Keynote speech by UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell at opening of the 7th Ministerial on Climate Action in Brussels on 13 July 2023
Colleagues, friends
We are now halfway through the year to COP 28.
I'm pleased that many of us have seen each other quite a few times at various events this year.
When preparing for this, I was thinking about the progress of this year. I was wondering what it is that we have collectively building towards, each time we meet.
The resounding feeling I had was the possibility of building a collective understanding, which can be duly tested with those colleagues not present, and provide us with the opportunity to make considerable progress in Dubai.
The Global public is looking at us around this table now and they will look again in a few months' time. People are looking for the signal that we understand the urgency of the crisis and are collectively rising to the occasion.
I am supposed to list all the progress we have made thus far, but I won't because you were there.
All those around this table are dealing with competing priorities at home. I know this, particularly, as a former developing country minister. Adding "achieving development gains and delivery of fundamental rights or services" to the list of priorities, makes it ever hard to juggle.
Having said that, when the world landed the Paris Agreement, we didn't have all the data and information we now do. We know now, that if we don't save the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal, all those competing priorities will become a lot harder to achieve.
Fresh out of the UNFCCC's Subsidiary Body meetings in Bonn, I was left with a resounding feeling that all Parties know what needs to be done. Everyone knows that if we all go at this together, as ambitiously as we possibly can, at the same time, not only will we be protected by our collective action, but we have a far greater chance of success.
During this conference, I want us to get into the sticky issues. Let's ask the tricky questions, those that will help us get from knowing what needs to be done, to how we do it.
Here is what I have heard from Parties on what they want to see at COP28 thus far:
Firstly, that the global stocktake is our opportunity to enhance action and the support necessary to achieve our goals. We cannot afford to miss this opportunity.
Beyond the stocktake, COP28 will address a range of implementation issues.
We need an agreement to set up new funding arrangements and a fund for loss and damage, and to complete the operational arrangements for the Santiago Network.
Together, these would make the international climate change regime fully "fit for purpose" for addressing loss and damage.
We must complete the work on the global goal on adaptation, including establishing a solid methodological framework, to bolster adaptation at all levels.
We must also strengthen our mitigation work programme and make it more efficient in light of the urgent need to address the emissions gap.
We must address head on difficult issues such as fossil fuel subsidies, the phase-down of coal and addressing other fossil fuels.
The excitement the world feels about the energy transition conversation is palpable. We will leave fossil fuels in their own dust, as renewables take center stage. Parties have called for targets to be set to help us get there in Dubai.
The work programme on just transition established at COP27 is crucial because we must engage all of society in climate action so that no one is left behind. We must still build the substance of this programme.
Negotiations started in Bonn last month, and a good outcome on the just transition in Dubai would be a key achievement.
We must demonstrate credible progress towards the long-standing goal of mobilizing 100 billion US$ of climate finance annually.
We need an ambitious replenishment of the Green Climate Fund, and progress in doubling adaptation finance.
Discussions on a new goal for climate finance and making financial flows consistent with the Paris goals will also be important.
And we must see how the international financial system responds to calls for reform.
In Dubai, we will also prepare for the start of the reporting and review process next year under the enhanced transparency framework. Demonstrating support for implementation by developing countries will be crucial.
COP 28 will also consider the empowerment and gender work programmes, which will be key to advance inclusive climate action.
We are continuing to work on ensuring greater accountability of voluntary initiatives by non-state actors, such as the private sector and cities, through our Global Climate Action portal.
These voluntary actions will support the solutions-oriented outcome of the stocktake, delivering systems transformations to get Paris Agreement implementation on the correct course.
On Non-State Actor accountability in particular, I have heard the concerns from Parties at the SBs and have mobilized a process to better understand those concerns and respond to them in any next steps.
I'll end by going back to my sticky issues plea. It will be all of you making the decisions in a few months. During the sessions, please speak from your thoughts rather than limited to strict notes - let's understand the interests behind positions.
I thank you.
