CAN Intervention: Arrangements of Intergovernmental Meetings (AIM), June 2019

With only 11 years left to avoid the worst effects of the climate crisis as warned by the IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C, arrangements of intergovernmental meetings of the UNFCCC must reflect the emergency we are in.

CAN, therefore, urges parties and the Secretariat to give priority to items related to the ambition cycle and implementation in the schedule of meetings across three key areas: support, impacts, and raising ambition.

Reflecting this emergency, we urge parties and the Secretariat to fully consider the IPCC’s remarks on  how public participation contributes to effective climate action – quote: “civil society is to a great extent the only reliable motor for driving institutions to change at the pace required.”

By substantially enhancing the opportunities for participation and inputs by civil society and those most affected by the climate crisis – women, youth, indigenous peoples and communities in the front lines – will we help reach the goals of the Paris Agreement.

We appreciate the opportunities for participation in this process but compared to other UN  processes and other UN environmental processes it remains limited. Drawing on those examples, access to all meetings for members of civil society must be the default rule as well as the opportunity for it  to effectively provide input  during the meetings – including through opportunities to provide input on specific aspects of the negotiations in the contact groups so as to support Parties progress towards a consensus that contributes to effective responses.

At COP 23, Antonio Guterres stated “civil society(…) must play a crucial role” in the

transformation to a low-emission economy. We urge parties to arrange future civil society participation in this spirit.

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Download file: http://can_intervention_aim_june2019-1.pdf