Andre Correa do Lago, head of COP30, stresses the necessity for UN climate negotiations to fulfill commitments made in previous summits. He highlights the urgent need for practical implementation of agreements, acknowledges the limitations of the existing framework, and calls for collective action across all sectors to address climate challenges.
The upcoming UN climate conference, COP30, is led by Brazilian negotiator Andre Correa do Lago, who highlighted the importance of fulfilling prior commitments made at past summits. He emphasized the need for self-criticism within the process and pushed against the common view that COP discussions yield unsatisfactory outcomes. Advocating for actionable measures, Correa do Lago expressed that the climate urgency calls for a shift towards putting agreed strategies into practice.
Correa do Lago, in a letter preceding the November conference in Brazil, stated that COP conferences must bridge negotiations with real-world applications. He acknowledged widespread sentiments that the annual gatherings of nearly 200 nations often fall short of expectations. Furthermore, he recognized the limitations inherent in the UN climate process and the Paris Agreement, promoting a holistic approach to combat climate change.
As COP30 takes place in Belem, Brazil, it will evaluate countries on their commitments to combat greenhouse gas emissions. The current geopolitical climate, characterized by Europe reallocating funds toward defense and the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, presents challenges for reaching substantial new agreements. Correa do Lago remarked on the challenging negotiation environment, underlining the necessity to expedite previously established decisions.
Under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, decisions at COP summits require consensus, complicating the agreement process. Correa do Lago’s letter highlighted the Indigenous principle of “mutirao,” calling for collective action to address shared challenges. He extended an invitation to governments, the private sector, and civil society to collaborate in these efforts, stating, “Humanity needs you.” Additionally, the COP30 presidency aims to incorporate insights from prior presidencies and Indigenous leaders into the discourse.
In summary, the leadership of COP30 emphasizes the critical need for effective action on climate commitments made by global leaders. The upcoming conference seeks to connect negotiations with practical efforts to address climate change, despite the challenging international context. By inviting various sectors to collaborate, COP30 aims to foster a united approach in confronting the climate crisis and fulfilling the promises of the Paris Agreement.
Original Source: www.france24.com
