Daily Updates from the Climate and Clean Air Conference – Day 2

Day 2 of the Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024 highlighted the pressing need to accelerate efforts for large-scale emission reductions within the decade. With a focus on mitigating short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) and addressing air pollution, stakeholders emphasised the critical importance of immediate action to meet international climate targets and safeguard public health. 

Discussions centred on the imperative to build political support and mobilise finance across various sectors, including Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), philanthropy, cities, and national governments. Stakeholders underscored the necessity of scaling up financial resources to drive SLCP mitigation efforts and achieve global sustainability goals. 

The conference showcased holistic approaches to SLCP mitigation, integrating both quantitative and qualitative dimensions into strategies. Collaborative efforts between subnational governments, philanthropies, and development agencies were highlighted as essential for driving investment in SLCP mitigation and fostering sustainable development. 

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In today's sessions, there was a pressing call to expedite efforts to achieve significant emission reductions to meet international climate targets and address the detrimental impact of air pollution on public health. The day emphasised the critical need for concerted action and financial mobilisation to tackle climate change and air pollution. 

Plenary Panel 1: Scaling Up Subnational Action for Global Impact 

The first plenary panel discussion had experts from philanthropy, development agencies, and subnational governments discussing leveraging finance to scale up SLCP mitigation efforts, with a focus on subnational actions. The panel was moderated by Sean Maguire of Clean Air Fund. Panelists shared insights and experiences, addressing questions on the role of subnational governments in mitigating methane and black carbon emissions and the significance of subnational networks in leveraging finance.  
 

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Subnational entities have an important role to play in addressing climate and air quality issues, including being part of international conversations/negotiations and leveraging finance to support implementation of SLCP mitigation. Political commitment, incentives for businesses, and engagement and clear communication with citizens while working with national governments are necessary for success.

Mr. Wade Crowfoot, Secretary of Natural Resources, State of California, highlighted California's leadership in setting science-based targets and mobilising subnational governments. 
 

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Ms. Lorraine Gerrans, Director of Environmental Management, Cape Town, elaborated on Cape Town's efforts towards carbon neutrality and the role of subnational networks in leveraging finance. 
 

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Mr. Malick Haidara, Senior Climate and Energy Advisor, USAID, discussed USAID's support for subnational governments and the importance of political support in raising finance for mitigation. 

 

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Plenary Panel 2: Country Experiences on Scaling Up Implementation of SLCP Mitigation 

Representatives from Nigeria, Vietnam, Chile, Ghana, Morocco, and Côte d'Ivoire shared invaluable insights on how the CCAC has influenced SLCP mitigation in their respective countries. Discussions ranged from compliance measures in the oil and gas sector to incentivizing private sector investments and quantifying health benefits from Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) implementation. 

CCAC support to national governments on integrated climate and clean air planning have been necessary and helpful for developing national SLCP strategies and sectoral strategies for implementation, leading to more ambition in many developing countries NDCs. Working with relevant government agencies, stakeholders and industry were key in the successful adoption of the SLCP measures identified in the SLCP plans.  
Considerations for the next NDC update and recommendations for scaling up implementation were key takeaways for further action. 
 

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In the breakout sessions on Methane Roadmap Development, speakers and participants from around the world came together to drive action on reducing methane emissions and enhancing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs).  
 

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Session 1: Methane Roadmap Development in Africa 

Country representatives from Nigeria, Cameroon, and Côte d'Ivoire shared their plans for including methane and other SLCPs in their revised NDCs and new BTRs. 

The importance of methane roadmaps, and their role in enhancing NDC ambition and national plans were highlighted. Panelists called for support for methane roadmap implementation, including the need for increased expertise and resource mobilisation. Further discussion on methane roadmap implementation focused on the need for coordination mechanisms linking planning to finance, the role of public engagement and advocacy, and the need for regulatory frameworks. 

Session 2: Methane Roadmap Development in Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) and Asia 

Speakers from Cambodia, Chile and Colombia discussed their experiences and challenges in integrating methane and SLCPs into their climate action plans, and shared insights into strategies for methane inclusion in NDCs and BTRs. 

The session emphasized the need for collaboration and support to accelerate progress towards meeting methane reduction goals and enhancing transparency in reporting. Discussions focused on identifying opportunities for scaling up action, leveraging successes, and advocating for increased ambition in methane mitigation efforts. 

These breakout sessions served as a platform to raise awareness about the Methane Roadmap Accelerator Program (M-RAP) and foster a sense of community among countries committed to addressing methane emissions. The discussions underscored the urgent need for collaborative action to achieve the goals set forth in the Global Methane Pledge. 

Launch of Framework for Gender-responsive Livestock Development 

FAO, ILRI, IFAD and the World Bank launched a new report “A framework for gender-responsive livestock development: Contributing to a world free from hunger, malnutrition, poverty and inequality ” with the aim of supporting the planning and implementation of gender-responsive policies, projects and investments related to the development of the livestock sector. It provides an overarching framework to support the formulation of action plans and guidance documents contributing to gender equality and women’s empowerment through livestock development. 

Agriculture Hub Session 

This session delved into critical discussions on advancing methane mitigation in livestock systems and the rice sector, and underscored the importance of collaborative approaches, innovative solutions, and knowledge exchange in addressing methane emissions and building resilient agricultural systems. 

