Key Lima Outcomes - A Last step before UNFCCC Paris-2015

Key Lima Outcomes

The UNFCCC negotiations focused on the finalization of elements of the draft negotiating text for the 2015 Paris agreement, identification of information to be submitted by Parties under the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), and enhancement of pre 2020 actions. Some of the important outcomes of the Lima

Conference are the following:

• • The Lima Conference has decided that the new agreement will be under the UNFCCC and will reflect the principle of CBDR in the light of different national circumstances. It also addresses all elements, i.e. mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, capacity building, and transparency of action and support in a balanced manner.
• • The draft text has to be finalized by May 2015 in order to be placed for consideration and adoption of Parties at COP 21.
• Another key decision was that countries should not backslide from current pledges under the INDCs and their contribution has to be more than their current commitments. The final decision successfully ensured that countries can include adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, capacity building, and transparency of action and support also in their INDCs, in addition to mitigation. There is also no ‘ex-ante assessment’ to be undergone.
• • Now countries have to submit quantifiable information on the reference point (base year), time frames, scope and planning process, assessments, etc. related to the INDCs. This will be published on the UNFCCC website and a Synthesis Report of the aggregate effect of the INDCs prepared by 1 November 2015.
•  It was decided to accelerate action on enhancing the pre-2020 actions like early ratification of the Kyoto Protocol second commitment period, revisiting of targets and conditionalities associated with it, and provision of finance, technology, and capacity building support by developed countries to developing countries.
• On the issue of finance, developed countries have been invited to provide clarity on reaching the US$ 100 billion goal by 2020, by way of enhanced information and greater transparency and predictability for scaling up climate finance. On the Green Climate Fund (GCF), pledges amounting to US$ 10.2 billion for initial capitalization of the Fund have been acknowledged. It was further decided to urge contributors to confirm these pledges in the form of fully executed contribution agreements so that at least 50 per cent of pledges made till November 2014 are reflected as fully executed contribution agreements by 30 April 2015.

(Published in Economic Survey 2014-15)