Maarg Manthan · Topic 18.22

Marrakesh Climate Change Conference

Environment & Ecology › International Environmental Governance and Conventions · Topic 18.22

The Marrakesh (or Marrakech) Climate Change Conference, held from 7 to 18 November 2016 in Marrakech, Morocco, was the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP22) to the UNFCCC, the 12th meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP12) and the first meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1). It took place just after the Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016, and was called the COP of action. The main outcomes were the Marrakech Action Proclamation, in which nearly 200 parties affirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement and to implementing it quickly, a work programme to complete the Paris Agreement rulebook by 2018, decisions on the Adaptation Fund serving the Paris Agreement, the launch of the 2050 Pathways Platform, and steps to improve climate finance transparency; it also saw the Climate Vulnerable Forum states pledge to move to 100 percent renewable energy. India highlighted equity, climate finance and its renewable energy push. An earlier Marrakesh meeting, COP7 in 2001, adopted the Marrakesh Accords, a set of decisions that laid down the rules for implementing the Kyoto Protocol, including the Clean Development Mechanism and emissions trading, so both events are named in exams.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · International Environmental Governance and Conventions

At a Glance

COP22 7 to 18 November 2016
Place Marrakech, Morocco
First CMA Paris Agreement meeting
Outcome Action Proclamation
Older Marrakesh COP7, 2001
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: International Environmental Governance and Conventions

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the biodiversity targets and returns to the UNFCCC process, with a conference that came right after the Paris Agreement entered into force. It leads to the Warsaw mechanism on loss and damage. Previous topic: Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Next topic: Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage.

What Happened at Marrakech in 2016 and in 2001?

Meeting	Details and outcomes
COP22 (2016)	7 to 18 November 2016, Marrakech, Morocco; also CMP12 and the first CMA1
Context	Held three days after the Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016
Marrakech Action Proclamation	Nearly 200 parties reaffirmed commitment to implement Paris and called for urgent action
Paris rulebook	Work programme to finalise rules by 2018 (finally adopted in Katowice, COP24)
Adaptation Fund	Decisions to let the Adaptation Fund serve the Paris Agreement
Pre-2020 action	Called for ambition before 2020
COP7 (2001)	Marrakesh Accords set detailed rules for the Kyoto Protocol, such as CDM and emissions trading

What Else Was Notable and What Was India’s Stand?

Climate Vulnerable Forum: members pledged to go 100 percent renewable as soon as possible
2050 Pathways Platform: launched to help countries plan long-term low-emission strategies
Global Climate Action Agenda: focus on action by cities, regions and business
Transparency: work on a transparency framework for reporting
India’s stand: equity, CBDR-RC and climate finance; announced the pace of renewable expansion
US election: held during COP22, raising concerns about US support
Finance: discussion on the US$100 billion roadmap
Next steps: COP23 in Bonn under Fiji presidency in 2017

What Else Should You Remember?

Marrakech and Marrakesh: both spellings are used for the Moroccan city
COP of action: slogan of the Moroccan presidency
CMA: Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement
CMP: Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol
Paris Agreement force: 4 November 2016 after 55 parties covering 55 percent of emissions ratified
Marrakesh Accords 2001: adopted at COP7 in Marrakesh to make the Kyoto Protocol operational
Kyoto mechanisms: Joint Implementation, CDM and emissions trading were detailed
Compliance Committee: set up under Kyoto by the Accords
LULUCF: rules on land use and forestry sinks were agreed in 2001
Special funds: the Accords set up the LDC Fund, Special Climate Change Fund and Adaptation Fund
Presidency 2016: held by Morocco
Presidency 2001: held by Morocco as well
Rulebook: Katowice Climate Package adopted at COP24 in 2018
Talanoa Dialogue: launched at COP23 as the facilitative dialogue
Climate Vulnerable Forum: group of countries highly vulnerable to climate change
Paris NDCs: countries had submitted pledges before 2016, to be updated by 2020
Fossil fuel subsidies: calls to phase them out
Africa: Marrakech was seen as an African COP with focus on adaptation
Initiative AAA: Adaptation of African Agriculture, launched at COP22
Link to previous: see Aichi Biodiversity Targets
Link to next: see Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage
Link to UNFCCC: see United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 1992
Caution: distinguish COP22 (2016) from COP7 (2001) when answering
Exam hint: remember COP22 as the first CMA and COP7 as the Marrakesh Accords
Nationally Determined Contributions: COP22 stressed that countries should implement their first NDCs and prepare to raise ambition before 2020
Adaptation focus: Morocco and African states pushed adaptation finance and agriculture resilience
Role of non-state actors: cities, companies and regions announced voluntary climate commitments at the conference
Why it mattered: it showed that the Paris Agreement had broad political support despite changes in major countries’ politics
Technology mechanism: parties reviewed the Technology Mechanism and its role in transfer of climate technology
Capacity building: the Paris Committee on Capacity-building began its work after Marrakech

