Nations gather in Marrakech for the UN Climate Change Conference

Climate change is once again the focus of global diplomacy as the United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP22,’ is underway in Marrakech, Morocco. The convention is being held just four days after the Paris Climate Agreement entered into force and aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping the temperature rise this century well below two degrees Celsius.

The Morocco meeting, which will run until 18th of November, is due to start writing a detailed “rule book” for the Paris Agreement, likely to take two years, and find ways to act such as raising finance to help developing nations cut their rising emissions.

At the opening ceremony, Morocco’s Foreign Minister and newly-elected COP22 President Salaheddine Mezouar underscored his country’s willingness to host the conference as a demonstration of Africa’s commitment as a whole to contribute to global efforts to tackle climate change. “It emphasizes Africa’s desire to take its destiny in hand, to reduce its vulnerability and strengthen its resilience,” he said.

President Mezouar pointed to the groundswell of momentum building around the world. At the same time, he acknowledged the fact that the Paris Agreement does not yet put the world on track towards the goal of a maximum global average temperature of 1.5 to 2 degrees, as agreed by the international community in Paris last year.

Addressing government delegates he said: “I would like to invite you over the coming eleven days to be more ambitious than ever in your commitments. All over the world, public opinion must perceive change. It has to be a change at all levels, from local projects through to those that cross international borders and it must create genuine win-win partnerships.”

Together with Ségolène Royal, French Environment Minister and President of last year’s Paris UN Climate Change Conference, Salaheddine Mezouar handed out solar lanterns to all delegates in the room, as a symbol of the transformation to clean technology which is essential to achieve the Paris Agreement goals. The delegates then held up the lights in a show of solidarity.

In her opening address Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change said that whilst early entry into force of the Paris Agreement is a clear cause for celebration, it is also a timely reminder of the high expectations that are now placed on governments:

“Achieving the aims and ambitions of the Paris Agreement is not a given. We have embarked on an effort to change the course of two centuries of carbon-intense development. The peaking of global emissions is urgent, as is attaining far more climate-resilient societies.”

Ms. Espinosa underlined 5 key areas in which work needs to be taken forward, notably on:

• Finance to allow developing countries to green their economies and build resilience. Finance is flowing . It has to reach the level and have the predictability needed to catalyse low-emission and climate-resilient development.
• Nationally determined contributions – national climate action plans – which now need to be integrated into national policies and investment plans.
• Support for adaptation which needs to be given higher priority, and progress on the loss and damage mechanism to safeguard development gains in the most vulnerable communities.
• Capacity building needs of developing countries in a manner that is both tailored and specific to their needs.
• Fully engaging Non-Party stakeholders, from the North and from the South, as they are central to the global action agenda for transformational change.

“Our work here in Marrakech must reflect our new reality. No politician or citizen, no business manager or investor can doubt that the transformation to a low-emission, resilient society and economy is the singular determination of the community of nations,” she said.

Sola Jolaoso with materials from UNFCCC & Agencies