BINGO intervention High-Level Segment delivered on 18 December 2009 by Anders Eldrup, CEO, Dong Energy:

- spoken intervention 
- written intervention

BINGO intervention to AWG LCA delivered by Wendy Poulton, Chair, ICC Task Force on Energy 

ICC and the Business and Industry Coordination process at UNFCCC

The text below has been developed to provide a brief history of the civil society observer process for interactions with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the business and industry role in particular. It also identifies a series of “practices” ICC employs to help coordinate the business and industry participation which have been developed over time and through experience.

I. How does business engage with the UNFCCC process?

Role of civil society
Civil society engages with the UNFCCC process through representative non-governmental observer organizations. Since the early days of the UNFCCC, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been actively involved, attending sessions and exchanging views with other participants, including government negotiators and delegates.

Meeting attendance
Private sector representatives seeking to attend UNFCCC meetings as observers must be registered in advance through an accredited business and industry NGO such as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Only representatives whose names have been communicated to the UNFCCC Secretariat through the designated NGO will be admitted to sessions. Notifications to register along with dates for submission appear on the UNFCCC website (www.unfccc.int). Badges issued at registration must be worn visibly at all times in the meeting area as security at UNFCCC meetings is tight. United Nations security staff checks badges against their computerized database before allowing access to the meeting area and individuals and their belongings must undergo an airport-type screening procedure. Categories of participants can be recognized by the colour of their badge.

The colour of badges signifies the status of participants as follows:
Pink: National government delegates
Yellow: NGOs - this is the one you will be given as a business observer
Blue: UN organizations, including the Secretariat and its consultants
Green: Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs, e.g. OECD, IEA)
Orange: Media

History of NGO Constituency Process
During the intergovernmental climate change process under the UNFCCC, non-governmental organizations admitted as observers have formed themselves into loose groups with diverse but broadly clustered interests or perspectives. In the early days of the climate change convention process the business and industry organizations and the environmental groups were particularly active and initiated systematic channels of communications with the UNFCCC secretariat and the Parties (governments). This resulted in the acknowledgment of “constituencies”, with their own focal points. A flexible and manageable system evolved which enhanced the participation of large numbers of observer organizations. Participation in a particular constituency is the choice of an individual or individual organization, and is neither official nor binding. However, an individual may register with only one constituency for any given session. This does not preclude direct communication with the secretariat by any observer organization, nor does it imply any ‘sovereignty’ over the constituency on the part of the focal point organization. ICC serves as business and industry focal point with the UNFCCC secretariat.

There are currently nine NGO constituencies (Please note that other constituencies may be added in advance of COP 15 in Copenhagen):
BINGO - Business and Industry NGOs
ENGO - Environmental NGOs
TUNGO - Trade Union NGOs
IPO - Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations
LGMA - Local Government and Municipal Authorities
RINGO - Research-oriented and Independent Organizations
YUNGO – Youth NGOs
Faith – Faith-based NGOs
Gender – Gender-based NGOs

II. ICC as the Business and Industry focal point (BINGO)

The role of ICC as BINGO focal point for coordination is to:

• provide a conduit for the exchange of official information between business participants and the UNFCCC secretariat;
• assist the secretariat in ensuring an effective participation appropriate to an intergovernmental meeting;
• coordinate observer interaction at sessions including convening constituency meetings, organizing meetings with officials, providing names for the speakers list and representation at official functions;
• provide logistical support to their constituents during sessions;
• assist the secretariat in realizing representative observer participation at workshops and other limited-access meetings.

This interaction is facilitated on the part of the UNFCCC by the NGO Liaison Officer, currently Megumi Endo

“Usual” BINGO activities at UNFCCC meetings
Daily briefing: BINGOs are assigned their own meeting room in which to hold meetings and discuss developments. BINGOs hold a daily briefing, usually at 9:00 each day throughout the negotiating session, to discuss the previous days’ development and present the day’s agenda as well as other topics. The BINGO briefing is organized by ICC, and chaired by the Chair of the ICC Climate Change Task Force (currently Nick Campbell), and facilitated by staff from the ICC International Secretariat. Often during Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings, like Copenhagen, there is often a rotation of the chair among business participants knowledgeable in the UNFCCC process. The first and last BINGO briefings of a session are chaired by the ICC Task Force Chair. The BINGO briefing may also include outside speakers, e.g. from government or intergovernmental organisations (IPCC, World Bank, IEA, etc) delegations.

Interventions (BINGO): Business and industry is typically given several opportunities at each UNFCCC session to provide input to the formal process by making a brief prepared statement from the floor, known as interventions. Opportunities are provided by invitation of and at the discretion of Chairs of the UNFCCC sessions and are not guaranteed. Business and industry uses these opportunities to make, where possible, coordinated statements which can be on behalf of certain constituencies within the diverse business and industry community, or can be broader consensus statements reflecting the views of the business community as a whole. ICC, as BINGO focal point, works with the UNFCCC secretariat in determining the number and nature of interventions available for each particular negotiating session. The actual delivery of an invited intervention remains completely at the discretion of the Chair of the particular UNFCCC negotiating body and is often subject to last-minute changes and cancellations. Interventions are usually severely time restricted (2 to 3 minutes) and are typically given after Parties have taken the floor.

Types of interventions: As mentioned earlier there are generally two types of interventions available:

1) General business and industry intervention, and/or
2) Intervention geared to a specific expertise or agenda item

The general BINGO intervention is initially prepared by the ICC secretariat, often with the assistance of members from other global business groups which closely follow the process, and circulated for comment to a broad industry list maintained by ICC (BINGO list ). Finalization of general BINGO interventions is through a consensus-based process organized by the BINGO focal point. Every effort is made to ensure broad-based approval. In case of particular issues that arise, preference is given to the views of business representatives attending the UNFCCC meeting where the intervention is to be made. Every effort is made to try to accommodate the interest of a broad-based business representation and BINGO participants are asked to be flexible and understanding given the wide range of business interests represented, and to try to find consensus whenever possible.

