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United Nations Climate Change Negotiations

Support for International Negotiations to Set Out and Enforce Global Climate Change Framework

Climate change is a threat to the survival of the human race; a global challenge that requires countries around the world to cooperate. To tackle this issue, frameworks have been formed under treaties such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that led to the Paris Agreement, and international negotiations on climate change being conducted to determine the action needed to achieve the global goals.

Roles of the OECC

At the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP) where international climate change negotiations are conducted, discussions are held based on critical agendas to resolve climate change issues. The OECC dispatches staff complement to the Japanese government delegation and provides support for international negotiations. In the past, the OECC has been involved in the negotiations for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol and Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA) in developing countries. We continue to take on agendas such as capacity building in developing countries, drawing on our vast experiences in development cooperation.

Our Business

International Negotiations for Drafting the Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement, adopted at COP21 in 2016, is an international treaty that sets a target of limiting the increase in global average temperature to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels (ideally less than 1.5°C) and aims to limit GHG emissions effectively to zero in the second half of this century. All countries participate in the Paris Agreement and together form a universal framework for climate change beyond 2020. The OECC staff served as Japan’s lead negotiator for the negotiations on Article 11 (capacity building for developing countries) and Article 12 (action for climate empowerment) of the Paris Agreement.

Drafts at the negotiation of Paris Agreement

Negotiation and Facilitation for International Consensus Building

The interests of various countries collide at the UN climate change negotiations and sometimes result in heated discussions. OECC staff members participating in the negotiating team represent Japan’s position in the negotiations and also serve as co-facilitators to promote a common understanding that transcends differences in positions and build international consensus.

Director Kato (left) co-facilitates the negotiating group for the negotiation agenda “capacity building in developing countries.”

Post-COP Debriefing Session

The OECC holds a post-COP debriefing session as part of its association activities. The session includes presentations by the Japanese government negotiators and the OECC staff who participated in the negotiations. These sessions provide concise summaries of the discussion points and evaluations of the decisions made in the negotiation. The staff members who were in charge of holding the COP side events also report on the latest information obtained during COP.

Projects we were engaged in:

OECC Webpage
COP Special Section Photo Report

Related Information