Open Letter to G20 Govenments

In 2015, the world took a historic step in the fight to tackle climate change. In adopting the Paris Agreement, governments jointly committed to pursuing efforts to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5ºC above preindustrial levels, in recognition of the disastrous impacts that will affect diverse communities around the globe above these limits. The need to now take action is urgent – we are already seeing increased extreme weather events as a result of climate change.

G20 countries represent approximately 85% of global GDP and two-thirds of the global population. G20 leadership on climate change is crucial, and global economic governance must be compatible with the requirements of the Paris Agreement to safeguard development against climate risks and to provide a safe future for all citizens of the world.

In July 2016, CAN developed a briefing of eight key climate demands for the G20.[1] Importantly, we call on the G20 countries to ensure that important agreements take place this year, such as at the International Civil Aviation Organization and in the Montreal Protocol, which will result in ambitious outcomes that are compatible with the Paris Agreement. At the 2016 G20 Summit, we urge all member countries to prioritize two key issues: ratification of the Paris Agreement, for expedited entry into force; and development of long-term strategies for sustainable development and decarbonization.

We look forward to an ambitious outcome from the 2016 G20 Summit, in which climate change is recognized not simply as an environmental problem, but as the threat to the global economy, security and sustainable development that it truly is.

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Download file: http://g20_climate_letter_to_all_governments.pdf