Other UNEP Activities on Atmosphere & Desertification
1. Climate assessments, carried out by the Division of Early Warning and Assessment
- Assessment of the impact of climate change on the Caribbean.
2. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other, carried out by UNEP’s Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities(GPA)initiated the following support actions in support of UNFCCC:
- Contribution to Global Dialogues on Water, Food and Environment, and on Water and Climate (Jan 2002-2003).
- initiated a study on Global Initiatives and Instruments that can assist SIDS in addressing their environmental concerns, including, among others; international and regional conventions and their protocols.
3. Clean Development Mechanism, carried out by UNEP’s Regional Office for West Asia
Work with National Focal Points (NFPs) in member states to develop pilot project proposals to be funded under the Cleaner Development Mechanism (CDM)
- Work with the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) and NFPs in member states to reach a common understanding and position on this issue, especially regarding the subject of compensation for adaptation and mitigation actions.
- Development of a joint UNEP/ROWA-DPDL strategy for the promotion of the Clean Fuel Initiative in the region.
- Support to the Network of Centres of Excellence on Energy for Sustainable Development, including a letter of intent from the relevant agency in Yemen outlining roles and responsibilities for hosting a regional center.
4. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), carried out by Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean
Since 2002, FAO, UNEP and IUCN have been providing assistance to Latin American countries to define a joint position on the forestry projects of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which form part of the Kyoto Protocol. Three meetings have been held between 2002 and 2003, during which participants have tried to find a common Latin American position with respect to CDM, particularly regarding definitions and modalities.
5. Regional Participation, carried out by Regional Office for Regional Office for Africa
- Supported the African NGOs participation in the Ninth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP-9) in Milan, Italy, in December 2003. UNEP has in the past been involved in supporting a number of African NGOs to participate in the UNFCCC COPs meetings.
- UNEP/ROA collaborated in the organization of a capacity building workshop on CDM and LULCF that was jointly organized by the Division of Policy Development and Law (DPDL) and UNEP-RISOE in October 2003 in Ethiopia. The purpose of the consultation was to identify the capacity building needs on CDM and the area of priorities. Based on the outcome of the consultation a project proposal on ‘African Capacity Building for CDM and Emission Trading’ has been developed by ROA and is currently being discussed internally. The project is proposed to be implemented by ROA and UNEP-RISOE Center in collaboration with UNFCCC and the national focal points.
6. Technology Transfer, carried out by UNEP’s Division of Technology, Industry and Economics
Through Paris-based staff, Regional Industry Officers, and staff of the UNEP Risø Centre on Energy, Climate, and Sustainable Development, DTIE supports many activities related to implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (and its Kyoto Protocol). The brief descriptions that follow concern only those activities that directly help the UNFCCC Secretariat in some manner, particularly Convention Article 4.5, and so would be recognized by them. All Energy Unit activities directly or indirectly support actions that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and so help countries comply with obligations under the UNFCCC.
- DTIE staff have been participating in the work programme of the Expert Group on Technology Transfer established as part of the Marrakech Accords; the EGTT is serviced by the Secretariat.
- DTIE and the Secretariat are collaborating on various aspects of TT:Clear and SANet as web-based tools that provide information about climate friendly technologies.
- DTIE has made presentations at the Secretariat’s regional workshops on technology transfer.
- DTIE’s P&C branch is supporting ROAP in implementing the Project GERIAP (Greenhouse gas Emission Reduction in Industries in Asia Pacific). Nine countries are participating in the project.
The project aims at building capacity in energy efficiency in these countries and demonstrating GHG emission reduction potential in four industrial sectors -- Chemicals, Lime & Cement, Iron & Steel and Pulp & Paper.
7. Energy, carried out by the UNEP Risø Centre on Energy, Climate, and Sustainable Development
The URC has for many years had strong formal and informal links with the FCCC Secretariat and been very active in many areas related to the UNFCCC.
- One URC staff has been appointed expert baseline reviewer for the CDM board and been involved in first reviews.
- URC is involved along with other parts of UNEP in an interagency process organised by the FCCC Secretariat to have a common approach to addressing the capacity building needs expressed in recent decisions by Parties.
- FCCC Secretariat is represented on the URC Scientific Advisory Committee, plus on specific project advisory groups for CDM capacity building and Development and Climate.
