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Welcome to the March issue of our multilingual Parliamentarians@COP29 newsletter, prepared by GLOBE International serving as the UNFCCC Focal Point for the world’s parliamentary constituency. Our work supports legislators to deliver on their Paris Agreement (and related) climate commitments, and to prepare for and engage effectively at COP29. We are proud to work closely with the COP28-COP29-COP30 Presidencies, now brought together as the first such Troika to better coordinate across the Presidencies and support Mission 1.5C. Our focus is on ensuring that the global parliamentary constituency is well-informed and supported to engage in the UNFCCC process, COP29 and related international fora. Tune in for in-depth updates at our monthly Webinars for the Parliamentary constituency (details below) and our bi-monthly newsletters. At COP28, we hosted the first ever Parliamentary Pavilion. Most of the events at the Parliamentary Pavilion were livestreamed and the videos for 32 events can be viewed directly on the Parliamentary Pavilion playlist here . Photos from the Pavilion events can be viewed on Flickr here. |
| UN Updates |
| COP Presidencies Troika Launched |
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Image credit: KBC
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| The first ever ‘troika’ of the COP28, COP29, and COP30 Presidencies has been launched by the COP28 Presidency. The partnership which brings together the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, and Brazil, was launched on 13 February 2024, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates “to improve cooperation and continuity between current and future COP Presidencies, leading to increased climate action in support of 'Mission 1.5°C'. More here . |
| Stiell Calls for Unity of the Troika |
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| Image credit: ZAWYA |
| Following the launch of the COP Presidencies Troika to drive ambitious, collaborative, and continuous actions leading to improved NDCs, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Simon Stiell, has said that the unity of the Presidencies will help in the attainment of the global vision to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. According to him, the “unity of this Troika will help deliver on the ambition needed to tackle climate change, through collaboration, cooperation and coordination. This is an opportunity to cement what was agreed at COP28, ensure that it is enabled by COP29 and the subsequent actions taken at COP30 with new ambitious NDCs - shifting finance from trickles to torrents and delivering 1.5°C aligned NDCs.” More here. |
| Copenhagen Climate Ministerial Held |
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| Image credit: Hindustan Times |
| The first major climate change meeting post-COP28, the Copenhagen Ministerial, took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 21-22 March, 2024. Chaired by Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, Dan Jorgensen, the meeting gathered over 40 climate leaders for conversations on the priorities for COP29. More here. |
| COP29 High-Level Champion Unveiled |
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| Image credit: Sherg.az |
| UNEA-6 Ends with Key Resolutions |
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| The Sixth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) has ended in Nairobi, Kenya, with member countries agreeing to fifteen resolutions which will help tackle the triple planetary crises of climate change, nature loss and pollution. The Ministerial Declaration "affirmed Member States’ commitment to slow climate change, restore and protect biodiversity, create a pollution-free world and confront issues of desertification, land and soil degradation, drought and deforestation by taking effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions." More here. |
| Image credit:TheCable |
| Global Updates |
| Azerbaijan Signs Up to Global Methane Pledge |
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| Image credit: Menafn |
| 1.5C Warming Limit Over 12-month Period Exceeded |
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| Image credit: AFP |
| For the first time ever, global warming in world exceeded the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold over a one-year period. This was revealed by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) in early February, 2024. This officially made 2023 the hottest year ever since 1850, with the heat expected to continue way into 2024. More here. |
| 1.5 Degrees: COP29 Presidency to Unite North and South |
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| Image credit: Bloomberg |
| COP29 President-designate, Mukhtar Babayev, has said that Azerbaijan will work hard to bridge the trust, implementation and funding gap between industrialised and developing countries which continue to affect the attainment of commitments. Babayez said that only through rebuilding trust can the 1.5 vision be attained. More here. |
| WIM for L&D Holds 20th Executive Committee Meeting |
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| Image credit: The Loss and Damage Collaboration |
| The Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage has held its 20th meeting. The meeting which took place in Bonn, Germany, on 12-15 March, 2024, rose with many decisions including collaborating with the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage, presentation of the five-year rolling workplan of the ExCom, adoption of the 2024 outreach event theme to be “integrating loss and damage into national planning processes”, etc. Find the summary of decision points, here. |
| Maltese Parliament Debates New Climate Legislation |
