GE.15-21930(E)
*1521930*


Conference of the Parties
Twenty-first session
Paris, 30 November to 11 December 2015
Agenda item 4(b)
Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (decision 1/CP.17)
Adoption of a protocol, another legal instrument, or an
agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention
applicable to all Parties

ADOPTION OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT
Proposal by the President
Draft decision -/CP.21
The Conference of the Parties,
Recalling decision 1/CP.17 on the establishment of the Ad Hoc Working Group on
the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action,
Also recalling Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Convention,
Further recalling relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties, including
decisions 1/CP.16, 2/CP.18, 1/CP.19 and 1/CP.20,
Welcoming the adoption of United Nations General Assembly resolution
A/RES/70/1, “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in
particular its goal 13, and the adoption of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the third
International Conference on Financing for Development and the adoption of the Sendai
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction,
Recognizing that climate change represents an urgent and potentially irreversible
threat to human societies and the planet and thus requires the widest possible cooperation
by all countries, and their participation in an effective and appropriate international
response, with a view to accelerating the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions,
Also recognizing that deep reductions in global emissions will be required in order
to achieve the ultimate objective of the Convention and emphasizing the need for urgency
in addressing climate change,
Acknowledging that climate change is a common concern of humankind, Parties
should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their
respective obligations on human rights, the right to health, the rights of indigenous peoples,


United Nations
FCCC/CP/2015/L.9



Distr.: Limited
12 December 2015

Original: English
FCCC/CP/2015/L.9
2

local communities, migrants, children, persons with disabilities and people in vulnerable
situations and the right to development, as well as gender equality, empowerment of
women and intergenerational equity,

Also acknowledging the specific needs and concerns of developing country Parties
arising from the impact of the implementation of response measures and, in this regard,
decisions 5/CP.7, 1/CP.10, 1/CP.16 and 8/CP.17,
Emphasizing with serious concern the urgent need to address the significant gap
between the aggregate effect of Parties’ mitigation pledges in terms of global annual
emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020 and aggregate emission pathways consistent with
holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-
industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C,
Also emphasizing that enhanced pre‐2020 ambition can lay a solid foundation for
enhanced post‐2020 ambition,
Stressing the urgency of accelerating the implementation of the Convention and its
Kyoto Protocol in order to enhance pre-2020 ambition,
Recognizing the urgent need to enhance the provision of finance, technology and
capacity-building support by developed country Parties, in a predictable manner, to enable
enhanced pre-2020 action by developing country Parties,
Emphasizing the enduring benefits of ambitious and early action, including major
reductions in the cost of future mitigation and adaptation efforts,
Acknowledging the need to promote universal access to sustainable energy in
developing countries, in particular in Africa, through the enhanced deployment of
renewable energy,
Agreeing to uphold and promote regional and international cooperation in order to
mobilize stronger and more ambitious climate action by all Parties and non-Party
stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, financial institutions, cities and
other subnational authorities, local communities and indigenous peoples,
I. ADOPTION
1.
Decides to adopt the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (hereinafter referred to as “the Agreement”) as contained in
the annex;
2.
Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations to be the Depositary of the
Agreement and to have it open for signature in New York, United States of America, from
22 April 2016 to 21 April 2017;
3.
Invites the Secretary-General to convene a high-level signature ceremony for the
Agreement on 22 April 2016;
4.
Also invites all Parties to the Convention to sign the Agreement at the ceremony to
be convened by the Secretary-General, or at their earliest opportunity, and to deposit their
respective instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, where appropriate,
as soon as possible;
5.
Recognizes that Parties to the Convention may provisionally apply all of the
provisions of the Agreement pending its entry into force, and requests Parties to provide
notification of any such provisional application to the Depositary;
6.
Notes that the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for
Enhanced Action, in accordance with decision 1/CP.17, paragraph 4, has been completed;
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7.
Decides to establish the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement under the
same arrangement, mutatis mutandis, as those concerning the election of officers to the
Bureau of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action;
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8.
Also decides that the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement shall prepare
for the entry into force of the Agreement and for the convening of the first session of the
Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement;
9.
Further decides to oversee the implementation of the work programme resulting
from the relevant requests contained in this decision;
10.
Requests the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement to report regularly to
the Conference of the Parties on the progress of its work and to complete its work by the
first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the
Paris Agreement;
11. Decides that the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement shall hold its
sessions starting in 2016 in conjunction with the sessions of the Convention subsidiary
bodies and shall prepare draft decisions to be recommended through the Conference of the
Parties to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris
Agreement for consideration and adoption at its first session;
II. INTENDED NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTIONS
12.
Welcomes the intended nationally determined contributions that have been
communicated by Parties in accordance with decision 1/CP.19, paragraph 2(b);
13.
Reiterates its invitation to all Parties that have not yet done so to communicate to the
secretariat their intended nationally determined contributions towards achieving the
objective of the Convention as set out in its Article 2 as soon as possible and well in
advance of the twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties (November 2016)
and in a manner that facilitates the clarity, transparency and understanding of the intended
nationally determined contributions;
14.
Requests the secretariat to continue to publish the intended nationally determined
contributions communicated by Parties on the UNFCCC website;
15.
Reiterates its call to developed country Parties, the operating entities of the
Financial Mechanism and any other organizations in a position to do so to provide support
for the preparation and communication of the intended nationally determined contributions
of Parties that may need such support;
16.
Takes note of the synthesis report on the aggregate effect of intended nationally
determined contributions communicated by Parties by 1 October 2015, contained in
document FCCC/CP/2015/7;
17.
Notes with concern that the estimated aggregate greenhouse gas emission levels in
2025 and 2030 resulting from the intended nationally determined contributions do not fall
within least-cost 2 ˚C scenarios but rather lead to a projected level of 55 gigatonnes in
2030, and also notes that much greater emission reduction efforts will be required than
those associated with the intended nationally determined contributions in order to hold the
increase in the global average temperature to below 2 ˚C above pre-industrial levels by
reducing emissions to 40 gigatonnes or to 1.5 ˚C above pre-industrial levels by reducing to
a level to be identified in the special report referred to in paragraph 21 below;


