Noticias ONU Cambio Climático, 11 de octubre de 2021 - La máxima responsable de las Naciones Unidas en materia de cambio climático, Patricia Espinosa, se dirigió hoy a los ministros de los Países Menos Adelantados (PMA), que se han reunido para debatir las prioridades clave de cara a la crucial Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (COP26) que se celebrará en Glasgow (Reino Unido) en noviembre.

En un discurso de apertura de la reunión de hoy, la Secretaria Ejecutiva de ONU Cambio Climático, Patricia Espinosa, reconoció la frustración que sienten muchos PMA por la falta de avances en los temas más importantes para estos países.

"Nadie entiende como ustedes la gravedad de esta emergencia climática. Los animo a que sus prioridades sean lo más firmes y ambiciosas posibles en esta reunión", dijo.

Los 46 países menos desarrollados del mundo ya son los más afectados por los efectos de la emergencia climática, a pesar de contribuir muy poco a las emisiones totales. Y estos países necesitan urgentemente ayuda financiera para hacer frente a la aceleración de dichos efectos, que incluyen tormentas, sequías e inundaciones cada vez más frecuentes e intensas.

La reunión de los ministros de los PMA se produce en el contexto del último informe del IPCC, publicado a principios de agosto, que mostró que, a menos que se produzcan reducciones rápidas, sostenidas y a gran escala de las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero, el objetivo del Acuerdo de París será imposible de alcanzar. Le siguió el Informe de Síntesis de las NDC, una evaluación de todos los planes nacionales de acción climática, que muestra que, con la trayectoria actual, las temperaturas podrían aumentar hasta 2,7C, con resultados devastadores para la humanidad.

La jefa de ONU Cambio Climático hizo un llamamiento para que se tomen medidas drásticas e inmediatas con el fin de abandonar la senda de las altas emisiones, y avanzar hacia un futuro con bajas emisiones de carbono y resistente. Además, destacó cuatro prioridades clave para que los gobiernos se preparen para la COP:

En primer lugar, el cumplimiento de los compromisos existentes. Una cuestión clave es la provisión de apoyo financiero a los países en desarrollo, en particular la promesa de los países desarrollados de movilizar 100 000 millones de dólares anuales en financiación climática para apoyar las necesidades de las naciones en desarrollo. Esto es crucial para crear confianza.

En segundo lugar, concluir las negociaciones pendientes. Esto incluye la resolución de las complicadas cuestiones en torno a las normas del artículo 6, para permitir finalmente que las herramientas de mercado y no de mercado pongan en marcha sus operaciones. Además, los gobiernos deben asegurarse de que el marco de transparencia del Acuerdo de París está técnicamente preparado para funcionar, y también deben avanzar en las áreas relacionadas con la adaptación y las pérdidas y daños.

En tercer lugar, una mayor ambición en todos los aspectos clave de la agenda climática. Entre ellos se encuentran los planes nacionales de acción climática, conocidos como NDC por sus siglas en inglés, alineados con la ciencia; las estrategias a largo plazo que puedan garantizar la neutralidad climática para 2050; y los avances en las importantes cuestiones de creación de resiliencia.

En cuarto lugar, tener en cuenta a todo el mundo. Tal vez lo más importante, el éxito en Glasgow significa garantizar que se escuche a todas las voces y que no se dejen propuestas viables sobre la mesa. Reconociendo el notable poder e influencia de ciudades, regiones, empresas, inversores e instituciones educativas de todo el mundo, Patricia Espinosa citó este multilateralismo inclusivo como "fundamental para alcanzar los objetivos climáticos globales".

Espinosa instó también a los países con economías desarrolladas a tomar la iniciativa, según el principio de "responsabilidades comunes pero diferenciadas", uno de los pilares del Acuerdo de París. En cuanto al sector privado, pidió a todas las empresas e inversores que alineen sus carteras con el Acuerdo de París y los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible para 2024.

Aunque reconoció el importante reto al que se enfrentarán los líderes mundiales en Glasgow, declaró: "Miles de millones de personas de todo el mundo esperan que tomen las decisiones drásticas necesarias para aplicar finalmente el Acuerdo de París, impulsar significativamente la ambición climática y, en última instancia, sacar a la humanidad de su actual camino de destrucción".

Lea el discurso completo a continuación (en inglés):

Ministers,
Colleagues.

Good afternoon, I thank the Chair of the LDC group, under the leadership of the Royal Government of Bhutan, for hosting this important meeting.

When I spoke to you almost a year ago, we were one year into COVID-19. We faced a long winter, especially with the knowledge that the COP would be delayed by a year.

Nevertheless, we said that it was an opportunity for nations to continue to build climate ambition, to come through on their financial commitments, to submit their NDCs on time, and to make progress on items that continued to divide nations.

Close to one year later, with less than a few weeks remaining before COP26, the results are clearly mixed.

We have seen momentum by nations. We saw the return to the United States to the Paris Agreement, progress on the European Green Deal, and the submission of many new or updated NDCs.[1]

We held climate dialogues, Subsidiary Body and committee meetings and had many positive discussions with nations about progress in 2021 — thank you for such strong contributions in such difficult circumstances.

