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Yesterday’s Climate Ambition Summit, marking the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, marked a major milestone on the road to the UN Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow next November, which will be hosted by the U.K. in partnership with Italy. Co-convened by the United Nations, the UK and France, in partnership with Italy and Chile, the summit brought together 75 leaders from around the world to galvanise international action towards a resilient, net zero emissions future.
As a result of announcements made during and before the summit, together with those expected early next year, countries representing around 65% of global CO2 emissions, and around 70% of the world’s economy, will have will have committed to net zero emissions or carbon neutrality by early next year.
The UK is one of those countries. Opening the summit, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the UK’s commitment to ending direct taxpayer support for fossil fuel projects overseas, as the government works to support the sector’s transition to low-carbon energy.
This is a major step that will see the UK end export finance, development aid, and trade promotion for new crude oil, natural gas or thermal coal projects, with very limited exceptions.
The UK also pledged £11.6bn in International Climate Finance over the next five years and announced a new £10m commitment to a multilateral Green Recovery Initiative, which will support developing countries to build back better by integrating their climate commitments into economic efforts to recover from the pandemic.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
Today we have seen what can be achieved if nations pull together and demonstrate real leadership and ambition in the fight to save our planet. The UK has led the way with a commitment to cut emissions by at least 68 percent by 2030 and to end support for the fossil fuel sector overseas as soon as possible, and it’s fantastic to see new pledges from around the world that put us on the path to success ahead of COP26 in Glasgow.
France and Sweden have also set out plans to end international financial support for fossil fuels.
President Macron said:
The EU is a leader in this global fight, with our new target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 – which is a fundamental milestone on the way to carbon neutrality. The EU and France will continue to promote ambitious levels of climate finance. We look forward to working with the United Nations, the UK COP Presidency and all parties to the Paris Agreement to keep raising ambition, and deliver on it through concrete action, in the year ahead.
A growing number of countries are shifting gears in their climate commitments. Countries committing to stronger NDCs during the Summit included Argentina, Barbados (aiming to become fossil-fuel free), Vanuatu (100% renewables), and Slovakia (decarbonised power), Canada, Colombia, Iceland, and Peru.
Denmark announced it will end oil and gas exploration, while India announced a new target of 450GW installed capacity of renewable energy by 2030. China also committed to increasing its share of non-fossil fuel in primary energy consumption to around 25% by 2030.
Egypt’s participation was led by Minster of Environment Dr. Yasmine Fouad, who submitted a video as Chair of the 14th Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) Conference of the Parties (COP14).
A major new global campaign – the Race to Resilience – was also launched at the summit. Involving mayors, community leaders, businesses and insurance companies, among others, the campaign aims to safeguard 4 billion people vulnerable to climate risks by 2030.
Examples of the campaign’s actions and initiatives included Apple’s pledge to carbon neutrality for its supply chain and products by 2030, and its announcement that 95 of its suppliers have also committed to moving to 100% renewable energy.
In addition, the International Airlines Group, a British Spanish airline holding company, has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the first airline group worldwide to do so. The Oneworld Alliance of 13 airlines, representing 20% of global aviation, also announced a US$400m investment in sustainable aviation fuels to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said:
The recovery from COVID-19 presents an opportunity to set our economies and societies on a green path in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As we look ahead, the central objective of the United Nations for 2021 is to build a truly Global Coalition for Carbon Neutrality.
Press release
A joint statement from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
We had a useful phone call this morning. We discussed the major unresolved topics.
Our negotiating teams have been working day and night over recent days.
And despite the exhaustion after almost a year of negotiations, despite the fact that deadlines have been missed over and over we think it is responsible at this point to go the extra mile.
We have accordingly mandated our negotiators to continue the talks and to see whether an agreement can even at this late stage be reached.
Published 13 December 2020
Global climate leaders took a major stride towards a resilient, net zero emissions future today, presenting ambitious new commitments, urgent actions and concrete plans to confront the climate crisis.
