Founded in 2014 and launched in the lead-up to the COP21 negotiations in Paris, CLGI has roots in a range of events, conferences and workshops dating back to the first meeting of the Kyoto Protocol (COP11/CMP1)[3] in Montreal, 2005.[4] Events over the preceding decade laid the groundwork for the Initiative.
The Inaugural Climate Law and Governance Day (CLGD) was held in December 2015 at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, bringing together climate advocates, scholars and practitioners to discuss the roles that law and governance play in climate-change efforts. Key participants were John H. Knox, Mary Robinson, Bianca Jagger and Bradnee Chambers, with Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger as chair.[5] Its goal was to create a community of practice to support global climate efforts.[6]
The second CLGD was held at Université Privée de Marrakech in November 2016, and explored the development of the Paris Rulebook (later named the Paris Agreement Work Program, and agreed at COP24).[7] Discussions focused on how domestic climate instruments could be crafted, modalities to mobilize climate finance, equity issues, and trends in climate litigation.[8] Its outcomes were shared with delegates to COP22 in an official side event focused on climate-vulnerable countries.[9] COP22 also saw the first full-day climate law specialization course to further empower delegates to utilize law and governance solutions to combat climate change.[10]
Held at University of Bonn, the third CLGD was opened by Hon Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and centered on advancing law and governance contributions to global climate action. Key themes were how innovation could support the achievement of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement; the implementation of climate obligations; advancing climate resilience; and enabling climate finance.[11] Its sessions were informed by a pre-COP event in Fiji in preparation for COP23.[12] CLGI was an officially endorsed event of the COP23 Presidency.[13] The second one-day specialization course was held in conjunction with United Nations University.[14]
CLGD 2018 was held during COP24 at the University Silesia, Katowice, Poland, in December 2018. Discussions centered on the sharing of national experiences and best practices, knowledge exchange, and building a community of practice to support global capacity-building efforts.[15] The day's programs were developed through a round table at the preceding intersessional meeting.[16] Key participants included Christian Voigt,[17] and Kamil Wyszkowski, President of The Global Compact Network for Poland.[18]
