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In September 2016, major polluting countries the US and China ratified Paris agreement making it 27 states to adhere to the protocol; it needs 55 ratifications to take effect. However, the process goes on, which is inspiring: since the end of 2015 (Paris Agreement on climate changes) there is only one possible future for humanity - a sustainable one. In 2015, the global community converged on this integrated vision for the future and set in motion the pathways to an economic and social transformation to achieve it.

Below we publish some extracts from Patricia Espinosa’s article.  

Global objective for the next 15 years

The unity of purpose reflected in the mentioned agreements will need universal action involving all actors at all levels in all regions of the world. The challenges are enormous but the rewards of success will be even greater, argued Patricia Espinosa.

The actions require a profound structural transformation based on changes in towards low-carbon economies which are resilient to climate change.

Over the next 15 years, the objectives of these agreements - linking climate, sustainability and resilience – would see unprecedented reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions and unequalled efforts to build societies that can resist rising climate impacts.

A priority requirement is a more rapid and fundamental shift in the global patterns and incentives of investment away from unsustainable power generation, infrastructure, pollution and waste.

All action to address climate change is an inseparable and integrated part of the whole plan and the leadership and commitment of all governments remains central to success.

Climate action contributes directly to the greater human well-being that is captured in the UN seventeen sustainable development goals (17 Sustainable Development Goals). It protect lives and livelihoods, improves public health, creates new industries and sustainable farming, cuts costs for governments, business and citizens and opens up new avenues of profitable investing.

Climate action is also absolutely necessary to avoid the existential crises that unchecked climate change would present to humanity.

Greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise in the atmosphere and global temperatures break record highs by the month.

To limit global warming to well below 2°C and as close to 1.5°C as possible to prevent dangerous tipping points in the climate system, global emissions must peak soon and be driven down drastically thereafter. A balance must be achieved in the second half of this century between global emissions and removals through sequestration into ecosystems or through other means.

The generations alive right now are at a unique crossroads, she said, “We are the first who can end poverty but the last who can act to avoid the dangerous climate change that could undermine the universal well-being that lies within our grasp”.

Government leadership: foundation for future success

Such success will undoubtedly require political leadership and momentum from the highest levels, but supported by a clearly presented and growing public understanding of the enormous social, health and economic benefits that will accrue to citizens everywhere.

Technology developments and smart finance are moving ever more rapidly towards theses transformational goals, but nowhere near fast enough.

The governments can make a change, both individually and collectively: national governments have to integrate climate action into sectoral policies while implementing sustainable development and risk management goals.

To reach the goal, more climate-friendly, coordinated laws, policies and incentives are needed. All forms of unequal treatment favoring old growth and development models based on fossil fuels and high-carbon lifestyles and aspirations must be removed.

But while the transformation demands new technologies and redirected investment, it does not require an entirely new way of human interaction only closer and deeper cooperation between the levers of change: namely governments working hand in glove with cities, regions, business and investors.

Meanwhile, the well understood economic incentives of risk and return and social goals of equity and justice remain completely relevant and deployable in the race to a low-carbon, resilient future.

Opening up the private sector appetite to fund the transformation directly is essential. Tens of trillions of dollars sit in banks and on corporate balance sheets at low, zero, even negative interest rates looking for bankable projects with real returns if the right incentives, sureties and certainties are provided by national governments, supported by the international community and its multilateral lenders.

Paris “climate plan”: supporting faster progress

One of the most significant outcomes of Paris agreement was that governments publicly accepted responsibility to lead climate action. They presented a global set of national plans to take immediate action, pledging never to lower efforts over time and, whenever possible, to raise ambition.

They agreed to complete in good time the details of a transparent global regime which will account for, review and underpin greater action by all sides. And they agreed to complete but also to strengthen adequate technology and financial support to nations, including the poorest and most vulnerable, so all countries can build their own clean energy, sustainable futures.

Because well-planned and supported climate action in its many forms almost always speeds up advances in sustainability and resilience, these plans have a multiplier effect for faster progress across the board.

To reach its full potential, governments will now engineer the ambitious design of the Paris Agreement into a well-oiled machine of these fully functioning working parts capable of accelerating climate action to meet the agreement’s stated aims and goals.

International institutions: focus on priorities  

Meanwhile, continued success under the UN climate regime will both strengthen and be strengthened by the other country-level initiatives across the global development, environmental, disaster risk, human rights and peace agendas. Without decisive climate action all these and other goals will be difficult if not impossible to achieve, but without serious and significant progress on development, environment disaster management, human rights and peace, combating climate change and building resilience will become harder and less certain Patricia Espinosa said.

This unified development agenda is therefore the core agenda for governments under the UN agenda with the prime focus on UN agencies and other multilateral institutions.

Important to note said Patricia Espinosa that no single process or agency can possibly adopt, or try to adopt, all aspects of the solutions in the mentioned strategy.

Leadership responsibility for different aspects of progress will be coordinated by those organizations best placed in resources and skills to effect change. Credit for progress will flow to the entire organization rather than to its individual parts.

In order to achieve the aims and ambitions of the Paris Agreement, the global community needs to prioritise the urgency of actions. The efforts shall be concentrated on “turning around” century’s old pattern of development based on fossil fuels and the mining of nature-based resources into an all-embracing sustainable path for every country.

More on the issue in: - Paris Climate Change Agreement,

- the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and

- the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Main reference:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patricia-espinosa/climate-action-in-support_b_12044684.html