08 Nov 2016

The newly elected president of the 22^nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has called on parties to rise up and mobilise the international community to ensure swift implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Mr Salahaddine Mezouar has been nominated by the African Group in accordance with the principle of rotation of the presidency among regional groups.

The Paris Agreement, put in place in 2015, demands for a faster climate action towards reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Besides been in favour of a decrease in gas emissions, the Paris Agreement promotes clean power economies.

Mr Mezouar who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the kingdom of Morocco made the remarks in Marrakech on Monday to mark the official opening of the UN Convention scheduled to be wrapped-up on November 18, 2016.

“This Conference of the Parties (COP 22) calls for collective responsibility. Let us therefore mobilize both our local and international communities and be more ambitious in our approach to get tangible results,” he said.

The call for action to reduce carbon emissions, Mr Mezouar further stated is not only a question of climate change but a question of civilization and sustainable economic development.

For her part, Ms Patricia Espinosa, who is the executive secretary of the UNFCCC was happy the Marrakech conference provides the necessary platform to swing into action the Paris Agreement.

She said however that although Marrakech convention gives parties reason to celebrate, it also challenges them  to reflect on the task ahead .

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, there is an urgent need to up the action to reduce a further 25 per cent of predicted 2030 emissions.

“The world is further heading for temperature rise of 2.9 to 3.4 degrees celsius this century, even with Paris pledges 2030 emissions will be 12 to 14 gigatonnes above levels needed to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius. ENDS