SUMMARY of the Article “Climate Opportunities” by Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, Dawn [Published on December 21st, 2023]
The article highlights Pakistan’s strategic opportunities at COP28, setting the course for its climate agenda. Active participation by Pakistan in the climate summit, involving various ministries and regional governments, showcased unprecedented inter-ministerial collaboration. The nation secured positions on key committees, such as the Loss & Damage Fund (LDF) board and four committees of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These committees, including the Technology Executive Committee (TEC), Paris Committee on Capacity-Building (PCCB), Advisory Board of the Santiago Network (ABSN), and the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF), focus on diverse aspects of climate change, offering strategic leverage for Pakistan. The author emphasizes the need for inter-ministerial coordination to maximize the impact of these opportunities. Additionally, the article discusses COP28’s failure to reach agreements on carbon trading and phasing out coal and fossil fuels, providing Pakistan with opportunities to finalize its carbon trading policies and explore the regulatory market. The author suggests that Pakistan can learn from COP28’s outcomes, especially related to the Just Energy Transition Partnership, and potentially develop a model project for hybrid energy, incorporating hydrogen and offshore wind energy.
Easy/Short SUMMARY:
The article discusses Pakistan’s strategic opportunities at COP28, emphasizing active participation and collaboration across ministries. Key achievements include securing positions on committees addressing climate issues and the creation of the Loss & Damage Fund (LDF). COP28’s failures in reaching agreements on carbon trading and fossil fuel phasing provide Pakistan opportunities to refine its policies and explore the regulatory market. The author suggests learning from the Just Energy Transition Partnership for potential model projects in hybrid energy.
SOLUTIONS of The Problem:
1. Inter-ministerial Coordination:
- Establish an inter-ministerial working group to coordinate efforts across ministries and maximize the impact of strategic opportunities.
2. Optimizing Committee Positions:
- Strategically leverage Pakistan’s positions on committees like TEC, PCCB, ABSN, and SCF to address diverse aspects of climate change, focusing on capacity development, technology, and climate finance.
3. Clear Scope for LDF:
- Work towards defining the clear scope of the Loss & Damage Fund (LDF) and actively participate in overseeing its operations, emphasizing financial allocations and resource management.
4. Carbon Trading Guidelines:
- Capitalize on COP28’s failure to reach agreements on carbon trading to finalize and digitalize Pakistan’s carbon trading guidelines and policies.
5. Regulatory Market Exploration:
- Explore opportunities in the regulatory market for climate projects, considering potential benefits over voluntary carbon markets.
6. Learning from JETP Agreements:
- Study and learn from agreements under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), especially those involving South Africa, Indonesia, and Vietnam, for potential application in Pakistan’s context.
7. Phased Exit from Fossil Fuels:
- Strategically plan a phased exit from fossil fuels, aligning with COP28’s focus on phasing down rather than phasing out fossil fuels.
8. Costing for Coal Phasing Out:
- Undertake comprehensive costing for phasing out coal, considering models like the Gwadar coal power plant for potential adaptation to hybrid energy projects.
9. Exploring China Partnerships:
- Explore partnerships with China for renewable energy and infrastructure projects, aligning with the Just Energy Transition Partnership for effective transition to a low-carbon economy.
10. Model Project for Hybrid Energy:
- Consider the under-construction Gwadar coal power plant as a potential model project for hybrid energy, combining hydrogen and offshore wind energy.
IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the Article:
- COP28 Summit Location: Dubai
- Committees Secured by Pakistan: Loss & Damage Fund (LDF) board, Technology Executive Committee (TEC), Paris Committee on Capacity-Building (PCCB), Advisory Board of the Santiago Network (ABSN), Standing Committee on Finance (SCF).
- Purpose of LDF: Financial mechanism aiding vulnerable nations in rebuilding necessary physical and social infrastructure.
- Role of TEC: Promotion of technology development and catalyzation of environmentally sound technologies.
- Purpose of PCCB: Support for developing countries in building capacity to tackle climate change and meet Paris Agreement commitments.
- ABSN’s Role: Catalyze technical assistance for loss and damage-related activities.
- SCF’s Focus: Improving the understanding of climate finance flows and enhancing efforts for effective finance in the context of the climate convention.
List of opportunities mentioned in the article “Climate Opportunities” by Ali Tauqeer Sheikh:
-1) Position on Committees:
– Pakistan secured positions on four significant committees: Loss & Damage Fund (LDF) board, Technology Executive Committee (TEC), Paris Committee on Capacity-Building (PCCB), Advisory Board of the Santiago Network (ABSN), and the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF).
2) Loss & Damage Fund (LDF) Membership:
– Pakistan’s election to the founding board of the Loss & Damage Fund presents an opportunity to oversee its operations, including financial allocations and resource management.
