Summary of the informal consultations on elections with Chairs and Coordinators of regional groups and constituencies, convened on Wednesday, 10 November 2021
The final consultations on nominations for the COP 26 elections of officers on bodies established under the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement were convened on Wednesday, 10 November 2021. In addition to consideration of the status of nominations, Chairs and Coordinators continued the consideration of the proposal from Georgia on representation on constituted bodies.
Vice President Tariq informed that 98 nominations were received as of Wednesday, 10 November, 2021, representing 45 per cent of the nominations for the COP 26 elections. Vice President Tariq urged Chairs and Coordinators to transmit the remaining nominations, particularly the remaining nominations for the Bureau of the COP/CMP/CMA, by the extended deadline of Wednesday, 10 November 2021. Chairs and Coordinators informed that they are finalizing consultations and the remaining nominations will be transmitted as soon as possible.
For those positions for which no nominations are received for the elections at the closing plenaries of the governing bodies, Vice President Tariq remined Chairs and Coordinators that for most bodies the current members and alternate members will remain in office until the nomination of their successors are received in accordance with the applicable rules of procedures.
Vice President Tariq further informed that for the following four constituted bodies, if nominations are not received for the positions for elections, these positions will remain vacant until nominations are received in accordance with the applicable rules of procedures:
• Adaptation Fund Board;
• Consultative Group of Experts;
• Katowice Committee of Experts on Response Measures; and
• Paris Committee on Capacity-Building.
Noting that vacancies will adversely affect the work of constituted bodies in their support to Parties on implementation of the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, Vice President Tariq reiterated his request to Chairs and Coordinators to urgently transmit the remaining nominations.
Regarding the proposal from Georgia, Chairs and Coordinators informed that consultations within their groups are ongoing. To assist with those consultations, Chairs and Coordinators requested the secretariat to provide an assessment of the implications for constituted bodies of the proposal. The Coordinator of one regional group noted that it was important to discuss this matter under the relevant agenda items. The representative of Georgia clarified that the request was to increase the membership of relevant constituted bodies to enable Non-Annex I/developing country Parties from Eastern Europe to also have a membership position. Vice President Tariq informed that he will report to the President and the Bureau on the consultations on the proposal.
In closing, Vice President Tariq expressed his gratitude to all Chairs, Coordinators and advisors for their active and constructive engagement in the consultations convened during the June sessions and COP 26 in Glasgow.
Vice President Tariq also acknowledged the support provided by the secretariat.
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Summary of the informal consultations on elections with the Chairs and Coordinators of regional groups and constituencies, convened on Monday, 8 November 2021
The consultations on nominations for the COP 26 election of officers on bodies established under the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement were convened on Monday, 8 November 2021. The consultations considered the status of nominations and the proposal from Georgia on achieving equitable geographic representation in the composition of constituted bodies under the Convention
Vice President Tariq informed that 95 nominations were received so far, representing 45 per cent of the nominations for the COP 26 elections, and thanked Chairs and Coordinators for transmitting these nominations. Chairs and Coordinators were urged to conclude consultations and transmit the remaining nominations by the extended deadline of Wednesday, 10 November 2021. Chairs and Coordinators informed that consultations were progressing, and they expect to transmit nominations by the extended deadline.
Regarding the proposal from Georgia, the Chair of one regional group informed of consultations within group which acknowledged the difficulties faced by Non-Annex I/developing country Parties from Eastern Europe and requested information on the constituted bodies affected so that this could be considered on a case-by-case basis by the group.
The representatives of Georgia provided information on the six constituted bodies which they were of the view that Non-Annex I Parties from Eastern Europe have no or limited opportunities for membership, namely: Consultative Group of Experts, CTCN Advisory Board, Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage, Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee, Standing Committee on Finance, and Technology Executive Committee. Vice President Tariq requested Georgia to forward this information to the secretariat. Vice President Tariq requested the secretariat that once this information is received to transmit it to Chairs and Coordinators of regional groups and constituencies.
Vice President Tariq invited Charis and Coordinators to continue consultations on the proposal from Georgia and the information on the constituted bodies where Georgia is of the view that representation is restricted, and to report at the next informal consultations on the outcome of those consultations and any recommendations that should be conveyed to the President and the Bureau.
The next informal consultations will be convened on Wednesday, 10 November 2021.
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Summary of the informal consultations on elections with the Chairs and Coordinators of regional groups and constituencies, convened on Friday, 5 November 2021
The consultations on nominations for the 2021 election of officers on bodies established under the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement were convened on Friday, 5 November 2021. The consultations considered the status of nominations and the proposal from Georgia on achieving equitable geographic representation in the composition of constituted bodies under the Convention.
Noting that only 18 out of 212 nominations were received so far, the Chairs and Coordinators were urged to intensify consultations and submit all final nominations by the deadline on Saturday, 6 November 2021. Chairs and Coordinators were reminded to transmit nominations for the Vice Chair and Rapporteur of the SBI by the close of business today so that the elections for these two positions could proceed at the SBI closing plenaries on Saturday, 6 November 2021. Chairs and Coordinators informed that consultations were progressing and they expect to transmit nominations by the deadline.
