The Climate Ambition Summit will be held in New York on September 20

ArabiaWeather - The recent scientific assessment conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change once again highlighted the urgent need for action. The damage caused by the climate crisis is already widespread, and global greenhouse gas emissions remain at record levels. So the world needs immediate and deep emissions cuts now, and over the next three decades, to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and prevent the worst impacts.

At the same time, the populations least responsible for the climate crisis are already suffering from its impacts and need immediate assistance to adapt and recover from loss and damage. It is an issue of climate equity and justice that requires immediate attention from governments and international financial institutions.

The UN Secretary-General will convene the Climate Ambition Summit at UN Headquarters in New York on 20 September 2023 to accelerate action by governments, business and financial institutions, local authorities and civil society, and to hear from “first movers and actors”.

The Summit represents an important political milestone to demonstrate a collective global will to accelerate the pace and scale of a just transition to a more equitable, renewable energy-based, climate-resilient global economy.

The summit design and outcomes will be implemented along three distinct and interconnected acceleration tracks: ambition, credibility and implementation.

Three tracks for the Climate Ambition Summit

The summit design and outcomes will be implemented along three distinct and interconnected acceleration tracks: ambition, credibility and implementation.

Ambition at the Climate Ambition Summit:

Government leaders (particularly major emitters) are expected to provide updated NDCs before 2030 (as agreed in Glasgow); updated net zero emissions targets; Energy transition plans with a commitment not to use coal, oil and gas again; plans to phase out fossil fuels; more ambitious targets on renewable energy; pledges to the Green Climate Fund; And comprehensive economic plans for adaptation and resilience. Finally, all major emitters, in particular G20 governments, will be required to commit, by 2025, to more ambitious economy-wide NDCs that include absolute emissions reductions and cover all gases.

Credibility at the Climate Ambition Summit:

Leaders of businesses, cities, regions and financial institutions are expected to submit transition plans aligned with the UN-backed credibility standard presented in the “Integrity Matters” report commissioned by the UN Secretary-General. This standard for voluntary net-zero emissions pledges is the only standard fully compatible with limiting global warming to 1.5°C. It calls for 2025 and 2030 targets, coverage of Scope 3 emissions, just transition plans to retire and phase out fossil fuels, actual emissions reductions without using offsets, and a commitment to publicly advocate for science-based climate action.

Implementation at the Climate Ambition Summit:

Leaders from governments, international and regional organizations, financial institutions, the private sector and civil society will present existing or emerging implementation partnerships to address challenges and opportunities related to accelerating decarbonisation of high-emitting sectors (energy, shipping, aviation, steel, cement) or on achieving climate justice (reforming the international financial system, early warning systems, Adaptation, losses and damages).