1 Endorsed by decision 2/CP.18, paragraph 2.
FCCC/CP/2015/L.9
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18.
Also notes, in this context, the adaptation needs expressed by many developing
country Parties in their intended nationally determined contributions;
19.
Requests the secretariat to update the synthesis report referred to in paragraph 16
above so as to cover all the information in the intended nationally determined contributions
communicated by Parties pursuant to decision 1/CP.20 by 4 April 2016 and to make it
available by 2 May 2016;
20.
Decides to convene a facilitative dialogue among Parties in 2018 to take stock of the
collective efforts of Parties in relation to progress towards the long-term goal referred to in
Article 4, paragraph 1, of the Agreement and to inform the preparation of nationally
determined contributions pursuant to Article 4, paragraph 8, of the Agreement;
21.
Invites the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to provide a special report in
2018 on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and related
global greenhouse gas emission pathways;
III. DECISIONS TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE AGREEMENT
MITIGATION
22.
Invites Parties to communicate their first nationally determined contribution no later
than when the Party submits its respective instrument of ratification, accession, or approval
of the Paris Agreement. If a Party has communicated an intended nationally determined
contribution prior to joining the Agreement, that Party shall be considered to have satisfied
this provision unless that Party decides otherwise;
23. Urges those Parties whose intended nationally determined contribution pursuant to
decision 1/CP.20 contains a time frame up to 2025 to communicate by 2020 a new
nationally determined contribution and to do so every five years thereafter pursuant to
Article 4, paragraph 9, of the Agreement;
24.
Requests those Parties whose intended nationally determined contribution pursuant
to decision 1/CP.20 contains a time frame up to 2030 to communicate or update by 2020
these contributions and to do so every five years thereafter pursuant to Article 4, paragraph
9, of the Agreement;
25. Decides that Parties shall submit to the secretariat their nationally determined
contributions referred to in Article 4 of the Agreement at least 9 to 12 months in advance of
the relevant meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties
to the Paris Agreement with a view to facilitating the clarity, transparency and
understanding of these contributions, including through a synthesis report prepared by the
secretariat;
26.
Requests the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement to develop further
guidance on features of the nationally determined contributions for consideration and
adoption by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris
Agreement at its first session;
27.
Agrees that the information to be provided by Parties communicating their
nationally determined contributions, in order to facilitate clarity, transparency and
understanding, may include, as appropriate, inter alia, quantifiable information on the
reference point (including, as appropriate, a base year), time frames and/or periods for
implementation, scope and coverage, planning processes, assumptions and methodological
approaches including those for estimating and accounting for anthropogenic greenhouse gas
emissions and, as appropriate, removals, and how the Party considers that its nationally
determined contribution is fair and ambitious, in the light of its national circumstances, and
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how it contributes towards achieving the objective of the Convention as set out in its
Article 2;
28.
Requests the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement to develop further
guidance for the information to be provided by Parties in order to facilitate clarity,
transparency and understanding of nationally determined contributions for consideration
and adoption by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the
Paris Agreement at its first session;
29.
Also requests the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to develop modalities and
procedures for the operation and use of the public registry referred to in Article 4,
paragraph 12, of the Agreement, for consideration and adoption by the Conference of the
Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement at its first session;
30.
Further requests the secretariat to make available an interim public registry in the
first half of 2016 for the recording of nationally determined contributions submitted in
accordance with Article 4 of the Agreement, pending the adoption by the Conference of the
Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement of the modalities and
procedures referred to in paragraph 29 above;
31.
Requests the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement to elaborate, drawing
from approaches established under the Convention and its related legal instruments as
appropriate, guidance for accounting for Parties’ nationally determined contributions, as
referred to in Article 4, paragraph 13, of the Agreement, for consideration and adoption by
the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement at
its first session, which ensures that:
(a)
Parties account for anthropogenic emissions and removals in accordance with
common methodologies and metrics assessed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change and adopted by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties
to the Paris Agreement;
(b)
Parties ensure methodological consistency, including on baselines, between
the communication and implementation of nationally determined contributions;
(c)
Parties strive to include all categories of anthropogenic emissions or
removals in their nationally determined contributions and, once a source, sink or activity is
included, continue to include it;
(d)
Parties shall provide an explanation of why any categories of anthropogenic
emissions or removals are excluded;

