UN climate boss outlines COP26 priorities to LDC ministers

The UN’s top climate change official Patricia Espinosa addressed Ministers from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) on Monday as they met to discuss key priorities heading into the crucial UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow.

In a keynote address, the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary acknowledged the frustration being felt by many LDCs about lack of progress on issues which are the most important for these countries.

“Nobody understands like you the gravity of our climate emergency. I encourage you to make your priorities as strong as possible and as ambitious as possible at this meeting,” she said.

The meeting of LDC ministers comes against the backdrop of the latest IPCC Report, released in early August, which showed that unless there are rapid, sustained and large-scale reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, the Paris Agreement goal will be impossible to reach. .

The UN Climate Chief called for bold and immediate action to make an urgent transformation away from our high-emissions path towards a low-carbon, resilient future and outlined four key priorities as governments prepare for COP:

First, fulfilling existing commitments. A key issue is the provision of financial support to developing countries, particularly the promise by developed countries to mobilize USD 100 billion annually in climate finance to support the needs of developing nations. This is crucial for building trust.

Second, wrapping up outstanding negotiations. This includes resolving the complicated issues around Article 6 rules, to finally enable market and non-market tools to launch their operations.

Third, increased ambition on all key aspects of the climate agenda. Among these are national climate action plans, known as NDCs, aligned with science; long-term strategies that can ensure climate neutrality by 2050; and progress on the important issues of building resilience.

Fourth, leaving no voices unheard. According to Espinosa, success in Glasgow means ensuring that no voices remain unheard.

 

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