"It’s a pleasure to open the UNFCCC Climate Change
Dialogues today, alongside my fellow Presiding Officers,
Carolina, Marianne and Tosi. As well of course as the UN
Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed, and the UNFCCC
Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa.
I thank them for their work in organising this event.
2020 has been a hugely challenging year for everyone.
And when I spoke at the June Momentum, I said climate
action could not be postponed.
And as incoming COP President, I’m fully committed to
working with my fellow Presiding Officers, parties, and
stakeholders to keep driving ambition and action on climate
change.
This remains the case today.
The urgency of the climate crisis demands nothing less.
That is why all of us on this panel have arranged a series
of events to maintain momentum.
To advance the multilateral process.
And to drive real-world change.
Earlier this month, our High-Level Champions Nigel Topping
and Gonzalo Muñoz held the Race to Zero Dialogues.
To build support for decarbonisation amongst cities,
amongst regions, amongst businesses.
And today, we are opening the Climate Change Dialogues.
We want to make progress on vital negotiating issues.
On 12 December, we have the Climate Ambition Summit 2020.
This is co-hosted by the UK COP26 Presidency, the UN and
France, in partnership with Chile and Italy.
And this Summit will provide a platform for leaders to come
forward with announcements under the three pillars of the
Paris Agreement: mitigation; adaptation; and support.
Specifically, we are calling for:
New, more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions;
Long-Term Strategies setting out a pathway to net zero
emissions;
Climate finance commitments to support the most vulnerable;
And crucially, ambitious adaptation plans and underlying
policies.
Ahead of COP26, we as Presiding Officers will host more
discussions to build on the progress made at these
Dialogues.
So that we are in the best possible position to unleash the
full potential of the Paris Agreement when we meet in
Glasgow next year.
As you know, we are committed to working with all of you to
agree a comprehensive, negotiated outcome that leaves no
issue behind.
And we absolutely recognise – as we have always done – that
if we are to succeed, parties must lead the process.
And non-state actors must be involved. Particularly those
whose voices are often marginalised.
That is why we have consulted with all negotiating groups
ahead of these Dialogues.
It is why they have been designed them to suit multiple
time zones.
And why observers are heavily involved.
Proceedings will be broadcast around the world.
And their format balances concerns about negotiating
virtually with the need to keep these conversations going,
which is of course so vital.
These Dialogues can help to put us in the best position to
negotiate in Bonn, and the of course in Glasgow.
We will use the Dialogues to fulfil vital mandates.
To improve our understanding of each party’s position and
the issues that need to be resolved.
And to help us to identify what can be done during next
year to help secure a comprehensive agreement at COP26.
The UK has worked closely with Chile, the UNFCCC Subsidiary
Bodies, and the Secretariat to design the events for the
next fortnight.
The Presidencies are convening events on finance,
adaptation, loss and damage, NDC preparation and gender,
alongside the Open Dialogue and the Pre-2020 Roundtable.
And we will continue to work together, with all parties and
stakeholders, over the next twelve months.
So that next year, when the world comes together and meets
in Glasgow, we can fulfil the full potential of the Paris
Agreement."
