Dear colleagues,

From May 6th - 7th, this year's Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD)will take place. This is the first moment in 2021 for ministers to discuss UNFCCC issues at both a political and technical level, because heads of UNFCCC country delegations are usually also invited and they can bring in the technical knowledge of the issues. It's an opportunity for stakeholders around the table to understand what common ground already exists and what needs to be done ahead of COP26. There's typically a balance between developed and developing countries; compared to the Climate & Development Ministerial which was mainly developing countries speaking with the UK COP26 Presidency, or the US Climate Summit, which is mainly large emitters discussing their climate efforts. The PCD is also a part of the UK COP26 presidency's list of milestones for action on climate finance.

Day 1 (May 6th) will be on climate finance and adaptation (finance), so is the most relevant for our work. However, the PCD is typically a difficult advocacy opportunity, and is more of an opportunity to share points via the media e.g. via op-eds,public/open letters etc. However, this year there will be up to 11 side-events, so there is an opportunity to do advocacy on the margins during the side-events and ahead of the Dialogue, by shaping the agendas of these side-events.

Key expected outcomes from the PCD

• Co-chairs summary

Expected documents/ announcements at the PCD

• The UK will present a concept note on a taskforce on climate finance action at the PCD. This is based on a suggestion by Fiji for a climate finance taskforce to be set-up.

Structure

• Germany is the host (as usual), supported by the COP Presidency (UK)
• Two virtual 3-hour sessions on May 6 (2-5pm CET) and May 7 (11:30-14:30).
• High-level segments for an hour each with Chancellor Merkel, Prime Minister Johnson and UNSG Guterres
• Five thematic ministerial discussions on UNFCCC crunch issues:
  • Day 1: finance, adaptation & Day 2: transparency, carbon markets & non-carbon markets, and common timeframes for climate action
• Approx. 11 side events co-hosted with the UK COP26 Presidency (with ministerial participation) that will alter in timing. Current themes for these side-events include conservation & biodiversity, ambition, science, maritime shipping, climate finance, health, green recovery, industrial decarbonisation, zero emission vehicles.

Five thematic ministerial discussions on UNFCCC crunch issues

• On finance: 100 Billion USD climate finance goal - but only if Germany decides to make an announcement on how it will fulfill the goal between 2021 and 2025. Otherwise, the finance discussion will be on something else.
• On adaptation: UK is keen to lead a discussion on adaptation finance
• On carbon markets: Discussion on procedural questions, using the San Jose Principles as a reference point 
• On Common Timeframes: Discussion on what needs to happen to finally, finalise the common timeframes for climate action
• On transparency: Not clear

Loss and damage

• Currently no plans for this to be on the agenda. At a political level, the EU and other developed countries aren't keen to discuss this

What should do for the PCD?

• I will add this to the agenda of our next WG call on May 13th to discuss what we do around the PCD.
• CAN will create an advocacy briefing for the PCD. Is anyone else planning to do work around the PCD?