Issue No. 316 (Dec 2016)

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COVER: Marrakech Climate Change Conference: Translating the Paris Agreement into action

Climate change: The battle of interpretations at Marrakech
Efforts to move ahead with a work programme to implement the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change were dogged by a conflict between developing and developed countries on the interpretation of its provisions.
By Meena Raman

UN climate talks end with call to Trump to face up to climate change
Fiji, whose very existence is threatened by climate change, called on incoming US President Donald Trump to face up to his country's major responsibility for the global climate crisis.
By Hilary Chiew

Climate talks close with developing countries calling for strong pre-2020 action
The developed countries tend to focus the action to be taken on climate change almost exclusively on the period after 2020 and ignore their commitment with regard to the period prior to this date.
By T Ajit

Developing nations seek acceleration of climate action
Developing countries cannot accelerate climate action without the provision of scaled-up financial resources and technology by the rich countries.

First meeting of Paris Agreement signatories ends in controversy
At Marrakech, differences among the Parties to the Paris Agreement over some issues could not be resolved and will have to be taken up at the 2017 climate conference in Bonn.
By Meena Raman

After protracted negotiations, a key decision on long-term finance
Once again, finance proved to be a thorny issue and a vital decision on long-term finance was taken only after some difficult negotiations.
By T Ajit and Meena Raman

Paris Agreement body agrees on draft work plan for 2017
The following article reports on the debate and adoption of the draft conclusions of the ad hoc working group tasked with outlining the work to be done in 2017 to implement the Paris treaty.
By T Ajit and Meena Raman

Divergences arise over understanding of Paris Agreement
More than anything, it was discord over what had been agreed at Paris that stood in the way of a full consensus at Marrakech.
By Meena Raman

High-level call to fulfil $100-billion-a-year promise for climate actions
The need for developed-country Parties to fulfil the provision of $100 billion annually by 2020 was stressed at the opening of the traditional high-level segment of the Marrakech climate talks.
By Hilary Chiew and Zhenyan Zhu

Facilitative dialogue on enhancing ambition and support provides key findings
The Marrakech conference organised two sessions 'to conduct a facilitative dialogue' to assess the implementation of certain provisions of the Paris Agreement, including the provision of financial resources.
By Zhenyan Zhu

Science and equity demand urgent action on climate now, say developing countries
In the interests of climate justice, developed countries should honour their pre-2020 commitments to avert the impending disaster facing the vulnerable poor countries.
By Zhenyan Zhu

Marrakech proclamation affirms continuing fight against climate change and for sustainable development
The Marrakech conference issued a call for action affirming a continuing commitment to the battle against climate change and for sustainable development.
By Hilary Chiew

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