- World leaders gathered (24th-30th Sept) at this year’s UN General Assembly in New York with less than 60 days until the next major UN climate summit, COP29 in November.
- Leaders’ speeches saw mixed climate focus, with many emphasising climate action as a priority and others packaging it within the context of other global issues.
- With crucial climate deadlines approaching, governments must use the next 12 months to show progress on climate action to deliver the energy transition and ambitious commitments demonstrating stronger leadership.
Story
Last week, global leaders convened at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and New York Climate Week (NYCW) to address pressing transnational challenges and the urgent need for climate action. With geopolitical tensions high, discussions centered on the importance of reforming multilateral systems and enhancing international cooperation to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Climate was a top priority in the interventions from the UK, Brazil, and Azerbaijan, who emphasized commitments to update Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and transition away from fossil fuels.
The next 12 months are critical for climate action, and the world must demonstrate both progress in delivering the energy transition and the longer term ambition needed to keep 1.5oC degrees within reach via the submission of ambitious NDCs. The level of unified political ambition and concrete commitments from many nations is currently insufficient and raises concerns about the effectiveness of the multilateral system. With only a few countries committing to updated NDCs ahead of the February deadline, there is a pressing need for stronger leadership and accountability.
As we approach COP29 in Baku, moments such as the pre-COP and the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in October will serve as crucial opportunities for political leaders to bolster climate action and unlock the finance needed to support the transition. They should not let these opportunities pass by.
Quotes
Cosima Cassel, Senior Policy Advisor at E3G said:
“UNGA has shown that despite rising geopolitical tensions, there is a strong willingness to make multilateralism work. However, international climate action in the coming months will truly test this resolve. More leaders must step up and prioritize this urgent issue, maintaining momentum to overcome challenges in finance negotiations at COP29 and ensure funding flows where it’s needed. Only then can we achieve the ambition required to keep 1.5oC degrees within reach.”
Leo Roberts, Programme Lead at E3G said:
“Leaders showed at UNGA that climate change remains high on the global political agenda, but there was a disappointing lack of clarity from many on how the groundbreaking package of energy goals agreed at COP28 would be financed and implemented. Countries and leaders must step up to build momentum, and ensure NDC submissions over the coming months reflect the most ambitious of energy transition outcomes – a collective tripling of renewable energy and doubling of energy efficiency, the just and equitable phaseout of fossil fuels, and a rapid end to coal power.”
Rob Moore, Associate Director at E3G said:
“Discussions in New York have shown that the global need to act on climate change retains consensus despite a difficult backdrop. This is reassuring, but in of itself will not stop climate impacts nor bring security and prosperity. Leaders now need to turn warm words into action, using the time between now and COP29 and the G20 Summit to sharpen their vision for how the immense financing gap can be bridged through a mixture of increased international support and accelerated structural reform.”
– ENDS –
Available for comment
Alden Meyer (EN), E3G Senior Associate, (UNFCCC and G7/G20 dynamics, multilateral climate and clean energy diplomacy, mitigation ambition, climate finance, US policy and politics)
m: +1-202-378-8619 | alden.meyer@e3g.org
Kaysie Brown (EN), E3G Associate Director, (multilateral climate diplomacy, geopolitics, US foreign policy) kaysie.brown@e3g.org
Ana Mulio Alvarez (EN, ES), E3G Researcher, (UNFCCC, loss and damage, adaptation)
m: +32 490 000 514 | ana.mulio@e3g.org
Clarence Edwards (EN), E3G Executive Director, Washington DC, (US energy transition, energy security)
clarence.edwards@e3g.org
Laura Sabogal Reyes (EN, ES, DE), E3G Senior Policy Advisor, (Public development banks, Paris Alignment and E3G Public Bank Climate Tracker Matrix, climate finance, nature finance, innovative financial mechanisms, country platforms)
m: +49 160 96466368 | laura.sabogal@e3g.org
Kate Levick (EN, FR, ES), Associate Director, and Co-Head of the Transition Plan Taskforce Secretariat, (Public and private sector finance, financial initiatives, climate disclosure, transition planning, financial regulation)
m: +44 (0) 7860 861225 | kate.levick@e3g.org
Travis Brubaker (EN), E3G Senior Policy Advisor, (US Climate Foreign Policy)
m: +1(202)-870-4350 | travis.brubaker@e3g.org
Leo Roberts (EN), E3G Programme Lead, (JETPs, coal phase-out, power sector transitions particularly Global South)
m: +44 (0) 7908 664 334 | leo.roberts@e3g.org
Rob Moore (EN), E3G Associate Director, (MDBs/DFIs, financial architecture reform, climate finance geopolitics)
rob.moore@e3g.org
Ignacio Arroniz Velasco (EN, FR, ES), E3G Senior Policy Advisor, (EU climate diplomacy and foreign policy, trade & climate, climate & security nexus)
m: +34 (0) 689 768 246 | ignacio.arroniz@e3g.org
Cosima Cassel (EN, DE, ES), E3G Senior Policy Advisor, (UK and German Climate Foreign Policy, multilateral climate diplomacy)
m: +49 (0) 160 339 0883| cosima.cassel@e3g.org
Notes to Editors
- E3G is an independent climate change think tank with a global outlook. We work on the frontier of the climate landscape, tackling the barriers and advancing the solutions to a safe climate. Our goal is to translate climate politics, economics and policies into action. About – E3G
- For further enquiries email press@e3g.org or phone +44 (0)7783 787 863
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