Joint AOSIS-LDC Group Event: Leading the Way: Raising Ambition for 1.5°C-compatible Climate Action

Building the green homes project in Zambia

??????, 25 September 2020 - 8:00am to 9:30am

BACKGROUND

At a time when the impacts of COVID-19 are creating much uncertainty on climate action, the pandemic also provides tremendous opportunities to build back better with climate-friendly policies and actions that deliver better outcomes both for economies and the environment. Communicating enhanced nationally determined contributions (NDCs) in 2020 will be a critical cornerstone of recovery efforts from COVID-19 that need to put us on track to a 1.5° C world. A failure to move collectively onto an emissions reduction pathway consistent with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C warming limit will affect all countries but will have the greatest impact on the poorest and most vulnerable people in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Despite LDCs and SIDS being among the most vulnerable countries, hardest hit by the compounding crises of COVID-19 and climate impacts, many of our member countries are taking determined actions and many are aiming to communicate updated NDCs this year. It will be important that other countries and in particular major emitters do the same this year, with their highest possible ambition and fair share of the global effort, and in line with 1.5°C pathways.

With 2020 being a critical year for accelerated climate action, this side event focused on ambition. It brought together LDCs and SIDS to discuss the implications of inaction, the opportunities of bold green recoveries, and how to build the momentum for collective action to end the climate crisis.