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One Planet Summit: Finance Commitments Fire-Up Higher Momentum for Paris Climate Change Agreement
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Today at the One Planet Summit, on the 2nd anniversary of the Paris Agreement, world leaders gathered once again in the French capital to underscore how financial flows are shifting billions and trillions towards a low-carbon future that will benefit peoples and livelihoods.
 
 
Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary UN Climate Change, said: “Today has marked another extraordinary moment in the world-wide efforts to turn the promise of the Paris Agreement into a global reality—in other words delivering a climate secure future to all corners of the Earth and contributing to the sustainable future of every man, woman and child”.
 
“From the United Nations system to governments and investors, billions of dollars have today been mobilized and trillions more pointed towards a transformation of the world’s energy to agricultural sectors, adding to the finance that has already been flowing before, during and since Paris 2015”.
 
“We know this is going to be a long journey and there will be bumps along the way. But the alignment of so many areas of the global economy, the process to reset the financial system and the support for developing countries’ national climate action plans or NDCs announced today, should give everyone a sense that the urgency needed and the scale required is being forged”.
 
“We look forward from the UN Climate Conference 2017 in Bonn and the One Planet Summit in Paris, to California, COP24 in Poland in 2018 and the UN Secretary-General’s Summit in 2019 as the world moves to raise ambition further before 2020 under the UN climate change process.”
 
Patricia Espinosa, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary
Patricia Espinosa, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary
 
The conveners of the Summit –  French President Emmanuel Macron, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and UN Secretary-General António Guterres – signed a Declaration to welcome the outcomes of the event, which launched an array of landmark commitments.
 
French President Emmanuel Macron, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Photo Credits: Présidence de la République
 
These are helping to demonstrate that public and private finance is rapidly being deployed in both developed and developing countries to strengthen sustainable development and assist nations towards achieving their national climate action plans, known as NDCs.
 
This momentum also represents a broader reshaping of the world’s financial architecture, which will be fundamental to creating the conditions for a successful Talanoa Dialogue next year and the urgency of countries to raise ambition further and faster.
 
The following list includes announcements made during the One Planet Summit that will help to keep global temperature rises to well below 2 degrees and, in turn, safeguard the meeting of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
 
EU External Investment Plan: climate-smart investments worth EUR €9 billion unveiled at 'One Planet Summit':
 
​  As part of the EU External Investment Plan (EIP), which is set to mobilise at least €44 billion of sustainable investment for Africa and the EU Neighbourhood countries by 2020.
​  Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete announced climate-relevant investments in three targeted areas – sustainable cities, sustainable energy and connectivity and sustainable agriculture, rural entrepreneurs and agribusiness. These targeted areas are expected to generate up to EUR €9 billion investments by 2020.
 
Sustainable Finance Facilities: UN Environment and BNP Paribas sign a milestone agreement to establish collaborative partnerships with a target of capital funding amounting to USD 10 billion by 2025 in developing countries:
 
​  UN Environment and BNP Paribas will collaborate to identify suitable commercial projects with measurable environmental and social impact. The aim is to support smallholder projects related to renewable energy access, agroforestry, water access and responsible agriculture, among other sustainable activities.
​  The Sustainable Finance Facilities programme is the first of its kind in terms of collaboration between companies, investors, development sector partners, and civil society organisations, with the support of national governments.
​  This agreement builds on the Tropical Landscapes Financing Facility, a partnership between UN Environment, BNP Paribas, World Agroforestry Centre and ADM Capital in Indonesia.
 
Climate Action 100+: 225 investors with more than USD 26.3 trillion assets under management to engage with 100+ companies to accelerate climate action:
 
​  Global investors launched a new initiative to drive action on climate change from the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters by ensuring they act swiftly to improve governance on climate change, curb emissions, and strengthen climate-related financial disclosures.
​  Specifically, as part of their collaborative engagement, investors from around the world will ask companies to: Implement a strong governance framework which clearly articulates the board’s accountability and oversight of climate change risk; take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across their value chain; provide enhanced corporate disclosure in line with the final recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
 
The Caribbean Climate Smart Coalition: Caribbean leaders launch ambitious plan to create the world’s first “climate smart zone”, seeking rapid implementation of USD 8 billion climate investment plan:
 
​  Alongside the ongoing emergency response, Caribbean leaders announced the launch of a new public-private coalition to create the world's first "climate-smart zone" that will transform the regional energy system, build resiliency, drive economic growth and set a global example.
​  The Caribbean Climate-Smart Coalition will support and help catalyse an ambitious USD 8 billion investment plan to bring greater energy and infrastructure resilience to 3.2 million Caribbean households. It will help Caribbean islands to eliminate their costly dependency on fossil fuels so that they can meet close to 100% percent of their energy needs from clean or renewable sources, and to embed resilience into communities and livelihoods to realise the bold ambitions of all Caribbean people.
 
