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Climate Action
News article7 November 2016Directorate-General for Climate Action

'Action and Implementation' climate conference opens in Marrakech

The annual UN climate conference starts today in Marrakech, Morocco, just days after the Paris Agreement on climate change legally entered into force. The 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP22) will take place over two weeks and bring together...

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The annual UN climate conference starts today in Marrakech, Morocco, just days after the Paris Agreement on climate change legally entered into force. The 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP22) will take place over two weeks and bring together ministers and government officials, as well as a wide range of representatives from civil society and business. The challenge will be to maintain the momentum of the Paris Agreement and demonstrate progress on global climate action.

The EU played a decisive role in brokering the historic deal and once again showed its unity and leadership as it triggered the early entry into force of the Agreement this autumn. In Marrakech, the EU will remain a leader of global climate ambition; both in the negotiation of common international rules required to implement the Paris objectives, and in the demonstration of early action to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

EU Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete said: "We need to be able to show that the Agreement is more than just words and that all of the world’s countries are committed to the deal. Success in Marrakech means demonstrating that the balanced implementation of Paris is moving full steam ahead, and catalysing further immediate action."

The Marrakech Conference is expected to deliver tangible progress on developing the detailed rule book to implement the Paris Agreement.

In parallel to the negotiations, COP22 also aims to enhance action and transparency before 2020. This means showing that countries are putting in place ambitious climate policies, and that they are getting ready to implement their nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement.

The EU will demonstrate that it is making quick progress on delivering on its own commitments for emissions reductions up to 2030. In July, the Commission presented a package of measures to accelerate the shift to low-carbon emissions in all sectors of the economy in Europe. These proposals will be presented at COP22 on 16 November at the UNFCCC pavilion.

The EU also supports a number of international actions under the Global Climate Action Agenda, which plays a vital role in inspiring governments, businesses and other stakeholders action around the world.

The EU will host more than 100 side events organised by States, local and regional authorities, businesses and civil society organisations from Europe and beyond at the EU Pavilion. A number of initiatives will be presented, such as the new Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, the African Renewable Energy Initiative and InsuResilience, which aims to provide insurance services in countries that are most vulnerable to climate change.

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Publication date
7 November 2016
Author
Directorate-General for Climate Action