The latest round of U.N. climate talks came to a close in Bonn, Germany last week, with negotiators agreeing to start drafting the international climate agreement set to be finalized in 2015. As negotiators look towards the next UNFCCC meeting in June, they’re faced with a key question: What does this agreement actually need to accomplish in order to help the world rise to the climate change challenge?
The answer to this question is decidedly complex. The agreement must perform several “functions” in order for countries to both significantly reduce their emissions and prepare for the impacts of a warmer world. We’d like to put forward six of these functions in order to stimulate discussion on how the 2015 agreement can effectively usher in a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.
1) Provide a strong signal for government, business, and investors.
2) Connect the global agreement to the “real economy.”
3) Provide transparency and accountability.
4) Accelerate investment in low-carbon and climate-resilient projects.
5) Ensure fairness.
6) Help vulnerable populations build resilience and adapt to climate impacts.
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