Our Race to Zero campaign continued to grow, our work with Non-Party Stakeholders grew, and the UK Presidency has clearly indicated COP26 is both important and a priority.

Yet progress was hard to find in other areas. The climate emergency again led to death and destruction throughout the world. I don’t have to tell you that — Least Developed Nations continue to be unduly impacted, despite contributing very little to overall emissions.

The IPCC Report, released in early August, showed that unless there are rapid, sustained and large-scale reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C will be increasingly difficult to reach unless we act immediately to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally.

The NDC Synthesis Report, an assessment of all national climate action plans, showed that under our current path temperatures could rise to 2.7C, which will have devastating results for humanity.

The two reports paint a sobering picture. But look beyond the surface and a second and more encouraging story emerges.

Both reports indicate the 1.5C goal is still within reach but only — and this is the focus of our discussions today — only if action is taken now.

That’s why COP26 is so important.

Here are the four key priorities heading into the COP.

First, it’s vital that parties fulfill their pre-2020 commitments. Doing so will be a key factor in the ultimate success of our deliberations.

No issue is perhaps more significant — especially to all of you, and understandably so — than the provision of financial support to developing countries, especially in relation to the goal of mobilizing USD 100 billion annually by 2020. That pledge was made over 10 years ago. It’s time to deliver.

And of course, we continue to call upon all nations to submit more ambitious and higher-quality NDCs.

The relevant discussion at COP 26, informed by our most recent Synthesis Report, MUST provide a positive signal that the world is determined to transition towards a low-carbon future.

Second. It’s also time to wrap up outstanding negotiations and actually implement the Paris Agreement. And that includes resolving the complicated issues around Article 6 rules, to finally enable market and non-market tools to launch their operations.

We cannot keep pushing this from COP to COP. It’s time for bold and courageous decisions by Parties on this issue as well as several others.

For example, Parties must ensure the transparency framework under the Paris Agreement is technically ready to operate and support implementation of the Paris Agreement. This will facilitate transparency and maintain trust.[2]

They must also advance work in areas related to adaptation, resilience, and loss and damage.

Let me quickly address the issue of adaptation.

The Paris Agreement established a global goal on adaptation. At COP 26, it’s important that Parties clarify the next steps towards making this goal operational.

COP 26 is also an opportunity to strengthen national adaptation plans, the main instrument for adaptation, which all LDCs have begun to formulate and implement.

The COP, for example, can request the Green Climate Fund to advance support for implementation of those national adaptation plans.

While this is important because it establishes a balance between mitigation and adaptation support, it can also be central to a successful COP overall.

Third. Success also means countries committing to do much more on all key aspects of the climate agenda.

To avoid the worst impacts of climate change, we urgently need ambitious, rapid, deep and sustained emissions reductions globally.

That includes national climate action plans aligned with science, Long-Term Strategies that can get us to climate neutrality by 2050, and national adaptation plans to ensure resilience under the Paris Agreement’s temperature goals and beyond.

We particularly look to G20 nations, representing both developed and emerging economies, to lead by example. They are the main emitters responsible for 80 per cent of all global emissions and we cannot meet the 1.5-degree goal unless they pledge more decisive action — and do so rapidly.

We also continue to call for 50 per cent of the total share of climate finance provided by all developed countries and multilateral development banks to be allocated to adaptation and resilience.

That includes wider-ranging and comprehensive financial support for developing nations. On the private sector side, we call upon all businesses and investors to align their portfolios with the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals — by 2024.

Finally, and perhaps most critically, success means ensuring that no voices remain unheard, nor viable proposals left on the table.

The power and influence of teams of cities, regions, businesses, investors, and educational institutions from all over the world have been remarkable.

This is inclusive multilateralism at its finest - and remains fundamental to reaching our climate goals.

Colleagues, success at COP 26 is critical for the world to get back on track – not just with respect to the 1.5C climate goal under the Paris Agreement – but to meeting our SDG goals as well.

There is no doubt that global leaders will face a significant agenda in Glasgow.

But billions around the world look to them to make the bold and courageous decisions necessary to finally implement the Paris Agreement, significantly boost climate ambition and ultimately get humanity off its current path of destruction.

Before I end, I want to note that I fully understand your frustration with respect to progress. Many of you are literally watching your nations sink beneath the waves. Getting nations who are so far removed from your situation to listen, is not easy.

But rest assured that I will, along with UN Climate Change, support your efforts in every way possible at the COP.

You are all here to discuss key priorities and messages heading into COP26. I note a particular line in your materials saying that you choose no to look at this as an issue related to “victimhood”.

I would just like to say that you have every reason to be frustrated, to be upset and angry, but the fact that you choose to be constructive is not only admirable, it’s one that should be followed by all nations in these discussions at COP26.

Nobody understands like you the gravity of our climate emergency. I encourage you to make your priorities as strong as possible and as ambitious as possible at this meeting.

I look forward to the results of this meeting and as we work to encourage all nations to see what you see — the need to make an urgent transformation away from our deadly path of high emissions toward a safer and healthier world for all.

Thank you.