UN Climate Roundtable to trigger global sprint to Glasgow, in week that sees major climate ambition announcements from powerhouse economies

UN and UK to host major global climate event on Paris Agreement anniversary to harness momentum and ratchet up ambition for COP26

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Plans to convene the world’s most ambitious climate leaders on December 12 – the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement – will be launched at the United Nations today. The announcement – at the Climate Change Roundtable to be hosted by the UN Secretary-General on 24 September – comes during a watershed week for climate ambition, which has seen major announcements from China and the European Union, as well as from companies and local authorities around the world.

While the world remains off-track to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C, this week’s announcements send a resounding signal that decarbonization of the global economy is increasingly irreversible and offers huge advantages to those who move decisively.

“We have champions and solutions all around us, in every city, corporation and country.  But the climate emergency is fully upon us, and we have no time to waste. The answer to our existential crisis is swift, decisive, scaled up action and solidarity among nations,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

Recent data shows greenhouse gas concentrations reaching record levels, and worsening climate impacts – from unprecedented wildfires, hurricanes, air pollution, droughts and floods – destroying lives, jobs and businesses.

In light of this urgency, the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will co-host a landmark global event convening global leaders on 12 December this year to rally much greater climate action and ambition.

National governments will be invited to present more ambitious and high-quality climate plans (the Nationally Determined Contributions – NDCs – and Long-Term Strategies), as well as COVID recovery plans, new finance commitments and measures to build resilience that are aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5°C and the driving forward the Sustainable Development Goals.

The event will bring leaders from across all levels of government, as well as the private sector and civil society, to present new measures boosting ambition and action.

The Secretary-General’s Climate Roundtable can be viewed live today (24 September) from 11.30am ET by clicking here.

It will demonstrate leading examples of the Secretary-General’s six climate-positive actions to recover better together: invest in jobs and green business, no bailouts to polluting industries, ending subsidies for fossil fuels, considering climate risks in all decisions and policy-making, working together and ensuring that no one is left behind.


Ramping up aviation’s ambition through ICAO

Aviation plays a critical role in global economic and social development and it is important to ensure that aviation continues to develop in an environmentally sustainable manner. ICAO and its Member States are ready to achieve the goal of keeping global net carbon emissions from international aviation from 2020 at the same level, through the implementation of a basket of measures including technology and standards, sustainable aviation fuels, operational improvements, and CORSIA.

At the recent ICAO Stocktaking Seminar, nearly one hundred stakeholders showcased the sector’s ability to dramatically reduce CO2 emissions. Through the momentum generated during the stocktaking, ICAO is inviting the international community to continue to contribute to the movement of reducing the impact of aviation by joining the ICAO Global Coalition for Sustainable Aviation.

Bearing in mind the global call for a green recovery from COVID-19, the ICAO Aviation Green Recovery Seminar will be held from 23 to 24 November 2020, to discuss how to build back better and shape a greener aviation future. The Seminar will:

  • stress the need for climate action by aviation;
  • showcase inspiring solutions for aviation’s deep decarbonization through all elements of CO2 mitigation measures;
  • discuss how aviation can help others cope with broader agenda such as biodiversity and adaptation;
  • and showcase States and industry plans and roadmaps for aviation green recovery.

As aviation explores the most promising innovative solutions for in-sector CO2 reductions, it is imperative that a wider dialogue ensures that the right policies, infrastructure and use of clean energy amongst all activities take place with a view to achieving level playing field for an inclusive and effective green recovery.