Below are remarks delivered by UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell at an event to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement at the UN June Climate Meetings, Sixty-second session of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB62), in Bonn, Germany, on Saturday 21 June 2025. Colleagues, Friends, Ten years ago, the Paris Agreement showed the world that multilateralism can deliver. The prognosis was – and remains – clear: without cooperation between nations, humanity was on a crash course for self-destruction. We know from the science that without the Paris Agreement we'd be headed for up to 5 degrees of heating. No nation, no economy could survive that. We're now headed for around 3 – it shows how far we've come, and how far we still have to go. The work Parties and many others have done through this process of UN-convened cooperation has literally changed the course of history. The world we live in today is different because of Paris. Today’s event gives us an opportunity to explore how it is a different place because of it. And crucially what that means about the decisions we make in this process today, to create the world we want and we need. Since Paris, clean energy investment has increased tenfold. If you had said ten years ago that clean energy investments would hit 2 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024, you would have been met with heavy scepticism. And that the Paris Agreement’s fingerprints would be visible across the multilateral system – from shipping to development finance, to national constitutions and courtrooms. Paris was not the beginning, but it opened the door to much of the world order we accept as normal today. Since Paris, over 80% of global GDP is now covered by net zero targets. But we also know that change is not happening fast enough. We know this through the outstanding global scientific cooperation with the IPCC. That cooperation is one of this era's most unsung but most powerful human advances. Unfortunately, what that science shows us is that this can’t be described as human achievement. The IPCC showed us that almost half of humanity is living in climate crisis hotspots – where people are 15 times more likely to die. Friends, I raise this because it's a stark reminder that there are two sides to the 10-year anniversary of the Paris agreement. It's a moment to reflect on all that has been achieved – and frankly I think we all need to a better job at explaining that to the world. On that topic - I commend the Government of France for its initiative, with Brazil, to create a commemorative logo which can be used to promote climate-related events this year. But this 10-year moment must also be an inflection point. A moment where we step it up on multiple fronts. This must be the decade of delivery. Of acceleration. Of implementation on the ground. And I’m not talking about grand gestures or virtue signaling – I’m talking about blueprints for real-world economic opportunity; for security; for resilience; for growth.  Backed up by real delivery. And we know what will make the difference: Finance – the great enabler of climate action in real economies - especially for those who need it most. People often ask: what will the next decade of climate action look like and how must our process evolve? The short answer is: over the next decade we must move our intergovernmental process much closer to the real economy and to climate action and the 8 billion people around the world, to accelerate and to implement. We must go further, faster, fairer. We will see from the secretariat’s three reports later this year how far we have come – on NDCs and the imperative of 1.5 - which remains both essential and achievable. On adaptation and resilience. And through the BTRs an important snapshot of the state of implementation. COP30 then becomes the moment for the nations of the world to respond. And how we respond is up to us. I thank you.

Remarks during Presidency-led-Consultation on Baku-to-Belém Roadmap at June Climate Meetings

Written Statement Upon the Opening of SB62 June Climate Meetings

Below are remarks delivered by UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell following the adoption of the agenda at the UN June Climate Meetings, Sixty-second session of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB62), in Bonn, Germany, on Tuesday 17 June 2025. Colleagues – time is short, so I will skip my formal statement of welcome. It will be posted on the website instead. I will just say this: The past 30 hours have been hard. And have not reflected the urgency that we face. Yes, the issues have been complex, as they usually are. But now we have consensus. Through cooperation and compromise, we have resolved the impasse. In parallel, work has been proceeding on important mandated events. The GGA workshop The Ocean Dialogue And the workshop under the Sharm el-Sheikh Dialogue We must now move the work ahead. This means we will need to make up time.  We are working on practical ways to help you do so, including extending the availability of these facilities. I will make only one other point: Even if imperfect, even if no country or group gets everything it wants, climate multilateralism has delivered clear progress at each recent COP. But clearly more is needed, and faster.  And we need to demonstrate to the world that climate cooperation can deliver. Now more than ever. And if we want COP30 to take us another global step forward, we need the next eight days to deliver concrete progress, across all aspects of the agenda. Time is short, so let’s get to work. I thank you.