UN Women: Initiative to boost resilience of women and youth in the Sahel through climate-smart agriculture will transform livelihoods of a million people by doubling their income in three years:
 
​  The climate smart agriculture programme will leverage information and communication technologies (ICTs) to provide access to agriculture assets. Using a digital platform, known as ‘Buy-From-Farmers’ or AgriFed, small-scale women and youth farmers will be connected to customers, suppliers, information, markets and finance to help build their economic identity and make them valued entrepreneurs, able to end food insecurity in the Sahel.
​  UN Women presented the programme, which is among some 12 initiatives showcased at today’s Summit, on behalf of the UN system.
 
UNITLIFE: Initiative to galvanize new global, regional and national level public-private partnerships for generating more innovative financing for 2030 Sustainable Development Goals:
 
​  UNITLIFE will use digital innovation to collect voluntary micro-donations from consumers at the time of a purchase. During the initiative’s implementation phase, the micro-donations will go into a central fund, hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
​  The funds will then be disbursed to support a set of important and complementary measures, currently overlooked and underfunded, in order to address both climate change and malnutrition (affecting approximately one in five children worldwide and constituting a major hindrance for the development of the poorest countries).
​  An early program, supported by UN Women, will encourage training for women on climate-resilient agriculture in the Sahel region.
 
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD): Two hundred thirty-seven companies with a combined market capitalization of over $6.3 trillion have publicly committed to support the TCFD:
 
​  Mike Bloomberg and FSB Chair Mark Carney announced growing support for the TCFD on the two-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement, including over 150 financial firms, responsible for assets of over USD 81.7 trillion.
​  The companies and organizations supporting the TCFD, which have more than doubled in number in the five months since the recommendations were published in June 2017, span the entire capital and investment chain—from companies that issue equity and debt to the largest credit rating agencies to stock exchanges and ultimately to investors that buy the equities and debt.
 
EBRD and global cities group scale up green urban financing:
 
​  Under the new partnership, the EBRD and the GCoM are seeking to drive climate action in up to 60 cities, including many that have not been a focus for climate support so far.
​  The EBRD will provide over US$ 500 million in “first mover” financing aimed at leveraging additional third party contributions for the development and implementation of city action plans and projects worth a total of US$ 1.5 billion.
 
Canada and World Bank Partnership to support effective climate action in developing countries in support of the Paris Agreement:
 
​  Canada and the World Bank Group will support the acceleration of developing countries’ transition away from traditional coal-fired electricity toward clean energy to power their fast-growing economies.
​  They will also support small island developing states in expanding their renewable energy infrastructure, helping to put them on a more sustainable pathway that is less polluting and ensures greater energy access. This work also includes sharing best practices on how to ensure a just transition for displaced workers and their communities to minimize hardships and help workers and communities benefit from new clean growth opportunities.
 
AXA accelerates its commitment to fight climate change: multiplying green investments fourfold to Euro 12 billion by 2020; and committing to over Euro 3 billion of additional divestments from carbon-intensive energy producers:
 
​  In 2015, AXA committed to reach Euro 3 billion in green investments by 2020. Given that this target has already been reached, the Group has decided to quadruple its original target and reach Euro 12 billion by 2020.
​  AXA decided two years ago to divest Euro 500 million from the coal industry by targeting companies which derive over 50% of their revenues from coal. Today, the group decided to increase its divestment fivefold to reach Euro 2.4 billion, by divesting from companies which derive more than 30% of their revenues from coal, have a coal-based energy mix that exceeds 30%, actively build new coal plants, or produce more than 20 million tonnes of coal per year.
 
Storebrand, Norway’s biggest private pension fund, launched a USD 1.3 billion fossil-fuel-free bond programme and urged investors to do more to curb climate change:
 
​  The bond fund adds to USD 2.1 billion equity funds run by Storebrand which also have no investments in fossil fuels. In total, Storebrand has a total USD 80 billion worth of assets under management.
​  The new fund, Storebrand Global Kreditt IG, will be invested mainly in corporate bonds issued by financial institutions and industrial companies in developed nations.
 
