" 5th Global Environment Outlook (GEO-5) meeting -Gwangju 2012

"Sustainable Cities Responding to Climate Change"

Anne-Isabelle Degryse- Blateau Director UNDP Seoul Policy Center

The case for urban CDM has been made

50% of the world population lives in cities-70% 2020 Increasing trend towards urban migration Increased pressure on cities Increasing demands for transport, amenities Increasing costs and eventual scarcity of traditional energy sources Scarcity of water resources Increased pollution and carbon foot print-80% cities Global agenda for sustainable development and Climate change adaptation
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New since Oct 2011 Gwangju Summit

KYOTO protocol extended until 2017

UNFCC growing interest in working along on the urban CDM agenda Working on increasing flexibility/scalability of use of CDM standards + work on standardized baselines
Growing recognition not to limit ourselves to the classical CDM modality but explore other schemes More active discussions/studies on different options & modalities Advisory Groups work movingD.along 2012 Gwangju Meeting- Anne-Isabelle Blateau

City wide cross- sectoral approach

Low carbon- climate resilience as a lens to integrated city planning essential to achieve meaningful & sustainable results Clear cross- sectoral interdependency Better view of total financial requirements Helps prioritization and sequencing More coherent & supportive policies & monitoring sytems Easier to bring all stakeholders and partners on boardallocate responsibility- PPP Potential benefits of city-wide aggregated emission reduction accounting and carbon credit claim : reduced paperwork for both sides claimants and purchasers
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City wide cross- sectoral approach

Better linkages + peri-urban areas Not only look at emission reduction but also job creation package

City of Gwangju : interesting example of testing a multiple Urban CDM approach : Extract lessons learned Policies Efficiencies True costs Benefits participation
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CDM challenges
Extremely complicated, costly/time consuming procedures different schemes different requirements -need for experts Sometimes marginal benefits Time lags Upfront financing requirements Major challenge especially for developing countries New cities /city expansion : zero baseline of emissions Need to agree on what qualifies for carbon credit Opportunity to pilot test & implement LCCR integrated ( cross-sectoral) planning from the startefficiency/cheaper/more sustainable/better governance/ more participatory
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Other challenges
Central versus local decision making /fund allocation Bringing central and local/city governments to join forces under a national strategy More space for cities to come together for global advocacy/contribution to design of Urban CDM scheme (s)/piloting/access to urban specific financing- with support from central gvt

Vested interests against change/elite capture / corruption True participatory process can help mitigate

2012 Gwangju Meeting- Anne-Isabelle D. Blateau

What needs to be done

Simplify requirements/systems & tools to allow more countries and cities to access this carbon market Mixed financing (part upfront/part post factuminstallments) Build in national capacity development at both institution and individual levels Use the missing urban specific themes ( transport, buildings, etc) as a pilot for simplification Start pilots

Enhanced dialogue with developing countries: understand challenges to adjust tools, programme design, support, financing modalities to facilitate access to carbon credit
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What needs to be done

Harmonization and simplification: continue bringing all the parties involved and interested around the table to agree on basic parameters and ensure complementarity of schemesoptions Cities to take a more active role in new supportive policies & multi-stakeholder dialogue Pursue work on standardized baselines for cities Integrate LCCR cities in larger financing for development and CC financing schemes Shift in development actors approach to fully mainstream LCCR in their support at national, local and city levels Peer to peer knowledge sharing and support NEXT KEY PLATFORM : Rio +20 use time for stronger advocacy forBlateau by cities and 2012 Gwangju Meeting- Anne-Isabelle D.

Opportunities- Benefits
Centers of innovation Development of new industries New green jobs Healthier cities and citizens Increased equity More efficient cities & services Medium & long term energy savings Reduced carbon footprint Increased resilience Increased competitiveness Contribution to country growth
New cities Existing city expansion

Greatest opportunity : plan green & LCCR from the start

2012 Gwangju Meeting- Anne-Isabelle D. Blateau

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