In Part 1, a key takeaway is the need to reduce emission intensity and increase agricultural productivity. It is also important to understand farmer behaviour and decision-making, and learn from farmers as critical agents of change. It was noted that data on the global south is lacking, and the revised NDCs and first BTRs will provide a stronger data set. It is hoped that the latter will help provide better informed and targeted policies and investments. Holistic actions can have a positive impact on emissions, with examples of the former being supporting farmers directly, focusing on feed management, and focusing on soil health for feed production and herd and manure management.  

In Part 2, a key takeaway was that while rice accounts for 10% of agriculture emissions worldwide, it also offers high mitigation potential (e.g. through alternate wetting and drying); farm practices and certain “climate-smart” varieties can cut as much as a third of methane emissions. Across the value chain, rice waste is significant, and can be as much as 33%. Management and re-use of rice straw, as an alternative to burning, is also an opportunity to avoid GHGs. Rice producers face climate stress, and significant impact on livelihoods – it was noted that a rice crisis would seriously undermine the SDGs. The discussion called for greater research into climate resilient rice systems, and the global sharing of such research. Solutions must have co-benefits to avoid burdens being placed on particularly small farmers (almost 70% of producers in Vietnam). It was also suggested by Ghana that there should be investment in training of trainers in this sector, as well as development of manuals and illustrative publications. Ghana is exploring opportunities for enhanced action through Article 6 and the use of carbon credits. 

Cooling Hub Session 

Part 1 of the session focused on creating awareness of the session participants on lifecycle management of refrigerants (LRM) and environmental dumping of inefficient cooling appliances with obsolete chemicals to developing countries. According to 2022 research by EIA, NRDC and IGSD, emissions of 90+ billion tonnes CO2e of ozone depleting substances and HFCs currently contained within equipment, or is expected to enter the market by 2100 can be avoided through LRM. 

Part 1 of the session also shared results of a studies by CLASP in Africa and Southeast Asia showing that most of the imported refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) appliances are inefficient and contain high-GWP, soon to be banned refrigerants under the Montreal Protocol. A case study from Ghana which already has updated its MEPS show that even with policies in place, high-efficiency cooling appliances are not easily accessible in the market. 

Part 2 focused on financing of SLCP and GHG mitigation in the cooling sector. The Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol is the main funding institution that supports countries in meeting their phaseout and phasedown obligations for controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol, and projects and activities eligible for funding were shared. Windows for funding for LRM, energy efficiency and sustainable cooling are also opening up, but discussions are still ongoing in the Executive Committee.

Meanwhile, other options for financing HFC mitigation projects were also explained, which included the voluntary carbon market, the Paris Agreement Article 6 and Japan’s Joint Crediting Mechanism.  

Fossil Fuel Hub Session 

Part 1 addressed opportunities and tools to build capacity in the fossil fuel sector, with presentations from UNEP’s IMEO MARS, Carbon Limits on their MIST Tool and CATF on their CoMAT tool, followed by a country roundtable with representatives from Iraq, Mexico and Nigeria. The discussion highlighted four main factors: (1) We need more data; (2) Transparency is critical to ensure commercialization; (3) It’s important to integrate satellite data into national inventories; (4) There is a need to make sure there is sufficient financing and think about how satellite data can be applied to agriculture and waste (e.g. MethaneSAT will also be used for agriculture).  

Part 2 began with a pre-recorded video from IEA on their Regulatory Map and Toolkit, and then the EU, Uganda and Colombia presented their policy and regulatory framework. The Q&A that followed highlighted that countries are focusing on engaging their stakeholders, ensuring that their NOCs are commercially viable, and how various elements of methane mitigation work together, from onsite measurements, improving inventories and policy development and international cooperation.  

CCAC National Experts in Action 

CCAC national experts came together at the conference. CCAC supports capacity building within partner governments by recruiting local experts to support national planning and policy efforts.  

National experts are responsible for fostering inter-ministerial collaboration and engaging stakeholders at the national level to effectively integrate short-lived climate pollutants into national policy.  

National experts sit within the government, working in close collaboration with the CCAC Secretariat and our government focal points to advance the implementation, financing, and monitoring of short-lived climate pollutant mitigation strategies.

 

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We Engaged with Wider Media on Climate and Clean Air Reporting
 

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The report on Used Heavy-Duty Vehicles and the Environment was launched at a press conference, followed by a dialogue session where journalists and scientists from various countries discussed cleaner air and climate mitigation.

Held alongside the Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024 in Nairobi, preceding the UN Environment Assembly, the event addressed the urgent issue of air pollution, emphasizing the need for enhanced media coverage to raise awareness about its health and environmental impacts. The dialogue aimed to foster collaboration among scientific, policy, and media communities to better communicate the complexities of air quality and climate issues to the public. This event served as a precursor to a comprehensive certificate course on climate and clean air reporting designed for journalists by the UN.

 

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A Planet Out of Breath, by Bankslave

We are excited to announce that Bankslave, known as the founding father of Kenyan graffiti street art, is drawing a live mural depicting air pollution as a transboundary issue and its linkage with climate and nature crisis.

Bankslave will be painting daily starting from 21 February-28 February 2024 at the UN compound. This mural is funded by the Clean Air Fund and coordinated by WRI and CCAC/UNEP. Come and see it for yourself, and be inspired to take action
 

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When art meets advocacy, magic happens. Our special guest, Singer, TV producer and former Director of Communications at UNEP and UNFCCC, Nick Nuttall meets Bankslave discussing the transformative power of art in driving climate and clean air action.

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Click here to view photos from day two.