Little progress on transparency, climate financing and raising the level of ambition before and after 2020 was noted during the first week of talks at COP 22 in Marrakech, but that was foreseen: no decisions are expected from this 'COP of action', which will end on 18 November unless the parties extend it, until the end of the second week.
The pressure on the governments is expected to be cranked up a little over the second part of the COP, which entered its decisive stage on Monday 14 November, which is why the EU is now being represented by the European Commissioner for Climate Action, Miguel Arias Canete, and the Slovak Minister, Laszlo Solimos, representing the rotating Presidency of the EU (see EUROPE 11665). All eyes will be on the first meeting of the steering committee of the parties to the Paris Agreement on Tuesday 15 November, to be attended by the Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, many heads of state and the American Secretary of State, John Kerry, who is determined to convince Donald Trump to act in favour of the climate.
On the eve of this first meeting of the parties to the Paris Agreement - the number of ratifications stood at 109 on 13 November, with those of Burkina Faso and Botswana (both African countries), the EU and China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases - agreeing in Marrakech on Monday to step up their partnership. This is music to the ears of all parties, having been dismayed by the climate-sceptic comments of the American President elect, Donald Trump. "EU-China climate and clean energy leadership is now more important than ever. We agreed to boost our cooperation", tweeted a delighted Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete.
Monday also saw the formal launch of the international coalition for a ban on plastic bags, in the wake of Ocean Action Day. Karmenu Vella, the European Commissioner for the Environment, who presented the Commission's communication on improving the governance of the oceans, hoped that this international day would bring the official confirmation of a consensus - and it did. For the EU, the Marrakech conference will demonstrate that the transition to a global low-carbon economy is underway and will act as a catalyst for new actions.
On Saturday, leading figures in the sustainable transport sector showed that the fight against emissions from transport is both possible and profitable, reporting progress made in fifteen benchmark initiatives covering all modes of transport and more than 100 countries.
Ségolène Royal, the chair of COP 21, also awarded the first climate change adaptation trophies in the Mediterranean to two exemplary projects (see other article). On the same day, appearing on Émission politique (a France 2 programme) to react to the statements made by the Trump campaign ("we are going to cancel the Paris Climate Agreement"), Royal said that she was worried. "What is so serious is that it's the US that's jeopardising the agreement. The Paris Agreement has high economic stakes, high planetary security stakes, high global peace stakes", she said (our translation).
With €17.6 billion paid out in 2015 to developing countries, the EU has prioritised supporting these countries in their adaptation efforts (see EUROPE 11661 and 11654). In Marrakech, the European Investment Bank confirmed its commitment to support climate action and to increase the impact of its investments in favour of the climate in Europe and in Africa.
"The EIB recognises the importance of long-term finance to tackle a changing climate and the increasing role of climate finance to drive economic growth", said Jonathan Taylor, vice-president of the institution. The EU, which is proud to have cut its emissions by 22% compared to 1990 (see EUROPE 1165), hopes to prove that it is already acting to achieve its 2030 target (a reduction of at least 40%). However, the UN has already warned all parties that the target of average global warming of 2 degrees is currently out of reach (see EUROPE 11660). For the objective of 1.5 degrees, the EU is awaiting the 2018 report of the IPCC so that it knows exactly what this represents in terms of action. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)