Wazzup Pilipinas!
UN climate negotiators will have an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate global climate action when they meet just days after the world’s first universal climate deal becomes a legally binding global agreement.
The talks, which must now clarify rules for implementation and a clear the way for ambitious, accelerated climate commitments, begins in Marrakech, Morocco on 7 November.
“Marrakech is about getting down to business, clarifying the Paris Agreement’s rules of engagement, and empowering governments, businesses, cities, and other sectors to make increasingly ambitious commitments. We must leave these negotiations having a more solid framework, but knowing we already have all the power to create the world we need,” said Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, leader of WWF International’s Climate and Energy Practice.
The Paris Agreement is now the global roadmap for climate action. We have moved from a period of promise to an era of action. Now, we must hold leaders accountable for delivering on commitments to limit rising global temperatures.
“Decisions made in the next few years will largely determine if we’re able to achieve the 1.5°C warming threshold agreed in Paris or if we take the unthinkable option of blowing right past it,” said Pulgar-Vidal.
In Marrakech, negotiators must focus on:
- Creating clearer guidelines for this new global agreement: With the Paris Agreement we have a plan of action but we have not finalised the rules that will govern this plan. All Parties involved need to leave COP22 with greater clarity on process and how they can meet and improve on their current climate pledges, so we can successfully deliver on the promise of the Paris Agreement.
- Highlighting the role of collaboration between State and non-State actors: Many non-State actors are taking action now and this must send a signal to countries to take bolder actions themselves, before 2020, and build on this progress in subsequent years.
- Underscoring the importance of the 2018 moment, and the need to ramp up the ambition before that date: 2018 is the next global opportunity to take stock of progress towards meeting the Paris goals and to mobilise for more ambitious climate plans (NDCs). There are additional opportunities to be capitalised on that depend on individual country leadership and cooperation among countries, critical to unleashing additional mitigation potential. Ramping up ambition before 2020 - when the next round of climate commitments take effect - will be crucial to closing the gap between existing pledges for climate action and what we need do to reduce emissions to keep warming below 1.5°C and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
Fred Kwame, regional director for WWF’s Regional Office for Africa, said it was meaningful that the first meeting of UN climate negotiators after the Paris COP, is taking place in Africa.
“Africa is one of the regions hardest hit by climate change. So support - especially on finance and technology transfer - is vital to ensure that African countries can fully implement their national climate plans. The Marrakech COP22 must ensure these issues are addressed with clear financing mechanisms of INDCs."
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