Co-convened by the United Nations, the UK and France, in partnership with Italy and Chile, on the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, today’s Climate Ambition Summit marked a major milestone on the road to the crucial UN climate conference COP26 in Glasgow next November.
75 leaders from all continents outlined new commitments at the Summit. This is a clear signal that the Paris Agreement – more than ever before the compass of international action – is working to steeply increase climate action and ambition.
The Summit showed clearly that climate change is at the top of the global agenda despite our shared challenges of COVID-19, and that there is mutual understanding that the science is clear. Climate destruction is accelerating, and there remains much more to do as a global community to keep the global temperature rise to 1.5C.
However today’s Summit showed beyond doubt that climate action and ambition are on the rise. The announcements at or just before the Summit, together with those expected early next year, mean that countries representing around 65% of global CO2 emissions, and around 70% of the world’s economy, will have committed to reaching net zero emissions or carbon neutrality by early next year.
These commitments must now be backed up with concrete plans and actions, starting now, to achieve these goals, and today’s Summit delivered a surge in progress on this front.
The number of countries coming forward with strengthened national climate plans (NDCs) grew significantly today, with commitments covering 71 countries (all EU member states are included in the new EU NDC) on display. As well as the EU NDC, a further 27 of these new and enhanced NDCs were announced at or shortly before the Summit.
A growing number of countries (15) shifted gears from incremental to major increases. Countries committing to much stronger NDCs at the Summit, included Argentina, Barbados, Canada, Colombia, Iceland, and Peru.
The leadership and strengthened NDCs delivered at the Summit mean we are now on track to have more than 50 NDCs officially submitted by the end of 2020, boosting momentum and forging a pathway forward for others to follow in the months ahead.
Today’s announcements, together with recent commitments, send us into 2021 and the road to the Glasgow COP26 with much greater momentum. The Summit showcased leading examples of enhanced NDCs that can help encourage other countries to follow suit – particularly G20 countries.
Following today’s Summit, 24 countries have now announced new commitments, strategies or plans to reach net zero or carbon neutrality. Recent commitments from China, Japan, South Korea, the EU and today Argentina have established a clear benchmark for other G20 countries. A number of countries at the Summit set out how they are going even further, with ambitious dates to reach net zero emissions: Finland (2035); Austria (2040) and Sweden (2045).
Climate vulnerable countries are at the forefront of action and ambition. Barbados and the Maldives have set a highly ambitious target for achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, with the right support. Fiji, Malawi, Nauru and Nepal indicated that they are aiming for the 2050 goal.
At the Summit, adaptation and resilience moved to centre stage. 20 countries indicated new or forthcoming commitments to protect people and nature from climate impacts. Countries, such as Ethiopia, said they were taking a whole-of-economy approach that protects people and nature, while Suriname said it is stepping up its implementation of its National Adaptation Plan. Developed countries, including the UK, Portugal and Spain, announced they were stepping up their adaptation efforts. A major new global campaign – the Race to Resilience – was also launched today, setting a goal of safeguarding 4 billion people vulnerable to climate risks by 2030 (more details below).
Several countries set out concrete policies to implement their economy-wide targets at the Summit. Pakistan announced no new coal plants, while Israel said it was joining the growing list of countries stepping away from coal. 15 countries provided details on how they will speed up their transitions to renewable energy by 2030, including Barbados (aiming for fossil-fuel free), Vanuatu (100% renewables), and Slovakia (decarbonised power). Denmark announced it will end oil and gas exploration. India announced a new target of 450GW installed capacity of renewable energy by 2030. China committed to increasing the share of non-fossil fuel in primary energy consumption to around 25% by 2030.
In line with this momentum, the UK, France and Sweden set out plans to end international financial support for fossil fuels, while Canada announced it will ramp up its price on carbon to C$170 per tonne by 2030.
The Summit showed dedication to protecting nature with 12 leaders highlighting their existing plans to increase the use of nature-based solutions to combat climate change. As we approach the UN Biodiversity Conference in 2021, the Summit highlighted the need for more integrated solutions to confront both the climate and biodiversity crises, and speeding up progress right across the Sustainable Development Goals.
