International climate governance is a crucial process in policy making and impacts climate actions taken by every country. The DDP’s International climate governance work focuses on two lines of work in 2023: fossil fuel phase down at COP and influencing the outcomes at the Global Stocktake.
Fossil Fuel phase down
It is no longer a question that fossil fuels are the largest contributors to climate change. If we are to reach the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, fossil fuel phase down is inevitable. However, we recognize that different countries have different positions on when and how to do it. The UNFCCC is a platform to create a dialogue between national and international agendas to ensure that fossil fuel phase down remains a priority in policymaking.
Our work aims to narrow the gap between international and national agendas in relation to fossil fuel phase down. We want to promote the need for an international mandate to support country-specific efforts to phase down fossil fuels. We also help ensure that energy transitions are founded on social justice.
Our key activities in promoting fossil fuel phase down include:
- We develop analytical insights on fossil fuel transitions in DDP countries based on recent scenario analysis.
- We write policy papers on the cross-cutting lessons from DDP analysis regarding fossil fuel phase down.
- We work with our DDP partners to discuss fossil fuel phase down in their respective countries.
- We organize policy dialogues on Just Transition with EU negotiators.
Influencing outcomes at the Global Stocktake
This year’s COP28 is focused on the global stocktake, a mechanism of the Paris Agreement that reviews and assesses climate commitments to ensure that we are on course to reaching its objectives. The Global Stocktake is not just looking back at what the world has done so far. Its goal is not to name and shame. It is meant to be a “global accelerator” – directing governments, cities, businesses and advocates to take transformative action to slash global emissions, boost climate finance and increase resilience. It is a chance for countries to engage in the spirit of solidarity and mutual support for both ambitious climate action and strengthened international cooperation. The Global stocktake is a critical juncture that will determine the momentum of climate action in the next decade.
Our work promotes the idea that international cooperation must build on country needs. A bottom-up process would enable systemic transformations that are compatible with enhanced climate ambition of every country.
To do this, we have embarked on some activities:
- We work with key countries and key influencers in the UNFCCC.
- We build ownership of the GST process within countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
- We help ensure that global south countries participate in the EU policy dialogue.
- We write an annual report on Sectoral ambition and international cooperation (launching in 2023).