Reflections from the UN Climate Meeting in Bonn

Other Bonn focal areas included the Global Stocktake, which the Paris Agreement laid out as a time in the future when countries needed to take stock of emissions reduction progress and assess where we are, or are not, in keeping track towards 1.5 degrees.  The latest science from the IPCC has clearly demonstrated we are not yet close to the required path, and we must push for more ambition, but more importantly, immediate implementation of commitments already made. Action plans will only show results if they’re put into practice.

There were a couple promising announcements that suggest that implementation could come. First, after a domestic election, the Australian government brought forward a revised national commitment that would see the nation reduce emissions by 43 percent by 2030, and to net zero emissions by 2050. This is a significant increase in ambition from previous targets. Additionally, the U.S. led discussions with other key developed countries in the Major Economies Forum to deliver significant new finance for global methane capture and escalation of clean energy technologies.

These are the kind of strategies that we need to see if the planet is to bend the curve to keep us below 1.5 degrees C of global temperature rise. There is no silver bullet when it comes to emissions reduction. Actions must reflect a full transition away from fossil fuels, while also investing in innovative carbon capture technology AND protection and restoration of critical nature-based solutions that can provide immediate sequestration benefits while benefitting communities and livelihoods.

We are now on the homestretch towards COP27. It is clear that the world has much to do to drive urgent climate action, and leveraging critical finance will be at the forefront of catalyzing that movement. It is imperative that Egypt recognize and welcome the responsibility they have as COP President, and make the push to provide necessary resource, capacity, and opportunity their top focus this November. The Nature Conservancy stands ready to assist and facilitate with all stakeholders, across the public and private sectors. We face a true global climate emergency, and only an emergency-level response can deliver the future we want and need.