12 donor countries highlighted their commitments to support developing countries, including just under €500m in additional investment from Germany, an additional €1bn per year from France from its previous target, as well as a World Bank commitment to ensure that 35% of their portfolio includes climate co-benefits, and EIB commitment to ensure that 50% includes climate co-benefits, as well as 100% alignment of EIB’s activities on Paris agreement.
However, the Summit also demonstrated there is much more to do to ensure that no one is left behind. With COVID-19 impacting international climate finance flows this year, 2021 will be critical to show that finance is flowing and to meet and surpass the $100bn goal.
Zurich Insurance (Switzerland) announced that the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance will triple funding by 2025 and expand its reach from 11 to 21 countries.
Mayor of Freetown (Sierra Leone) committed to planting 1 million trees between 2020 and 2021.
Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative (Global) – representing US$9 trillion of assets under management has seen each of the 30 founding members unequivocally commit to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This includes setting individual portfolio targets, as well as engaging companies in each member’s portfolio to set decarbonization goals in line with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C.
C40 Cities (Global) – reinforced the commitment and action by cities to implement the Paris agreement by announcing the launch of the Cities Race to Zero campaign and that 70 cities have joined in the first month.
Godrej & Boyce (India)—a manufacturing company, announced commitments to key global initiatives including the Business Ambition for 1.5C, setting science-based targets, and advancing energy efficiency, through the EP100 initiative for energy-smart companies, in line with their overall ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
International Airlines Group (Spain/UK) — are the first airline group worldwide to commit to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The Oneworld Alliance of 13 airlines representing 20% of global aviation, is investing US$400m in sustainable aviation fuels (over the next 20 years) to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Dalmia Cement (India) – 40 of the world’s leading producers of cement as part of the Global Concrete and Cement Association have issued a industry commitment to deliver carbon-neutral concrete by 2050. The Indian cement company has gone further and established a roadmap to become carbon negative by 2040 and is working globally to meet its 100% renewable energy objectives.
Movida-Rent-a-Car (Brazil) – presented the actions that will underpin their pledge of net-zero emissions by 2030 and becoming carbon positive by 2040. Movida is reducing emissions across its operations, offsetting the carbon footprint of the company and its customers by planting trees, as well as adapting to impacts of climate change and undertaking risk analysis using methodologies of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.
Apple (United States) – pledged carbon neutrality for its supply chain and products by 2030 and announced new progress that 95 of its suppliers have committed to moving to 100% renewable energy.
The Summit has now sent strong signals that more countries and more businesses are ready to take the bold climate action on which our future security and prosperity depend.
Today was an important step forward, but it’s not yet enough. Let’s not forget that we are still on track to an increase of temperature of 3 degrees at least in the end of the century, which would be catastrophic.
The recovery from COVID-19 presents an opportunity to set our economies and societies on a green path in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
As we look ahead, the central objective of the United Nations for 2021 is to build a truly Global Coalition for Carbon Neutrality.
Today we have seen what can be achieved if nations pull together and demonstrate real leadership and ambition in the fight to save our planet.
The UK has led the way with a commitment to cut emissions by at least 68 percent by 2030 and to end support for the fossil fuel sector overseas as soon as possible, and it’s fantastic to see new pledges from around the world that put us on the path to success ahead of COP26 in Glasgow.
There is no doubt that we are coming to the end of a dark and difficult year, but scientific innovation has proved to be our salvation as the vaccine is rolled out. We must use that same ingenuity and spirit of collective endeavour to tackle the climate crisis, create the jobs of the future and build back better.
Despite the global pandemic and one of the worst economic crises of our time, we have shown today that climate action remains at the top of the international agenda. The crisis gives us the opportunity to accelerate our ecological transition and I welcome the announcements made today by more than 70 heads of State and government. This summit has confirmed that the Paris agreement struck under the French COP Presidency five years ago remains, more than ever, the compass of international climate action.