32. Decides that Parties shall apply the guidance mentioned in paragraph 31 above to
the second and subsequent nationally determined contributions and that Parties may elect to
apply such guidance to their first nationally determined contribution;
33.
Also decides that the Forum on the Impact of the Implementation of response
measures, under the subsidiary bodies, shall continue, and shall serve the Agreement;
34.
Further decides that the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice
and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation shall recommend, for consideration and
adoption by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris
Agreement at its first session, the modalities, work programme and functions of the Forum
on the Impact of the Implementation of response measures to address the effects of the
implementation of response measures under the Agreement by enhancing cooperation
amongst Parties on understanding the impacts of mitigation actions under the Agreement
and the exchange of information, experiences, and best practices amongst Parties to raise
their resilience to these impacts;
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35. Decides that the guidance under paragraph 31 above shall ensure that double
counting is avoided on the basis of a corresponding adjustment by both Parties for
anthropogenic emissions by sources and/or removals by sinks covered by their nationally
determined contributions under the Agreement;
36.
Invites Parties to communicate, by 2020, to the secretariat mid-century, long-term
low greenhouse gas emission development strategies in accordance with Article 4,
paragraph 19, of the Agreement, and requests the secretariat to publish on the UNFCCC
website Parties’ low greenhouse gas emission development strategies as communicated;
37.
Requests the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to develop
and recommend the guidance referred to under Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Agreement for
adoption by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris
Agreement at its first session, including guidance to ensure that double counting is avoided
on the basis of a corresponding adjustment by Parties for both anthropogenic emissions by
sources and removals by sinks covered by their nationally determined contributions under
the Agreement;
38.
Recommends that the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties
to the Paris Agreement adopt rules, modalities and procedures for the mechanism
established by Article 6, paragraph 4, of the Agreement on the basis of:
(a)
Voluntary participation authorized by each Party involved;
(b)
Real, measurable, and long-term benefits related to the mitigation of climate
change;
(c)
Specific scopes of activities;
(d)
Reductions in emissions that are additional to any that would otherwise
occur;
(e)
Verification and certification of emission reductions resulting from
mitigation activities by designated operational entities;
(f)
Experience gained with and lessons learned from existing mechanisms and
approaches adopted under the Convention and its related legal instruments;
39.
Requests the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to develop
and recommend rules, modalities and procedures for the mechanism referred to in
paragraph 38 above for consideration and adoption by the Conference of the Parties serving
as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement at its first session;
40.
Also requests the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to
undertake a work programme under the framework for non-market approaches to
sustainable development referred to in Article 6, paragraph 8, of the Agreement, with the
objective of considering how to enhance linkages and create synergy between, inter alia,
mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology transfer and capacity-building, and how to
facilitate the implementation and coordination of non-market approaches;
41.
Further requests the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to
recommend a draft decision on the work programme referred to in paragraph 40 above,
taking into account the views of Parties, for consideration and adoption by the Conference
of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement at its first
session;
ADAPTATION
42.
Requests the Adaptation Committee and the Least Developed Countries Expert
Group to jointly develop modalities to recognize the adaptation efforts of developing
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country Parties, as referred to in Article 7, paragraph 3, of the Agreement, and make
recommendations for consideration and adoption by the Conference of the Parties serving
as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement at its first session;
43.
Also requests the Adaptation Committee, taking into account its mandate and its
second three-year workplan, and with a view to preparing recommendations for
consideration and adoption by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the
Parties to the Paris Agreement at its first session:
(a)
To review, in 2017, the work of adaptation-related institutional arrangements
under the Convention, with a view to identifying ways to enhance the coherence of their
work, as appropriate, in order to respond adequately to the needs of Parties;
(b)
To consider methodologies for assessing adaptation needs with a view to
assisting developing countries, without placing an undue burden on them;
44.
Invites all relevant United Nations agencies and international, regional and national
financial institutions to provide information to Parties through the secretariat on how their
development assistance and climate finance programmes incorporate climate-proofing and
climate resilience measures;
45.
Requests Parties to strengthen regional cooperation on adaptation where appropriate
and, where necessary, establish regional centres and networks, in particular in developing
countries, taking into account decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 13;
46.
Also requests the Adaptation Committee and the Least Developed Countries Expert
Group, in collaboration with the Standing Committee on Finance and other relevant
institutions, to develop methodologies, and make recommendations for consideration and
adoption by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris
Agreement at its first session on:
(a)
Taking the necessary steps to facilitate the mobilization of support for
adaptation in developing countries in the context of the limit to global average temperature
increase referred to in Article 2 of the Agreement;
(b)
Reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of adaptation and support referred
to in Article 7, paragraph 14(c), of the Agreement;
47.
Further requests the Green Climate Fund to expedite support for the least developed
countries and other developing country Parties for the formulation of national adaptation
plans, consistent with decisions 1/CP.16 and 5/CP.17, and for the subsequent
implementation of policies, projects and programmes identified by them;
LOSS AND DAMAGE
48. Decides on the continuation of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and
Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts, following the review in 2016;
49.
Requests the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism to
establish a clearinghouse for risk transfer that serves as a repository for information on
insurance and risk transfer, in order to facilitate the efforts of Parties to develop and
implement comprehensive risk management strategies;
50.
Also requests the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism to
establish, according to its procedures and mandate, a task force to complement, draw upon
the work of and involve, as appropriate, existing bodies and expert groups under the
Convention including the Adaptation Committee and the Least Developed Countries Expert
Group, as well as relevant organizations and expert bodies outside the Convention, to
develop recommendations for integrated approaches to avert, minimize and address
displacement related to the adverse impacts of climate change;
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51.
Further requests the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism
to initiate its work, at its next meeting, to operationalize the provisions referred to in
paragraphs 49 and 50 above, and to report on progress thereon in its annual report;
52.
Agrees that Article 8 of the Agreement does not involve or provide a basis for any
liability or compensation;
FINANCE
53. Decides that, in the implementation of the Agreement, financial resources provided
to developing countries should enhance the implementation of their policies, strategies,
regulations and action plans and their climate change actions with respect to both
mitigation and adaptation to contribute to the achievement of the purpose of the Agreement
as defined in Article 2;
54.
Further decides that, in accordance with Article 9, paragraph 3, of the Agreement,
developed countries intend to continue their existing collective mobilization goal through
2025 in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation;
prior to 2025 the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris
Agreement shall set a new collective quantified goal from a floor of USD 100 billion per
year, taking into account the needs and priorities of developing countries;
55. Recognizes the importance of adequate and predictable financial resources,
including for results-based payments, as appropriate, for the implementation of policy
approaches and positive incentives for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest
degradation, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and
enhancement of forest carbon stocks; as well as alternative policy approaches, such as joint
mitigation and adaptation approaches for the integral and sustainable management of
forests; while reaffirming the importance of non-carbon benefits associated with such
approaches; encouraging the coordination of support from, inter alia, public and private,
bilateral and multilateral sources, such as the Green Climate Fund, and alternative sources
in accordance with relevant decisions by the Conference of the Parties;
56. Decides to initiate, at its twenty-second session, a process to identify the information
to be provided by Parties, in accordance with Article 9, paragraph 5, of the Agreement with
the view to providing a recommendation for consideration and adoption by the Conference
of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement at its first
session;
57.
Also decides to ensure that the provision of information in accordance with Article
9, paragraph 7 of the Agreement shall be undertaken in accordance with modalities,
procedures and guidelines referred to in paragraph 96 below;
58.
Requests Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to develop
modalities for the accounting of financial resources provided and mobilized through public
interventions in accordance with Article 9, paragraph 7, of the Agreement for consideration
by the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-fourth session (November 2018), with the
view to making a recommendation for consideration and adoption by the Conference of the
Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement at its first session;
59. Decides that the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility, the
entities entrusted with the operation of the Financial Mechanism of the Convention, as well
as the Least Developed Countries Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund, administered
by the Global Environment Facility, shall serve the Agreement;
60.
Recognizes that the Adaptation Fund may serve the Agreement, subject to relevant
decisions by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto
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Protocol and the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris
Agreement;
61.
Invites the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the
Kyoto Protocol to consider the issue referred to in paragraph 60 above and make a
recommendation to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the
Paris Agreement at its first session;
62.
Recommends that the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties
to the Paris Agreement shall provide guidance to the entities entrusted with the operation of
the Financial Mechanism of the Convention on the policies, programme priorities and
eligibility criteria related to the Agreement for transmission by the Conference of the
Parties;
63. Decides that the guidance to the entities entrusted with the operations of the
Financial Mechanism of the Convention in relevant decisions of the Conference of the
Parties, including those agreed before adoption of the Agreement, shall apply mutatis
mutandis;
64.
Also decides that the Standing Committee on Finance shall serve the Agreement in
line with its functions and responsibilities established under the Conference of the Parties;
65. Urges the institutions serving the Agreement to enhance the coordination and
delivery of resources to support country-driven strategies through simplified and efficient
application and approval procedures, and through continued readiness support to
developing country Parties, including the least developed countries and small island
developing States, as appropriate;
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER
66.
Takes note of the interim report of the Technology Executive Committee on
guidance on enhanced implementation of the results of technology needs assessments as
referred to in document FCCC/SB/2015/INF.3;
67. Decides to strengthen the Technology Mechanism and requests the Technology
Executive Committee and the Climate Technology Centre and Network, in supporting the
implementation of the Agreement, to undertake further work relating to, inter alia:
(a)
Technology research, development and demonstration;
(b)
The development and enhancement of endogenous capacities and
technologies;
68.
Requests the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to initiate, at
its forty-fourth session (May 2016), the elaboration of the technology framework
established under Article 10, paragraph 4, of the Agreement and to report on its findings to
the Conference of the Parties, with a view to the Conference of the Parties making a
recommendation on the framework to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting
of the Parties to the Paris Agreement for consideration and adoption at its first session,
taking into consideration that the framework should facilitate, inter alia:
(a)
The undertaking and updating of technology needs assessments, as well as
the enhanced implementation of their results, particularly technology action plans and
project ideas, through the preparation of bankable projects;
(b)
The provision of enhanced financial and technical support for the
implementation of the results of the technology needs assessments;
(c)
The assessment of technologies that are ready for transfer;
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(d)
The enhancement of enabling environments for and the addressing of barriers
to the development and transfer of socially and environmentally sound technologies;
69.
Decides that the Technology Executive Committee and the Climate Technology
Centre and Network shall report to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of
the Parties to the Paris Agreement, through the subsidiary bodies, on their activities to
support the implementation of the Agreement;
70.
Also decides to undertake a periodic assessment of the effectiveness of and the
adequacy of the support provided to the Technology Mechanism in supporting the
implementation of the Agreement on matters relating to technology development and
transfer;
71.
Requests the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to initiate, at its forty-fourth
session , the elaboration of the scope of and modalities for the periodic assessment referred
to in paragraph 70 above, taking into account the review of the Climate Technology Centre
and Network as referred to in decision 2/CP.17, annex VII, paragraph 20 and the modalities
for the global stocktake referred to in Article 14 of the Agreement, for consideration and
adoption by the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-fifth session (November 2019);
CAPACITY-BUILDING
72. Decides to establish the Paris Committee on Capacity-building whose aim will be to
address gaps and needs, both current and emerging, in implementing capacity-building in
developing country Parties and further enhancing capacity-building efforts, including with
regard to coherence and coordination in capacity-building activities under the Convention;
73.
Also decides that the Paris Committee on Capacity-building will manage and
oversee the work plan mentioned in paragraph 74 below;
74.
Further decides to launch a work plan for the period 2016–2020 with the following
activities:
(a)
Assessing how to increase synergies through cooperation and avoid
duplication among existing bodies established under the Convention that implement
capacity-building activities, including through collaborating with institutions under and
outside the Convention;
(b)
Identifying capacity gaps and needs and recommending ways to address
them;
(c)
Promoting the development and dissemination of tools and methodologies for
the implementation of capacity-building;
(d)
Fostering global, regional, national and subnational cooperation;
(e)
Identifying and collecting good practices, challenges, experiences, and
lessons learned from work on capacity-building by bodies established under the
Convention;
(f)
Exploring how developing country Parties can take ownership of building
and maintaining capacity over time and space;
(g)
Identifying opportunities to strengthen capacity at the national, regional, and
subnational level;
(h)
Fostering dialogue, coordination, collaboration and coherence among
relevant processes and initiatives under the Convention, including through exchanging
information on capacity-building activities and strategies of bodies established under the
Convention;
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(i)
Providing guidance to the secretariat on the maintenance and further
development of the web-based capacity-building portal;
75. Decides that the Paris Committee on Capacity-building will annually focus on an
area or theme related to enhanced technical exchange on capacity-building, with the
purpose of maintaining up-to-date knowledge on the successes and challenges in building
capacity effectively in a particular area;
76.
Requests the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to organize annual in-session
meetings of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building;
77.
Also requests the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to develop the terms of
reference for the Paris Committee on Capacity-building, in the context of the third
comprehensive review of the implementation of the capacity-building framework, also
taking into account paragraphs 75, 76, 77 and 78 above and paragraphs 82 and 83 below,
with a view to recommending a draft decision on this matter for consideration and adoption
by the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-second session;
78.
Invites Parties to submit their views on the membership of the Paris Committee on
Capacity-building by 9 March 2016;
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79.
Requests the secretariat to compile the submissions referred to in paragraph 78
above into a miscellaneous document for consideration by the Subsidiary Body for
Implementation at its forty-fourth session;
80. Decides that the inputs to the Paris Committee on Capacity-building will include,
inter alia, submissions, the outcome of the third comprehensive review of the
implementation of the capacity-building framework, the secretariat’s annual synthesis
report on the implementation of the framework for capacity-building in developing
countries, the secretariat’s compilation and synthesis report on capacity-building work of
bodies established under the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol, and reports on the Durban
Forum and the capacity-building portal;
81.
Requests the Paris Committee on Capacity-building to prepare annual technical
progress reports on its work, and to make these reports available at the sessions of the
Subsidiary Body for Implementation coinciding with the sessions of the Conference of the
Parties;
82.
Also requests the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-fifth session (November
2019), to review the progress, need for extension, the effectiveness and enhancement of the
Paris Committee on Capacity-building and to take any action it considers appropriate, with
a view to making recommendations to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting
of the Parties to the Paris Agreement at its first session on enhancing institutional
arrangements for capacity-building consistent with Article 11, paragraph 5, of the
Agreement;
83. Calls upon all Parties to ensure that education, training and public awareness, as
reflected in Article 6 of the Convention and in Article 12 of the Agreement are adequately
considered in their contribution to capacity-building;
84.
Invites the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the
Paris Agreement at its first session to explore ways of enhancing the implementation of
training, public awareness, public participation and public access to information so as to
enhance actions under the Agreement;