The World Bank to no longer finance upstream oil and gas projects after 2019:
 
​  World Bank says it will cease financing upstream oil and gas after 2019, apart from certain gas projects in the poorest countries in exceptional circumstances, where there is a clear benefit in terms of energy access for the poor and the project fits within the countries’ Paris Climate Change Agreement commitments).
 
 
​  The bank also announced it was "on track to meet its target of 28 percent of its lending going to climate action by 2020."
 
Green Bonds Pledge: Industrial issuers of €26 billion in Green bonds pledge to double down on green financing:
 
​  Nine of Europe’s largest industrial emitters of green bonds (EDF, Enel, ENGIE, Iberdrola, Icade, Paprec, SNCF Réseau, SSE and TenneT) publicly announced their pledge to further develop one of the most dynamic segments of sustainable finance today, the green bond market.
​  These companies have joined forces to voice their commitment to the green bond market as part of their strategy, financing policy and their active engagement in the reporting debate and dialogue with investors. The pledge also calls upon other industrial corporates to consider issuing green bonds.
 
Financial Disclosure in China: “By 2020 every listed company in China must disclose information on environmental impacts”:
 
​  Top green finance official Ma Jun told Climate Finance Day attendees that China wants international support to clean up its investments abroad. Ma Jun explained that without this information, the market cannot determine who is green – or not.
​  China is also encouraging green investment at home. These range from cheap money for banks that invest in green projects to requiring certain industries to take out pollution liability insurance.
​  He said that 2020, all companies would be required to disclose information on their environmental impact: “The basic logic is: we need a lot of money for green investments”.
 
Shareholders Resolutions: Exxon has bowed to shareholders’ demands to provide details on climate-change impact to its business:
 
​  ExxonMobil says it will publish new details about how climate change could affect its business, in a move aimed at appeasing critics and forestalling another proxy fight next year.
​  The largest U.S. oil and gas producer said in a filing to U.S. securities regulators that its board agreed to provide shareholders with information on “energy demand sensitivities, implications of two degree Celsius scenarios, and positioning for a lower-carbon future.”
 
One Planet Charter: ICLEI, Global Covenant of Mayors, and C40 announce to charter to accelerate Local Implementation of the Paris Agreement:
 
​  Through the One Planet Charter, cities will commit to specific climate action that drives investments, sustainable public procurement, and policy decisions in renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, and efforts for zero emission buildings and zero waste.
​  The Charter highlights cities’ commitment to increase demand for sustainable and resilient infrastructure, products and services, while also recognizing the importance of working closely with national governments and business sectors to mobilise global climate action. 
​  Cities will bring detailed commitments to the 2018 Global Action Summit in California.
 
Urban 20 (U20): C40 Cities launch U20 initiative to raise the profile of urban issues and enhance the role of cities in the G20 agenda:
 
​  Urban 20 (U20) is a new diplomatic initiative, facilitated by C40 Cities, to help cities develop collective messages and inclusive solutions for global issues such as climate action, the future of work and social integration.
​  The initiative will bring together 30 major cities located in G20 countries, and many other global cities, to raise the profile of urban issues in the G20 agenda and enhance the role of cities in the G20 process.
​  The inaugural U20 Mayors Summit will meet in Buenos Aires in October 2018, ahead of the G20 Heads of State Summit hosted by Argentina.
 
Research on health benefits of climate action in Paris holds lessons for cities worldwide: such yaction adds 3 weeks to average life expectancy for every citizen of Paris and could prevent 45,000 premature deaths globally each year:
 
​  New research by C40 Cities and announced by Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo & Former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed the scale of the potential health benefits that could be achieved by cities and regions implementing climate action and policies to clean the air that citizens breathe.
​  Walking or cycling to work, on green & healthy streets, can cut your risk of heart disease by almost one quarter and type 2 diabetes by 15%, and it reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
 
UNIDO has mobilized US$849m to protect the ozone layer and reduce global warming:
 
​  Since becoming an implementing agency of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol in 1992, UNIDO has completed around 1,400 projects to phase-out ozone-depleting substances in developing countries and economies in transition.
​  As a recipient of 20% of the budget of the Multilateral Fund, UNIDO has received USD $849 million to prepare and appraise investment project proposals and implement phase-out schedules at plant level.
 
