EMBARQ Network participates in COP 19: November 11 – November 22

For the next two weeks, the EMBARQ Network will be participating in the nineteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 19) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) taking place in Warsaw, Poland. EMBARQ, the sustainable urban transport and urban planning program of the World Resources Institute (WRI), will have several experts leading and speaking at side events throughout the conference. On November 17, which has been designated Transport Day at COP 19, EMBARQ will lead two of four breakout sessions focused on sustainable transport.

EMBARQ’s agenda at COP 19

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) side event titled, “Towards improved data and methodologies for tracking private climate finance,” on November 13 from 3:30-5:30 pm CET will be the first session an EMBARQ expert will participate in at COP 19. Benoit Lefevre, Director of EMBARQ’s Transport and Climate Program and a Senior Associate of WRI’s Climate and Energy Program, will give a presentation on WRI’s work with OECD’s Research Collaborative on tracking private climate finance.

Lefevre will also serve as a panelist at the Low Emission Development Strategies Global Partnership’s (LEDS GP) side event – “Advancing climate resilient low emission development through innovative peer learning platforms” – on November 15 from 11:00 am-12:00pm CET. The same day from 6:30-8:30 pm CET, he will speak about EMBARQ Mexico’s experience with transport Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) at the Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan’s (OECC) side event, “Guidebook on NAMA-based experiences in Asia and the world.”

EMBARQ Mexico serves as part of Mexican Delegation

EMBARQ Mexico has been invited to be a part of the Mexican Delegation at COP 19 to advise them on issues regarding emissions mitigation. In addition, EMBARQ Mexico is organizing several side events and workshops at COP 19 independently and with partner organizations. On November 15 Hilda Martínez, EMBARQ Mexico’s Air Quality and Climate Change Manager, will present a workshop titled, “Towards roadmaps for MRV of transport NAMAs.” The workshop will focus on the measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and emission reductions – an integral part of NAMAs.

On November 16, EMBARQ Mexico will co-host a side event with the International Railway Union (UIC), “Sustainable transport and low emission development strategy, mitigation, and adaptation to climate change.” The event will present research and practical examples to illustrate the importance of NAMAs and transport investment for rail and other low emission transport systems. Finally, EMBARQ Mexico is partnering with the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP) to present, “A shared vision of NAMAs: Practical application and their role in an ambitious 2015 agreement” – a side event that will use concrete examples to explore how NAMAs can overcome barriers to private investment.

November 17 is Transport Day at COP 19

This is the first UNFCCC conference to include an entire day dedicated to transport issues. Transport Day 2013, which will take place on November 17, was organized by the Partnership on Sustainable Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT) – a consortium organization of which EMBARQ is a member. On Transport Day, EMBARQ will lead two of four breakout sessions. Martínez is the session chair for “Ensuring effective transport NAMAs” while Lefevre is in charge of the presentations and panel for “Financing of sustainable, low carbon transport.” Dario Hidalgo, EMBARQ’s Director for Research and Practice, is the moderator for “Mitigation potential for the transport sector.” Holger Dalkmann, EMBARQ’s Director, will also speak during the plenary session, “Sustainable transport – a key building block of sustainable low carbon development.”

Dalkmann, Martínez, and Lefevre were also members of the drafting committee for the “Warsaw Statement on Low Carbon Transport and Sustainable Development,” the outcome document of Transport Day 2013. The Warsaw Statement will be formally adopted on Transport Day and can be endorsed by individuals and organizations.

EMBARQ’s active involvement in the COP 19 conference and Transport Day 2013 underscore its commitment to catalyzing and implementing sustainable transport solutions to improve quality of life in cities.

For more information on EMBARQ's activities at COP19, please contact Benoit Lefevre at blefevre@wri.org.