Espinosa disappointed at slow pace of Paris Agreement implementation

The UNFCCCSubsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) conference this year started with a desperate call by the UNFCCC secretary Patricia Espinosa who expressed frustrations that five years after the signing of the Paris Agreement, the world is still lagging behind in implementing the same;

She indicated that the developing countries continue to suffer adverse impact s of climate change and that urgent action is needed to address the challenge.

Patricia also expressed her disappointment with the slow pace at which countries and especially G20 are submitting their revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

This observation is consistent with the concern raised by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) on lack of commitment by the heavy emitters to enhance their ambition and deliver NDCs that reflect a true commitment to significantly cut down Green House Gas (GHG) emission and  put the globe on a recovery path characterized by global temperature rise of not more than 1.5 degrees.

According to the UNEP Emission Gap report 2019, the targeted emission reductions need to be three times more ambitious than all the current NDCs submitted to the Paris Agreement.

The findings of the UNEP report reinforced the conclusions reached by the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) that recommended a stay within the 2 degrees guardrail and to have any chances of achieving the 1.5 degree target. According to the report, emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030, and the aim should be to achieve net zero by 2050.

However, the pace at which countries are submitting revised NDCs and the content thereof paint a grim picture of a sustainable future.

The statements issued by many countries and groups and especially those that are heavily affected by climate change on the first day of the conference were documents loaded with messages of hope but also cautious optimism that the need of communities most affected by climate change will be addressed.

However, parties expressed their reservation and dissatisfaction too on some crucial decisions especially regarding postponement of decision on the adaptation report developed by the adaptation committee.

Adaptation needs especially among the African people are a key priority and PACJA calls upon parties to give attention to the adaptation report and act urgently and accordingly, this is a matter that cannot wait for uncertain COP 26 at the end of the year.