3) Strategic Committee Leverage:
– Being a member of these committees offers strategic opportunities to leverage their workings for synergetic impact and advantages for Pakistan.
4) Capacity Development through PCCB:
– The Paris Committee on Capacity-Building (PCCB) provides an opportunity for Pakistan to receive support in building capacity, including institutional strengthening and policy development, to effectively tackle climate change.
5) Technology Development with TEC:
– The Technology Executive Committee (TEC) promotes technology development, offering an overview of technological needs and catalyzing the development and use of technology.
6) Technical Assistance through ABSN:
– The Advisory Board of the Santiago Network (ABSN) is designed to catalyze technical assistance for the implementation of activities related to loss and damage, connecting developing countries with providers of assistance, knowledge, and resources.
7) Enhanced Understanding of Climate Finance with SCF:
– The Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) focuses on improving the understanding of the current status of climate finance flows and enhancing efforts to identify ways to improve its effectiveness.
8) Learning from COP28 Failures:
– COP28’s failure to reach clear, timebound agreements on carbon trading and phasing out coal provides Pakistan with opportunities to refine its carbon trading guidelines and policies.
9) Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) Model:
– Learning from JETP agreements, primarily led by Germany, the EU, Japan, Britain, and the US, offers insights for Pakistan in developing model projects for hybrid energy, combining hydrogen and offshore wind energy.
10) Phasing Down Fossil Fuels:
– COP28’s commitment to phasing down rather than phasing out fossil fuels provides Pakistan with breathing space to plan its exit strategically.
11) Opportunities in Regulatory Market:
– The delay in concluding Articles 6.2 and 6.4 at COP28 provides an opportunity for Pakistan to explore the regulatory market for climate projects, potentially reclassifying projects like the Gwadar coal power plant.
12) China Partnerships for Renewable Energy:
– Given China’s absence from JETP deals, Pakistan can explore partnerships with China for renewable energy and infrastructure projects, aligning with its transition to a low-carbon economy.
13) Model Project with Gwadar Coal Power Plant:
– The under-construction Gwadar coal power plant could serve as a model project for hybrid energy, incorporating hydrogen and offshore wind energy.
These opportunities, if effectively utilized, can contribute to Pakistan’s climate resilience and low-carbon development.
MCQs from the Article:
- Which committee, related to loss and damage, was Pakistan elected to at COP28?
A. Technology Executive Committee (TEC)
B. Paris Committee on Capacity-Building (PCCB)
C. Loss & Damage Fund (LDF) board
D. Advisory Board of the Santiago Network (ABSN) -
What operational arm of TEC promotes the accelerated transfer of environmentally sound technologies?
A. Loss & Damage Fund (LDF)
B. Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN)
C. Paris Committee on Capacity-Building (PCCB)
D. Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) -
What does PCCB support developing countries in?
A. Loss and damage activities
B. Building capacity to tackle climate change
C. Technology development
D. Financial oversight -
What is the role of ABSN in addressing loss and damage?
A. Overseeing financial allocations
B. Catalyzing technical assistance
C. Connecting developing countries with providers of assistance
D. Improving the understanding of climate finance flows -
What is the focus of SCF’s work?
A. Accelerating transfer of environmentally sound technologies
B. Enhancing efforts for effective finance
C. Improving the understanding of climate finance flows
D. Addressing loss and damage-related activities
VOCABULARY:
- Inter-ministerial (adjective) (وزارتی): Involving or representing multiple government ministries.
- Leverage (verb) (فائدہ اٹھانا): Use something to maximum advantage.
- Synergetic (adjective) (متحدہ): Cooperative or combined action.
- Forestall (verb) (روکنا): Prevent or obstruct an anticipated event or action.
- Greenwashing (noun) (ہری چھاؤ): Disinformation disseminated by an organization to present an environmentally responsible public image.
- Impasse (noun) (رکاوٹ): A situation in which no progress is possible.
- Articulation (noun) (صفائی): Clear and distinct utterance of speech.
- Hybrid Energy (noun) (ہائبرڈ توان
ائی): Energy derived from a combination of different sources or systems.
9. Phased Down (phrase) (تدریجی تبدیلی): Gradual reduction or limitation, especially in the context of fossil fuels.
10. Carbon Trading (noun) (کاربن ٹریڈنگ): The buying and selling of permits that allow companies to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide.
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SEVERAL important opportunities at COP28 have set the direction of Pakistan’s climate journey for the year ahead. Pakistan was able to seize at least five possibilities. The additional emergent opportunities can help Pakistan further deepen climate relations with China, the EU, Britain, the US and some Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to finance low-carbon and climate-resilient development.
