Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) Blockchain Governance Innovation Gym (BlockGIG) Discussion: Legal, political and implementation challenges of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change The Potential of Blockchain Technology to Enhance Climate Action Alexandre Gellert Paris Toronto, Canada, 24 June 2017 UNFCCC Secretariat SDM programme 2 The UNFCCC Secretariat In 1992, countries adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as a response to the problem of global warming. Five years later, they adopted the Kyoto Protocol, which strengthens the Convention by setting legally binding emission reduction requirements for 37 industrialized countries. The ultimate objective of both treaties is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. In 1996, Governments decided to accept the offer of the German Government to locate the secretariat in the German city of Bonn. At the head of the secretariat is the Executive Secretary. This position is currently held by Patricia Espinosa Cantellano. UNFCCC Secretariat – Facts andFigures Hosts and administers a dozen Annual expenditures of official registries, databasesand aprox. USD 115million systems related to adaptation, mitigation and finance Strong social media Supports up-to30.000 presence: 270K follower participants attending annual @UNFCCC, 155K likes on Conferences of Parties(COP) Facebook Coordinates the workof 15 constituted bodiesand 500 staff from 80countries expertgroups C To date has assessed,processed Coordinatesand supports on and certifiedapproximately average 375side events and exhibits atCOPs 2 billion CDM Certified EmmissionReductions. Organizes 80conferences, Prepares around 450 workshopsand meetings on UN documents and legal texts average peryear ayear The UNFCCC Secretariat The UNFCCC secretariat is a UN agency whose mission is to support cooperative action by States and non-State actors to combat climate change and its impact on humanity and ecosystems. This is a contribution to a sustainable world and to realizing the vision of peace, security and human dignity on which the UN is founded. UNFCCC Secretariat – The future post Paris Objective of theConvention Challenges Maximizing impact: Operationalizing the Responding to Managing a Paris Agreement: budgetary realities: topperforming Partnering with organization: governments, the UN, civil society Supporting a com Delivering a and the private plex regime growing number Maintaining an sector for of tasks with agile, innovative increased climate limited core and attractive action resources institution 7 The Paris Agreement 8 The Paris Agreement 29 articles, 25 pages Parties aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, recognizing that peaking will take longer for developing country Parties, and to undertake rapid reductions thereafter in accordance with best available science, so as to achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century (Article 4) 9 Every Word Counts http://www.politico.eu/article/one-word-almost-sunk-climate-talks-legally-binding-cop21-deal-global-warming/ 10