Banner photo credits to Ibrahim Ajaja / World Bank
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World Bank Group Announcements at One Planet Summit
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At the One Planet Summit convened by President Emmanuel Macron of France, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, the World Bank Group made a number of new announcements in line with its ongoing support to developing countries for the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement’s goals. 
 
President Emmanuel Macron of France, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, the World Bank Group
Photo Credits: Ibrahim Ajaja / World Bank
 
​  1. WBG and upstream oil and gas 
 
As a global multilateral development institution, the World Bank Group is continuing to transform its own operations in recognition of a rapidly changing world.  To align its support to countries to meet their Paris goals:
 
The World Bank Group will no longer finance upstream oil and gas, after 2019.  
 
 
(In exceptional circumstances, consideration will be given to financing upstream gas in the poorest countries where there is a clear benefit in terms of energy access for the poor and the project fits within the countries’ Paris Agreement commitments.)
 
​  2. Ramping up WBG climate ambition through its Climate Change Action Plan
 
The WBG is on track to meet its target of 28% of its lending going to climate action by 2020 and to meeting the goals of its Climate Change Action Plan - developed following the Paris Agreement.  
 
In line with countries submitting updated and potentially more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the World Bank Group will present a stock-take of its Climate Change Action Plan and announce new commitments and targets beyond 2020 at COP24 in Poland in 2018. 
 
​  3. Transparency and disclosure to drive our own decarbonization
 
The World Bank Group is working hard to ensure that climate accountability is mainstreamed throughout its operations. In addition to measures already in place:
 
         i) Starting next year, the World Bank Group will report greenhouse gas emissions from the investment projects it finances in key emissions-producing sectors, such as energy. The results will be published in late 2018, and annually thereafter.
 
          ii) The World Bank will be applying a shadow price on carbon in the economic analysis of all IBRD/IDA projects in key high-emitting sectors where design has begun since July 2017.  IFC started using carbon pricing in key sectors in January 2017 and will mainstream the same starting January 2018.
 
​  4. Mobilizing Finance for transformation in mitigation and climate resilience
 
To accelerate the mobilization of finance:
 
         i) IFC will invest up to $325 million in the Green Cornerstone Bond Fund, a partnership with Amundi, to create the largest ever green-bond fund dedicated to emerging markets. This is a $2 billion initiative aiming to deepen local capital markets, and expand and unlock private funding for climate-related projects.  The fund is already subscribed at over $1 billion.
 
         ii) Last week, the World Bank and the Government of Egypt signed a $1.15 billion development policy loan aimed at reducing fossil fuel subsidies and creating the environment for low-carbon energy development.
 
         iii) The World Bank Group will continue to support investments highlighted at the One Planet Summit which demonstrate opportunities to crowd in different kinds of finance in transformational areas. This includes accelerating energy efficiency in India; scaling up solar energy in Ethiopia, Pakistan and Senegal among other countries; establishing a West Africa Coastal Areas investment platform to build resilience for coastlines of West African countries (partnering with WAEMU, NDF, GEF, GFDRR, AFD, AfDB); and introducing the City Resilience Platform (partnering with the Global Covenant of Mayors) so that up to 500 cities will have access to finance for resilience to climate change.
 
         iv) The World Bank Group will continue to work with the United Nations and other partners on the implementation of the Invest4Climate platform, which will systematically crowd in multiple sources of finance, with a major event showcasing investment opportunities planned for May 2018 at the Innovate4Climate conference in Frankfurt.
 
         v) IFC will work to set a single unifying global standard on green bonds, similar to the Equator Principles, as a means to facilitate the development of the green bond market to crowd in private finance into climate business. And to stimulate the greening of the financial sector, the World Bank Group will partner with the Sustainable Banking Network (SBN) to provide technical support to develop and implement national Roadmaps for Sustainable Finance in six countries. These roadmaps are based on a framework developed jointly with UN Environment.
 
         vi) AXA Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Program (MCPP) will allocate a substantial portion of projects to climate-smart infrastructure investments.  IFC and Finland launched the Finland-IFC Climate Change Program, a €114 million returnable capital contribution to spur private sector financing for climate-change solutions, targeting low-income countries focused on investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, climate-smart agriculture, and forestry. 
 
