Outside the UNFCCC are a number of informal negotiating fora, so-called ‘near negotiations’, which can unblock areas of disagreement in the negotiations and bring developed and developing countries together to increase understanding, transparency and to build trust. Examples of ‘near negotiations’ include:
- The G8: Climate change has featured most prominently on the agendas of G8 Environment Ministers and G8 Heads of state meetings. It offers an opportunity for developed countries to focus on low carbon green growth and energy security issues.
- The G20: Summits focus primarily on international economic and financial issues. However, the agenda has broadened out to include low-carbon/green growth, as well as wider energy and climate change issues.
- The Major Economies Forum (MEF): A US initiative launched in 2009 that intended to enable a dialogue between developed and developing major economies in order to generate the necessary political momentum for a successful outcome at the UNFCCC in Copenhagen, as well as exploring opportunities for concrete initiatives and concerted actions that increase the supply of clean energy while reducing carbon emissions.
As chair and hosts of the last COP, the Mexicans led a process to support the formal UN negotiations. They used their convening power to set up a ‘Contact Group’ with around 30-40 developed and developing countries. The first meeting of this 'contact group' format took place in Mexico City in March 2010.