Signal of committed climate protection

On the 25^th and 26^th March, representatives from around 40 countries met in Berlin, Germany, at the 16^th Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD). The PCD centred on preparing the World Climate Conference COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

“Fighting human-made climate change is and will remain among the most important of all security-policy issues,” stressed the German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the speech he delivered during the event.

According to the environmental and development organisation Germanwatch, the Petersberg Climate Dialogue has sent an important signal concerning international climate protection, namely that despite the USA’s withdrawal, the countries participating in the meeting have reiterated their commitment to the implementation of the Paris Agreement and ambitious climate goals. Hosts Germany and Brazil in particular have given many a new impulse and paved the way to the World Climate Conference in Brazil (COP 30), Germanwatch maintains. However, it notes that much still has to be done in some areas.

Christoph Bals, Executive Director Policy at Germanwatch, explains: “The Dialogue has shown that progress can also be made without the USA. It is a good sign that many countries have reasserted their ambitions.”

Petter Lydén, co-Head of Division International Climate Policy, adds: “There have been significant improvements in the quality of most of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted by countries, for example with regard to the Renewable Energy Goals. But as yet, just over 20 have been handed in, among them a mere five by the G20 states. Nevertheless, it is encouraging to at least see that many countries intend to submit their NDCs ahead of COP30, including China and the European Union. These goals will show whether the world is making a crucial step closer to achieving the Paris climate goals."

Lydén continues: “The initial core statements from a forthcoming study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) clearly show that ambitious NDCs are economically beneficial and provide the security the markets need. Now we are expecting to see the corresponding NDCs by September at the latest.”

Laura Schäfer, Head of Division International Climate Policy at Germanwatch, adds: “The progress made at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue is encouraging, although gaps remain, and the results are not sufficient to address the climate crisis with the necessary level of determination. Supporting developing countries in particular in coping with the impacts of climate change has to be treated as a priority equalling that of climate protection. Now it is up to the COP 30 negotiators in Brazil to turn the approaches discussed at Petersberg into concrete commitments. International financing of climate adaptation measures and handling losses and damage also have to be secured in Belém in the long term.”

(Germanwatch/ile)

Visit the Germanwatch website