Joint Approach to Climate & Development will Define Success of Paris Agreement
20 April 2016, Geneva / London. A new report by CARE International and WWF International notes that “information is emerging almost daily that increases our understanding of the growing impacts of climate change, giving us stark reminders of how urgent it is to change course. The question is whether political leaders can deliver the changes committed to in 2015.”
Twin Tracks
Developing Sustainably and Equitably in a Carbon-Constrained World
The report highlights opportunities to implement 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change in a mutually coordinated way that will help countries to realise their commitments both nationally and internationally.
“We cannot end poverty without tackling climate disruption, because it is the poorest people who are suffering the consequences of a climate changed world the most. The next necessary step is to sign the Paris Agreement on Earth Day, but as part of a much broader, double-sided goal which aims to reduce the impacts of climate change and how it affects the world’s poorest communities. To do this a joined up approach towards both the new climate agreement, and existing development targets, is needed.”
Wolfgang Jamann, Secretary General and CEO of CARE International
“In 2015 world leaders took a series of decisions that will have profound impacts on the wellbeing of our planet and its people. The SDGs and the Paris Agreement provide a positive vision for the future, and a road map for how to get there. The challenge now moves from one of agreement to one of urgent implementation, and how to scale up the resources and actions to achieve these transformational outcomes.”
David Nussbaum, CEO of WWF-UK and chairperson of WWF’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative
Governments must use the opportunity of meeting in New York on 22 April to sign the Paris Agreement and send a strong political signal that reinforces their commitment to the 1.50C limit.
“Given the global momentum shown to date to tackle climate change, we remain confident that world leaders will increase the pledges they made in Paris and turn them into concrete, rapid actions back home,” says Jamann. “In doing so, we will see a reduction in pollution and an acceleration towards a cleaner and safer future, particularly for the poorest people and communities around the world who continue to bear the greatest burden of climate change impacts”