The European Union and 79 African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries have committed to defend and implement the Paris Agreement on climate change, amidst the latest UN climate change talks in Bonn, at which the EU tentatively explained that “tangible progress” had been made over the past two weeks.
The latest conference of the UN framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC) met in Bonn, Germany, between 8 and 18 of May. In a note published on the final day of talks, the European Union declared that “tangible progress was made on a number of elements for implementation of the Paris Agreement” and “welcomed the important technical and practical work carried out at the conference.” However, unsurprisingly, despite progress, there is “much still that remains to be done to put us on the road to delivering on the Paris commitments.”
“We came here to Bonn to advance our work on the rules and instruments to implement the Paris Agreement,” said Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete. “We leave Bonn with steadfast progress in many areas. And while much work still lies ahead of us, the cooperative talks and the tangible results show once again the unwavering determination of all of us to turn our commitments into real action.”
However, maybe of greater importance was another announcement, in which the 28 (soon to be 27) member state European Union and 79 African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) developing countries — which together make up more than half of the Paris Agreement signatories — pledged that they would seek to ensure full implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
“Today more than ever, Europe stands by its long-term partners most vulnerable to climate change,” said Miguel Arias Cañete. “We, developed and developing countries together, will defend the Paris Agreement. We are all in, and our joint commitment to this Agreement today is as in Paris: irreversible and non-negotiable.”
The European Union has also pledged €800 million in support for the Pacific region up to 2020, half of which has been earmarked for climate action.
“The longstanding, ongoing cooperation between the ACP Group and the EU shows we are serious about addressing the impacts of climate change,” added ACP Secretary General Patrick Gomes. “Implementing the Paris Agreement is not only about ensuring the very survival of the 79 ACP countries, but also about building sustainable, resilient and prosperous economies and societies worldwide.”
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