​  5. Working in partnership 
 
To further accelerate climate action, the World Bank Group will be working with various partners to deepen climate action:
 
         i) For the first time, all the Multilateral Development Banks and all International Development Finance Club Members issued a joint statement aligning their finance with the Paris Agreement and identifying areas where they will work together to advance climate-smart development.
 
         ii) Canada and the World Bank will work together to accelerate the energy transition in developing countries and, together with the International Trade Union Congress, will provide analysis to support efforts towards a just transition away from coal.
 
         iii) Working with France’s AFD and the Kingdom of Morocco, the World Bank will work to accelerate adaptation in agriculture for Africa.
 
         iv) The World Bank will support a unique partnership between Caribbean leaders and people, multilateral organizations, and local and international private sector to define a vision for the world’s first climate-smart zone. The key priority areas for action include renewable energy, resilient infrastructure, innovative financing, and capacity building.
 
         v) The World Bank Group will support, through the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition, the proposed Carbon Markets of the Americas initiative.
 
         vi) The Principles on Blended Concessional Finance, first published in 2013, have been recently enhanced with more detailed guidelines developed by a working group (chaired by IFC) representing Development Finance Initiatives (DFIs) that annually invest more than $35 billion a year in private sector solutions. These principles include promoting commercially sustainable solutions so that the use of scarce public concessional finance is minimized; and state the need for high social, environmental, and governance standards.
 
Banner photo credits to Ibrahim Ajaja / World Bank
Connect4Climate opens Planet:Tech stage, Web Summit
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Speech as presented by Max Edkins on November 7, 2017:
 
Good morning everybody, welcome. What an amazing crowd, what an amazing stage.
 
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Towards a Climate-Smart World: 12 Ways for a Resilient Future
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The ceiling of Rai Tabusoro’s home was ripped away by catastrophic winds. The 43-year-old was able to save the life of his elderly mother by placing her in a concrete bathroom, as well as a pregnant woman who he carried to shelter.
 
In the same Fijian village, Asmita Kamal, a 24-year-old teacher, found shelter under a table with her grandmother while her family hid under a bed as Cyclone Winston blasted through their village. Despite their best efforts to secure their house, strong winds swept away just about everything.
 
In early 2016, the Fiji province of Ra was hit by Cyclone Winston, the biggest storm ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere, impacting 62% of the Fiji population and caused F$2 Billion in damage (20% of GDP). It killed 44 people, injured hundreds and left 131,000 people homeless. The Category 5 storm first made landfall in Ra, leaving its communities completely devastated.
 
Cyclone Winston was an example of new enemies facing communities. Enemies that are linked to climate change. 
 
And 2017 was no better. It’s been a year of catastrophic climate events. Record-breaking hurricanes claimed lives and destroyed infrastructure across several island states in the Caribbean and in towns and major cities in the southern United States. Whenever extreme weather events like hurricanes and cyclones strike, they leave more than just a trail of devastation—they also leave communities further in the grip of poverty because poor people are more likely to live in fragile housing in disaster-prone areas, and work in sectors dangerously susceptible to extreme weather events, like farming and agriculture. In the end, the impact of a storm, flood, drought or earthquake is more than twice as significant for poor people than anyone else.
 
Raivolita ‘Rai’ Tabusoro, Former village headman of Nabukadra
 
Taking action to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions that are causing climate change while also building resilience to more frequent and more extreme weather events, is now critical to development the world over. 
 
CO2 Emissions are Unprecedented, World Development Indicators
 
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12 Ways The World Bank Group is Supporting a Climate-Smart Transformation
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Since the Paris Agreement in 2015, the World Bank Group has been ramping up climate action and stepping up efforts to mobilize finance for climate action to help countries transition to a low-carbon, more resilient world.

December 12, 2017 marks the two-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement’s adoption. Leaders from around the world will gather in Paris to reaffirm the world’s commitment to the fight against climate change. Here are 12 ways we are working with our partners to help countries make the shift to a climate-smart world.
 
Banner and thumbnail photo credits to Jutta Benzenberg/World Bank
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“Guardians of Gaia” – Gaming for Climate Literacy Announced at COP23
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Connect4Climate is partnering with Cube VR, an AR/VR design studio and strategic consultancy, to produce a multiplatform gaming experience entitled, “Guardians of Gaia”. The game, which will leverage AR and geo-location technologies, is slated to launch in Washington D.C. on Earth Day 2018 and continue at selected World Bank events through 2020 in what aims to be the first ongoing, multiplatform eco-game of its kind.
 
The concept was unveiled at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23) in Bonn, Germany by Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network and James Close, Director of Global Climate Change Operations at the World Bank Group.
 
