There is just one week to go at COP24 as negotiations continue to finalize the Paris rulebook for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The commitments by parties to fight climate change needs to be kept at the highest levels now in order to deliver on the crucial tasks ahead.                                          

“There is no time to wait – time is running out for the world to keep the global temperature under 1.5°C. Reaching the 1.5 is still within our reach but it depends on the political will to take ambition on climate action”, said Martin Vogel, co-chair of ACT Alliance’s Climate Change Group.

The first week in Katowice did not result in much progress in the textual deliberations and much of the heavy work load has been pushed to the ministers to deal with in the second week.

“It is crucial that ministers don’t take the easy way out now by leaving out the contentious issues in order to make progress on the rulebook. The implementation of the Paris agreement must continue to build ambition to achieve the changes that are needed for the world to keep temperature rise to 1.5°C”, Vogel continued.

In the backdrop of the COP the IPCC report on 1.5°C has also managed to have an impact on the talks.

“It is clear that stepping up climate action is urgent – especially for the countries on the frontlines of climate change – like the small Island states whose mere existence is threatened by the effects of climate change,” said Floris Faber, Director of ACT Alliance EU.

ACT Alliance is following the negotiations in Katowice where ACT continues to call for action and a robust set of rules and guidelines for the implementation of the Paris agreement.

“Transformation will remain an illusion if parties don’t step up their work to deliver the Paris Rulebook”, concluded Faber.

For more information, please contact:
Martin Vogel, Co-Chair ACT Climate Change Group martin.vogel@svenskakyrkan.se 
Floris Faber, Director, ACT Alliance EU Floris.Faber@actalliance.eu

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ACT Alliance is the world’s largest network of churches and agencies engaged in humanitarian, development and advocacy work.  ACT has 151 members working in communities in over 125 countries to create positive and sustainable change in the lives of poor and marginalised people regardless of their religion, politics, gender, sexual orientation, race or nationality in keeping with the highest international codes and standards.