2023.12.6 Wed.

14:45 - 16:00

Pathways towards Enhanced Capacity to Implement the Paris Agreement — Regional Leaders Dialogue

Organizer

United Nations University Institute for the Advance Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)

Seminar abstract

Abstract

Effective implementation of the Paris Agreement by the Parties requires enhanced institutional capacities within governments, particularly in developing countries. There is a strong need for personnel with advanced knowledge and skills to implement various requirements under the Agreement, such as the enhanced transparency framework, nationally determined contributions, national adaptation planning process, global stocktake, and credit market mechanism. This seminar will gather leading experts from all regions of the world to discuss the status quo and challenges to implementing climate action under the Paris Agreement and to identify innovative solutions and the role of partnerships to enhance institutional capacity in a sustainable way to realise carbon-neutral and climate-resilient development across the globe.

Program

Opening Remarks -5 min-

Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi Director, United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)

Outline of the UNU Postgraduate Degree Specialisation on the Paris Agreement -5 min-

Akio Takemoto Head of Programme and Administration, United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)

Panel Discussion -55 min-

• Akio Takemoto Head of Programme and Administration, United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)
• R R Rashmi The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Distinguished Fellow and Programme, Director, Earth Science and Climate Change
• Takahiro Morita Director General, Global Environment Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
• Philip Osano Centre Director, Stockholm Environment Institute
• Kitzia Irina Oribe Aguilar Student, UNU-IAS

Q&A -5 min-

Closing Remarks -5 min-

Yutaka Matsuzawa Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of the Enviroment of Japan

Speakers

In-person

• Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi / Director, United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)
• Akio Takemoto / Head of Programme and Administration, United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)
• Huy Luong Quang / Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Viet Nam Head, Division of GHG Emission Reduction and Ozone Layer Protection, Department of Climate Change
• Takahiro Morita / Director General, Global Environment Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
• Kitzia Irina Oribe Aguilar / First-year master’s degree student of the UNU-IAS postgraduate degree specialization on the Paris Agreement
• Yutaka Matsuzawa / Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of the Enviroment of Japan

Related Links

• COP28 Event Examines Pathways for Strengthening Paris Agreement Implementation
• Please refer to the UNU-IAS website for updated information

Session Summary

The event engaged experts and youth to discuss challenges and opportunities for accelerating implementation of the agreement through education and training.

Opening remarks by Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi (Director, UNU-IAS) introduced the UNU-IAS postgraduate degree specialization on the Paris Agreement — a new initiative launched in September 2023 aiming to develop knowledge and technical skills for implementation. And highlighted plans to expand access to the courses.

Akio Takemoto (Head of Programme & Administration, UNU-IAS) detailed the components of the diploma programme, which include measurement, verification and reporting (MRV) of greenhouse gas emissions; carbon markets; and climate adaptation, loss and damage. He laos added that the institutes’ contribution to the Paris Agreement Article 6 Implementation Partnership.

At the panel discussion, each panelist introduced their activities and stressed a need for specialized courses on climate change to train the next generation of experts, programmes to train instructors on integrating climate change into their courses, a critical mass of climate expertise in policymaking, strengthening knowledge in line ministries on how to link their work to climate change, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

In closing remarks, Yutaka Matsuzawa (Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of the Environment of Japan) underlined that such efforts should be scaled up to accelerate climate action, integrating the SDGs and other priorities for developing countries.

Message and Results

As a part of the UNU-IAS initiative for youth empowerment, the event invited a first-year master’s degree student at UNU-IAS who is currently pursuing the postgraduate degree specialization on the Paris Agreement. Based on the outcomes of this event, UNU-IAS organized an event “COP28 Debrief: Building Capacity to Implement the Paris Agreement by inviting youth and the experts, including Dr Hoesung Lee (Special Ambassador for Carbon Free Energy, President of CF Alliance; Former Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)) and presented a latest report on COP 28 and the activities of IAS.