The Climate Law and Governance Bonn Roundtable 2023 was chaired by Adv Ayman Cherkaoui on Tuesday, 13 June 2023, unpacking key questions and discussions on climate change law, policy, and practice, by leading experts, academicians and practitioners from across the globe. The Experts Roundtable, in Climate Law and Governance Day (CLGD) took place as a hybrid event, with an in-person gathering on the terrace of the Ameron Hotel Konigshof—’Live on Law’ from Bonn.
As SB58 paves way to COP28 in UAE, the stage is set for collaboration, dialogue, and collective action—where minds converge and ideas flourish.
Amidst the global pursuit to combat climate change, over 169 nations stress their commitment to prioritize legal and institutional reform in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement (PA)—emphasizing, therefore, the crucial role of law and governance in shaping a sustainable future. More than 60 nations recognize the urgent need to strengthen their capacity in this realm to ensure effective implementation and compliance. Within this landscape, climate finance emerges as a vital catalyst, working hand in hand with public policy and governance. It holds the power to accelerate ambition and transform lofty goals into tangible obligations.
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Bonn Climate Change Conference (5th to 15th June 2023) have witnessed representatives, observers, and stakeholders, echoing voices and concerns from across the world, for the collective aim of our global efforts—the need to curb global warming and the urgency to keep to take targeted measures to keep the temperature rise below 1.5°C. Further, as the commitment extends beyond mere temperature targets, the need for adaptation and resilience to combat the adverse impacts of climate change calls for fostering sustainable development pathways that prioritize reduced greenhouse gas emissions—paving the way for a greener and more prosperous future. Integral to this mission is ensuring that financial flows align with the principles of sustainable development. By harmonizing our economic endeavours with the broader objectives of sustainability, we can forge a path towards a more equitable and resilient world.
The Experts Roundtable discussion commenced with Prof. Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger, welcoming the in-person and online audience to such a timely event. After two roundtable discussions with key experts from across the globe, the event was concluded by Prof Christina Voigt.
The Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL) members intervening in the discussion as Co-Chairs, were—Adv Lara Douvartzidis and Prof. Markus Gehring in Roundtable Discussion I—National and International Legal Challenges and Innovations for Climate Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience, Finance, Technology, Loss & Damage, Capacity and Compliance. As well as, Prof. John Dernbach and Adv Hafijul Islam Khan in Roundtable Discussion II—New Developments in Net Zero Commercial Law, Climate Risk Disclosure and Decarbonization, Access to Climate Justice and Climate Litigation. Moreover, a number of scholars from within and beyond CLGI and CISDL actively engaged in the discussions.
Experts and specialists discussed four key themes for the Day including:
- Operationalising the Paris Agreement: Exploring the challenges and opportunities of market and non-market mechanisms, transparency and technology frameworks, capacity and compliance mechanisms, loss and damage, the Global Stocktake and other elements of operationalizing the Paris Agreement and other relevant international legal instruments.
- Testing Legal and Governance Tools for Effective and High Ambition Implementation: Innovating legal and governance instruments for climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience, and finance, creating synergies and educating within and across sectors, promoting a cross sector assessment of existing domestic legal barriers to implementation and strengthening capacity amongst legislators, policymakers, general counsel, and institutions for high ambition implementation of NDCs and LTSs under the Paris Agreement.
- Advancing Climate Resilience and Climate Justice: Engaging civil society and the legal community, including courts, bar and law associations and private and public sector professionals, in accelerating climate action, enhancing transparency and ensuring accountability, integrating rights-based approaches, advancing the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) for loss and damage with effective structures including for financing, supporting access to climate justice and climate litigation, and addressing climate migration.
- Net Zero Legal Frameworks to Enable Climate Neutral Investment and Finance: Exploring the legal tools and obstacles in promoting sustainable climate finance, investment flows, structured finance, re-allocation of capital and global supply chains to implement the Paris Agreement, including addressing fossil fuel subsidies, a just transition and decarbonisation, with a focus on contributions of private international law, trade and investment law, domestic law and policy, and also commercial and corporate rules.
Together, the Roundtable tethered meaningful dialogues and forging alliances that will shape a sustainable future for all.
The Experts Roundtable initiated by Climate Law and Governance Initiative (CLGI) was co-hosted by International Union for Conservation of Nature – World Commission on Environmental Law (IUCN WCEL), University of Cambridge, Middlesex University Dubai, University of Dubai, International Development Law Organization (IDLO), Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL), International Law Association (ILA), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Green Climate Fund (GCF), UN Environment Program (UNEP), UN Development Program (UNDP), The World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB).