In Morocco, ‘innovation’ will drive 2016 climate summit

Minister urges governments to maintain drive and momentum through next year and ensure decisions taken in Paris are implemented

(Pic: UNFCCC)

(Pic: UNFCCC)

Next year’s UN summit in Marrakesch will focus on ‘action and innovation’, said Morocco’s environment minister Hakima El Haiti.

“We will have to step up the pace of decisions taken for the pre-2020 period, we must innovate for motivation and adaptation,” she said. “It will be a COP [Conference of the Parties] of action and shared solutions.”

Morocco will assume the presidency of the UN climate talks after a summer meeting of envoys in Bonn, where governments will start working on the details of a new UN climate pact agreed in Paris last Sunday.

Top of the list will be working on the technical aspects of a new transparency system, establishing guidelines for how countries will measure, report and verify their greenhouse gas emissions.

Rules governing a new, five-yearly cycle of climate plan reviews will need to be thrashed out, while countries will also assess what more needs to be provided to help vulnerable countries with the loss and damage linked to climate impacts.

“We will have to maintain momentum,” said Hakima, “and we are counting on the support of all our stakeholders. A battle has been won but the struggle continues.”

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