[2019] Side Events at UN Climate Change Conference COP25

Lundi, 02 December 2019 - 11:00pm to Samedi, 14 December 2019 - 7:00am

Description 

The UN Climate Change Conference COP 25 (2 – 13 December 2019) will take place under the Presidency of the Government of Chile and will be held with logistical support from the Government of Spain. The conference is designed to take the next crucial steps in the UN climate change process. Following agreement on the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement at COP 24 in Poland last year, a key objective is to complete several matters with respect to the full operationalization of the Paris Climate Change Agreement

The United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) will be organizing 4 side events during the UN Climate Change Conference COP25. The side events will be a part of the SDGs Pavilion hosted by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the Korea Pavilion hosted by the Government of Republic of Korea to provide an interactive space where policymakers and other stakeholders can share ideas and best practices to leverage tangible action for climate action and sustainable development.

For detailed information related to COP25, please visit: https://unfccc.int/cop25

 

Side Event #1

"Sustainable Cities and Communities: Towards a Plastic-Free ASEM - 3R Practices in Asia and Europe"

5 December 2019 / 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM / Korea Pavilion of COP25, IFEMA - Feria de Madrid, Spain

The mass production of plastics is not only worsening the waste management problem but also deteriorating greenhouse gas emissions, which makes it hard to manage global temperature rise. Plastic waste is also in our water, earth, and even the air we breathe. The problem of plastic waste reduction could not be solved only through increasing its recycling. It should be tackled from the perspective of the circular economy, where its use is reduced, re-use is increased through involvement and change of behavior of all stakeholders from the whole plastic's life cycle. Therefore, this side event will explore practical examples of local initiatives in Asia and Europe and gain inspiration to achieve global targets on plastic waste reduction & management. UNOSD and Asia-Europe Environment Forum collaborate to address the issue, with a keynote address from Dr. Trung Thang Nguyen, Deputy Director General of the Institute of Strategy and Policies on Natural Resources and Environment, at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) in Viet Nam.

 

Concept Note and Programme (Updated as of 3 December 2019)

 

Presentations

"SDGs and Plastic 3R Policies" - Ms. Eunhae Jeong (Senior Development Management Expert, UNOSD)

 

"Singapore's Year Towards Zero Waste" - Ms. Melissa Low (Research Fellow, Energy Studies Institute (ESI), National University of Singapore)

 

"Towards a Plastic-free ASEM 3R Practices in Asia and Europe" - Mr. Nguyen Trung Thang (Institute of Strategy and Policies on Natural Resources and Environment Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Viet Nam)

 

Side Event #2

"Reflecting on 5 years of implementing Fossil Fuel to Renewable Energy Transition Workshops"

7 December 2019 / 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM / SDGs Pavilion of COP25, IFEMA - Feria de Madrid, Spain

In the context of Sustainable Development Goal 7 which advocates universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services, the energy issue became a major agenda. In line with its capacity development mandate, and in response to requests from Member States, UN DESA and UNOSD have supported the organization of training workshops on fossil fuel to renewable energy (FFRE) transition policies and fiscal reforms where UNOSD hosted a series of FFRE workshops in Mauritius and Kenya 2014 and, more recently Costa Rica (November 2018). Through the side event, UNOSD aims to have a discussion on different initiatives, experiences, instruments and policies with the goal of informing future FFRE transition trainings. Beyond UNOSD FFRE training initiative, experiences from countries such as Costa Rica and South Korea as well as from different groups and organizations working towards renewable energy transition will be presented and discussed.

 

Opening Remarks: "Reflecting on 5 years of implementing Fossil Fuel to Renewable Energy Transition Workshops" - Dr. Jean D'Aragon (Officer-in-Charge, UNOSD)

 

Presentations

"Tackling Fine Dust and Climate Change in Korea" - Dr. Jong Soo Yoon (former Head of UNOSD and former Vice-Minister of Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea)

 

"From Fossil Fuels to Renewable Energy" - Ms. Laura Isabel Lizano Ramon (Director, Energy Planning Secretariat, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica)

 

"Fossil Fuel to Renewable Energy Transition" - Mr. Dhruba Purkayastha (Director, Climate Policy Initiative, India)

 

"Ms. Grazyna Pulawska (Senior Project Manager, Asia-Europe Foundation)

 

"Perspectives from the Arab Region" - Ms. Radia Sedaoui (Chief, Energy Section at the Sustainable Development Policies Division, UN-ESCWA)

 

"Introduction to FFRE HCD Workshops" - Ms. Jacqueline Cotrell (Vice President, Green Budget Europe and Senior Policy Advsior, Green Budget Germany)

 

Moderated Discussion

Moderator

  • Dr. Jean D’Aragon (Officer-in-Charge, UNOSD)
  • Ms. Jacqueline Cotrell (Vice President, Green Budget Europe and Senior Policy Advisor, Green Budget Germany)

Wrap-Up/Rapporteur

  • Ms. Nur A'in Binte Abd Razak (Project Officer, Asia-Europe Foundation)

 

Programme Document

Concept Note and Programme (Updated as of 3 December 2019)

Leaflet (Updated as of 3 December 2019)

Group Photo

 

 

Side Event #3

"Synergies in joint implementation of Climate Change Adaptation and the Sustainable Development Goals"

9 December 2019 / 10:00 AM - 11:45 AM / SDGs Pavilion of COP25, IFEMA - Feria de Madrid, Spain

Though Sustainable Development Goal 13 put emphasis on climate action, the world seems not recognizing the severity of climate change. Like the recent global conference held in 2019, Denmark, UNOSD is focusing on activities related to climate change adaptation which is related to achieving the SDGs through several global meetings. By participating in the side event, UNOSD expects participants to share and disseminate synergies of attaining SDGs. This knowledge sharing will help countries to implement and realize, even collaborate for climate change issue policies. Mr. Mozaharul Alam from UNEP, Ms. Sri Arundhati from the Ministry of environment in Indonesia (TBC), Mr. Zitouni Oulddada from FAO and other experts would enhance awareness on the impact of climate change and address related issues in the context of the SDGs. USG Liu zhenmin will deliver the opening speech for this event. 

Concept Note and Programme (Updated as of 3 December 2019)

Leaflet (Updated as of 3 December 2019)

 

Presentations

"CCA in the context of SDGs" - Ms. Eunhae Jeong (Senior Development Management Expert, UNOSD)

"Chile Adaptation & SDGs" - Mr. Alfonso Galarce (Ministry of Environment, Chile)

"Climate Change Adaptation and SDGs in Indonesia" - Ms. Sri Arundhati (Director of Climate Change Adaptation, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia)

Side Event #4

"Enhancing Capacity of Developing Countries to Address Climate Change: Issues and Opportunities" 

11 December 2019 / 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM / Korea Pavilion of COP25, IFEMA - Feria de Madrid, Spain

Developing countries need to recognize how to address climate change issues. This side event focuses on the case of Ethiopia to figure out how the developing countries could better utilize elements and resources available under the Paris Agreement. This event is co-hosted by Korea University, Green Asia Organization, CSDLAP, Hawassa University, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), UNDP Seoul Policy Center with co-organizers-Center for Global Climate and Marine Governance, GRI of Korea University, CSDLAP-with Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Also, the presentation of 5 speakers, including Mr. Jong Soo Yoon, former head of UNOSD, panel presentations and discussions with Mr. Suh-Yong Chung from Korea University & CSDLAP and dialogue of other speakers will foster a better understanding of capacity building on climate change issues.

Concept Note and Programme (Updated as of 3 December 2019)