Pakistan’s participation at the climate summit in Dubai was active and full of energy. It reflected a level of inter-ministerial collaboration hardly witnessed before. The ministries of climate, foreign policy, planning, finance, and trade and commerce combined efforts to carve out space and expand policy linkages. They, together with the governments of Punjab and Sindh, showcased initiatives undertaken for climate resilience. The private sector and civil society, particularly with the robust participation of the youth, infused energy, innovation and creativity into the proceedings.
Pakistan was elected to the founding Board of the Loss & Damage Fund (LDF), and secured positions on four important committees of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): the Technology Executive Committee (TEC); Paris Committee on Capacity-Building (PCCB); Advisory Board of the Santiago Network (ABSN); and the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF). These committees will work to address various aspects of climate change, including technology, innovation, and finance, to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Being a member of these committees will offer Pakistan strategic opportunities to leverage their workings for their synergetic impact and advantages for Pakistan. Let’s first look at the opportunities Pakistan captured proactively at COP28.
Being a member of four climate committees will offer Pakistan strategic opportunities.
LDF is a financial mechanism that aims to help vulnerable nations rebuild necessary physical and social infrastructure. One of the few concrete decisions of COP28 was the creation of this fund. The exact scope of the LDF still has to be clearly defined, and its financing is something that needs to be ironed out. Pakistan was elected to become a member of the founding board. The role of the board is to oversee the fund’s operations, including financial allocations and the management of the fund’s resources. The World Bank will serve as a trustee and host of the fund for now.
TEC promotes technology development, providing an overview of technological needs, and catalysing the development and use of technology. Its operational arm, Climate Technology Centre and Network promotes the accelerated transfer of environmentally sound technologies for low-carbon and climate-resilient development. The TEC and CTCN jointly undertake activities on such common areas such as national systems of innovation, industry, and the water-energy-food nexus.
PCCB supports developing countries in building their capacity, including institutional strengthening and policy development, to effectively tackle climate change in various sectors and meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement.
ABSN was set up to catalyse technical assistance for the implementation of activities related to loss and damage. The Advisory Board is designed to connect developing countries with providers of technical assistance, knowledge, and resources. The Santiago Network is seen as the technical arm of the UNFCCC’s mechanism for addressing loss and damage.
SCF’s work is aimed at improving the understanding of the current status of climate finance flows, and to enhance efforts to identify ways to improve the effectiveness of finance in the context of the ultimate objective of the climate convention. The SCF Forum brings together representatives from governments, financial institutions, private sector, and civil society to discuss and exchange information on climate finance.
These fora are clearly linked to each other and can help reinforce each other’s work. Three of these five forums are directly linked with loss and damage, but all are committed to what Pakistan needs the most: capacity-development, technology, and climate finance. It will be in Pakistan’s interest if an interministerial working group is constituted to coordinate their work and Pakistan’s positions.
While Pakistan has benefited from its active engagement in the negotiating processes, it also stands to benefit from some of the failures of COP28. The climate summit failed to reach clear, timebound agreements on carbon trading and phasing out coal and fossil fuels.
COP28’s failure to finalise Article 6 that deals with carbon trading and carbon markets will help forestall the ‘gold rush’ of voluntary carbon markets. VCMs are often criticised for lacking transparency, community rights, and actual emissions reductions. This impasse, from Pakistan’s standpoint, was perhaps better than ceding to an agreement that enabled questionable trading or facilitated greenwashing. The delay in concluding Articles 6.2 and 6.4 gives Pakistan an opportunity to finalise its carbon trading guidelines and policies, and to develop and digitalise its inventory. In fact, this may enable Pakistan to recast its mangroves project in Sindh from VCM to the regulatory market. Some estimates suggest that the present 30-year concession will fetch revenues of $2.3 billion at $15 per credit, but in the regulatory market, it could attract up to $6bn at $50 per credit.
Meanwhile, COP28 did not commit to phasing out but phasing down fossil fuels. This futuristic articulation provides Pakistan breathing space to plan its exit.
The Just Energy Transition Partnership, led primarily by Germany, the EU, Japan, Britain, and the US, has signed large agreements with South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam. The aim is to help these countries comply with the Paris Agreement and support their transition to a low-carbon economy. South Africa signed the first JETP in 2021, receiving $8.5bn in public and private finance over three to five years, with additional funding of almost $3.5bn. Indonesia and Vietnam secured $20bn and $15.5bn in JETP deals in 2022. These partnerships have begun to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy, capping total power sector emissions, and establishing goals to reach net-zero emissions in the power sector.
China was not part of these deals. Indonesia has expressed interest in seeking China’s help for renewable energy and infrastructure projects, and any partnership with China would run parallel with the JETP. Pakistan has thus far not undertaken any costing for phasing out coal but the under-construction Gwadar coal power plant can still become a model project for hybrid energy that combines hydrogen and off-shore wind energy.
The writer is an Islamabad-based climate change and sustainable development expert who attended COP28.
Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2023