On November 18, 2017, around 200 climate negotiators from countries around the world met to discuss a crucial issue for the future of the planet: reducing greenhouse gas emissions Within the framework of COP23 (Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).
This event took on special relevance due to the complicated political situation, marked by the announcement of the withdrawal of the United States from Paris AgreementDespite the withdrawal, participating countries continued their commitment to make progress in the fight against climate change, and meetings in Bonn, Germany, ran into the early hours of the morning due to disagreements over funding to combat climate change, a point of tension between developed and developing countries.
Objectives of COP23
The main objective during COP23 was to take the first steps towards the implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement. This agreement was signed to prevent the planet's global temperature from rising more than 2ºC compared to pre-industrial levels, and, if possible, limit the increase to 1.5ºC.
In addition to the implementation of the Agreement, the nations most vulnerable to climate change, especially developing countries, demanded the Clarification of greenhouse gas reduction commitments by the most industrialized countries. Greater transparency was also called for in financial commitments to combat climate change, with an eye to 2020, when the Paris Agreement will come fully into force.
The progress achieved during COP23 will be evaluated at the next conference, the COP24, which will be held in Katowice, Poland, in December 2018. The emissions inventory and specific financing plans are expected to have been identified by then.
Impact of changes in greenhouse gas emissions
One of the key points addressed during COP23 was the recent behavior of the Emissions of greenhouse gases. After three years of stability, in 2017 there was a del% increase 2 in these emissions, which raised concerns among experts and negotiators.
Alden Meyer, from the Union of Concerned Scientists, declared: «There is a lot of nervousness among industrialized countries, as they do not want to commit to definitive figures and deadlines.«. In contrast, the Climate Action Network He was optimistic, stressing that the decisions taken in Bonn put pressure on developed nations to increase their commitments before 2020.
A particularly delicate aspect was the participation of United States, one of the largest emitters of CO2 and traditionally one of the main funders of climate initiatives. Under the administration of Donald Trump, the United States announced its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, although it remains neutral in the negotiations. In the shadow of this withdrawal, other industrialized and emerging nations, such as the United Kingdom and Canada, took the lead in leading the transition to a more sustainable future, announcing an alliance to phase out the use of coal as an energy source.
Financial challenges in the fight against climate change
Climate finance was another hotly debated issue at COP23. Developing countries, many of which are vulnerable to the impact of climate change, argued that they had not received sufficient financial support to meet their mitigation and adaptation goals.
In response, developed countries agreed to provide biennial reports on how they plan to contribute $ 100.000 million annually committed to in the Paris Agreement. This sum is intended to finance both adaptation and mitigation of climate change in the most vulnerable nations.
In addition, it was decided that the Adaptation Fund would continue to operate under the mandate of the Paris Agreement. This fund offers quick help to developing nations to cope with the immediate effects of climate change, such as floods or hurricanes.
The Talanoa Dialogue: A step forward in global commitments
A highlight during COP23 was the introduction of the Dialogue of Talanoa, a process designed to Evaluate progress on climate commitments assumed by countries and encourage greater ambition in their emissions reduction plans.
Name Talanoa It comes from a long-standing tradition in Fiji, the country that chaired COP23, and symbolises a process of inclusive dialogue in which parties constructively share their stories, realities and challenges. During this dialogue, countries committed to review and improve their climate commitments to better align with the goals of the Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit global warming to less than 2°C.
The Talanoa Dialogue will include a preparatory phase and a political phase, culminating in COP24 in Katowice in 2018, where heads of state and ministers will take stock of emissions in order to update their commitments.
International Actions: Latin America and the Green Climate Fund
In the Latin American context, the Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa, representing the G77+China Group, which brings together 134 countries, stressed the need to mobilize additional funds for the Green Climate Fund (FVC). This fund finances projects to address climate change in developing countries, and is expected to raise 100.000 million annually from 2020.
In addition, several Latin American countries presented progress regarding their national climate commitments, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Argentina, for example, presented a plan with more than 40 measures to reduce its emissions in key sectors such as energy, transport and forests. Uruguay also stood out for its goal of reducing emissions by 2030. 50 % relative to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2025.
Key topics: Agriculture and indigenous communities
One of the great achievements of COP23 was the inclusion of the farming in the climate negotiations. For years, this sector had only been discussed in technical terms, but an important step was taken in Bonn by establishing a work plan to address the Adaptation of agriculture to climate changeThis includes measures to improve the carbon storage capacity of soils and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming.
Another significant milestone was the creation of a platform for sharing local knowledge and ancestral rights, which will allow indigenous communities to participate in climate change negotiations. This represents an important step forward, as it recognizes the value of traditional knowledge to meet environmental challenges.
COP23 laid the groundwork for a more ambitious future in terms of global climate action. While the US withdrawal created uncertainty, the rest of the countries reaffirmed their commitment and crucial progress was made in implementing the Paris Agreement. There is still a long way to go, but the foundations are in place.