2 Parties should submit their views via the submissions portal at .
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TRANSPARENCY OF ACTION AND SUPPORT
85. Decides to establish a Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency in order to build
institutional and technical capacity, both pre- and post-2020. This initiative will support
developing country Parties, upon request, in meeting enhanced transparency requirements
as defined in Article 13 of the Agreement in a timely manner;
86.
Also decides that the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency will aim:
(a)
To strengthen national institutions for transparency-related activities in line
with national priorities;
(b)
To provide relevant tools, training and assistance for meeting the provisions
stipulated in Article 13 of the Agreement;
(c)
To assist in the improvement of transparency over time;
87. Urges and requests the Global Environment Facility to make arrangements to
support the establishment and operation of the Capacity-building Initiative for
Transparency as a priority reporting-related need, including through voluntary contributions
to support developing countries in the sixth replenishment of the Global Environment
Facility and future replenishment cycles, to complement existing support under the Global
Environment Facility;
88. Decides to assess the implementation of the Capacity-building Initiative for
Transparency in the context of the seventh review of the financial mechanism;
89. Requests that the Global Environment Facility, as an operating entity of the financial
mechanism include in its annual report to the Conference of the Parties the progress of
work in the design, development and implementation of the Capacity-building Initiative for
Transparency referred to in paragraph 85 above starting in 2016;
90. Decides that, in accordance with Article 13, paragraph 2, of the Agreement,
developing countries shall be provided flexibility in the implementation of the provisions of
that Article, including in the scope, frequency and level of detail of reporting, and in the
scope of review, and that the scope of review could provide for in-country reviews to be
optional, while such flexibilities shall be reflected in the development of modalities,
procedures and guidelines referred to in paragraph 92 below;
91. Also decides that all Parties, except for the least developed country Parties and small
island developing States, shall submit the information referred to in Article 13, paragraphs
7, 8, 9 and 10, as appropriate, no less frequently than on a biennial basis, and that the least
developed country Parties and small island developing States may submit this information
at their discretion;
92.
Requests the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement to develop
recommendations for modalities, procedures and guidelines in accordance with Article 13,
paragraph 13, of the Agreement, and to define the year of their first and subsequent review
and update, as appropriate, at regular intervals, for consideration by the Conference of the
Parties, at its twenty-fourth session, with a view to forwarding them to the Conference of
the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement for adoption at its
first session;
93.
Also requests the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement in developing the
recommendations for the modalities, procedures and guidelines referred to in paragraph 92
above to take into account, inter alia:
(a)
The importance of facilitating improved reporting and transparency over
time;
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13
(b)
The need to provide flexibility to those developing country Parties that need
it in the light of their capacities;
(c)
The need to promote transparency, accuracy, completeness, consistency, and
comparability;
(d)
The need to avoid duplication as well as undue burden on Parties and the
secretariat;
(e)
The need to ensure that Parties maintain at least the frequency and quality of
reporting in accordance with their respective obligations under the Convention;
(f)
The need to ensure that double counting is avoided;

