By UN Rep Ayuska Motha, AIWC Cologne
2020 has seen the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations put on hold. The Conference of the Parties (COP) Climate Summit was postponed from December 2020 to November 2021 while many countries struggled to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and all its short- and long-term repercussions. This decision was made very early on and communicated clearly. All events that have taken place this year have been virtual and no actual negotiations have been conducted.
The usual May/June sessions that take place in Bonn were also postponed until 2021. Instead, that 10 day time slot was converted into a virtual “June Momentum,” for countries and others involved in the process to exchange views and share information in an attempt to keep up momentum on climate action. The pandemic has made it clearer that human health and well being are dependent on the health of the planet. The series of online events were hosted by the UNFCCC, but it was a first time undertaking and there were quite a few technical problems.
In July, multiple groups of civil society organizations worked together to organize their own “Momentum, Action, Justice Cross-Climate Constituencies Virtual Town Hall” with a whole series of virtual events hosted by individual groups (see Cross-Climate Constituencies Momentum Hub). The idea was to bring together the many separate organizations and constituencies to work together and align messaging in a more unified and stronger voice demanding action.
In November, The Race to Zero Dialogues were held. This virtual event was curated by the High Level Champions for Global Climate Action and was 10 days of charting how individual sectors are transitioning to lowering their carbon emission.
The Race to Zero dialogues were then followed by 10 days of UNFCCC Climate Dialogues where countries and other stakeholders could continue exchanging views and sharing information to maintain momentum in the goal to limit global warming.
December 12, 2020 marks the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and to celebrate that, a Climate Ambition Summit is scheduled to take place. Countries are expected to submit their commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions with the goal of limiting global warming to close to 1.5°C.
So, although no physical meetings could take place this year, 2020 has brought a clearer understanding of how human health is dependent upon nature for the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we produce and our economic livelihood. With the US ready to rejoin the Paris Agreement, we are looking forward to seeing the US leading the way in confronting the climate crisis. We are hopeful that 2021 will bring renewed energy and focus to the climate issues we are facing.