Excellencies,
In this new era of implementation, at COP31, we’re doing things differently.
Not discarding what went before. But building on it. Honing it. To deliver progress faster.
COPs have traditionally sent signals. Setting global targets. Deciding the direction of travel. Building momentum and resolve.
Since forging the Paris Agreement together, we’ve sent signal after signal to political systems and global markets. That has changed our world.
90% of large renewable projects are now cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives.
And adaptation is moving from the margins to the mainstream.
But progress is nowhere near fast or fair enough.
So, as well as sending signals,
COP31 must supercharge solutions. Breaking-down existing global targets and national plans into component steps.
And landing practical solutions:
Solutions to deliver on the tripling of finance for adaptation – as agreed last year.
Solutions to tackle the immense frustration countries face in accessing committed, available finance.
Solutions to triple global renewables capacity by 2030...
To transport energy across grids and borders, to power the electric age…
And to slash super-polluting methane emissions, particularly in the oil and gas, and waste sectors – including learning from leading energy producers.
•Simon Stiell
Together, action on methane and electrification are a planetary icepack – able to cut half a degree from projected global heating.
Excellencies,
This is the best way we can tackle overshoot right now: lassoing it back with solution after solution.
And from now on, there’ll be more space at COPs for countries to coordinate their delivery.
Doing things differently includes this year’s unique partnership between Türkiye and Australia:
Driving solutions across both the negotiations and the Action Agenda.
I sincerely thank our gracious hosts, and commend the COP31 President Minister Murat Kurum, particularly for your clear Action Agenda calls.
At UN Climate Change we want to support countries to engage with all the Action Agenda has to offer.
We’re working on a moment on the final day of COP, bringing together progress made over these two weeks.
We’re interested in exploring – with you – ways we can support government counterparts to boost collaboration with non-party stakeholders,
and mobilize action towards shared priorities.
We also want to rally more doers across economies. This includes coordinating with other climate weeks around the world to convene around
the six axes of the Action Agenda.
As we adapt our approach, the negotiations remain central.
Consensus remains at the heart of this process, guided by COP31 President of Negotiations Minister Chris Bowen.
Strong outcomes on the mandated negotiation items are essential.
The stronger the outcomes, the more they will help Parties convert their targets into real-world outcomes, spreading more benefits
to more people.
Agreement on the Just Transition Mechanism will make it easier for countries to bring whole societies through the transition together.
Agreements on adaptation will give us a board to disburse funds to countries, and help indicators drive forward progress at the national level.
Agreements on mitigation that help countries accelerate implementation across sectors and economies and send stronger signals to markets and societies on cutting planet-heating pollution.
Agreements on finance will give us clarity on how to achieve the 300 billion and 1.3 trillion commitments, without reopening previous
agreements.
That will require the whole financial system to step-up.
Excellencies,
The urgency of this moment must drive us forward.
Global heating is already costing the Earth:
Appalling tragedy has hit the Himalayas, adding to the ever-expanding catalogue hitting communities across every region
A monster El Niño is piling fuel on the climate fire that’s already burning through communities and economies everywhere.
The vulnerable everywhere pay the highest price – underscored by the Pre-COP in Fiji, in partnership with Australia and Pacific islands.
Profound injustice threatens our solidarity and collective progress.
Frustration is palpable.
Fairness must be at the heart of a truly global shift to clean energy and resilience. Because it is right.
And because it serves every countries’ interests: to limit global heating, and protect every community and economy.
Meanwhile, this year's fossil fuel cost chaos has delivered a global shockwave, hitting households hard and spreading inflation like a cancer.
The fall-out has been severe, both economically and politically, as we've just seen.
But the solutions are clear:
Global renewables saved around half a trillion dollars last year. And another $265 billion in the first half of this year alone.
Adaptation delivers proven returns on investment.
Practical solutions are how we roll-out these remedies to more people, in more places, much faster...
Amid these pressures bearing down around the world.
And in doing so, build a solid foundation for the second global stocktake in two years’ time.
UN Climate Change stands with you over these two weeks and beyond.
But we face challenges.
Mandates are growing. Funds are shrinking.
We’ve delivered extensive efficiencies. And will keep doing so. But serious work is needed with Parties on our budget consultations
over the next six months. We cannot keep doing more with less.
Excellencies,
No COP is a silver bullet.
No single conference can bridge the chasm between the science and reality.
We must deal with the world as it is, not as we might wish it to be.
Every recent COP has delivered strides forward. This one must too.
A climate solutions step-up creates a real chance for faster progress.
We have a responsibility to take it.
This is what the era of implementation looks like.
Let’s get to work.
Thank you.
