Climate: more mobilized than ever on the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement [fr]
The COVID-19 epidemic has not overshadowed climate issues. On the contrary, it has reminded us of the pressing need to seek sustainable solutions together for the future of the planet and to effectively protect populations, including from illnesses passed from animals to humans.
In the face of these global challenges, France is more mobilized than ever and is working to strengthen climate multilateralism. On 12 December 2020, several events will be held to mark the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement and highlight that we must all be fully committed to combatting global warming.
The Climate Ambition Summit
At 3 p.m. CET on 12 December 2020, France will co-organize the Climate Ambition Summit with the United Kingdom (President of COP26) and the United Nations Secretariat-General, in partnership with Chile (President of COP25) and Italy (host of the pre-COP26).
All signatory States to the Paris Agreement have been invited. Only States capable of making a significant announcement on one or more of the three pillars of the Paris Agreement (mitigation, adaptation and finance) may take the floor. This virtual Summit will launch the revival of the ambition, which will continue until COP26, to be held in Glasgow on 1 - 12 November 2021.
Non-State actors will also be invited to take the floor.
All necessary information, as well as a live broadcast of the Summit, can be found on the following site : https://climateambitionsummit2020.org
Reviving the international momentum created by the Paris Agreement
Adopted in 2015, the Paris Agreement is the global framework for action against global warming. It is the most rapidly ratified agreement in history, is almost universal (194 signatures and 189 ratifications) and is an essential and shared roadmap to effectively combat climate disruption together.
For it to be fully implemented and produce the desired effects, all States Parties must set out their climate ambitions as quickly as possible and by COP26 in 2021.
The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) set out in 2015 before COP21, even fully implemented, currently lead to global warming of over 3°C, which is far from the objectives of the agreement (+1.5 - 2°C).
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the call to step up ambitions in the fight against global warming is struggling to be heard.
The international community has one year between now and COP26 to re-mobilize all actors and rediscover the momentum seen during the adoption of the Paris Agreement, when 183 countries submitted their NDCs, covering 95% of greenhouse gas emissions around the world.
Celebrating the anniversary of the Paris Agreement in the diplomatic network
The French diplomatic network will place climate at the heart of the collective agenda for this anniversary, in partnership with the local representations of the European Union and all partners working on these issues.
These celebrations will be reflected in a variety of events: webinars, press conferences, meetings with local stakeholders, screenings and exhibitions.
The Ministry thus chose to work with the Art of Change 21 association to create an artistic video, Maskbook, which is an original way of mobilizing prominent figures from all over the world around climate issues.
See the video on our social media on 12 December 2020.
2021 will be a key year for climate, biodiversity and the environment, with several major international events:
- for the first time, the COPs on climate, biodiversity and desertification will be held in the same year
- the fourth edition of the One Planet Summit, addressing biodiversity, will take place in France in January 2021
- the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)