It would be easy to say that evidence-based approaches to almost everything are better than those that are purely intuitive. As we all know, if we are prepared to admit it, a great deal of what gets done actually lacks evidence and is based on intuition. From time-to-time, it is valuable for researchers to dig into current practice and see whether it is effective and, if not, to establish why.
What can we take home from this implementation COP? Marrakesh was always going to be about the process of translating the Paris agreement into a detailed blueprint for action. Few of the thorny issues were wrapped up. Progress is expected to be reviewed in 2017, although exactly how is subject to further discussion. Parties agreed to continue to discuss finance and the future of the Adaptation Fund. And plans further work plans. Curiously, the host of the next COP was only settled at the end with Fiji taking the role albeit using the facilities in Bonn.
Tuesday saw the opening of the Ministerial sessions, and top level restatement (and a few not so veiled warnings) that the Paris Agreement was not negotiable. In this quick summary, Ben Smith explores these, the gathering momentum behind the Paris Agreement, financial instruments and the challenge of engaging with the private sector.
In this summary, Dominic Molloy looks at some of the exciting projects that have happened, even in the last year, that will have a tangible impact on the environment and, crucially, are attracting financial support or investment. The scale of investment necessary for climate adaptation and resilience building, is vast, but it is also often about the replacement of redundant technologies with new ones that would form a part of normal infrastructure spending.
As COP22 comes to the end of its first week, Tom Downing summarises the week's activity. He notes the contributions by Paul Watkinson, Chief Negotiator for France, Seyni Nafo, Chair of the African Group, Amjad Abdulla, Chief Negotiator for small island states - each championing the need for progress. Business and Industry, Non-Governmental Organizations (BINGOs) held an all-day pavilion, at which Mike Wilkins MD of S&P Global Ratings (who regularly contributes to our Oxford Adaptation Academy) spoke. It is good to see a growing momentum in this community, but Tom points out how it needs to evolve too. He also gives a few pointers to the highlights likely to be seen in this coming week.