(g)
The need to ensure environmental integrity;
94.
Further requests the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement, when
developing the modalities, procedures and guidelines referred to in paragraph 92 above, to
draw on the experiences from and take into account other on-going relevant processes
under the Convention;
95.
Requests the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement, when developing
modalities, procedures and guidelines referred to in paragraph 92 above, to consider, inter
alia:
(a)
The types of flexibility available to those developing countries that need it on
the basis of their capacities;
(b)
The consistency between the methodology communicated in the nationally
determined contribution and the methodology for reporting on progress made towards
achieving individual Parties’ respective nationally determined contribution;
(c)
That Parties report information on adaptation action and planning including,
if appropriate, their national adaptation plans, with a view to collectively exchanging
information and sharing lessons learned;
(d)
Support provided, enhancing delivery of support for both adaptation and
mitigation through, inter alia, the common tabular formats for reporting support, and taking
into account issues considered by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological
Advice on methodologies for reporting on financial information, and enhancing the
reporting by developing countries on support received, including the use, impact and
estimated results thereof;
(e)
Information in the biennial assessments and other reports of the Standing
Committee on Finance and other relevant bodies under the Convention;
(f)
Information on the social and economic impact of response measures;
96.
Also requests the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement, when developing
recommendations for modalities, procedures and guidelines referred to in paragraph 92
above, to enhance the transparency of support provided in accordance with Article 9 of the
Agreement;
97.
Further requests the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement to report on
the progress of work on the modalities, procedures and guidelines referred to in paragraph
92 above to future sessions of the Conference of the Parties, and that this work be
concluded no later than 2018;
98. Decides that the modalities, procedures and guidelines developed under paragraph
92 above, shall be applied upon the entry into force of the Paris Agreement;
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14

