Climate negotiators set path forward from Paris Agreement
Marrakesh, Morocco - Climate negotiators agreed early Saturday to a work plan to implement an historic accord adopted last year in Paris to fight global warming, after working through the night to bring delegates from nearly 200 countries into agreement on the way forward.
Talks in Marrakesh, Morocco, had been underway for two weeks to hammer out the details of last year's agreement to keep global temperature increases well below 2 degrees Celsius and to pursue efforts to stay below 1.5 degrees.
"The first climate conference after the Paris Agreement has indeed proven to be conference for implementation and joint action," said the UN climate head Patricia Espinosa at the end of the talks, pointing to 80 millions dollars pledged for countries to adapt to climate change and progress in establishing implementation rules.
Delegates have stressed their plans to continue upholding their commitment to the agreement despite the US election of Donald Trump, who has promised to "cancel" his country's involvement. The prime minister of Fiji, which will preside over the talks next year, invited Trump to the island country to see the effects of climate change firsthand.
All of the delegates in Marrakesh adopted a statement declaring momentum to fight climate change was "irreversible." US climate envoy Jonathan Pershing said that momentum could not be changed, pointing to flat carbon emissions over three years of economic growth as a sign for optimism.
But the meetings also took place amid dire news for the planet, as the World Meteorological Organization released data indicating 2016 will be the hottest year on record, coming after the hottest period on record.
On the scheduled last day of talks, 48 countries that are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change pledged to switch their energy production as quickly as possible to renewable sources.
Greenpeace director Jennifer Morgan said there had been a renewed determination to carry out the Paris Agreement, saying, "countries on the frontline of climate change are setting the pace, and their commitment to 100 per cent renewable energy shows leadership and vision, just what we need from everyone."
Countries will convene again for the UN climate talks in Bonn,Germany. In 2018, they will preliminarily asses their plans to cut emissions and finalise the "rulebook" for carrying out the decisions made in Paris.
"We are moving in the right direction and that is a reason to be optimistic. Let us celebrate tonight and over the weekend for the success of Marrakesh, then let us get back to work from Monday on. There is, indeed, much to do," Espinosa said.