On 15 November 2024, Prof Laurence Boisson de Chazournes and Toby Fisher appeared on a COP29 law and governance day panel, addressing more than 3000 delegates on dispute resolution under the Paris Agreement.
Under Article 14 of the UNFCCC and Article 24 of the Paris Agreement, the default method of dispute resolution is conciliation. However, to date, the procedural rules to govern such conciliations have not been elaborated.
In 2023, the ICCA appointed a Panel of Experts, including Prof Boisson de Chazournes and Mr Fisher, to produce a Draft Conciliation Annex. The Annex proposed by the Panel of Experts consists of 25 articles that provide for a non-contentious, flexible procedure for the peaceful resolution of disputes. The Draft Annex is also accompanied by commentary explaining the basis for the text and the relevant factors for each issue presented.
The Draft Annex provides a model for States Parties to operationalize the conciliation procedure for the resolution of disputes under the Paris Agreement.
The number of delegates attending the session at COP29 reflects the high level of interest in the initiative from both State and non-state stakeholders.