99.
Also decides that the modalities, procedures and guidelines of this transparency
framework shall build upon and eventually supercede the measurement, reporting and
verification system established by paragraphs 40 to 47 and 60 to 64 of decision 1/CP.16 and
paragraph 12 to 62 of decision 2/CP.17 immediately following the submission of the final
biennial reports and biennial update reports;
GLOBAL STOCKTAKE
100. Requests the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement to identify the sources
of input for the global stocktake referred to in Article 14 of the Agreement and to report to
the Conference of the Parties, with a view to the Conference of the Parties making a
recommendation to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the
Paris Agreement for consideration and adoption at its first session, including, but not
limited to:
(a)
Information on:
(i)
The overall effect of the nationally determined contributions communicated
by Parties;
(ii)
The state of adaptation efforts, support, experiences and priorities from the
communications referred to in Article 7, paragraphs 10 and 11, of the Agreement,
and reports referred to in Article 13, paragraph 7, of the Agreement;
(iii) The mobilization and provision of support;
(b)
The latest reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change;
(c)
Reports of the subsidiary bodies;
101. Also requests the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to
provide advice on how the assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
can inform the global stocktake of the implementation of the Agreement pursuant to its
Article 14 of the Agreement and to report on this matter to the Ad Hoc Working Group on
the Paris Agreement at its second session;
102. Further requests the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement to develop
modalities for the global stocktake referred to in Article 14 of the Agreement and to report
to the Conference of the Parties, with a view to making a recommendation to the
Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement for
consideration and adoption at its first session;
FACILITATING IMPLEMENTATION AND COMPLIANCE
103. Decides that the committee referred to in Article 15, paragraph 2, of the Agreement
shall consist of 12 members with recognized competence in relevant scientific, technical,
socio-economic or legal fields, to be elected by the Conference of the Parties serving as the
meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement on the basis of equitable geographical
representation, with two members each from the five regional groups of the United Nations
and one member each from the small island developing States and the least developed
countries, while taking into account the goal of gender balance;
104. Requests the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement to develop the
modalities and procedures for the effective operation of the committee referred to in Article
15, paragraph 2, of the Agreement, with a view to the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris
Agreement completing its work on such modalities and procedures for consideration and
adoption by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris
Agreement at its first session;

