Textual Advocacy (Cop15)
One of the most important aspects of influencing international negotiations is being able to respond rapidly to any changes in the negotiating text. Below you can find all GPPN responses to each version of the adaptation negotiating text in the run-up to COP15. The GPPN analysed each version of the text thoroughly to identify how water could best be incorporated, explaining at each stage why a reference to water in particular sections was important.
In many cases the GPPN was successful in influencing the development of the text in relation to water, and country negotiators found the textual responses very useful to guide their own interventions. Adaptation was discussed by negotiators under the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long Term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG LCA).
Towards the end of the week of negotiations in Barcelona, a further adaptation text was released, - Non-Paper 41 - and this time there was an explicit reference to the need for actions relating to water resources in the Annex on National Adaptation Plans.
The GPPN response called for much stronger language on the importance of water resources and identified areas in the text where this could be incorporated.
During the UNFCCC session in Bangkok, it was decided to break down the negotiations into a number of different contact groups that would focus on different aspects of the text. On the basis of these separate negotiations, specific papers were produced on particular themes. Non-Paper 8 was a revised version of the adaptation text. It still included a number of helpful references to water, which the GPPN supported and built on in its response.
In preparation for the UNFCCC session from 2nd – 6th November in Barcelona, a number of new 'streamlined texts' were released, including Non-Paper 31 on adaptation.
This text deleted any references to water for adaptation, and so the GPPN issued a strong response calling for the reinsertion of water into the text, along with recommendations on where it would best fit.
This document was issued in response to the revised AWG LCA negotiating text released on 15th September, in time for the climate change negotiations in Bangkok from 28th September – 9th November 2009.
A full version of the revised negotiating text for the Bangkok negotiations can be downloaded here.