This paper documents the summaries of briefing papers on key issues under the four main “building blocks” of the current international climate negotiations – mitigation, adaptation, technology and finance – as well as land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF). It aims to assist policy makers in understanding the complex issues under discussion in the climate change negotiating process. The paper explains that at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali in 2007, governments from around the world agreed to step up their efforts to combat climate change and adopted the “Bali Road Map”, which consists of a number of forward-looking decisions that represent the various tracks that are essential to reaching a secure climate future. Summaries of the background briefing papers include:
climate change mitigation negotiations, with an emphasis on options for developing countries - the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) has been at the heart of the climate negotiations from the outset. As the next round of negotiations focuses on what developing countries might do on mitigation, the topic takes on an increased importance
national policies and their linkages to negotiations over a future international climate change agreement - developing country policy makers will need to consider the national policy instruments they will contribute to
adaptation to climate change - this has become the new development challenge in the developing world. Developing country policy makers will need to reflect their national positionson adaptation issues as important decisions will be taken in the run-up to COP 15 in late 2009
negotiations on additional investment and financial flows to address climate change in developing countries - finance has been identified as a key issue for discussion for the post-2012 climate change agreement. For future long-term cooperation to address climate change, developing country parties will need considerable financial assistance for mitigation, adaptation and technology cooperation
the technology challenge: national government policy makers need to address the major technological challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to levels that will prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.