Aftermath of GCAS: Governments must intensify climate action by 2020

The Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) ended last week in California, United States with delegates calling on national governments to join forces to step up climate action ahead of 2020—the year when global greenhouse gases need to peak and fall sharply thereafter to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

GCAS was a meeting of leaders from states and regions, cities, business, investors and civil society.

According to a release after the summit, delegates called for “climate action” and commitment to “a climate-safe future for all.”

“Now is the time for all leaders to step up and take bold action. Climate change is a threat to all humanity, and it can only be solved by a global cooperative effort. Only together will we transform our communities and energy systems, create employment opportunities and economic prosperity, protect our oceans and natural environment, and complete the transition to a zero-carbon world.

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“We call on the national governments of the world to: Step-up ambition now including in the form of enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2020, consistent with what science tells us is needed to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement now; chart a clear path to your zero-carbon future and empower bottom-up climate Action,” they stated.

Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of UN climate change, was Summit co-chair, alongside Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group.