EU delegations and EU Member State Embassies all over the world join forces to emphasise the importance and benefit of climate action on the second Climate Diplomacy Day, 17 June 2015. This time, the sense of urgency is unmistakable as the decisive UN Climate Conference COP21 in Paris will take place later this year. To keep us on track to limit global temperature rise to below 2°C, the international community needs to secure a fair, ambitious and legally binding international agreement there. Not only will climate action allow mitigating risks to human livelihoods and to international security; it will also bring about significant economic and business opportunities. Timely investment in low carbon, climate resilient development can generate jobs and growth, and reduce the long term costs of lowering emissions and adapting to climate change impacts.
From interviews, roundtables and conferences to film screenings and bicycle tours – European diplomats will use innovative formats to highlight the positive action that is being taken around the globe. In Berlin, the German Federal Foreign Office, the British and the French embassies invite to a panel discussion and reception on how climate change concerns every one of us.
By following #ClimateDiploDay on Twitter, you will get the latest updates on Climate Diplomacy Day 2015 and the events taking place at about 50 locations worldwide.
The first Climate Diplomacy Day was carried out successfully by Germany, the UK and France on 9 September 2014, with parallel events taking place in over 30 countries. For more, watch this video.
Find more information on the European Climate Diplomacy Day here.
Climate Diplomacy Week is a perfect opportunity to highlight positive climate action, set new goals and engage more and new actors in the fight against the devastating impacts of climate change. Each year, the week has its own character. Climate Diplomacy Week 2018, from 24-30 September, was marked by action – throughout the world, civil society participated in inspiring educational activities and engaged the wider public in the climate cause.
In a move that underscored Donald Trump’s isolation on trade and climate change, the two major economies inserted a reference to the Paris Agreement into Ceta.
Fourteen Latin American and Caribbean countries made history at the UN General Assembly on September 27 by signing the Escazú Agreement, a regional accord on public participation and access to information and justice in environmental affairs. It is the first region-wide agreement of its kind and has been touted a big step forward in recognising the rights of environmental defenders. Signatories now need to ratify the Agreement internally before it can enter into force.
Though India is now pushing for BIMSTEC, geography dictates that it cannot ignore SAARC. South Asia is extremely vulnerable to a range of climate impacts, ranging from shrinking glaciers and water scarcity to floods and rising sea levels. Responding to these risks is a complex task, also because often impacts affect more than one country and their severity exceeds the capacity of national governments. Climate change creates new challenges for regional organisations, and simultaneously increases their relevance.