The EU is a leader in this global fight, with our new target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 – which is a fundamental milestone on the way to carbon neutrality. The EU and France will continue to promote ambitious levels of climate finance. We look forward to working with the United Nations, the UK COP Presidency and all parties to the Paris Agreement to keep raising ambition, and deliver on it through concrete action, in the year ahead.
Friends. We have come to the end of the Climate Ambition Summit.
And today we have seen countries from across the world making commitments of increased ambition towards tackling climate change.
From Africa to Asia.
From Europe to Latin America.
The Middle East, the Caribbean, and Pacific Island states.
Seventy five leaders have come together to announce new commitments to climate action.
We have had 45 Nationally Determined Contributions, 24 net zero commitments, and 20 adaptation and resilience plans.
Responding to the calls for action from youth, business, indigenous peoples and civil society.
Leaders have put their countries on course for the green growth, which we have seen is possible.
Creating jobs and prosperity.
The commitment is truly global.
And it encompasses all of society.
Global companies such as Apple, Dalmia Cement and Movida have made net zero commitments.
And the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, launched just yesterday, already covers nine trillion dollars of assets.
I am enormously grateful to all those who have come forward with announcements today.
But of course, what really matters is what people across the world think of our ambitions.
And, in judging those ambitions, they will likely ask two questions.
First. Have we made any real progress at this summit?
And the answer to that is: yes, we have.
But they will also ask, if have we done enough to put the world on track to limit warming to 1.5 degrees, and protect people and nature from the effects of climate change?
To make the Paris Agreement a reality.
Friends, we must be honest with ourselves, the answer to that, is currently: no.
As encouraging as all this ambition is.
It is not enough.
And the clock continues to tick.
As our Barbadian friends have said today: our window to end the crisis is closing.
This is a fight for the very survival of our fragile planet.
We are facing a scale of human tragedy and natural devastation the world has never seen.
The choices we make in the year ahead will determine whether we unleash a tidal wave of climate catastrophe on generations to come.
But the power to hold back that wave rests entirely with us.
Now, if the Paris Agreement was the dawn of an age of hope for our planet, now can, and must, be the time for increased ambition and action.
The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated that our fates are intertwined.
The progress on vaccines has shown what we can accomplish when the world unites against a common threat.
And this should give us all hope.
And over the next year, I want us to unite against climate change, build a consensus, and broker an agreement around four key goals.
First, a step change in mitigation.
Second, a strengthening of adaptation.
Third, getting finance flowing.
And fourth, enhancing international collaboration.
Let me take these in turn.
Firstly, a step change in emission reductions to keep 1.5 degrees within reach.
Here we must remain guided by the science.
Which tells us that urgent action is the only way to meet our goal.
Over the next ten years we must halve our emissions and restore nature.
And we have seen from the announcements today, we are making progress.
But by COP26 we need every country to have stepped up, with Nationally Determined Contributions and Long-Term Strategies that put us on track to 1.5 degrees, plotting a course to net zero, that is fair for all.
And clear policies, like phasing out coal, protecting forests, championing clean energy and clean transport, to make these targets a reality.
The outcomes at Glasgow must respond to the ambition we have seen today.
Including by resolving issues like transparency, common timeframes and Article Six.
Secondly, we must address the vital issues of adaptation and loss and damage.
As International Development Secretary I saw the transformative effect that clean, resilient infrastructure has on communities.
I have witnessed the leadership shown by women in dealing with new climate extremes.
And I’ve seen reassurance offered by early warning systems and robust action plans which ultimately save lives.
That is why, to protect people, and nature from the effects of rising temperatures, adaptation and resilience must take centre stage at COP26.
We are making progress.
Our Call for Action on Adaptation and Resilience, that I launched with Egypt and other friends at the UN Climate Action Summit last September, has been signed by 120 countries.
The Race to Resilience campaign, announced today, will drive action further among cities, business, investors and civil society.