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| The Parliament of Malta in February debated on the enactment of new climate legislation. Minister of Environment, Miriam Dalli, introduced the debate which seeks to enact "a new legal framework to address climate change. The new legal framework will include a Climate Action Authority and separate National Climate Action Council.” More here. |
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EALA Calls for Climate Action to Boost Food Security |
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| Image credit: Kenyan News |
| Members of the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism, and Natural Resources, of the East East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA), led by its Chairman, Hon. Francoise Uwumukiza, have called for increased action and collaboration to boost food security in the region. The Committee which acknowledged that climate change is the biggest impediment to attaining food security by 2025, called for collaboration among partner States. This was during an oversight visit to the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC). More here. |
| EU Agree Deal on World’s First Carbon Removal Certification Scheme |
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| Image credit: EURACTIV |
| On 20 February, 2024, Members of the European Union Parliament reached an agreement on a proposal to set up "...the world’s first registry for certified carbon dioxide removals obtained from eco-farming practices and industrial processes." The proposal will be followed by the establishment of certification methodologies. More here. |
| APPU Holds 52nd Annual Meeting |
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| Image credit: Legislative Yuan |
| The Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union (APPU) has held its 52nd Meeting in Tokyo, Japan, on 11-14 March, 2024. The meeting which was attended by participants from eleven countries, witnessed the approval of the motion for Taiwan’s bid to become part of the UNFCCC process. More here. |
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Former British MP Chris Skidmore Launches ‘Better Earth’ |
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| Image credit: Bloomberg |
| EU to Future-proof Food Systems |
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| The European Union Commission is establishing the ‘Partnership for Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) for people, planet and climate’ to help transform national and global food systems. The initiative will bring together “policymakers, businesses, researchers and civil society to coordinate, align and leverage European and national R&I efforts to future-proof food systems through an integrated and transdisciplinary approach.” More here. |
| Cities and Regions Summit Convened at UNEA-6 |
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| Image credit: UN |
| The Cities and Regions Summit was convened on 23 February, 2024, by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and its partners including UN Habitat and ICLEI. The event which had over 600 participants (virtual and in-person) discussed "ways to strengthen multi-level governance and urban financing to support multilateral actions." More here. |
| 3rd Summit for Democracy Held |
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| Image credit: Democracy & Beyond Plus |
| The third Summit for Democracy took place in Seoul, Republic of Korea, in 18-20 March, 2024. The three-day Summit featured a Ministerial Conference on day one; exhibition booths and diverse sessions on day two; and a virtual plenary for heads of States and governments, with civil society. |
| WFD Calls for Urgent Climate Action |
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| At the margins of 3rd Summit for Democracy, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy convened a critical session on “Why Democracy Tomorrow Means Climate Action Today” to make the case for an urgent wave of deep democratization through Climate Action. The session featured presentations from MPs and experts including: Maureen Oduori, WFD Kenya Country Director; Rafael Jimenez Aybar, WFD Practice Lead, Environmental Democracy; Rachel Kyte, Professor of Practice in Climate Policy, University of Oxford; Jennie King, Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), Director of Climate Research and Policy; Nate Rugh, Environmental Scientist, Researcher at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, activist with Scientist Rebellion and cofounder of Extinction Rebellion Spain; Hon. Biyika Lawrence Songa MP, Chair of the Committee of Environment, Natural Resources, Climate Change and Science, Technology and Innovation, Chair of the Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change, Parliament of Uganda; Malini Mehra FRSA, CEO, GLOBE Legislators; Chair, Just Transition Group, London Sustainable Development Commission; Adhityani Putri, Policy and Engagement Specialist, Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) Indonesia Secretariat & Founder of Indonesia Cerah Foundation; and Kanbar Hossein Bor, Head Democratic Governance and Media Freedom Department, FCDO. |
| Parliamentary Network Reports & Briefings |
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UNDRRR and GLOBE to Hold Parliamentary Luncheon Dialogue |
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| Image credit: Geneva Tourism |
| The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRRR), and GLOBE International (Focal Point of the Parliamentary Group) will hold a parliamentary luncheon dialogue on Tuesday 26 March, 2024, from 13:00-14:30 at the Geneva International Conference Centre. The event which will take place on the margins of the 148th IPU General Assembly will bring together Members of Parliament from across the world, and experts, to discuss "Accelerating Risk Reduction, Resilience, and Financing to Strengthen Preparedness, Prevention and Recovery." Details here. |
| Parliamentary Group Holds Monthly Webinar |
