High-level Advisory Group of the UN Secretary-General on Climate Change Financing Terms of Reference
Financing for Climate Change
1. Based on the need identified in the Copenhagen Accord to study the potential sources of revenue for financing mitigation and adaptation activities in developing countries, and to make progress on this key issue in the course of 2010, the UN Secretary-General has established a High-level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing.
2. The Group will conduct a study on potential sources of revenue for the scaling up of new and additional resources from developed countries for financing actions in developing countries, in the spirit of the political commitments contained in the Copenhagen Accord, with a view to contributing to an appropriate decision of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties at its 16th session in Mexico.
3. Initial outputs from the Group by the May/June meetings of the UNFCCC will provide timely information to Parties for their feedback. This will help to increase the transparency of the work of the Advisory Group, allow for comments and suggestions by governments as well as guidance for further work that the Group may need to undertake. The final report will be submitted to the UN Secretary-General and to the current (Denmark) and next (Mexico) president of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties by November 2010.
Scope of the work of the Advisory Group
4. As part of its work, the Group will develop practical proposals on how to significantly scale-up long-term financing for mitigation and adaptation strategies in developing countries from various public as well as private sources, and how best to deliver it. Besides considering how existing mechanisms can be scaled up, the Group will also examine the need for new and innovative long-term sources of finance, in order to fill the gap in international climate financing.
5. The Group will provide views and suggestions, based on the best possible analysis, that are in support of development. The criteria for assessing combinations of sources will include: revenue; efficiency; incidence; equity; practicality; acceptability; additionality; and reliability. Funding would help fund adaptation, mitigation, technological development and transfer, and capacity building for action on climate change in developing countries. The Group will in particular address the needs for funding for adaptation of the most vulnerable.
6. The Group will be expected to consult widely.
High-Level Group Members
7. The High-level Advisory Group will be co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and H.E. Mr. Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
8. The other members of the Advisory Group, serving in their expert capacities, include other Heads of State and Government, as well as ministers of finance, high office holders and experts on public finance, development and related issues of the highest quality and standing. The composition of the Group ensures for equal representation of developed and developing countries.
9. The members of the High-level Advisory Group were designated by the Secretary-General, and are formally accountable to and report to the Secretary-General. The Secretary-General will ensure that the results of work of the Group are communicated to the UNFCCC process, and that feedback and any guidance is received and channeled back. The Secretary-General, the Co-Chairs and the Members of the Advisory Group will be actively engaged in outreach activities to UN member states and the media to enhance transparency of the deliberations and findings of the Group.
Secretariat of the Group
10. The Secretary-General has set up a secretariat in New York for a period of 12 months, which is linked to the existing Secretary-General’s Climate Change Support Team. The secretariat will be responsible for facilitating substantive inputs to the Group, preparing the documentation, and for organizing its meetings.
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