioritizing its mitigation and adaptation plans. However, it remains to be seen how the support provided will be reported, if it will be additional, and if all developing countries will have equal consideration and access to those funds.
9- In your opinion, what is the effect of the ongoing trash crisis in Lebanon on its participation in the COP22?
The ongoing trash crisis’s effect on climate change is not in terms of emissions, but in terms of political responsiveness and performance. The waste management issue has no long-term consequence with regards to climate change in Lebanon, and hence Lebanon’s negotiating position in COP22 remains unaffected.
