The UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) 23, under the presidency of Fiji, took place in Bonn, in November 2017. The aim of the UN Climate Change Conference is to review the implementation of its Convention and Protocols. It was the second COP since the Paris Agreement was concluded in 2015 and the first COP since the US President Donald Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
The COP 23 delivered a common message that the world community represented by states, regions, business and civil society is committed to fulfill the obligations under the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The world community acknowledged that action to get on track is urgent and all Actors involved must do better to drive climate action further and faster. Determination to implement the Paris Agreement was translated into various announcements made during COP23 in form of:
Significant attention was paid to climate adaptation and building resilience of states particularly vulnerable to impacts of climate change.[2] Despite president Donald Trump’s announcement to withdraw from the Paris agreement, the US states, cities and businesses have signed up to ‘America’s pledge’ to tackle climate change and affirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement. 25 countries and regions entered the Powering Past Coal Alliance to take action to accelerate clean growth and climate protection through the rapid phase-out of traditional coal power.
A historic political breakthrough has been achieved in agriculture, overcoming longstanding hurdles that had blocked progress on the topic in recent years. Parties agreed on new future negotiation processes to address agriculture, the second biggest emitter of CO2 after energy.
The International Energy Agency together with 13 countries introduced the IEA Clean Energy Transitions Programme supporting clean energy transition around the world. Local and regional leaders expressed their determination to deliver the Paris Agreement at all levels via the Bonn-Fiji Commitment.
The Gender Action Plan acknowledged the crucial role of women in in combating climate change. Local Communities and Indigenous People’s Platform supports the full and equal role of indigenous people in climate action. Fiji also launched the Ocean Pathway Partnership, which aims to strengthen the inclusion of oceans within the UNFCCC process. Specific aspects of transport and climate change has been emphasized by the Paris Process on Mobility and Climate platform in form of Key Messages on Transport and Climate Change for COP23. Moreover, new initiatives addressing transport have been introduced.[3]
Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji and COP23 President, concluded:
“I’m very pleased that COP23 has been such a success, especially given the challenge to the multilateral consensus for decisive climate action. We have done the job we were given to do, which is to advance the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement and prepare for more ambitious action in the Talanoa Dialogue of 2018.”
In addition, he called on governments to make a swift progress on taking forward climate action and on finalizing the rulebook of the Paris Agreement.
Next COP will take place in December 2018, in Katowice, Poland.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[1] Bonn Climate Conference Becomes Launch-Pad for Higher Ambition. UNFCCC (2017). Available here; Accelerated Action on Energy Needed to Implement Paris. UNFCCC (2017). Available here ; Concrete Climate Action Commitments at COP23. UNFCCC (2017). Available here .
[2] InsuResilience, Clearing House for Risk Transfer, SIDS Health Initiative.
[3] EcoMobility Alliance, below50, EV100, Walk 21, Global Strategy for Cleaner Fuels and Vehicles, Transforming Urban Mobility Initiative.
Stay tuned for news on sustainable development, environment and climate change, international trade and human rights, Chinese issues and much more!
