Climate Change
Global Issues

The Compact of States and Regions, the only global platform to record greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets and inventory data from sub-national governments, has today announced that 20 governments, representing over 220 million people and $8.3 trillion GDP, have committed to a series of ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions.

These reporting governments currently represent about 1.81 GtCO2e, or 5%, of all global emissions, and with many more due to report over the summer, the potential emission savings through the Compact are set to be one of the most significant commitments presented ahead of COP21.

Presented at the World Summit Climate and Territories in Lyon, France, the initial round of targets include:

  • All reporting governments have a series of reduction targets across their operations in place – some as ambitious as 90% by 2050 and 100% by 2060.
  • 90% have also reported renewable energy targets. 
  • In total, 85 GHG reduction, energy efficiency and renewable targets have been reported – the total amount of climate recorded actions exceeded 200.

In addition, the Compact will be a platform for governments to report climate data going beyond 2015 – ensuring that they continue to accurately report against their climate targets with reliable, publically available data.

Stewart M. Patrick, Council on Foreign Relations

The scope of national security is expanding beyond violent threats to encompass a broader array of dangers. In an article for World Politics Review, CFR's Stewart M. Patrick assesses the implications of COVID-19 and climate change for the theory and practice of national security.

Security
Global Issues
Manon Levrey, EPLO

Although there is no causality nor direct and automatic link between climate change and conflict, we can see that climate change can intensify conflict drivers and make it harder to find stability. The online workshop "Climate change, conflict and fragility: Increasing resilience against climate-fragility risks", organised by the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) and adelphi, looked into this complex relationship.

Adaptation & Resilience
Climate Change
Climate Diplomacy
Global Issues
Dennis Tänzler (adelphi)

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous parallels have been drawn between this health crisis and the climate crisis. Science plays an important role in advising decision makers on how to ensure sustainable crisis management and a precautionary approach to avoid harmful repercussions, particularly where we do not yet know all the consequences of our actions. [...]

Sustainable Transformation
Global Issues
Noah Gordon, Daria Ivleva and Emily Wright, adelphi

Decarbonisation won’t come as fast as the pandemic. But if fossil fuel exporters are not prepared for it, they will face an enduring crisis. The EU can help.