- URC has had a central international position in developing guidance on how to do national mitigation analysis. This has resulted in different types of published methodological guidelines and, with GEF funds, direct support to a number of non-annex I countries on their application. Guideline reports have been presented to parties by the Secretariat as components of the SBSTA work programme and Secretariat has been involved through steering committees in the work itself.
- URC has been closely involved in the national communication process for non-annex I countries both through UNEP and via work for UNDP and the FCCC Secretariat. A large part of this work relates to the mitigation expertise described above.
- In connection with discussions on second national communications and GEF enabling support, it is expected that the URC will be involved via UNEP.
- In the process of making CDM operational the URC has been informally co-operating with the FCCC Secretariat on early capacity building and awareness raising especially in the African region. URC has also, under contract with the FCCC Secretariat, developed the underlying guidance for rules on small-scale CDM projects. This was expected to lead to more direct technical support functions, but has not occurred due to lack of funds within the Secretariat.
- A number of ad-hoc minor support tasks have over the years been undertaken to support specific technical requests from the FCCC Secretariat.
8. Support to the Montreal Protocol of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, carried out by UNEP’s Regional Office of Latin America and the Caribbean
- The OzonAction Unit at UNEP/ROLAC provides technical and financial assistance to countries and institutions of Latin America and the Caribbean so that they may comply with the Montreal Protocol and reduce the emissions of ozone depleting substances (ODS). Capacity building is provided to ODS officers of Latin America and the Caribbean through 4 meetings organized annually, 2 for the ODS Officers of Mexico, Central America, Spanish-speaking Caribbean countries and South America and 2 for the ODS Officers of the English Speaking Caribbean Network. There are also institutional strengthening projects and a Regional Halon Management Plan that are being implemented. Agreements have been signed with various countries in order to carry out Refrigerant Management Plans, training of customs personnel, promotion of public awareness and establishment of licensing systems.
- The Regional Office of UNEP was invited to give a presentation on the Implementation of MEA and their impact on the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), with emphasis on the Montreal Protocol, during the “Eleventh Meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development of the OECS”, held on 28-29 June 2003 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
8.2 carried out by UNEP’s Regional Office for Africa
- Through the OzonAction's Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), UNEP continues to provide capacity building and specialized technical support to African compliance with the Montreal Protocol, including the Regional Network of ODS Officers for English and French speaking African countries. Besides it's support to national activities, the OzonAction CAP team organized regional workshops for National Ozone units.
- The 9th Ozone Officers Network for English-Speaking African Countries met from 19 to 22 May 2003 in Addis Ababa. The meeting, hosted by the National Meteorological Services of the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was attended by ODS Officers from 20 African countries and representatives of Implementing Agencies (UNEP, UNDP) and a Bilateral Cooperation Agency (Proklima – GTZ). The main objective of this important meeting was to assess the state of progress of the implementation of the Montreal Protocol in the Africa region.
- The 8th Meeting of Ozone Officers Network for French-Speaking African Countries was held from 07 –10 April 2003 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The main objective of the meeting was to review the progress made by countries in the sub-region in complying with Montreal Protocol requirements and also discuss future activities to sustain compliance. The meeting was attended by participants from 17 African countries, as well as representatives from UNDP and GTZ-Proklima as implementing agencies.
- The Regional Workshop for English-Speaking Countries in Africa on the Experiences of Use of Methyl Bromide Alternatives Evaluated under the Multilateral Fund was held from 22 – 26 September, 2003 in Lusaka, Zambia and was hosted by the Environmental Council of Zambia. The objectives of the meeting were to present the Africa Region Compliance Status; discuss the achievements and challenges by UNEP CAP on methyl Bromide phase out; to make clarifications on exemptions including quarantine and pre-shipment (QPS) applications; share the status of Implementation; obtain feedback on the needs and expectations of all the countries of the English Speaking Africa; and conduct bilateral meetings with the MOUs of English-Speaking Africa. Representatives (ODS Officers and experts) from 24 countries of the English Speaking Africa, in addition to representatives from UNIDO, UNDP, FAO, NGOs, identified institutions and organizations/ stakeholders in the methyl bromide phase out process in Zambia attended the meeting.
