As co-benefits continue to rise up the political agenda, there will be three side-events on this theme at COP 22 in Marrakech.
How to maximise the co-benefits of climate change mitigation action
Wednesday 9 November, 10.30am-12.00, EU Pavilion, Bratislava Room.
This side-event will highlight the substantial potential for climate action to generate co-benefits for other objectives. It will present evidence that the value of these benefits, for example in avoided healthcare costs or fuel savings, can exceed the cost of climate mitigation, so that climate action can pay for itself. This can be a powerful motivation for countries to increase the ambition of their NDCs (nationally determined contributions), which are currently not adequate to meet the long term temperature goal set in Paris. Equally, possible adverse effects of some mitigation actions can act as barriers to action. Well-designed, integrated policymaking can maximise the co-benefits and minimise any adverse side-effects.
This event aims to:
• Present an overview of the latest science and co-benefits of achieving the long-term global temperature goal
• Showcase current national/local/city-level activities
• Communicate the benefits and opportunities of a co-benefits approach to mitigation, building optimism around achieving INDCs
• Provide a platform for delegates from other countries to share their ideas about implementing integrated approaches .
The programme is as follows:
- Overview of latest evidence on co-benefits (Alison Smith, ECI)
- Co-benefits in mega-cities (Seth Schultz, C40 Cities)
- Enhancing co-benefits using market mechanisms (Frank Wolke, vice-chair of the CDM board)
- An MCDA tool for incorporating co-benefits in decision-making (Ankit Bhardwaj, Centre for Policy Research)
- Case study: Stockholm (Katarina Luhr, Mayor for the Environment, Stockholm)
- Case studies from Asia (Eric Zusman, Asian Co-benefits Partnership)
The Co-benefits from Mitigating Climate Change and Air Pollution in Asia: Beyond Quantification
Japan Pavilion, Friday 11 November, 3pm
Asia’s policymakers are increasingly turning to co-benefits to help align their climate and air pollution policies. The expanding interest has led to growing attempts to equip policymakers with the tools and knowledge to quantify reductions in multiple pollutants. But while quantifying co-benefits can help policymakers envisage potential savings, it is still one part of a decision making process. Equally important are whether the results of a co-benefits analysis are integrated into policy and achieved on the ground. The purpose of this session is to discuss how to move from quantification to concrete demonstrations of co-benefits in Asia. The speakers are:
- Eric Zusman, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
- Ana Rojas, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Teng Fei, Tsinghua University, China
- Arnico Panday, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) , Nepal (TBC)
- P.R. Shukla, Indian Institute of Management, India
Friday 18 November, EU Pavilion, 14.30
The New Climate Institute are organizing this event to highlight the Missed Co-benefits of INDCs for fossil fuel imports, air pollution and jobs.
If you will be at COP 22 you are very welcome to come to these events, and please also help to spread the word.