Query:

Are both the negative and the positive impacts of response measures envisaged under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement?

Advice:

There is ample evidence that both the negative and the positive impacts of response measures are envisaged under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. While discussions have often focused on the negative, or adverse, impacts, the positive impacts are by no means excluded. The latter are at times also referred to as “co-benefits”.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of examples where both the negative and the positive impacts of response measures are envisaged in UNFCCC documents (in reverse chronological order):

• 2010: Decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 92 – Decides that Parties should cooperate fully to enhance understanding of the economic and social consequences of response measures, taking into account the need for information from those affected, and evidence of actual impacts, and of both positive and negative effects;

• 2011: Decision 8/CP.17
  • Acknowledging Parties’ repeated calls for a continued and structured exchange of information on both the positive and negative consequences of response measures and on ways to maximize the positive and minimize the negative consequences for Parties, in line with the work programme on this matter developed by the subsidiary bodies.
  • Paragraph 1 – adopts a work programme on the impact of the implementation of response measures under the subsidiary bodies, with the objective of improving the understanding of the impact of the implementation of response measures in the following areas:
    • (a) Sharing of information and expertise, including reporting and promoting understanding of positive and negative impacts of response measures; …
      
• 2018: Decision 7/CMA.1 – Acknowledging that there are both positive and negative impacts associated with measures taken in response to climate change
  
• 2021: Decision 23/CMA.3, paragraph 7 – Recalls decision 7/CMA.1 and the functions of the forum and notes that the forum, when considering the annual reports of the Katowice Committee on Impacts and the recommendations contained therein, should consider ways to promote actions to minimize the adverse impacts and maximize the positive impacts of the implementation of response measures;

• 2022: Decision 20/CP. 27
  • paragraph 5 – request the forum and its Katowice Committee on Impacts and the secretariat to implement recommendations, of which:
  • paragraph 20 – a request the forum and its KCI to: (a) Facilitate the enhancement of the capacity of Parties, in particular developing country Parties, to develop and use impact assessment methodologies and tools for conducting their own assessments and analyses of the impacts of response measures, including on decent work and quality jobs, and economic, social, environmental, domestic, cross-border, positive and negative impacts;…
  • paragraph 31 – encourage Parties to undertake more in-depth analysis on the impacts of response measures, quantifying the co-benefits for the response measures, categorizing where the co-benefits come from and who the beneficiaries of the co-benefits are, with a view to informing integrated climate actions.
  • paragraph 32 – a request to the KCI to enhance the capacity of Parties, in particular developing country Parties, to develop and use country-specific tools and methodologies for assessing the environmental, social and economic co-benefits of climate change policies and actions.

• 2023: The Katowice Committee of Experts on the Impacts of the Implementation of Response Measures agreed on a concept note relevant to activity 7 of its workplan (see page 3, report of its 8^th meeting). This activity being to:
  • Facilitate the development and exchange of regional, country- and/or sector-specific case studies and approaches on (1) economic diversification and transformation and just transition of the workforce and creation of decent work and quality jobs, and (2) assessment and analysis of the impacts of the implementation of response measures with a view to understanding the positive and negative impacts (activity 7)

• 2023: Decision 13/CP.28
  • Paragraph 5 – Adopt the updated functions, work programme and modalities of the forum and its Katowice Committee on Impacts contained in annex I; function (f) is to promote action to minimize the adverse impacts and maximize the positive impacts of the implementation of response measures
  • Paragraph 15 – Note with appreciation the technical sessions on implementing activities 7 and 8 of the workplan
  • Annex II contains activities arising from the outcomes of the midterm review of the workplan of the forum and its KCI. Activity (d) is to build awareness about the positive and negative impacts associated with low- and zero-emission transport technologies, to be implemented at SB 60 (June 2024) by the forum through the exchange and sharing of experience, best practices and key findings.

END