“We’re progressing the development of this multi-platform augmented gaming experience that will spread climate knowledge and shift behavioral choices, and I have to say I’m extremely excited to see what comes out of that and how this can take us to a new level on this desperately important subject of climate change and education,” James Close told the delegates and visitors in a special session on Education Day.
 
James Close
 
James Close, Director of Global Climate Change Operations at the World Bank Group
 
As a keystone to the gaming experience, Cube VR will produce an interactive digital photo and film exhibit titled, “Journey to Gaia,” which will be directed and curated by Patricia Lanza, former Director of the Annenberg Space for Photography. Most recently, Patricia Lanza was nominated for Curator of the Year in 2015 by The Lucy Foundation for the acclaimed “Refugee” exhibit. In 2011, Lanza also oversaw creative direction for Exhibition of the Year-winner “Beauty Culture,” the documentary of which was also nominated for an Academy Award.
 
Cube VR partners, Larry Rosenthal and Blu Topalli, have developed and executed branded narrative experiences leveraging AR/VR, mobile platforms and other emerging technologies for clients including Apple, Sony, NBC Universal, and Hasbro Inc. This will be their first project for Connect4Climate, the World Bank Group’s global partnership program for the advancement of climate change awareness and the encouragement of climate solutions.
 
In 2015, Connect4Climate most notably coordinated the creative partnership to present Fiat Lux, a first of its kind projection-mapping experience utilizing the surface of the Vatican itself to bring climate issues to 100,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square and an estimated global reach of more than 4.4 billion viewers.
[video:https://vimeo.com/148381415]
“We are thrilled to be working with Cube VR on this ambitious launch at Earth Day 2018,” says Connect4Climate’s Max Edkins, “and look forward to creating a narrative experience that spurs real climate action through 2020 and beyond. Cube VR’s history of tackling large challenges with flexible designs and multi-platform experience strategies dovetails perfectly with our aim of adding real meaning to climate action amongst our global community.”
 
Max Thabiso Edkins, Connect4Climate
 
Max Edkins, Acting Manager, Climate Change Expert, Connect4Climate
 
Banner and thumbnail: Playing at Sunset, Ivo Dukic, Zadar, Voices4Climate
Laudato Si’ Challenge

Timezone:
A global initiative—an urgent call to action—encouraging startups to grow their breakthrough solutions to humanity's boldest challenges.
 
One Planet Summit

Timezone:
On 12 December 2017, the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, the President of the World Bank Group, Jim Yong Kim, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, will address the ecological emergency for our planet by calling together in Paris international leaders and committed citizens from around the world.
 
For two years to the day after the historic Paris Agreement, it is time for concrete action.
 
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Connect4Climate: Past Competitions
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This page aims to feature the most relevant initiatives and events Connect4Climate has organized over the years, and so it will be continuously updated. All events are listed in chronological order.

All4TheGreen

#All4TheGreen week of activities in Bologna, Italy. Photo Credits: Sharon Carrasco

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Key Achievements from COP23
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Bula vinaka!
 
We are pleased to say COP23 has been a success. Over the past two weeks, the global community has embraced Fiji’s concept of a Grand Coalition for greater ambition. In Bonn, the support for climate action from countries, regions, cities, civil society, the private sector and ordinary men and women was clearly on display.
 
Together, we have done the job we came here 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.
 
We brought our Fijian Bula Spirit to COP and it’s been wonderful how people responded. We want to warmly thank our hosts, the German Government and the UNFCCC, as well as the residents of Bonn.
 
COP23 Bonn, Fiji Presidency. Photo Credit: Max Thabiso Edkins
Photo Credit: Max Thabiso Edkins
 
Below, we are pleased to outline some of the key achievements from COP23.
 
​  2018 Talanoa Dialogue: After extensive consultations, the Fijian COP23 Presidency announced an inclusive and participatory process that allows countries, as well as non-state actors, to share stories and showcase best practices in order to urgently raise ambition – including pre-2020 action – in nationally determined contributions (NDCs). This is ultimately to enable countries to collectively move closer to the more ambitious Paris Agreement goal of keeping the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
 
​  Implementation Guidelines: While important work remains to be done, COP23 made significant progress toward clear and comprehensive implementation guidelines for the Paris Agreement, which will make the agreement operational. This is crucial to help governments plan their economies, and give confidence to investors and businesses that the low-carbon economy is here to stay. Countries will need to finalise the implementation guidelines at COP24 in Poland next year.
 
