What to Watch During the Climate Change Conference Session of the Subsidiary Bodies

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) outlines key concerns regarding the UN Climate Change Conference, Sessions of the subsidiary bodies (SB52), which began on May 31, 2021. The document highlights critical gaps in climate ambition, the need for rigorous rules on carbon trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, the omission of 'loss and damage' from the formal agenda, and the challenges posed by the virtual negotiation format for civil society and Indigenous Peoples.

• There is a significant 'ambition gap' in global climate action, characterized by a discrepancy between national emissions reduction pledges and the Paris Agreement's temperature goals. CIEL argues that current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are insufficient to keep temperature rise below 1.5°C and that plans to continue producing oil, gas, and coal undermine these goals. The briefing asserts that states should not rely on mid-century net-zero promises or unproven 'negative emissions' technologies, but instead implement concrete emissions reductions and curb fossil fuel extraction and deforestation.
• Negotiations regarding Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which covers international cooperation and carbon trading, must prioritize integrity over speed. CIEL specifies that rules must prevent the undermining of domestic ambition, eliminate the double-counting of emissions reductions, avoid repeating past mistakes where projects harmed ecosystems or communities, and include rights-based safeguards and grievance mechanisms to protect Indigenous Peoples and human rights.
• The issue of 'loss and damage' resulting from climate impacts is notably absent from the SB52 formal agenda. While the operationalization of the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage is viewed as a positive step for technical cooperation, CIEL maintains that technical assistance is insufficient and that climate-vulnerable communities require significant financial support and policy tools.
• The shift to a virtual format for SB52 has created barriers to equity and participation. Non-governmental delegates, including representatives of Indigenous Peoples and civil society, are often restricted to 'viewer' status without speaking access or the ability to interact informally with negotiators, which CIEL argues impairs the legitimacy of the global climate governance process.

APA

Duyck, S., & Lennon, E. (2021). What to Watch During the Climate Change Conference Session of the Subsidiary Bodies. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/what-to-watch-during-the-climate-change-conference-session-of-the-subsidiary-bodies/

Chicago

Duyck, Sébastien, and Erika Lennon. What to Watch During the Climate Change Conference Session of the Subsidiary Bodies. Center for International Environmental Law, 2021. https://www.ciel.org/what-to-watch-during-the-climate-change-conference-session-of-the-subsidiary-bodies/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Duyck |first1=Sébastien |last2=Lennon |first2=Erika |title=What to Watch During the Climate Change Conference Session of the Subsidiary Bodies |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=7 June 2021 |url=https://www.ciel.org/what-to-watch-during-the-climate-change-conference-session-of-the-subsidiary-bodies/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{duyck2021what, author = {Duyck, Sébastien and Lennon, Erika}, title = {{What to Watch During the Climate Change Conference Session of the Subsidiary Bodies}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2021}, month = jun, url = {https://www.ciel.org/what-to-watch-during-the-climate-change-conference-session-of-the-subsidiary-bodies/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }