Fresh on the heels of COP21 in Paris – possibly the most important United Nations environmental meeting in history – governments are meeting in Nairobi this week to develop an international policy agenda on a wide range of environmental topics at a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) preparatory meeting. The meeting saw over 20 draft resolutions for government action and further UN activity on climate change, chemicals and waste, marine plastic debris and micro plastics, and food waste. The new resolutions that come out of this meeting will be adopted at the 2^nd UN Environment Assembly in May.

Beyond environmental topics, governments are also considering cross-cutting issues and initiatives, including health and environment, and the UN’s far-reaching collaboration with the World Health Organization; financing and investment for sustainable development; and the role of public-private partnerships involving the business community across several of these areas.

USCIB is on hand as an official business representative to UNEP. Norine Kennedy, vice president for strategic international engagement, energy and environment, delivered remarks on behalf of the Business and Industry Major Group on a range of business issues in a statement to the Opening Session.

Watch: #UNEA2 is an opportunity to focus on the #environmental components of the #2030Agenda – @USCIBKennedyhttps://t.co/K4M5G0dqz9

— UN Environment (@UNEP) February 18, 2016

“The groundbreaking sustainability agreements of last year could not have happened without the strong engagement of business working with other stakeholders and governments, and UNEA must also engage the private sector,” Kennedy said.  Innovation, enabling frameworks for cost effective and scientifically sound policy design, and the need to work with business in partnerships are priorities for USCIB’s ongoing involvement in UN environmental work

The UN Environment Assembly next May will be the first major inter-governmental sustainability meeting since the Paris climate summit. The assembly will place special emphasis on “Delivering the Environmental Aspects of the SDGs.”  Ministers will meet to consider how to jumpstart and deepen implementation on environmental issues embedded in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

UNEP is the authoritative environmental agency in the United Nations system.  USCIB will be discussing business issues and strategy for the second UN Environment Assembly at the next meeting of the USCIB Environment Committee in Washington DC on March 8.

After four years of intensive negotiations, 194 countries concluded a long-term global climate treaty, known as the Paris Agreement, to reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. The two-week meeting, which concluded on December 12, was one of the largest gatherings in the history of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), with 150 heads of state on hand, more than 40,000 registered attendees and unprecedented business involvement. USCIB members and staff, including President and CEO Peter Robinson and Vice President for Energy, Environment and International Engagement Norine Kennedy, were on the ground in Paris to advance USCIB policy priorities, hold several side meetings and presentations on US business climate perspectives and demonstrate business’s stake in a successful outcome.

The Paris Agreement is based on national pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and sets out an international framework for stocktaking on government actions in several areas, including mitigation, adaptation and technology cooperation. The agreement requires countries to report on progress and calls on them to set progressively more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets at five year intervals. There will be many opportunities for the private sector to contribute to this global endeavor, although some specifics regarding the agreement’s implementation still require elaboration.  It sets ambitious long term goals to limit mean temperature rise to 1.5 C, with global peaking and net carbon neutrality in the second half of the century.  It also calls on public and private sources to mobilize a minimum of $100 billion per year to support climate action in developing countries, with that amount to increase after 2020. The Paris Agreement will enter into force when 55 countries making up 55% of global emissions ratify it.

USCIB noted several positive outcomes for business in the Paris Agreement relating to technology innovation, the option to use markets for emissions reductions, and the engagement of business in near term actions and technical inputs.

“Business was seeking flexibility and clarity in this agreement, especially with regard to the possible use of markets at national and international levels,” said USCIB member Nick Campbell (Arkema). “We note that the Paris Agreement does not preclude these options, and the door remains open for carbon markets to evolve among interested countries.”

Prior to COP21, USCIB had strong concerns that some countries would attempt to address intellectual property in the Paris outcome as a barrier to the transfer of green technology. Thanks to sustained advocacy from USCIB and many other business organizations, the Paris Agreement does not reference IP, and underscores the need for enabling frameworks.

“Open trade and strong IP protection  are central enabling conditions for innovation, stimulating investment and disseminating new greener technologies and knowledge,” said Norine Kennedy, USCIB’s vice president for strategic international engagement, energy and environment. “Many governments continue to express interest in engaging with the private sector on climate action, and business will remain involved in the process as countries move to elaborate and implement the agreement.”

Visit our climate homepage for more coverage of COP21.

Governments reached a long-awaited climate accord on December 12 in Paris, bringing an end to four years of intensive United Nations negotiations to set a new global plan from 2020 onward, with long-term targets through the end of the century. The two-week meeting, known as the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21), brought together President Obama, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, and over 150 heads of state. In addition to the governmental meetings, businesses and other non-state representatives from every region of the world presented numerous new initiatives and solutions to the climate challenge at multiple venues.

“USCIB members were on hand at COP21 in unprecedented numbers to demonstrate their commitment and stake in the accord, and we are confident that this engagement will continue,” stated USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson. “USCIB is ready to strengthen its involvement with the UN process to build long-term cooperation for practical and cost-effective results.”

Robinson went on to thank the government of France for organizing COP21 and shepherding the agreement to its conclusion, and noted its excellent partnership with industry including  business groups such as MEDEF and ICC-France. He also commended the strong and positive representation in Paris of multiple national and international business organizations, coordinated in large part by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), for which USCIB serves as U.S. affiliate.

Read ICC’s press release.

Unlike its predecessor, the Kyoto Protocol, this new universal agreement engages all countries in climate action under an international cooperative framework on mitigation, adaptation and resilience, requiring periodic reporting and review of governmental actions, Based on a foundation of national pledges and actions, the agreement calls on countries to set progressively more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets at five year intervals.

Robinson speaks to Climate TV about private-sector involvement in the Paris Agreement

While questions do remain about the feasibility of the Paris Agreement’s longer term target to eventually limit mean temperature change to 1.5  degrees C,  the new treaty does recognize the need for enabling frameworks in global markets and policy necessary to mobilize business innovation and investment across all sectors.  These will be essential to shift national economies and the dynamics of the global market place to help meet the agreement’s ambitious targets.

“In its over 20 years of involvement in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process, USCIB has emphasized that the lynchpin for successful implementation will be private sector involvement at national and global levels,” Norine Kennedy, USCIB’s VP for Environment and Energy said. “Governments will look to business for technical input, as well as finance, investment and implementation, and we are ready to step up.  Thanks to a concerted effort by USCIB and other US business groups, the agreement provides clarity on markets, while steering clear of confusion on intellectual property rights protection.“ 

In coming weeks, USCIB will assess the Paris outcomes and set priorities for its engagement with the first phase of the Paris Agreement, in partnership with ICC, the Major Economies Business Forum and other business organizations.

BIAC Welcomes COP21 Outcomes and Calls for Dynamic Role for the OECD

More information on USCIB’s activities at COP21 available on our climate homepage.