Building global climate ambition

Our announcement injected new momentum into global climate negotiations. And very recently, the US and China declared their future targets. 

This was encouraging news. And yet if we are going to secure a binding, meaningful global deal on climate change, this month will be just as crucial.

Today, representatives from every country in the world will gather in Lima for a crucial conference to try laying the groundwork for a global deal on climate change that world leaders have committed to in Paris this time next year. 

 

Widespread impact 

There is no doubt that action is urgently needed to push toward the decarbonisation of the global economy and to make lasting progress on an unprecedented global challenge. The impacts of climate change are being felt on every continent, from the melting of the great glaciers of South America to the retreating sea ice of the Arctic.

Human influence on the climate is clear. In its Fifth Assessment Report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) showed that concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have increased to their highest levels ever. And the longer we carry on disturbing the climate, the greater the risks we will face and the more costly it will be to adapt to the changes. 

But what is also clear from the IPCC report is that our internationally agreed target of keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius remains within grasp. And we must ensure this is reflected in bold contributions to the global climate change agreement. 

The new deal must mirror the evolving national responsibilities in the world economy, as well as today’s geopolitical realities and the capacity of countries to contribute. What is critical is a commitment from all countries to play their part.

 

An opportunity 

This is why the Lima summit is crucial. It will be an opportunity to pressure other countries, particularly the other members of the G20, to come forward quickly with their own targets. The sooner the more time we all have to assess if the commitments add up to what scientists tell us is required to keep global warming to below 2C.

Countries will also discuss the methodology for evaluating the different contributions, to make sure they are fair and add up to the effort we need. Last but not least, they will discuss the important topic of climate finance to the most vulnerable countries. 

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on world leaders to turn climate change from “the greatest collective challenge facing humankind today into the greatest opportunity for common progress towards a sustainable future”. If we are to succeed in this, we must have the political courage to act decisively now, collectively and with ambition.

 

Federica Mogherini is the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and vice president of the European Commission.

Miguel Arias Canete is the EU commissioner for climate action and energy.