And the UK is doing our part, submitting our Adaptation Communication, alongside our NDC and Biennial Finance Communication. The aim being to address all three pillars of the Paris Agreement.
I will continue to work with countries, donors, investors and civil society.
To encourage faster action.
This brings me to the third issue, finance.
Simply put, we must deliver for those that are at the front line of climate change.
We must collectively honour the $100 billion commitment.
It is an act of faith.
Of trust.
And friends, I have to say, if we can mobilise trillions overnight, rightly to support our economies, why can we not reach this $100 billion dollar goal?
So let me speak directly, and plainly, to leaders of my fellow donor countries.
The UK is doubling its contribution to International Climate Finance, to £11.6 billion pounds over the next five years.
And I ask all donor countries to join us.
Match our ambition, and together let us make the $100 billion dollars a reality.
Of course we must also address other public finance issues.
Such as access.
Gender-responsive financing.
And increasing the share of adaptation and grant-based finance.
So, the UK Presidency will shortly be publishing the key priorities for Public Finance.
Setting out our approach to work with the international community to tackle them in the year ahead.
Of course, private finance must also be mobilised.
So we are working with multilateral development banks, investors and others to drive investment to developing countries.
And encouraging investors to take climate risk into account and to capitalise on the shift to clean, resilient growth.
We must also find long term solutions to deal with debt.
And align all recovery packages with the Paris agreement.
We will hold discussions as part of our G7 Presidency, and we’ll convene other major economies on these critical issues.
The outcomes of Glasgow must help to mobilise private capital.
And agree that future climate finance will be fair, it will be predictable and accessible.
Finally, we need enhanced international collaboration.
Among policy makers, investors, business and civil society.
That is the only way to deliver the transition at the pace required.
On mitigation, on adaptation and on finance.
By working together, we can innovate faster, we can create economies of scale, and drive stronger incentives for investment.
But we will only access those gains, if we tailor our approach to every challenge, and to each sector.
And our COP26 campaigns aim to do just that.
Bringing people together around five key challenges: adaptation and resilience, clean energy and clean transport. Finance. And nature-based solutions.
We have created new international forums: the Energy Transition Council.
The Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council.
And the Sustainable Land Use and Commodity Trade Dialogue.
All aimed to help reduce emissions while meeting other needs, like affordable energy, clean transport and green jobs.
Targeted practical collaborations like these are vital.
And they should form a central theme to our efforts over the next decade.
My mission over the next year is to pursue each of these four goals.
To secure the highest level of ambition that the world has to offer.
Backed by the full force of UK diplomacy, by our partners, Italy, and our friends at the United Nations.
I want the golden thread of climate action to weave through every international gathering next year.
Including the G7, the G20 and other meetings.
So that, together, we lay the foundations for a successful COP26, with increased, ambitious nationally-determined-contributions and long-term strategies.
And give ourselves the best possible chance, of securing a comprehensive, balanced negotiated outcome in Glasgow.
I will continue to meet with all of you, and hold regular negotiating group consultations.
I’ll meet Ministers at established events, like the Petersberg Climate Dialogue.
I’ll continue to consult civil society, youth, indigenous peoples and business.
Including of course through Italy’s Youth For Climate event.
And I’ll convene Presidency-led events.
In March we are going to be bringing climate vulnerable and donor countries together.
To address the connected challenges of climate change and development.
My friends.
I am aware of the scale and the gravity of the task that I have been given.
As the custodian of this process.
But I also recognise, that success in Glasgow will depend on all of us.
It will not be easy.
But it is possible.
And it is urgent.
As leaders of today, we carry a heavy responsibility.
Whether future generations look back at this time, with admiration, or despair, depends entirely on our ability to seize this moment.
To build on the ambition we have seen today.
And to work together over the next year, to forge a brighter future for us all.
Because in decades to come, each and every one of us, will need to be able to look future generations square in the eye, and say, that together, when the urgency of our time demanded it, we built a better world, for their sakes, and for their future generations.