Specific agenda item interventions do not necessarily need to be circulated through the entire group but are shared with the BINGO focal point and ICC Task Force Chair beforehand. These generally deal with specific expertise, for instance, of a sectoral group. Here preference is given to global rather than national business groups, though this is viewed on a case by case basis by the focal point and ICC Task Force Chair.

Delivery of intervention: There is no particular rule as to who will deliver the intervention. At COP meetings, an effort is made to have a local business representative deliver the general business and industry statement. This process is subject to discussion and approval during the BINGO briefings coordinated by the focal point. Please note that due to very limited time for an intervention (currently 2 minutes) there is often a spoken and longer written version of the intervention.

Side Events: Many side events are held during UNFCCC sessions. These generally cover topics which relate to the climate change negotiations and are organized by observer organizations, inter-governmental organizations and governments. Due to the high volume and interest in recent meetings leading up to COP 15, the UNFCCC secretariat has had to limit the number of side events available to observers. There is an official process whereby accredited observer organizations request, via an online portal, an official UNFCCC side event. Side event slots are awarded by the UNFCCC secretariat in advance of the specific meeting session. Observer organizations like ICC are limited to no more than one official side event per UNFCCC meeting and are often encouraged to group their side events with other organizations with similar topics. The UNFCCC secretariat webcasts, at no charge, a selection of side events (their choice) and each accredited organization is responsible for organising their respective side event, including ordering catering if so desired.

Use of BINGO room at COPs: During large UNFCCC meetings such as COPs, ICC is provided a room for use during the two weeks. This room serves as the location for the daily BINGO briefing mentioned earlier, but can also be used for unofficial business side events. Depending on the venue and demand for facilities by Parties, the room size and facilities may range from ample to cramped. The event schedule in this room is managed by ICC and made available on a limited basis to other business groups for unofficial side events. These events do not appear in the official UNFCCC side event schedule and are not webcast. The number of possible events is limited to no more than two per organization and the use of the room is limited to until 18:00 each day at which time the UNFCCC secretariat takes back the room to schedule official side events. ICC circulates a draft schedule in advance of the respective COP meeting and asks for input on possible slots. Every effort is made to accommodate side event requests but not all can be scheduled and flexibility is requested from business observers. In addition, certain slots are left open to accommodate other business activities, such as dialogue meetings with governments, internal business sessions and other activities. Each day’s unofficial side events in the BINGO room are communicated by ICC to the UNFCCC secretariat for inclusion in the daily programme and closed circuit television monitors - however this is not guaranteed. In addition, please note that coordination and organizing each specific unofficial side event is the responsibility of the business organization holding the side event not the ICC secretariat. Please ensure that the BINGO room is left clean and tidy for the next event.

BINGO office: During large meetings such as COPs and subsidiary bodies meeting a small office is made available to BINGOs. The ICC international secretariat utilizes this office to coordinate business activities but it is open to all business observers. Your understanding is appreciated in order to allow all or as many people as possible to utilize the office.


III. Organization of UNFCCC meetings

UNFCCC meetings: UNFCCC meetings in general take place in 3-hour timeslots, from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00. However sometimes particular meetings or plenary sessions can last long into the night, particularly at COP meetings on the final night. Formal meetings require provision of translation to six recognized UN languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic) and can be halted if any delegation demands translation when it is not available.

Very little actual negotiation is carried out in formal meetings—that is where Nations and groups of nations share their public views on agenda items. Negotiations occur in Contact Groups which are open to observers, and in a variety of other forums which are normally closed to observers (but may be open subject to the decision of Parties present). The more sensitive the negotiation, the less likely that it will be open to observers. It is sensible to try and arrive early for sessions to find seating at the back of the room in areas provided for observers. Under no circumstances should observers sit in designated government delegation seats. Furthermore while meetings are in session observers should not approach delegates whilst they are at their desks nor wander around the areas of the floor where delegates are seated.

Conference of the Parties sessions (COP): Sessions of the COP include a high level segment with ministerial participation. The formal part of the high-level segment is limited to prepared statements in which Ministers make brief policy statements to the COP Plenary and to ‘debates’ in which they make formal statements of their national positions. Many COP sessions have featured roundtable discussions in an effort to promote an informal exchange of views among ministers and other heads of delegation. Final COP decisions are taken by Ministers or their designated representatives who participate in the final rounds of negotiation.

 Meeting documentation: Official documentation for the negotiations is disseminated by Secretariat staff through a document desk and is usually available on the UNFCCC website (www.unfccc.int), often before it is available in hard copy. The daily programme, which lets you know the times and locations of all negotiating sessions and side events that day, is also available at the document desk and on the website. Other useful information is provided in the Earth Negotiation Bulletin (ENB), a daily report on the outcomes of the previous day’s meetings published by the IISD (International Institute for Sustainable Development). IISD also publishes Earth Negotiation Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS), a daily summary of the highlights of the previous day’s side bar events. These are available around the conference venue and from the IISD website (www.iisd.ca/process/climate_atm.htm). The Climate Action Network (CAN), a worldwide network of more than 340 ENGOs, produces a widely read daily advocacy paper called ECO. This is also available at the conference venue or on CAN’s website (www.climatenetwork.org/eco/). For COP 15 in Copenhagen ICC will endeavour to produce a daily business bulletin with a focus on business activities, side events and media developments.

Further information: For more information on the UNFCCC processes please view The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol: A Guide to the Climate Change Negotiations, prepared by International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association and available on its web site: www.ipieca.org