Last Update: 04.07.2011

Co-Chairs’ summary by Norbert Röttgen and Maite Nkoana-Mashabane

Petersberg Climate Dialogue II – Rising to the Climate Challenge

On 3-4 July 2011, at the invitation of South Africa and Germany, a group of 35 Ministers and theirrepresentatives, the Chairs of the AWG-LCA, AWG-KP and SBSTA, as well as the Deputy ExecutiveSecretary of the UNFCCC Secretariat, came together in Berlin - in an informal setting to hold an openand frank exchange on possible ways forward in the UN climate change negotiations. ChancellorMerkel advocated strong leadership and stressed the urgency to act. The main messages from thediscussion are summarised below in a non-exhaustive manner.

Ministers acknowledged the successful outcome of the Cancún Conference of Parties to theConvention and agreed that this was a powerful signal that the international community can indeedact collectively. Ministers agreed that it was important to build on this success and the trust it hadcreated and show continued commitment and leadership. This is crucial for moving the processforward. However it was restated that the level of ambition of existing commitments and actions wasinsufficient to limit the global temperature increase to below 2 degrees and that countries shouldurgently consider how to raise their level of ambition both at the national and international level.Ministers recognised that the incremental approach adopted since the Copenhagen Conference hadbeen successful and should be continued. Ministers emphasized that the Durban outcome needed torepresent clear progress since Cancún, including both by addressing those outstanding issues fromCOP 16/CMP 6 and by operationalizing the COP 16/CMP 6 decisions. Ministers identified the keypolitical issues under negotiation that needed to be dealt with before, during and after Durban,including the question of legal form, 2nd Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol, equity, and thelevel of ambition of mitigation pledges.

The continued value of the multilateral rules based system was strongly emphasised. The specificform that such a system would have in future was seen by some as a two-track outcome with a 2ndCommitment Period under the Kyoto Protocol and by others as a single legally binding agreementunder the Convention. An indication was given that Durban should give political direction to theshape of and timing for a future comprehensive, global rules based system that ensures globalwarming stays below 2 or 1.5 degrees Celsius. In this regard the 2015 review will play a critical role.Ministers presented a variety of approaches on how to address equity in the negotiations. Equity waslinked by some to the consideration of the long term global goal and others emphasised access tosustainable development. It was noted that further discussion was needed in the run up to Durbanand beyond.

The successful operationalization of the Cancún Agreements can facilitate the resolution ofoutstanding political issues. Ministers noted that many countries have already launched projects,initiatives or programmes to tackle climate change and acknowledged the value of learning fromexperience. Examples of effective implementation were presented at the Petersberg Climate DialogueII which demonstrates commitment and enhances mutual trust. The importance of sharing practicalexperience in particular in the area of MRV and transparency was highlighted. In relation to means ofimplementation Ministers stressed the importance of the delivery thereof to enable the delivery of ameaningful and credible Durban outcome.

Ministers reiterated the need to address both mitigation and adaptation in an equal manner. As abasis for effective action Ministers stressed the need for enhanced capacities in developing countries.Technology was also identified as an important component of sustainable economic transformation.On finance, Ministers highlighted that the timely and transparent delivery of “fast start” financing tosupport implementation of mitigation and adaptation action in developing countries will strengthenconfidence in the multilateral process.

Ministers stressed the need to avoid a financing gap after 2012, when the fast start finance periodends. They also emphasised the importance of meeting the long term financing goal of US$100 bnper year by 2020. In this context some Ministers raised the need for meaningful mitigation actionand transparency on implementation. A variety of sources would be required, and Ministersacknowledged the need to explore further sources for long term financing that will provide therequired new, additional, adequate and predictable financial flows.

Ministers agreed that Durban should take a decision to operationalize the Green Climate Fund. At thesame time Ministers cautioned against the fund becoming an empty shell. The Fund should play acatalytic role in assisting developing countries in their efforts to pursue transformational low-carbonand climate-resilient development paths.

There was a discussion about a possible Durban outcome which identified a variety of scenarios.Ideas for a transitional phase were suggested. With regard to mitigation Ministers acknowledged thelinkage between the outcomes on the Kyoto and the Convention tracks and the relationship with thelegal options for an agreed outcome on pending issues. Ideas on a transitional phase and middleground options should be explored further.

As elements for a possible Durban outcome Ministers identified i.a. the operationalization of theCancun outcomes, a transitional solution to ensure the continuation of a rules based system, equalemphasis of mitigation and adaptation, transparency (MRV, IAR, ICA) and finance, as well asprogress on pending issues. In this regard, the insufficient level of ambition was noted. Ministersidentified the need for a balanced outcome to move forward.

The meeting demonstrated once again the value of informal fora in stimulating an open and politicalexchange. Ministers further emphasised that such meetings were critical to advance formalnegotiations and welcomed the South African initiative for further meetings in September and aPreCOP in October.

Ministers agreed to take the constructive spirit and ideas of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue II backto their respective delegations to the UN negotiations and the negotiation groups they wererepresenting. In this way the key messages from this Dialogue will be communicated to the largergroup of countries that would be coming together in the autumn of 2011. They further agreed that itwas critical to provide political guidance and a clear mandate to negotiators.

Ministers expressed their optimism that this Ministerial Dialogue would contribute to progress inforthcoming negotiations, a further convergence of positions and the generation of much neededpolitical momentum. This would be critical in making the Durban Conference in December a successand a key milestone in our long-term efforts to prevent dangerous climate change.