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| The monthly "Road to COP29" webinar of the UNFCCC Parliamentary Group took place on 21 February (for February), and 20 March, 2024 (for March). Morning and Afternoon sessions were held on each occasion. The webinars served as platforms for collaborative planning for not just COP29, but for increased parliamentary action on climate change, amongst Members of Parliament and parliamentary networks. Subscribe for the next webinar coming up on 24 April 2024, by emailing <focalpoint@globelegislators.org>. |
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Progress in Fossil Fuel Phaseout: Preliminary Report |
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| Parliamentarians for a Fossil-Free Future have released details of the “Global Parliamentarians' Inquiry into the Progress of Fossil Fuels Phase Out”. The report shows that even though funding by G20 countries and multilateral banks for fossil fuel projects fell to $55bn between 2019-2021, it was still about double the investments in renewable. Download the report. |
| EOPA to Hold Offshore Wind Summit |
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| Elected Officials Protecting America (EOPA) has convened a summit on offshore wind for 27 March, 2024. The "summit is being held to bring together local, state, and federal officials across the state to hear from experts, agency representatives, and their elected peers on Offshore Wind as a critical climate solution for New Jersey and New York." Details here. |
| EU Parliament Adopts Deal to Revise IED |
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| The European Union Parliament has voted in favour of a deal to revise the industrial emission directive (IED). The “new rules will reduce harmful emissions from industrial installations and large pig and poultry farms to protect human health and the environment. More here. |
| IPU Holds 148th General Assembly |
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| Image credit: IPU |
| The 148th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is ongoing in Geneva, Switzerland. The event which brings together Members of Parliament from across the world will take place from 23-27 March, 2024, at the Headquarters of the Union. This year's theme is "Parliamentary diplomacy: Building bridges for peace and understanding". More here. |
| Date Fixed for 8th IRENA Legislators Forum |
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| Image credit: IPU |
| The 8th Session of the International Renewable Agency (IRENA) Legislators' Forum will take place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on 16 April, 2024 during the 14th session of the IRENA Assembly which will take place from 17 to 18 April, 2024.This year’s theme will be “Outcome of COP28: Infrastructure, Policies and Skills for Tripling Renewables and Accelerating the Energy Transition”. |
| Have Your Say |
| GLOBE tracks parliamentary engagements in the UNFCCC process on an ongoing basis. We would like to hear from you if your parliament has been involved in the Global Stock Take and/or on your government delegation to COP28. Please get in touch if you have any other thoughts and ideas to share. Our e-mail is <focalpoint@globelegislators.org>. Thank you. |
| Support Us |
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GLOBE International is an international charity registered in Belgium. We work in a cross-party and non-partisan manner to ensure that elected representatives are aware of and engaged in key international processes such as the United Nations conference of parties (COPs) on climate change, biodiversity and desertification. Since 2021, GLOBE has served as the UNFCCC Focal Point for the Parliamentary Group, providing a range of services to help inform and organise the global parliamentary constituency. We seek to do the same for the other Rio Conventions and key international institutions and processes. As a non-profit organisation our work relies on public support and donations. If you would like to support our work, kindly Donate using our Paypal account: the beneficiary is < secretariat@globelegislators.org> If you would like to support our work through sponsorship partnerships, kindly drop us a line at < secretariat@globelegislators.org> Thank you. |
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| Support Us |
| Please contact us with your news, views, and information about parliaments and climate action, including sharing any Hearings, reports, articles and blogs you may have written. We look forward to hearing from you through focalpoint@globelegislators.org. |
The COP29 Presidency has
announced H.E. Ms. Nigar Arpadarai as the 9th UN Climate Change High-level Champion. “The High-Level Champion is a key position in the UN Climate Change multilateral process, created at COP21 in Paris,
connecting the work of national governments with the many voluntary and collaborative actions taken by non-State actors from cities, regions, businesses, investors and civil society.” H.E Arpadarai is a member
of the Azerbaijan Parliament. GLOBE looks forward to working with Ms Arpadarai in delivery of her mandate and engagement of the Mili Majlis of Azerbaijan and the global parliamentary constituency. More
The host of COP29, Azerbaijan, has signed up to the Global Methane Pledge. This was as the country prepares to host this year’s global climate change talks. The Methane Pledge is a commitment by countries to
reduce their emissions of methane. About 155 countries have already signed up. More 
Former Member of
the UK Parliament, Chris Skidmore, has announced the launch of the Better Earth Initiative at the edie 24 conference in London. The initiative seeks to help countries across the world deliver on their decarbonisation
plans, to provide the support and investment needed to make emissions reductions not just a hope but a reality”. The former MP is known for his authorship of
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