ECO was pleased that today negotiators got together to discuss the Mitigation Work Programme, a key outcome needed from this COP. We thought the air conditioning plus plane noise issues would be an extra incentive for them to get to a consensus on this desperately needed Work Programme,, but it seems that was not quite what happened. So let’s remember why we need a a Work Programme that’s more than a talk shop: we are not on track.
The UNFCCC Synthesis Report of 2022, launched last week, couldn’t be clearer: while science states we need a global reduction of 43% of emissions from 2019 levels by 2030 to keep 1.5˚ C within reach, the current NDCs submitted, if fully implemented including conditional targets, will amount to a reduction of 3.6% of emissions from 2019 levels. The UNEP Gap report, also launched just before COP, confirmed the same. We are woefully far from where we need to be.
There are a few parties saying that this essential Work Programme should only last for one year. And yet after 30 years of the Convention, it would be quite clear that we are running out of time to close the emissions gap and achieve the Paris temperature goal. Is one year going to put in place all we need: political will, resources, technical support, capacity strengthening to enable countries to advance on ambition and implementation and change the stark picture painted by science for 2030? ECO doesn’t think so.
And some parties keep questioning why this Work Programme is needed and if it isn’t a duplication of what is in the Paris Agreement. Indeed, friends, we would not need such a Programme if the ambition cycle was working as it was supposed to be. We are wildly off course and need all the help we can get to keep 1.5˚ C alive and maintain the spirit of Paris.