Regarding the proposal from Georgia, the secretariat provided information on how similar issues related to representation of non-Annex I/developing country Parties from Eastern Europe on UNFCCC bodies have been addressed in the UNFCCC process. The representative of Georgia presented a proposal on a possible way forward. Charis and Coordinators were invited to consult their groups and constituencies on the proposal on a possible way forward presented by the representative of Georgia, and to report on the outcome of those consultations at the next informal consultations on elections.
The next informal consultations will be convened on Monday, 8 November 2021.
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Summary of the informal consultations on elections with the Chairs and Coordinators of regional groups and constituencies, convened on Wednesday, 3 November 2021
The consultations on nominations for the 2021 election of officers on bodies established under the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement were convened on Wednesday, 3 November 2021. The consultations considered the status of nominations for the elections to be held by the subsidiary and governing bodies during COP 26 the status of gender representation on UNFCCC bodies, and the proposal from Georgia on achieving equitable geographic representation in the composition of constituted bodies under the Convention.
Recalling that at the opening of COP 26 on Sunday, 31 October 2021, the President informed the COP that to date only 7 out of the 212 nominations that were due for the elections at COP 26 have been received, which represented 3 per cent of the nominations, Vice President Tariq urged Chairs and Coordinators to intensify consultations and transmit the nominations from their respective groups and constituencies as early as possible and before deadline of Saturday, 6 November 2021. Vice President Tariq reminded Chairs and Coordinators to prioritize the nomination of female candidates in order to achieve the collective goal of gender balance on UNFCCC bodies.
Noting that nominations for the SBSTA Vice Chair and Rapporteur has been received, Vice President Tariq urged Chairs and Coordinators to transmit nominations for the SBI Vice Chair and Rapporteur so that the subsidiary bodies can conduct the elections at their closing sessions on Saturday, 6 November 2021.
Noting the ongoing negotiations of the body established by Article 6, paragraph 4, of the Paris Agreement, Vice President Tariq invited Chairs and Coordinators to monitor those negotiations and be ready to transmit nominations so that elections for this new body can be conducted at the closing of the CMA on Friday, 12 November 2021.
The secretariat provided an update on the 2021 report on gender balance in the UNFCCC process. Vice President Tariq requested the secretariat to provide to Chairs and Coordinators information on the gender representation for each regional group and constituency.
Chairs and Coordinators informed that consultations within their respective groups and constituencies are advancing and that they expect to transmit nominations by the deadline.
The representative of Georgia presented their proposal on equitable representation on constituted bodies on the UNFCCC. They noted that non-Annex I/developing country Parties from Eastern Europe have no opportunities for membership on some constituted bodies and that it is important to ensure that no one is left behind. They further informed that they understood that this issue should be resolved in a systematic manner. At the request of Chairs and Coordinators, Vice President Tariq requested the secretariat to provide to information on how similar issues related to representation of non-Annex I/developing country Parties from Eastern Europe on UNFCCC bodies have been previously addressed. Vice President Tariq invited Chairs and Coordinators to consult within their groups and come forward with recommendations to address the concerns raised.
The next consultations will be convened on Friday, 5 November 2021.
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Summary of the informal consultations on elections with the Chairs and Coordinators of regional groups and constituencies, convened on Thursday, 10 June 2021
The first consultations on nominations for the 2021 election of officers on bodies established under the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement were convened on Thursday, 10 June 2021. The consultations were held in a virtual setting and were chaired by Mr. Irfan Tariq,
Vice President of the COP/CMP/CMA.
Vice President Tariq informed Chairs and Coordinators that 199 nominations are expected for the elections to be held at COP 26 in Glasgow. Following the approach of previous years, Vice President Tariq recommended that Chairs and Coordinators should transmit the nominations for those members and alternate members who are eligible to serve for an additional term of office in their current position to the secretariat as soon as possible. Nominations for positions where the members or alternate members are not eligible to serve an additional term of office could be transmitted afterwards.
Vice President Tariq informed Chairs and Coordinators that after the conclusion of the May-June sessions, the secretariat will transmit an Information Note to Parties informing of the nominations due for the elections at COP 26, and that the deadline for the receipt of all nominations is Saturday, 6 November 2021.
Recalling that 31 nominations for constituted bodies are outstanding from COP 25 and resignations since then, Vice President Tariq noted that these vacancies were hampering the proper functioning of these bodies to undertake their mandates due to quorum difficulties for meetings. Vice President Tariq also noted that outstanding nominations for representatives from Non-Annex I Parties on the CTCN Advisory Board has impacted the rotation arrangement among Non-Annex I Parties constituency on the Board. He urged Chairs and Coordinators to intensify efforts to finalize and transmit these outstanding nominations as soon as possible.
The secretariat provided an update on gender balance on UNFCCC bodies noting Parties are still far from reaching the goal of gender balance on UNFCCC bodies. In response to a query from one regional group, the secretariat informed that information on the gender composition on constituted bodies by regional groups and constituencies is available in the 2020 UNFCCC report on gender composition. Vice President Tariq encouraged Chairs and Coordinators to improve efforts to achieve the goal of gender balance in their nominations this year.
Chairs and Coordinators expressed appreciation for the information on the 2021 elections, outstanding nominations and gender balance provided by the secretariat. Some Chairs and Coordinators noted the challenges within their respective group and constituency associated with the absence of in-person meetings. Chairs and Coordinators informed that they will continue consultations within their respective groups and constituencies to finalize and transmit the outstanding nominations, as well as the nominations for the 2021 elections in advance of COP 26 and before the deadline.