Engagement at COP23

The 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was convened in Bonn, Germany in November 2017 to build upon the pledge of action established at COP22 Marrakech, and to emphasise the need for clear action and rapid progress toward a 1.5-degree Celsius scenario (1.5DS), the aspirational goal of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Key Messages

Talk Shows

During the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP23 in Bonn, the Paris Process on Mobility and Climate (PPMC) organised daily talk shows on transport and climate change, which were live-streamed on SLoCaT’s Facebook page from 7- 16 November 2017.

The Talk Shows on Transport and Climate Change gave updates on relevant negotiations at COP23 and discussed specific topics in detail with several experts. The sessions were moderated by Tracy Raczek.

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Final Report

COP23: Transport Building momentum to raise ambition and define implementation pathway

This summary report is a culmination of a series of daily reports on COP23 by the Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT) under the Paris Process on Mobility and Climate (PPMC) to highlight implications for sustainable transport in the UNFCCC process and to emphasize opportunities for greater engagement in this process for non-Party actors, including the global transport sector.

For the first time at COP23, two high-level thematic days were organized to link climate action under the UNFCCC to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): one with a focus on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), bridging transport, agriculture and climate resilience; and the other on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), combining transport with cities and the energy sector. Though these discussions were intended to create closer linkages between global climate change and sustainable development processes (and to stimulate cross-sector dialogue for increased collaboration and integrated solutions, e.g. by creating a stronger nexus between e-mobility and renewable energy), they did not define a clear path for aligning common implementation and assessment efforts, which is essential if transport is to meet its Paris Agreement targets.

The importance of climate action by non-Party actors was the focal point in the high-level closing session of the three days of Global Climate Action (GCA) events. All speakers present highlighted the key role non-Party actors (e.g. by non-Party actors in the United States under America’s Pledge, described further below). As Inia Seruiratu, Climate Champion and Fijian Minister for Agriculture and Rural and Maritime Development, stated: “Non-Party stakeholders are at the forefront of innovation and implementation of climate action.” In one session United Nations (UN) Secretary General António Guterres, remarked: “The engagement of non-Party stakeholders is a basic condition for the Paris Agreement to succeed.” While there is growing recognition and understanding of the essential role of non-Party actors in the post-Paris processes, many Parties still do not fully embrace and support the GCA, and thus linkages between Party and non-Party actors must be strengthened in forthcoming sessions.

Under the Fijian Presidency there were solid gains at COP23, which was eventually gaveled as Draft Decision 1/CP.23 (dubbed “Fiji Momentum for Implementation”) in the early hours of Saturday November 18. Parties endorsed the so-called “Talanoa Dialogue” – an “inclusive, participatory and transparent” process based on a Fijian traditional approach 3financially sound, stressing that all climate action needs to be grounded in science. Merkel acknowledged that her country was off track for reaching its domestic 2020 emissions target but remains committed to the process. Under the Fijian Presidency there were solid gains at COP23, which was eventually gaveled as Draft Decision 1/CP.23 (dubbed “Fiji Momentum for Implementation”) in the early hours of Saturday November 18. Parties endorsed the so-called “Talanoa Dialogue” – an “inclusive, participatory and transparent” process based on a Fijian traditional approach to discussion to be held throughout 2018 to take stock of the adequacy of climate action against country pledges and explore options for enhanced action with support from non-Party actors, opening new opportunities for the global transport community in the months ahead. A set of COP decisions aims to accelerate pre-2020 action, including one to maintain the Adaptation Fund under the Paris Agreement. The Fund reflects the call by Parties that the Paris regime support countries to decarbonize as well as adapt and build resilience to climate change.

COP23 felt to many like an intermediate, but necessary stop between COP21 and COP24. In the Paris Agreement, countries agreed upon the need for climate action and set long term targets which require collaborative efforts, while at COP24 the world will assess collective progress toward these targets. The following pages describe the outcomes of this “transitional COP” by describing general COP23 outcomes with implications for non-Party actors including the transport sector; transport-specific outcomes in the areas of mitigation, adaptation, and finance; and potential action steps for the global transport community in 2018 en route to COP24.

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