Session Notes
Notes from sessions that are shared by RINGO members will be posted here.
RINGO Coordination Meetings
RINGOs will host three coordination meetings during the June Session/Virtual SBs. Just like our in-person meetings, they will provide a scheduled space for RINGOs to meet, debrief, share info, chat, …. Registered RINGOs should see these meetings reflected in their personalized meeting schedules when they log on to the platform. If you do not, please contact your delegation’s DCP (designated contact point) AND use the help chat function on the platform.They will take place on:
**Tuesday, June 1, 14-15h CEST
Join fellow RINGOs to review the first day of the June Session, find out who is tracking what, ask questions, and get oriented for the week to come.
**Monday, June 7, 22-23h CEST
Join fellow RINGOs for a post-Saturday stocktake review of the first week. We will also have two special presentations.
- Pam Pearson of the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) will discuss “Redefining the Long-term Goals of the Paris Agreement (LTTG and LTGG) Through a Cryosphere Lens” and answer your questions.
- Marilyn Averill of the University of Colorado Boulder is a RINGO Steering Committee member and active participant in TEC and CTCN, and will update us on the technology mechanism.
**Wednesday, June 16, 4-5h CEST
Join fellow RINGOs for review of the June Session the day before it wraps up. We will have two special presentations.
- Axel Michaelowa of the Perspectives Climate Group is a RINGO Steering Committee member who will provide an update on the Article 6 informal meetings during the June Session.
- Gregg Walker of Oregon State University is a RINGO Steering Committee member who has been active in the Paris Committee on Capacity Building (PCCB) since its founding in 2015, and will provide an update.
June 3, 2021 Update
To come!
June 1, 2021 update:
The June Session/Virtual SBs kicked off today. You may find general information about the session here.
To attend, accredited delegations registered their members in ORS, i.e. the usual way for gaining access to the physical meetings. Once registered, delegates use a password-protected platform to follow meetings each day.
Coordination meetings:
Just like in-person SBs, we will hold regular coordination meetings the hour before the day’s negotiations begin. They will provide a scheduled space for RINGOs to meet, debrief, share info, chat, …. They will take place on:
**Tuesday, June 1, 14-15h CEST
**Monday, June 7, 22-23h CEST
**Wednesday, June 16, 4-5h CEST
Registered RINGOs should see these meetings reflected in their personalized meeting schedules when they log on to the platform. If you do not, please contact your delegation’s DCP (designated contact point) AND use the help chat function on the platform.
We are also planning some content programming, like an Article 6 negotiations update from RINGO Steering Committee Member Axel Michaelowa and a cryosphere presentation Pam Pearson of the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) at the second or last coordination meeting. Let Beth (Beth@ringofocalpoint.org) and me (Tracy@ringofocalpoint.org) know if you have ideas for programming that would help you.
Is this your first UNFCCC meeting?
Need a refresher if it’s been awhile? See this pre-COP24 webinar developed and presented by member of the RINGO Steering Committee. The “how to” information is timeless.
****There is a SB Chairs (and Presidency) briefing to observers TODAY (Tuesday, June 1). You should have this item on your platform schedule, with both “watch” and “join” features. If you have a question that you would like RINGO to pose, please send it ASAP to Beth@ringofocalpoint.org. ****
Updates on SB52 and COP26
Last year, the Covid-19 pandemic led to the rescheduling of COP26 from its original dates in 2020 to November 1-12, 2021, and SB52 from its original dates in 2020 to May 31-June 10, 2021. Given the ongoing pandemic, the Bureau has now indicated that SB52 cannot be held in person in Bonn at the rescheduled time.
As the situation evolves, the Secretariat has created this webpage to keep everyone up to date. It includes links to:
- the Bureau’s decisions,
- a listing of the governing and subsidiary bodies’ activities for 2021,
- Climate Hub 360,
- Constituted bodies meetings,
- SBSTA and SBI pages,
- Submission Portal, and
- Governing Bodies page.
RINGO recommends that you bookmark this page and refresh regularly to follow new events as they are added. The Governing Bodies page is particularly useful for tracking the ongoing multilateral and bilateral informal consultations with Parties and the developing plan for virtual sessions to be held during timeframe for SB52.
UPDATE 4/19/2021 on SB52 Decision by the Bureau: UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa sent a short notice today to all DCPs and CFPs summarizing the Bureau’s decision last week (4/15/2021) to hold SB52 virtually. Key points include: 1/ session will run one week longer, from 31 May to 17 June, to allow for extra coordination time; 2/ its work will be organized informally, with no formal decisions until Parties meet in person; 3/ presiding officers will prepare documents to capture progress, but they will not have formal status; 4/ working hours per day will be limited and meetings scheduled in timeslots meant to treat regions fairly; 5/ SB Chairs will prepare scenario notes on session work, available at least 21 days before SB52 starts; 6/ mandated events will be organized, but no side events; 7/ “effective engagement of observers will be enabled in the same way that they participate in the in-person sessions.”
UPDATE 4/19/2021 on ACE Third Informal Consultations: The third informal consultations on matters related to the review of the Doha work programme on Article 6 of the Convention and future work to enhance the implementation of Action for Climate Empowerment, scheduled for 21 April, 6:30 – 8:00 (CEST). Registration is required and please find the registration link here: https://indico.un.org/event/1000098. The registration closes on 20 April. Please visit our website for more information.
**UPDATE 4/12/2021** POSTPONED to a later date.** UPDATE 3/31/2021 on Informal consultations on matters relating to the Least Developed Countries: The secretariat refers to the information note circulated on 15 March 2021 regarding the plans for informal activities of the COP 25 Presidency, COP 26 incoming Presidency and the Chairs of the SBSTA and the SBI. The SBI Chair is pleased to invite Parties to actively participate in informal consultations on matters relating to the least developed countries, to be convened virtually on Monday, 12 April 2021, from 13:00 to 14:30 CEST. Focal Points and Chairs and Coordinators are kindly asked to share this information as well as this link for participation with their respective delegations and groups. United Nations organizations and admitted observer organizations will be able to attend the meeting via broadcast from this link. Further information on this event can be found on the SBI Chair lobby.
UPDATE 3/31/2021 on Submissions: Please note that the submissions portal includes a more open-ended than usual “voluntary submissions 2021.” If you should see a call for submissions that includes observers, on the SB Chairs’ Lobbies or on a constituted body site, but don’t see the same call listed as pending on the submission portal, know that it may be submitted as voluntary submissions 2021. For example, the SBSTA Chair’s lobby lists a number of specific calls for submissions on Article 6. You will not see those listed separately on the submissions portal. The Secretariat has advised that they should be submitted as voluntary submissions 2021. The SBI Focal Point has noted that all such views will be re-posted and accessible from the dedicated Article 6 webpage, for convenience.
UPDATE 3/31/2021 on Informal consultations on the Koronivia joint work on agriculture: The secretariat refers to the information note circulated on 15 March 2021 regarding the plans for informal activities of the COP 25 Presidency, COP 26 incoming Presidency and the Chairs of the SBSTA and the SBI. The SBSTA and SBI Chairs are pleased to invite United Nations organizations and admitted observer organizations to follow the informal consultations on the Koronivia joint work on agriculture, to be convened virtually on Tuesday, 13 April 2021, from 14:00 to 15:30 CEST. The consultations may be followed via broadcast from this link. Further information on this event can be found on the SBSTA and SBI Chairs lobbies.
Research and Independent Non-Governmental Organizations 