Remarks by UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell at the Opening Plenary of the Bonn Climate Change Conference SB58 (the58th session of the UNFCCC subsidiary bodies).
Excellencies,
Delegates,
Observers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Two very important weeks lie ahead of us. The latest reports of the WMO and IPCC make clear that climate change is accelerating, and we are lagging behind in our actions to stem it.
I'm aware of the difficulty you face, wearing two hats at these sessions. There is, at times, tension between national interest and the global common good. I urge delegates to be brave, to see that by prioritizing the common good, you also serve your national interests - and act accordingly.
As you deliberate, keep in mind this basic premise: No life is expendable.
Not expendable because national budgets are already constrained elsewhere.
Not expendable because we want to consume ever more energy than our needs.
Not expendable because fossil fuel extraction is a financial and political insurance policy.
Not expendable because nature is easily commoditized.
We have a clear ambition: to pursue limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and deliver a resilient sustainable future for all.
We must make progress against all areas. This will set the frame for COP28.
The Global Stocktake is our opportunity to review where we are and get a view of where we need to get to, in order to meet our Paris Commitments. An articulation of the gap and how to close it.
Ambition is nothing without action. Sufficient Means of Implementation are essential for us to deliver on our commitments. Let us come out of these discussions with clear signs from the Technical Expert Dialogue, and the 9.5 Workshop.
On Loss and Damage, the agreement in Sharm El Sheik was the first step. The Transitional Committee's second meeting has pushed us forward but there is still some way to go. Progress in this session on the Glasgow Dialogue and further decisions regarding the operationalization of the Santiago Network will bring us closer.
The Mitigation Work Programme and Global Dialogue have been launched over the weekend. Every discussion on mitigation unlocks further innovation which we must use to revise and strengthen our NDCs and long-term strategies.
A strong agreement on a Just Transition can be a powerful tool to enable ambitious climate action. It can build trust to drive transformational development. So, let us aim for a close-to-final draft text to take to COP.
The Global Goal on Adaptation will identify where the world needs to get to in order to be resilient. The outcome of this negotiating track centers on producing a framework which will include structured components, that exemplify the landing zone for global resilience. It will also enable us to assess progress towards achieving the adaptation goal, at any point in time.
Finally, the budget for the next biennium is on this session's agenda, and its adoption will ensure that the secretariat can best support the important work being done by Parties.
Friends,
Remember the best available science - which doesn't arbitrate on who needs to do what or who is responsible for what. The science tells us where we are and highlights the scale of response which is required.
I believe we are at a tipping point. We know that rapid change often follows a long gestation period. Goodness knows, that the gestation period for climate action has been long enough. We need to bring that tipping point forward.
This is an opportunity for Parties to demonstrate your joint commitment to fully implementing all aspects of the Paris Agreement and show the world that the era of implementation is well underway.
So, spend time building stronger relationships across groups & regions that will build trust and facilitate substantive progress to COP28.
The UN Climate Secretariat and I, will do whatever it takes to assist you.
Thank you.
