COP26 Side Event: Beyond Climate Neutrality

Join us on 6 November at 17:45 CET for this online COP26 Side Event that explores the role of long-term climate strategies in sustainability governance, raising short-term ambition on climate action, ecosystem stewardship and adaptation.

The event was live streamed on YouTube:

Long-term low emission development strategies (LTS), as under Article 4.19 of the Paris Agreement, can be a key instrument to implementing the Paris Agreement, if equity considerations are taken into account. To reach global climate stabilization, it is crucial that countries develop long-term visions, goals and strategic guidelines for climate policy, embedded in the wider sustainability agenda. Such LTS can provide orientation for ambitious short-term climate policy, climate finance, Covid-19 recovery, private investment and equity measures. They can become a basis for international cooperation on transformation pathways. Core priorities should include stopping fossil CO2 emissions, strengthening the biosphere, developing CO2 removal strategies and adapting to climate change.

Article 7.2 of the Paris Climate Agreement recognizes the role of adaptation as being key to long-term global response to climate change. However, LTS at the moment mostly focus on emission reductions and do not consider adaptation. Long term climate actions need to address both mitigation and adaptation. LTS submissions by most developed countries set a goal of net-zero around mid-century. For meaningful climate actions, this goal-post needs to shift from net zero to climate stabilization.

In this regard, The Energy and Resources Insitute, in collaboration with German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU), WiseEuropa -The Warsaw Institute for Economic and European Studies Foundation (WiseEuropa), and Ecologic Institute is organizing a UNFCCC official side event, titled, "Beyond Climate Neutrality: Using LTS to Chart an Equitable Path for a Resilient Planet", on 6th November 2021, 10:15-11:30 PM IST (4:45-6:00 GMT).

Key questions

• What are the key elements of a COP26 decision on LTS, to harness their potential in guiding ambitious national climate policies and international cooperation towards adaptation and climate stabilization?
• Which topics should be covered and which priorities be set in new and strengthened LTS?
• In countries that are already implementing them, how have the LTS served to raise ambition in the short-term climate policy?
• What is important in processes to develop LTS, to link them to NDCs and other instruments, and to develop a globally consistent picture?
• Which barriers do countries face in developing LTS, and how can they be overcome?

Speakers:

Welcome and Introduction 

• Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI 

Keynote Address & launch of the COP26 Charter of Actions

• Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India (invited)

Framing Presentations

• ‘COP26 Charter of Actions’ by Shailly Kedia, Associate Director, Sustainable Development and Outreach, TERI 

• ‘Beyond Climate Neutrality’ by Karen Pittel, Chair, WBGU and Director, Center for Energy, Climate and Exhaustible Resources, University of Munich 

• ‘Lessons Learned and Outlook for National LTS Process in the EU Member States’ by Aleksander Sniegocki, WISE Europa, Climate Recon 2050

Panel discussion:

Chair: RR Rashmi, Distinguished Fellow, TERI and Former Climate Negotiator

• Marta Torres Gunfaus, Senior Research Fellow, Climate and Energy, IDDRI 

• Mahendra Singhi, MD & CEO, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd; Co-Chair, TERI CBS Executive Committee and COP26 Business Leader 

• Shailly Kedia, Associate Director, Sustainable Development and Outreach, TERI

• Karen Pittel, Chair, WBGU and Director, Center for Energy, Climate and Exhaustible Resources, University of Munich 

• Aleksander Sniegocki, WISE Europa, Climate Recon 2050