The twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), the twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 12), and the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 1) were held in Bab Ighli, Marrakesh, Morocco from 7-18 November 2016.
- About 200 nations attended the conference and adopted the Marrakesh Action Proclamation for Our Climate and Sustainable Development on November 17, 2016.
- The adaptation of Marrakesh Action Proclamation gives a strong indication to the world on climate action and shift towards a new era of implementation and taking action on climate and sustainable development.
- With the end of the 11-days conference, all participating member nations were committed to work in unity for climate change action under Paris Agreement adopted in November 2015.
Marrakesh Action Proclamation :
It is the duty of countries to check global warming. The nations should come forward readily to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage adaptation of climate change, for the purpose of benefiting and supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that was adopted at the UN headquarters in New York in 2015.
- The countries stressed on strengthening cooperation to eradicate poverty, ensure food security and to take strict action to deal with climate change challenges in agriculture.
- Countries demanded support and agreement of those countries which are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, to enhance their adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability.
- The countries also called for an increase in finance, from the developed to the developing countries both, for climate projects, in order to improve capacity and technology.
The nations, who are Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (which does not include the U.S.) encouraged the speedy ratification of the Doha Amendment and focus on pre-2020 action.
Morocco :
♦ Capital : Rabat
♦ Currency : Moroccan dirham
♦ King : Mohammed VI of Morocco
Nations adopt work plan for Paris climate pact implementation
About 200 countries, including India, adopted a work plan, on November 18, 2016, for the implementation of Paris climate agreement by 2018 at the UN summit.
- The focus of the conference was on procedural issues such as transparency framework, global stock take, market mechanisms and on sustainable lifestyle and environmental justice.
- The President of the conference Salaheddine Mezouar passed a document in which parties agree to meet again in 2017 to “review progress”.
- The conference required countries to take action against climate change as a matter of “urgent priority” because climate is warming at an “alarming and unprecedented” rate.
- Governments set a deadline of 2018 to complete the rule book for implementing the Paris Agreement to ensure confidence, cooperation and its success over the years and decades to come.
Britain Ratifies Global Climate Pact
Britain on November 17, 2016, ratified the Paris agreement on climate change. Foreign Secretary of Paris, Boris Johnson signed the Paris Agreement at the UN Summit, in Morocco.