Below are the remarks of UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell to the 2025 Nature Summit in Panamá City, Panamá, on 20 May 2025 – in parallel with this year’s first Climate Week also taking place in Panamá City. Excellencies, colleagues, friends, Trade and economic uncertainty have been dominating headlines over the past months, but rarely due to the climate impacts that imperil it. Because, yes global supply chains, the lifeblood of every economy, are being fractured. But climate chaos stands to have even more serious and sustained impacts. Here, in the Panama Canal, climate change has already driven water levels lower. Slowing shipping and disrupting trade routes. For the average person – this means costs going up and less money to spend. It also means critical medical supplies delayed for those in desperate need, businesses under severe pressure or collapsing, and livelihoods vanishing. The same droughts that plague the canal are affecting essential commodities worldwide. Reducing harvests, emptying shelves, and pushing families into hunger. Famine is back, and the role of global heating cannot be ignored. And all of this is happening while volatile fossil fuel prices drive up the cost of living, hitting people’s wallets hard. And amid all the change and disruption, there is also good news. At times like these, with talk of tariffs and trade barriers, and of slowing growth, it’s important not to miss the signal in all of this noise. All around the world, clean energy projects are in pipelines. Investors have their fingers on the button - waiting to push go on multi-billion-dollar commitments that will make lives better. Which brings me to my central message for today: Clear and strong climate policies are an antidote to economic uncertainty. Climate policies can help get trade flowing and economies growing. And prevent wildly destructive climate impacts.  Providing signals from governments to markets. To those investors ready to hit the ‘go’ button on huge investments. That’s why a new generation of national climate plans - or NDCs - are utterly essential. Here in Latin America, and all around the world. In the past, climate plans have often focused mainly on cuts - cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and to old-fashioned energy. This new generation of climate plans are really [also] about growth. Growing industries and economies. And building better futures. One where nature is protected, and where people have better opportunities. Done right, these plans can attract a bonanza of benefits. More jobs. More revenue. And a virtuous cycle of increased investment. But unless it’s implemented an NDC is just a piece of paper. That’s why political leadership now, is so important. And the political and policy signals from almost all of the world’s largest economies are very clear: global decarbonization is unstoppable and continues to gather pace and scale. From rapid technological advancements in Electric Vehicle charging, to breakthroughs in energy storage, all while the costs of wind, solar, and so many more clean technologies keep coming down. And it’s backed by hard data - more than 90% of new energy last year was renewable. It’s clear in the words and deeds of the leaders who get it. Brazil, putting nature at the heart of their climate plan. Germany promising to invest billions in climate action to increase security. China, for the first time, saying it will set a new national climate target that covers every greenhouse gas and sector of their economy. This isn’t only because of their better environmental angels. It’s because global decarbonization is the biggest economic transformation of our age, making it one of the biggest commercial opportunities we’ve ever seen. Which brings me to my second message - cooperation makes all of us more prosperous. Every country wants to take advantage of a 2 trillion dollar clean energy market. And, while competition is a good thing, now is not the time for zero-sum thinking. We need to work together to ensure that everyone benefits. That new markets open and new trade routes form. We simply cannot afford a two-speed transition, where some countries race ahead with clean energy and climate resilience and leave others behind. Because a supply chain is only as strong as its most fragile link. The good news is, we are hearing loud and clear from heads of state that they remain committed to cooperation on climate. To build on breakthroughs we’ve seen in every recent COP. Today, here in Panama, we’re hosting the first of our new revamped Climate Weeks. More than ever before, this event will focus on connecting words on paper in our process, with making real-world progress. Involving stakeholders - not just from different countries, but from different sectors of economies. Showcasing solutions. And exploring how they can be scaled up and shared. Because to beat climate change, everyone needs to benefit. In these uncertain times, it’s important not to lose sight of where we’re going. As we speak, more and more ships passing through the canal are transporting the building blocks of a global, clean energy economy.  The work ahead is to make sure their numbers keep growing, and their contents reach every country on Earth. I thank you.