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

COP22: 2016
COP7: 2001
Output: Action Proclamation
Current affairs link: Paris rulebook
Common errors: mixing COP22 with COP21 Paris

As an analytical point, Marrakech was a bridging COP: it kept political momentum after Paris and began the work of turning the agreement into rules. The 2001 Marrakesh Accords played the same role for the Kyoto Protocol.

Why Is This Topic Important?

2016 Action COP
2001 Accords
Task Rulebook

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage. Next topic: Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage.

Key People and Terms

COP22 22nd Conference of the Parties
CMA Paris Agreement meeting
CMP Kyoto Protocol meeting
Marrakesh Accords Kyoto rules of 2001
CVF Climate Vulnerable Forum
Rulebook Paris implementation rules

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

COP22: 7 to 18 November 2016.
First CMA.
Output: Action Proclamation.
Rulebook due 2018.
COP7: 2001, Marrakesh Accords.

Do Not Confuse With

COP22 and COP7 in Marrakesh Paris follow-up versus Kyoto rules
COP21 and COP22 Paris Agreement versus follow-up conference
CMA and CMP Paris versus Kyoto meeting of the Parties

Memory Hook

Sixteen at Marrakech: Paris in force, action proclaimed; oh-one for Kyoto rules.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for year, outcomes and COP numbers. These points help.

Context Paris in force
Outcomes Proclamation
Rulebook 2018

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the significance of the Marrakesh Climate Change Conference of 2016 for implementing the Paris Agreement.”

How to Answer

Context Paris in force.
Outcomes Proclamation.
Task Rulebook.
Other COP7 2001.

GS Relevance

Prelims: COP22 date, outcomes, COP7. GS Paper 2: climate conferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Marrakesh Climate Change Conference?

It was the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, held from 7 to 18 November 2016 in Marrakech, Morocco, just after the Paris Agreement entered into force. It was also the first meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement, and focused on turning the agreement into action.

What were the main outcomes of COP22?

Parties adopted the Marrakech Action Proclamation reaffirming their commitment to the Paris Agreement, agreed to complete the Paris rulebook by 2018, took decisions allowing the Adaptation Fund to serve the Paris Agreement, launched the 2050 Pathways Platform, and strengthened the Global Climate Action Agenda for engagement of cities, regions and business.

What are the Marrakesh Accords of 2001?

The Marrakesh Accords were agreed at COP7 in Marrakesh in 2001 and set out detailed rules to implement the Kyoto Protocol, including those for the Clean Development Mechanism, Joint Implementation, emissions trading, land use accounting and a compliance system. They also set up the Least Developed Countries Fund, the Special Climate Change Fund and the Adaptation Fund.

What does CMA mean?

CMA stands for the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement. It is the supreme decision-making body of the Paris Agreement and meets together with the COP each year. Its first session, CMA1, took place at Marrakech in 2016.

When was the Paris rulebook finalised?

The Marrakech conference set a work programme to finish the Paris Agreement rulebook by 2018. The Katowice Climate Package, adopted at COP24 in Poland in December 2018, completed most of the rules on transparency, reporting and stocktake, while rules on carbon markets under Article 6 were completed later at Glasgow in 2021.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 COP22 was held at Marrakech in 2016.

True

And was also CMA1.

2 COP22 adopted the Paris Agreement.

False

Paris was adopted at COP21.

3 The Marrakesh Accords of 2001 relate to the Kyoto Protocol.