FCCC/CP/2015/L.9

15
FINAL CLAUSES
105. Also requests the secretariat, solely for the purposes of Article 21 of the Agreement,
to make available on its website on the date of adoption of the Agreement as well as in the
report of the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-first session, information on the most
up-to-date total and per cent of greenhouse gas emissions communicated by Parties to the
Convention in their national communications, greenhouse gas inventory reports, biennial
reports or biennial update reports;
IV.
ENHANCED ACTION PRIOR TO 2020
106. Resolves to ensure the highest possible mitigation efforts in the pre-2020 period,
including by:
(a)
Urging all Parties to the Kyoto Protocol that have not already done so to
ratify and implement the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol;
(b)
Urging all Parties that have not already done so to make and implement a
mitigation pledge under the Cancun Agreements;
(c)
Reiterating its resolve, as set out in decision 1/CP.19, paragraphs 3 and 4, to
accelerate the full implementation of the decisions constituting the agreed outcome
pursuant to decision 1/CP.13 and enhance ambition in the pre-2020 period in order to
ensure the highest possible mitigation efforts under the Convention by all Parties;
(d)
Inviting developing country Parties that have not submitted their first biennial
update reports to do so as soon as possible;
(e)
Urging all Parties to participate in the existing measurement, reporting and
verification processes under the Cancun Agreements, in a timely manner, with a view to
demonstrating progress made in the implementation of their mitigation pledges;
107. Encourages Parties to promote the voluntary cancellation by Party and non-Party
stakeholders, without double counting of units issued under the Kyoto Protocol, including
certified emission reductions that are valid for the second commitment period;
108. Urges host and purchasing Parties to report transparently on internationally
transferred mitigation outcomes, including outcomes used to meet international pledges,
and emission units issued under the Kyoto Protocol with a view to promoting
environmental integrity and avoiding double counting;
109. Recognizes the social, economic and environmental value of voluntary mitigation
actions and their co-benefits for adaptation, health and sustainable development;
110. Resolves to strengthen, in the period 2016–2020, the existing technical examination
process on mitigation as defined in decision 1/CP.19, paragraph 5(a), and decision 1/CP.20,
paragraph 19, taking into account the latest scientific knowledge, including by:
(a)
Encouraging Parties, Convention bodies and international organizations to
engage in this process, including, as appropriate, in cooperation with relevant non-Party
stakeholders, to share their experiences and suggestions, including from regional events,
and to cooperate in facilitating the implementation of policies, practices and actions
identified during this process in accordance with national sustainable development
priorities;
(b)
Striving to improve, in consultation with Parties, access to and participation
in this process by developing country Party and non-Party experts;
(c)
Requesting the Technology Executive Committee and the Climate
Technology Centre and Network in accordance with their respective mandates:
FCCC/CP/2015/L.9
16


(i)
To engage in the technical expert meetings and enhance their efforts
to facilitate and support Parties in scaling up the implementation of policies,
practices and actions identified during this process;

(ii)
To provide regular updates during the technical expert meetings on the
progress made in facilitating the implementation of policies, practices and
actions previously identified during this process;

(iii)
To include information on their activities under this process in their
joint annual report to the Conference of the Parties;
(d)
Encouraging Parties to make effective use of the Climate Technology Centre
and Network to obtain assistance to develop economically, environmentally and socially
viable project proposals in the high mitigation potential areas identified in this process;
111. Encourages the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism of the Convention to
engage in the technical expert meetings and to inform participants of their contribution to
facilitating progress in the implementation of policies, practices and actions identified
during the technical examination process;
112. Requests the secretariat to organize the process referred to in paragraph 110 above
and disseminate its results, including by:
(a)
Organizing, in consultation with the Technology Executive Committee and
relevant expert organizations, regular technical expert meetings focusing on specific
policies, practices and actions representing best practices and with the potential to be
scalable and replicable;
(b)
Updating, on an annual basis, following the meetings referred to in paragraph
112(a) above and in time to serve as input to the summary for policymakers referred to in
paragraph 112(c) below, a technical paper on the mitigation benefits and co-benefits of
policies, practices and actions for enhancing mitigation ambition, as well as on options for
supporting their implementation, information on which should be made available in a user-
friendly online format;
(c)
Preparing, in consultation with the champions referred to in paragraph 122
below, a summary for policymakers, with information on specific policies, practices and
actions representing best practices and with the potential to be scalable and replicable, and
on options to support their implementation, as well as on relevant collaborative initiatives,
and publishing the summary at least two months in advance of each session of the
Conference of the Parties as input for the high-level event referred to in paragraph 121
below;
113. Decides that the process referred to in paragraph 110 above should be organized
jointly by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific
and Technological Advice and should take place on an ongoing basis until 2020;
114. Also decides to conduct in 2017 an assessment of the process referred to in
paragraph 110 above so as to improve its effectiveness;
115. Resolves to enhance the provision of urgent and adequate finance, technology and
capacity-building support by developed country Parties in order to enhance the level of
ambition of pre-2020 action by Parties, and in this regard strongly urges developed country
Parties to scale up their level of financial support, with a concrete roadmap to achieve the
goal of jointly providing USD 100 billion annually by 2020 for mitigation and adaptation
while significantly increasing adaptation finance from current levels and to further provide
appropriate technology and capacity-building support;
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17
116. Decides to conduct a facilitative dialogue in conjunction with the twenty-second
session of the Conference of the Parties to assess the progress in implementing decision
1/CP.19, paragraphs 3 and 4, and identify relevant opportunities to enhance the provision of
financial resources, including for technology development and transfer and capacity-
building support, with a view to identifying ways to enhance the ambition of mitigation
efforts by all Parties, including identifying relevant opportunities to enhance the provision
and mobilization of support and enabling environments;
117. Acknowledges with appreciation the results of the Lima-Paris Action Agenda, which
build on the climate summit convened on 23 September 2014 by the Secretary-General of
the United Nations;
118. Welcomes the efforts of non-Party stakeholders to scale up their climate actions, and
encourages the registration of those actions in the Non-State Actor Zone for Climate
Action platform;
3

119. Encourages Parties to work closely with non-Party stakeholders to catalyse efforts
to strengthen mitigation and adaptation action;
120. Also encourages non-Party stakeholders to increase their engagement in the
processes referred to in paragraph 110 above and paragraph 125 below;
121. Agrees to convene, pursuant to decision 1/CP.20, paragraph 21, building on the
Lima-Paris Action Agenda and in conjunction with each session of the Conference of the
Parties during the period 2016–2020, a high-level event that:
(a)
Further strengthens high-level engagement on the implementation of policy
options and actions arising from the processes referred to in paragraph 110 above and
paragraph below, drawing on the summary for policymakers referred to in paragraph
112(c) above;
(b)
Provides an opportunity for announcing new or strengthened voluntary
efforts, initiatives and coalitions, including the implementation of policies, practices and
actions arising from the processes referred to in paragraph 110 above and paragraph 125
below and presented in the summary for policymakers referred to in paragraph 112(c)
above;
(c)
Takes stock of related progress and recognizes new or strengthened voluntary
efforts, initiatives and coalitions;
(d)
Provides meaningful and regular opportunities for the effective high-level
engagement of dignitaries of Parties, international organizations, international cooperative
initiatives and non-Party stakeholders;
122. Decides that two high-level champions shall be appointed to act on behalf of the
President of the Conference of the Parties to facilitate through strengthened high-level
engagement in the period 2016–2020 the successful execution of existing efforts and the
scaling-up and introduction of new or strengthened voluntary efforts, initiatives and
coalitions, including by:
(a)
Working with the Executive Secretary and the current and incoming
Presidents of the Conference of the Parties to coordinate the annual high-level event
referred to in paragraph 121 above;
(b)
Engaging with interested Parties and non-Party stakeholders, including to
further the voluntary initiatives of the Lima-Paris Action Agenda;


