Historic 1.5C Agreement Marks New Era of Climate Justice
PRESS RELEASE
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Read the Philippines CVF Chair Closing Statement at UNFCCC COP21
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Limiting the global rise in temperatures to 1.5°C a victory for vulnerable countries – the Paris Agreement answers the #1o5C campaign’s call
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Global collaboration of vulnerable countries moved major powers to safeguard human rights worldwide
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Regime provides pathway to reach 1.5°C world, address loss and damage and finance a resilient, low-emissions future
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Climate Vulnerable Forum confirms its new membership of 43 nations, pledging to continue to lead and sustain the fight against climate change for the one billion people it represents
Le Bourget, Paris – 12 December 2015: The Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) marked the adoption of the Paris Agreement at the 21st Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP21) as a historic step forward for a climate-safe future and a major victory for the vulnerable countries in the negotiations.
H.E. Secretary Emmanuel M. de Guzman, Vice Chairperson and Commissioner, Climate Change Commission, head of the delegation of Philippines to COP21, speaking for the Chair of the CVF said: “Despite diversity and divergence, we have found common ground. And now as one family of nations – as sisters and brothers of one world – we can move forward with greater resolve and ambition, hopeful of winning the fight against climate change.”
He added: “We may be vulnerable but we are also capable when we work together. Paris is the victory of our intensified collaboration: this historic agreement tells the world that human rights will be upheld, that the big and powerful have stood up for the small, the poor and the vulnerable, and that the world is determined to rise to this great challenge.”
“In COP21 we made 1.5 define global ambition. Paris has given us 1.5 to survive and thrive. It’s now up to us all to bring that vision into reality. The CVF will continue to lead and sustain the fight against climate change and to secure a safe and resilient future for all,” De Guzman concluded.
In response to the COP21 agreements, the Forum’s Chair:
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Welcomed the historic agreement of the world’s nations to limit future warming to a minimum by deciding to pursue efforts to achieve a 1.5°C limit to temperature increases and a long-term mitigation target consistent with 1.5°C.
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Cautioned that the mitigation target in the Paris Agreement (article 4) would need to be achieved close to mid-century in order to comply with the 1.5°C limit, and so will require continued concerted efforts by all parties to take early and upscaled climate action.
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Welcomed the establishment of a stock take review towards achievement of the Long-Term Goal in 2018, and 5-year review cycles where all countries need to do more than previous commitments, which represents a robust framework for progressively moving towards compliance with the 1.5°C regime.
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Welcomed the inclusion of strong human rights language underpinning the regime in the COP21 agreement preambles and the first recognition of “Climate Justice” in an international agreement as a testament to the global community’s resolve to upholding fundamental human rights in delivering climate action.
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Expressed appreciation for the commitment of developed countries to provide scaled-up finance and welcomes the decision to set a new post-2020 joint finance target for developed countries consistent with the needs of developing countries and the low-emission and climate-resilient development goals of the Agreement, including building from a floor of $100 billion per year. The Forum continues to urge achievement of a balance in flows between adaptation and mitigation, a provision in the new agreement, by 2020 at the latest.
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Strongly welcomed the recognition of loss and damage as a core element of the Paris Agreement and the confirmation of the Warsaw International Mechanism under the new regime together with agreed steps towards its strengthening and enhancement for averting, minimizing and addressing climate change loss and damage.