In its energy update newsletter, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a summary of the meeting that just ended this week. The climate crisis was centre stage at the HLPF.
“The SDGs cannot be achieved while climate change, inequality, and conflict persist.”
The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development came to a close this week in New York, on the heels of the Bonn Climate Change Conference and the G7 Leader’s Summit. It’s been a busy summer (or winter, depending on your hemisphere) for climate talks—but climate action continues to lag behind.
The climate crisis was centre stage at the HLPF, with calls for a just energy transition and the recognition that current national policies set the world on track for 3°C of warming.
Yet, despite awareness that action is needed, movement on current commitments has been limited. In Bonn, which marked the halfway point between COPs, progress was lacklustre, particularly on critical talks on the new finance goal. Delegates also struggled with the question of how to move the landmark COP 28 decision forward to “transition away from fossil fuels.” Meanwhile, at the G7 Summit, the Leaders’ Communiqué largely just repeated points made by the G7 Climate, Energy, and Environment Ministers in their April statement.
So, where does this leave us ahead of COP 29? It’s not all bad news: while G7 commitments could have been stronger, they set a strong basis for action by members during this critical decade. With the next round of national climate plans (nationally determined contributions) expected next year, countries have a critical opportunity to align climate plans with the outcomes of the global stocktake.
External link
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 