- q ROA provided support to DTIE OzonAction programme in making arrangement for various side events for the 15th Meeting of Parties to Montreal Protocol held from 10 to 14 November 2003. Support was also provided to the Ozone Secretariat in facilitating the participation of African countries to the Meeting. OzonAction Regional CAP team also prepared 8 project proposals for renewal of institutional support to African National Ozone units and also prepared 4 new Country programmes and Refrigerant Management Plans submitted to Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund for approval. These activities were in addition to the usual support provided to National Ozone Units under the Compliance Assistance Programme.
9. Support to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), carried out by UNEP’s Division of Early Warning and Assessment
- Represented on Board of Millennium Ecosystem Assessment; One of the primary ‘users’ of the Millennium Assessment.
- Survey and evaluation of existing networks, institutions, agencies and bodies relevant to implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CST/CCD Network Survey)
- Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA), a GEF-project executed by FAO, where DEWA is the Implementing Agency (UNEP) focal point; [Both LADA and Millennium Assessment are part of the CST/UNCCD agenda.
- GEF-project, The Desert Margins Program (DMP), a collaborative venture among nine African countries: Burkina Faso, Botswana, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Senegal, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe to implement CCD.
9.2 Carried out by UNEP’s Regional Office for West Asia
- UNEP/ROWA, ICARDA and ACSAD have a project on Inventory Studies and a mechanism to establish a Regional Database on Water Resources and Vegetation Cover in West Asia as a means to combat desertification. The project was endorsed by members of the Management Committee in their meeting in Bonn on 28 March 2001. The Global Mechanism (GM) has agreed funding of US$ 150,000 for this Sub-Regional Action Programme (SRAP). MOUs have been signed by ACSAD and ICARDA for the project implementation.
- Preparation of a Feasibility Study on the implementation of Pilot Projects in West Asia started
- Regional organizations and GM/UNCCD developed a draft of project proposal for sustainable development in rain-fed Areas in West Asia, including US$ 250,000 for support to the implementation of the pilot projects.
- A National Action Plan (NAP) for Saudi Arabia was prepared, reviewed and adopted by the National Committee
- NAPs for UAE and Oman are being updated.
- A National Action Plan (NAP) for UAE has been prepared, reviewed by the National Committee in May 2002, while the NAPs for Bahrain and Oman are being updated
- Inventory studies and regional databases on sustainable water and vegetation management. This project includes a Workshop to disseminate the results of the study
- Preparation of pilot projects to combat desertification in West Asia (MOU’s signed with ACSAD and ICARDA for implementation)
- Four Pilot Projects have been implemented (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen ($350,000))
- Technical support provided to the National Workshop on Land Degradation held in Yemen, 22-24 April 2002. The final report was adopted in June 2002.
- The Fourth Thematic Programme Network (TPN4) 'Water Resources Management for Agriculture in Arid, Semi-arid and Sub-Humid Lands was launched in Damascus (4-7 July 2002)
- A Regional Programme for Sustainable Development in Rainfed Areas in West Asia and North Africa was prepared (Aleppo, Syria, 22-24 March 2002).
- A Joint CAMRE/AMCEN Workshop on Land, Water and Food Security was organised by UNEP-GEF (Cairo 22-24 January 2002)
- Co-organised the Regional Meeting to discuss the proposed programme on sustainable development of rain-fed agriculture in West Asia and North Africa
- Participated in the Fifth Asian Focal Point Meeting in preparation of the 1st Session of the Committee for the review of the Implementation of the UNCCD (Damascus, 8-12 July 2002)
- Participated in the 26th FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (Kuwait, 10-13 March 2002), the AOAD General Assembly Meeting (Abu Dhabi, 28-30 April 2002) and the International UNESCO/MAB Workshop on Desertification: Rehabilitation of Degraded Drylands and Biosphere Reserves (Damascus, 2-4 May 2002)
9.3 Carried out by UNEP’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean
As part of the implementation of the UNCCD, UNEP/ROLAC has continued to make progress in the identification of public land use policies in Mexico as part of the project titled Harmonization of Public Policies in Mexico, whose main objective is the implementation of a set of national level exercises including studies of current relevant rural development policy instruments and institutional reforms, in order to reform and adjust policy instruments to rural development and improve the overall economical performance of the country as well as reduce the negative effects of some policies and instruments i.e. ‘perverse incentives’ and others.