3 .
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18

(c)
Providing guidance to the secretariat on the organization of technical expert
meetings referred to in paragraph 112(a) above and paragraph 130(a) below;
123. Also decides that the high-level champions referred to in paragraph 122 above
should normally serve for a term of two years, with their terms overlapping for a full year
to ensure continuity, such that:
(a)
The President of the Conference of the Parties of the twenty-first session
should appoint one champion, who should serve for one year from the date of the
appointment until the last day of the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-second session;
(b)
The President of the Conference of the Parties of the twenty-second session
should appoint one champion who should serve for two years from the date of the
appointment until the last day of the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-third session
(November 2017);
(c)
Thereafter, each subsequent President of the Conference of the Parties should
appoint one champion who should serve for two years and succeed the previously
appointed champion whose term has ended;
124.
Invites all interested Parties and relevant organizations to provide support for the
work of the champions referred to in paragraph 122 above;
125. Decides to launch, in the period 20162020, a technical examination process on
adaptation;
126. Also decides that the technical examination process on adaptation referred to in
paragraph 125 above will endeavour to identify concrete opportunities for strengthening
resilience, reducing vulnerabilities and increasing the understanding and implementation of
adaptation actions;
127. Further decides that the technical examination process referred to in paragraph 125
above should be organized jointly by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation and the
Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice, and conducted by the Adaptation
Committee;
128. Decides that the process referred to in paragraph 125 above will be pursued by:
(a)
Facilitating the sharing of good practices, experiences and lessons learned;
(b)
Identifying actions that could significantly enhance the implementation of
adaptation actions, including actions that could enhance economic diversification and have
mitigation co-benefits;
(c)
Promoting cooperative action on adaptation;
(d)
Identifying opportunities to strengthen enabling environments and enhance
the provision of support for adaptation in the context of specific policies, practices and
actions;
129. Also decides that the technical examination process on adaptation referred to in
paragraph 125 above will take into account the process, modalities, outputs, outcomes and
lessons learned from the technical examination process on mitigation referred to in
paragraph 110 above;
130. Requests the secretariat to support the technical examination process referred to in
paragraph 125 above by:
(a)
Organizing regular technical expert meetings focusing on specific policies,
strategies and actions;
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19
(b)
Preparing annually, on the basis of the meetings referred to in paragraph
130(a) above and in time to serve as an input to the summary for policymakers referred to
in paragraph 112(c) above, a technical paper on opportunities to enhance adaptation action,
as well as options to support their implementation, information on which should be made
available in a user-friendly online format;
131. Decides that in conducting the process referred to in paragraph 125 above, the
Adaptation Committee will engage with and explore ways to take into account, synergize
with and build on the existing arrangements for adaptation-related work programmes,
bodies and institutions under the Convention so as to ensure coherence and maximum
value;
132. Also decides to conduct, in conjunction with the assessment referred to in paragraph
120 above, an assessment of the process referred to in paragraph 125 above, so as to
improve its effectiveness;
133.
Invites Parties and observer organizations to submit information on the opportunities
referred to in paragraph 126 above by 3 February 2016;
V.
NON-PARTY STAKEHOLDERS
134. Welcomes the efforts of all non-Party stakeholders to address and respond to climate
change, including those of civil society, the private sector, financial institutions, cities and
other subnational authorities;
135.
Invites the non-Party stakeholders referred to in paragraph 134 above to scale up
their efforts and support actions to reduce emissions and/or to build resilience and decrease
vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change and demonstrate these efforts via the
Non-State Actor Zone for Climate Action

platform
4
referred to in paragraph 118 above;
136. Recognizes the need to strengthen knowledge, technologies, practices and efforts of
local communities and indigenous peoples related to addressing and responding to climate
change, and establishes a platform for the exchange of experiences and sharing of best
practices on mitigation and adaptation in a holistic and integrated manner;
137. Also recognizes the important role of providing incentives for emission reduction
activities, including tools such as domestic policies and carbon pricing;
VI. ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUDGETARY MATTERS
138. Takes note of the estimated budgetary implications of the activities to be undertaken
by the secretariat referred to in this decision and requests that the actions of the secretariat
called for in this decision be undertaken subject to the availability of financial resources;
139. Emphasizes the urgency of making additional resources available for the
implementation of the relevant actions, including actions referred to in this decision, and
the implementation of the work programme referred to in paragraph 9 above;
140. Urges Parties to make voluntary contributions for the timely implementation of this
decision.




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20

Annex
PARIS AGREEMENT

The Parties to this Agreement,
Being Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, hereinafter referred to as “the
Convention”,
Pursuant to the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action established by decision 1/CP.17 of the Conference of the
Parties to the Convention at its seventeenth session,
In pursuit of the objective of the Convention, and being guided by its principles, including the principle of
equity and common but