Process was the word of the moment at the UN climate conference in Bonn, as governments continued to develop the ‘rulebook’ for the Paris Agreement.
Companies, investors, cities, states and regions took center stage at this year’s talks. And for good reason: they all have a role to play in supporting national governments to deliver on the Paris Agreement and track progress towards a low-carbon world
Here are the top five things we learned from our two weeks at Bonn.
1. Bula! Welcome to the Talanoa Dialogue
Talanoa is a traditional word used in Fiji and the Pacific to reflect a process of inclusive, participatory and transparent dialogue. Countries agreed that throughout 2018 they will work together to assess whether the world is on track to meet the long-term climate goals agreed in Paris, or whether new actions will be needed.
Non-party stakeholders, including companies, cities and investors, will have their voice heard during this dialogue through the Marrakesh Partnership for Climate Action. For example, they will be able to participate in national or regional events and make submissions through an online platform.
2. Urgent action was a priority in Bonn
Global emissions need to peak by 2020 if we are to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change. A key discussion item at Bonn was how much progress the world is making in cutting emissions today.
Companies, cities, states and regions have a vital role to play in taking action before 2020 – CDP analysis shows that these non-party actors are starting to pick up the pace. Recognition of these actions under the Marrakesh Partnership will be a key component of measuring and assessing pre-2020 action through mechanisms such as the annual Yearbook.
3. Rules for future collaboration are on the way
Negotiators made slow but steady progress to draw up the international rules that will bring the Paris Agreement into operation from 2020, including those around reporting, finance and emissions trading.
Actions already being taken by companies, investors and cities to measure and reduce their emissions in line with science, put an internal price on carbon and address adaptation needs are hugely important in creating an enabling environment for countries to do the same. In 2018, CDP will continue to track the efforts of these players, and offer them insights and tools take further action and give national governments the confidence to raise their ambition towards building a truly sustainable economy for all.
4.The United States is still in
The United States has indicated an intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, but has not yet done so. The US delegation played a non-obstructive role in this year’s talks.
Meanwhile, US states, cities and companies brought a US Climate Action Pavilion to Bonn, symbolically placed on the steps of the main negotiation zone, to reaffirm their own commitment to the Paris Agreement. With a host of speakers including Al Gore, Michael Bloomberg and Governor Jerry Brown of California, US economic actors showed just how much progress they could make.
The first ‘America’s Pledge’ report showed more than half the US economy has mobilised behind the US pledge under the Paris Agreement.
5. The ‘real economy’ is where the action is
Parties and observers to the negotiations all noticed that at this year’s climate talks the non-party stakeholder zone was abuzz with energy and action as never before.
Economic actors from all over the world demonstrated their ambition and the progress they are already making, working across many different coalitions including We Mean Business, key groups working with investors , the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and the Under2MOU and at key events including the Sustainable Innovation Forum.
2017 was the year when the impact of the Paris Agreement on the real economy, and the start of the global low-carbon economic transition, became a demonstrable reality.