The signing of the Paris Agreement in New York today Friday
April 22 is a historic event and an important step towards implementing the
world’s first global climate deal.
A record
number of countries are expected to attend: the whole world is committed to
turning the promises we made in Paris into concrete action. The Paris spirit is
alive and well – and moving forward.
In the
past years, we had listened to so many gloomy predictions that a universal
agreement would be impossible to achieve. Indeed, there were strong reasons for
being sceptical. But our faith in diplomacy and multilateral cooperation has
paid off. And we must say out loud that Europe has played a crucial role in
creating consensus around a 195 countries-strong deal.
In the run
up to the Paris climate conference, our Union mobilised its network of 3,000 EU
delegations and Member State embassies across the globe. This dialogue with our
partner countries, the general public, the business community and civil society
organisations has helped us build a global coalition to fight climate change.
This is European diplomacy at its very best: working together for the good of
Europe and the whole world.
During the
conference, Europe was a strong voice for ambition. Our climate diplomacy set
up a network of alliances with the group of 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific
(ACP) states. We engaged with both big players and smaller developing countries
to aim for the highest level of ambition. This now famous High Ambition
Coalition was the game changer in Paris.
And our
work goes on. Paris was just the beginning. Building on the successful
alliances we made in the run up to and during Paris will be crucial: we will
need each other’s help to keep on track towards a global clean energy
transition. That is the only way to limit global warming to well below 2°C and
limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.
Global
temperatures have reached record levels. The impact of climate change continues
to threaten lives and destabilise entire regions. Collective action worldwide
is more vital than ever.
It is time to get down to the hard work of delivering on the
Paris’ promises. We will need the same ambition and shared sense of direction
which brought about the deal. Our Union will keep leading the way – as it has
always done – towards a greener and safer planet.
Desertification
and drought foster mass movements of people, spread epidemics and create
conflicts for the control of resources. Climate change is already a foreign
policy issue: it affects our security right now, not in a distant future.
Tackling
this global threat must continue to be at the heart of the European external
action – all 28 EU foreign ministers have agreed on that. Addressing the direct
and indirect security effects of climate change will be an important part of
the new EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy to be presented to
the European Council next June.
It is a
complex threat, but we already have many of the tools we need to address
climate fragility and limit risks to peace. Our partners in the G7 are also
working hard to identify concrete areas for action. And yet our strategies on
climate change, development, humanitarian aid and peace building issues need to
be more strongly integrated. All our policies must keep an eye on climate
change issues, as suggested by the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development
Agenda.
When time
is short and financial resources are limited, we cannot afford duplications and
inconsistencies. National climate adaptation programmes could identify and
promote the co-benefits and synergies with other areas, such as economic and
social development, health, environment, and also peace.
Our
priority now is to go for an early ratification and entry into force of the
Paris Agreement. This would send an important signal to the world: European
governments are serious about climate change, and we will put into practice
what was agreed on paper.
For the
same reason we cannot lose any time in bringing into play the climate action
plans we prepared in advance of Paris. We will support our partners across the
world as they prepare for implementation, and we will keep engaging with
non-State actors such as businesses, cities and many others. Everyone has to
play their part in the collective global effort ahead.
It is time
to get down to the hard work of delivering on the Paris’ promises. We will need
the same ambition and shared sense of direction which brought about the deal.
Our Union will keep leading the way – as it has always done – towards a greener
and safer planet.
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