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THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION
UN Climate Change Annual Report 2017 (Ed/nc, Paris) On 30 April 2018, UN Climate
During the conference, finan-
Change published its first-ever Annual Re-
cial commitments amounting
port. The report covers many areas of the
to almost USD 1 billion to tack-
2017 work of UN Climate Change, which
le climate change were made.
includes the UN Framework Convention
Building on the negotiations
on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto
over the years, we saw key
Protocol and the Paris Agreement, as well
decisions made by govern-
as their bodies, institutional arrangements,
ments, many of which broke
organs and the secretariat. The report
new ground. The Talanoa
also gives an outlook for the year ahead,
Dialogue, which will inform
including increasing the number of ratifi-
and inspire Parties as they
cations of the Doha Amendment to the
review their commitments
Kyoto Protocol so it can enter into force,
and revise them upwards.
the Talanoa Dialogue which will inform
The first-ever Gender Action
and inspire Parties as they increase their commitments, and adopting the outcomes
Plan, which will increase the Key elements of the 2015 Paris Agreement (COP21)
of the work programme of the Paris Agree-
Photo: © UN Climate Change/Annual Report 2017
participation of women in climate change responses. The first-ever agreement on
ment at the end of 2018. at all levels, civil society, the private sector
agriculture and climate, which will address
Excerpt from the UN Climate Change Annual
and individuals are acting to limit global
both vulnerabilities and emissions in this
Report 2017:
temperature rise to agreed levels and to
key sector. The first-ever platform for indig-
“Our planet is warming. An astonishing 17
help vulnerable communities adapt to the
enous peoples and local communities, who
of the 18 warmest years on record have
effects of climate change we cannot avoid.
can now share their valuable perspectives
occurred in the twenty-first century. The
UN Climate Change’s mandate is to lead
on climate change. […]
past three years were the hottest since
and support the global community in this
There is much to do in 2018. We need
records began.
international response, with the Paris
to support Parties to increase pre-2020
With this warming comes climate change,
Agreement and the Convention being the
action. Those Parties that have not yet
causing extreme storms, droughts and
long-term vehicles for united global climate
done so should ratify the Doha Amendment
floods. We witnessed these climate disas-
action. […]
to the Kyoto Protocol. Parties should use
ters many times in 2017 and were shocked.
COP 23, presided over by Fiji, demonstrated
the Talanoa Dialogue as an opportunity
Yet, these are only the most dramatic and
that there is an unstoppable climate move-
to engage with one another and increase
visible impacts. Other upheavals range
ment supported by all sectors of society
ambition under the Paris Agreement. In
from reduced crop productivity to forced
across the globe. Almost 30,000 people
2018, it is critical that the outcomes of
migration. Climate change is the single
took part: Heads of State, ministers, del-
the Paris Agreement work programme are
biggest threat to life, security and pros-
egates from Parties, private sector and
adopted at COP 24 in Katowice to ensure
perity on Earth.
civil society leaders, representatives of
we are ready for the implementation of
Faced with the challenges of climate
international organizations, youth groups
the Agreement. […]
change, the United Nations, governments
and indigenous peoples, and many more.
Patricia Espinosa, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, UN Climate Change
“
Annual Report (Highlights 2017)
In 2018, it is critical that the outcomes of the Paris Agreement work programme are adopted at COP24 in Katowice to ensure we are ready for the implementation of the Agreement.”
A web version of the Annual Report 2017 was launched on 27 June 2018. The new
Patricia Espinosa, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary
website includes videos, photos and infographics illustrating the key 2017 achievements and pointing to the future of the climate change process. > Web: https://bit.ly/2tFmprW
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