The following is a transcript of remarks delivered by UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell in Berlin on 26 March 2025 at the “Europe 2025” Conference. Colleagues, honored guests, lots of words have been used to describe the subject of this session. Words like upheaval and crisis. I will use a different word: disruption. Disruption means change, yes.  But it can also be a force for progress, opening up vast new opportunities. I want to challenge you today to see the disruption of this moment – on the climate front - as a monumental opportunity, as much as a monumental, heightened risk. The costs imposed by the climate crisis are of course already massive and growing fast. From unprecedented storms hitting Europe’s west coast and heatwaves, to droughts in Sicily and floods across central Europe, climate-driven disasters are slashing food production and destroying infrastructure, businesses, homes and communities. Driving up costs for households and businesses and driving down competitiveness. Climate impacts could carve up to 1 percent from the EU’s combined GDP in coming years – something Europe can ill-afford with its modest and fragile annual GDP growth. And the climate crisis could carve up to 2.3% off Europe's GDP by mid-century – a recipe for permanent recession, meaning continuously shrinking economies, failing businesses, and significantly increased unemployment. And these are very conservative estimates. They don’t include the cascade of societal and ecological destruction, the food, water, and energy shortages we'd face if climate change is not contained. And the damage will not stop at Europe’s borders, but it will increasingly impact them. As disasters make more and more regions unlivable, and food production declines, millions more people will be forced to migrate, internally and across borders. Unquestionably, the climate crisis is an urgent national security crisis that should be at the top of every cabinet room agenda. Surrender is not an option. And half measures are a recipe for failure. It is already at the top of most household agendas: 94% of Europeans support measures to build resilience and adapt to climate change. So governments have a very clear mandate for climate action. But let me turn now to the other side of the coin, and the monumental opportunities that climate action presents for Europe. As one government steps back from climate leadership, it opens up space for others to step forward and seize the vast benefits on offer. And let's be clear: in a global clean energy boom that hit 2 trillion US dollars last year – the dividends on offer are truly monumental. The clean energy transition can be Europe’s economic engine-room, now – when new sources of growth are vital to buttress living standards - and for decades to come. Investing in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and green technologies is already creating millions of high-quality jobs and boosting Europe’s competitiveness in the global market. The key to ensuring these benefits reach even more people is a strong new climate plan for Europe. Known as a Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs. These plans are economic blueprints, signals to the market and consumers about where countries are going now, and in the next decade. Done well, they are magnets, pulling in huge inflows of capital investment, creating growth, and buttressing living standards, especially as populations get older. When it comes to security guarantees of the economic kind, they don't come stronger for Europe than a bold new national climate plan this year. Major economies like the UK and Brazil have already delivered their NDCs because they know that strong plans will deliver huge human and economic benefits. There have been positive signals this month that some European decision-makers also know how much they have to gain. Germany's 500 billion Euro Climate Transformation Fund—including 100 billion Euros for climate action —is a clear example of how investments in climate, security, and economic stability go hand in hand. This new Fund will open a new German express-lane in the 2 trillion US dollar global clean energy race, and help drive a jobs boom. Action cannot stop at Europe’s borders. For example, reenergizing European industry will depend on securing access to critical raw materials and critical minerals. That relies on robust, rules-based international order, which in turn relies on Europe being seen as a strong, reliable, and strategic partner. Uniting nations and strengthening international cooperation. But, that also means putting your money where your mouth is. Continuing to fund climate action in other countries, especially those that need the  help most. Because every economy relies on a stable climate and resilient supply chains that can withstand the climate shocks that are fueling inflationary pressures. You have the technology. You have the resources. What is needed now is leadership more than ever. This is Europe’s moment.  So I urge you seize it. I thank you.

The following is a transcript of remarks made by UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell at the closing of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 24 November 2024. Excellencies, Delegates, Colleagues, Friends, I want to start by thanking the Presidency for all they have done to enable the finance COP here in Baku. It has been a difficult journey, but we've delivered a deal. This new finance goal is an insurance policy for humanity, amid worsening climate impacts hitting every country. But like any insurance policy – it only works – if premiums are paid in full, and on time. Promises must be kept, to protect billions of lives.  This deal will keep the clean energy boom growing, helping all countries to share in its huge benefits: more jobs, stronger growth, cheaper and cleaner energy for all.  We needed this to be an enabling COP - one which helped translate the pledges of COP28 into real-world outcomes to protect people, prosperity, and the planet. And that’s what we have made possible.  At COP28 the world agreed to triple renewables. At COP29 we tripled climate finance, and countries will work to mobilize much, much more. At COP28 the world agreed to boost climate resilience. COP29 will help finance real protections for those on the frontlines, especially the most vulnerable. COP29 also reached global agreement on carbon markets, after almost a decade of hard work, where several previous COPs were not able to get this done.  No country got everything they wanted, and we leave Baku with a mountain of work to do.  The many other issues we need to progress may not be headlines but they are lifelines for billions of people. So this is no time for victory laps, we need to set our sights and redouble our efforts on the road to Belém. Even so, we've shown the UN Paris Agreement is delivering, but governments still need to pick up the pace. Let’s not forget, without this UN-convened global cooperation, we'd be headed towards 5 degrees of global warming.   But we are still a long way off course. Bold new climate plans on the way to Belém will be crucial to getting us back in the race. They must embed the targets we agreed in Dubai, including to rapidly ramp up renewables, transition away from fossil fuels, and transform societies, making them more resilient.  Whole of economy, whole of society plans are crucial. We've seen clear signals from two G20 countries – UK and Brazil – because stronger climate actions are entirely in the interests of their economies and their people.   Friends – progress here in Baku has been hard won. I pay tribute to all those who worked around the clock. Even if you didn’t get everything you sought, what you delivered will make billions of lives safer and better.  To those of you who have joined from civil society – your work helps our process make progress. Today we set a new goal, and you will be vital in ensuring that the goal is fulfilled. To the staff of the Secretariat, you have been stretched beyond belief, and yet time and again, you stood and delivered, so that tens of thousands of people from almost 200 countries could come together and take global climate efforts forward.  I have never seen a harder working group of people, that steady the ship when times get tough. Excellencies, friends, we still have a very long road ahead of us, but here in Baku we took another important step forward. The UN Paris Agreement is humanity’s life-raft; there is nothing else. So here in Baku and all of the countries represented here in the room we are taking that journey forward together.   I thank you.