​  Launch of Ocean Pathway Partnership: The Fijian COP23 Presidency launched the Ocean Pathway Partnership to encourage the climate negotiations process to address the relationship between climate change and the ocean. In the true spirit of the Grand Coalition, the partnership will also consolidate existing work being done to create a coordinated effort among governments at all levels, existing ocean alliances and coalitions, civil society and the private sector to create a stronger link between climate action and a healthy ocean. The partnership will be co-chaired by Fiji and Sweden, who are joining forces again after leading the inaugural UN Ocean Conference in July.
 
​  Launch of InsuRelience Global Partnership: The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) contributed 110 million euros (US $125 million) to launch the InsuResilience Global Partnership for Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance Solutions to bring affordable insurance and other financial protection to millions of vulnerable people around the world. The contribution from BMZ follows a £30 million (US $39 million) commitment that was made by the Government of the United Kingdom in July.
 
​  Launch of the Fiji Clearing House for Risk Transfer: This new online resource will help connect vulnerable countries with the best available information on affordable insurance and solutions – tailored to their unique circumstances – that will allow them to better prepare for the risks posed by climate change.
 
​  Finalisation of the Gender Action Plan: Countries finalised the first-ever Gender Action Plan, which aims to increase the participation of women in all UNFCCC  processes. It also seeks to increase awareness of and support for the development and effective implementation of gender-responsive climate policy at all levels of government.
 
​  Finalisation of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform: This platform will provide direct and comprehensive means to give a greater voice to indigenous people in the climate negotiations and allow them to share their traditional knowledge and best practices on reducing emissions, adapting to climate change and building resilience.
 
​  Historic Breakthrough in Agriculture: Countries reached a historic agreement on agriculture that will help countries develop and implement new strategies for adaptation and mitigation within the sector, to both reduce emissions as well as build resilience to the effects of climate change. This was historic because it was the first time in the history of the climate negotiations that countries had reached an agreement on agriculture.
 
​  Adaptation Fund: The Adaptation Fund was replenished with a total of US $93.3 million, exceeding this year’s funding target by US $13 million. The Adaptation Fund has a track record of providing valuable resources to communities in developing countries for projects that help improve resilience to the effects of climate change. Projects may apply for funding to Adaptation Fund Board, which reviews applications through a transparent process. Countries also took the important next step to ensure that the Adaptation Fund shall serve the Paris Agreement.
 
​  America’s Pledge:  A delegation of sub-national leaders led by Gov. Jerry Brown of California and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg presented a report on the ongoing efforts by American states, cities, businesses and civil society to uphold the emissions reduction target of the United States under the Paris Agreement.
 
​  Bonn-Fiji Commitment: Local and regional leaders gathered to officially adopt the Bonn-Fiji Commitment of Local and Regional Leaders to Deliver the Paris Agreement at All Levels, a pledge that signals their commitment to bring forward a critical shift in global development. The Bonn-Fiji Commitment highlights the pledge to raise collective ambition for climate action.
 
​  Launch of the NDC Regional Hub: The NDC Partnership is establishing a new regional hub to support the implementation of NDCs in the Pacific. The Regional Pacific NDC Hub will be based in Suva, Fiji, and will provide expertise for developing regional solutions to mitigate global warming and enhance efforts by Pacific islands to adapt to climate change.
 
​  Health Initiative for the Vulnerable: The World Health Organisation, in collaboration with the UNFCCC and the Fijian COP23 Presidency launched a special initiative to protect people living in Small Island Developing States from the health impacts of climate change. Its goal by 2030 is to triple the levels of international financial support to climate and health in Small Island Developing States.
 
​  First Open Dialogue between Governments and Non-Stare Actors: The Fijian COP23 Presidency presided over the first ever Open Dialogue between governments and non-state actors (including civil society, municipal governments and businesses) within the formal climate negotiations. Discussions were held surrounding two important topics. The first was how non-state actors can help countries design and implement more ambitious NDCs and the second was how to better integrate NPS into the climate negotiations process. Based on the success of the dialogue, there was strong enthusiasm to continue similar discussions at future COP meetings.
 
​  Expert Dialogue on Loss and Damage: Provides important space to raise awareness about the vulnerability of small island states. It will explore options for mobilising expertise, technology and support for the victims of climate change.
 
For a complete list of announcements at COP23, please visit the UNFCCC’s website

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