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Welcome to the May 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. Contents:
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. |
| COP29 Update |
| COP29 Presidency Unveils Plans for COP29 |
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| The COP29 Presidency, Azerbaijan, has unveiled its plans for the 29th Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC, which will take place in Baku from 11-22 November, 2024. At the Presidency’s first press conference on 15 April, 2024, it announced it would seek to use COP29 as a platform to accelerate the transition to green energy, with the country guiding negotiations under the principles of neutrality, transparency, and inclusiveness. More here. |
| COP29 Website is Live! |
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| COP29 Presidency has launched the COP29 website. The website— www.cop29.az— will serve as an important resource for information and planning as COP29 approaches. |
| UNFCCC Parliamentary Group’s Plans for COP29 Take Shape |
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| As preparations for COP29 begin in earnest, the UNFCCC Parliamentary Group convened by GLOBE International has begun to make plans for an impactful event. Building on the success of the COP28 Parliamentary Pavilion, GLOBE has applied to host a much bigger Parliamentary Pavilion in the Blue Zone of the official Olympic Stadium COP29 venue in Baku. The Pavilion will serve as the principal hub for networking and exchange of ideas by Members of Parliaments from across the world and will also be host to several events. The GLOBE team was in Baku in the week of 13-17 May for a series of meetings with officials, including one with the High-level Climate Champion for COP29, Nigar Arpadarai MP. Read more about the trip here.
Follow us on X, Instagram and LinkedIn for more updates. Furthermore, the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Azerbaijan Parliament for the hosting of a Parliamentary Conference during COP29. More here |
| UN Climate Round-up |
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Guterres Lunches Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals |
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| Image credit: Atlas Lisbao |
| UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has set up a panel on critical energy transition minerals to ensure proper management of the extraction and use of the minerals. The panel “seeks to build trust between governments, local communities and industry, by addressing issues relating to equity, transparency, investment, sustainability and human rights.” More here. |
| Two Years to Save the World— Simon Stiell |
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| Image credit: Environews |
| UNDRR Gets New Special Representative |
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| Image credit: UNDRR |
| Kamal Kishore of has been appointed as Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Disaster Risk Reduction, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). Kishore takes over from Mami Mizutori. GLOBE has enjoyed a close working relationship with UNDRR on promoting understanding of the Sendai Framework and risk governance, in particular, with parliamentarians and most recently hosted a joint event with UNDRR at the IPU General Assembly in Geneva. More here on Kamal Kishore’s appointment. |
| 15th Petersberg Dialogue in Berlin |
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| Image credit: AzerNews |
| The 15th session of the Petersberg Dialogue took place from 25-26 April 2024 in Berlin, Germany. Co-hosted by the Governments of Germany and Azerbaijan, the Dialogue brought together high-level representatives from over forty countries for discussions in preparation for COP29. It marked the first major speech by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev on priorities for COP29. More here. |
| Stiell Calls for G7 Leadership in Climate Finance |
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| Image credit: The Daily Messenger |
| Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Simon Stiell has urged the G7 to show leadership both in emissions cut and climate finance. This was during the G7 Ministerial Meeting of Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers which took place in Turin, Italy, on 29 April 2024. See his full speech here. |
| SB60 to take place in Bonn |
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| Image credit: Tripadvisor |
| The 60th sessions of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) will take place on 3 - 13 June 2024, in Bonn, Germany. The sessions are expected to help shape the focus of negotiations at COP29 later this year. More here. |
| Verified for Climate Champions Announced |
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| Image credit: UN Web TV |
| Gustavo Figueirôa and Habiba Abdulrahman have introduced themselves as Champions of “Verified for Climate.” Verified for Climate is an initiative of the United Nations and Purpose aimed at combating “climate disinformation and put an end to the narratives of denialism, doomism, and delay.“ More here |
| Major Climate Events |
| Biden Unveils New Funding for Solar |
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| Image credit: Politico |
| U.S President, Joe Biden on Earth Day 2024 (22 April), unveiled US$7bn in grant funding for solar under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All programme. The funding will support States, tribal governments, municipalities and nonprofits to develop solar for communities that need them as part of America’s decarbonisation plans. This is expected to power over 900,000 homes. More here. |
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EU Adopts Directive on Criminalisation of Environmental Offences |
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| Image credit: BBC |
| The Council of the European Union has adopted a directive aimed at protecting the environment through the criminalisation of environmental offences. The directive “establishes EU-wide minimum rules on the definition of criminal offences and penalties” with the list of offences expanded from nine to twenty. Penalties and sanctions range from fines to prison sentences. More here. |
| KlimaSeniorinnen Win Landmark Case |
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| Image credit: Miriam Künzli / Greenpeace |
| Senior Women for Climate Protection (KlimaSeniorinnen) in Switzerland have won a landmark victory at the European Court of Human Rights. The elderly women (aged 70 and above) said their age and gender made them vulnerable to heatwaves resulting from climate change due to Switzerland’s inadequate efforts at meeting its GHG emissions reduction targets. This is the first time the Court was ruling on climate change issues. More here. |
| Scottish Government Announces Plans for Revised Legislation and Climate Change Policy |
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| Image credit: The Ferret |
| The Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, New Zero, and Energy, Màiri McAllan MSP on 18 April, 2024, announced government’s plans to revise policies and legislation to enable it meets its climate change targets. The package will reflect 19 actions in different sectors including transport and land use. Access the official parliamentary report here. |
| Court Says UK’s Climate Action Plan Unlawful |
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| Image credit: Judiciary.uk |
| A UK High Court has ruled that the UK’s climate action plan is unlawful as it does not have enough policies to meet the country’s emissions reduction targets. It is now expected that a revised plan would be developed within twelve months. More here. |
| 200 US Plants Mandated to Reduce Toxic Emissions |
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| Image credit: The Guardian |
| A new rule mandating 200 US plants to reduce toxic emissions linked to cancer has been adopted. The new rule which was finalised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “…will strengthen protections for communities living near industrial sites, especially along the Gulf coast.” More here. |
| Babayev Calls for Transparency in Climate Spendings |
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| Image credit: Climate Home News |
| COP29 President-designate, Mukhtar Babayev, has called for transparency in climate spending from developing countries. Babayev said with trillions of dollars needed to address the climate emergency, it is important to build trust through transparency. More here. |
| Tracker for COP28 Energy Commitments Launched |
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| Image credit: ESG News |
| The International Energy Agency (IEA) has launched a new web resource to help track progress in the energy commitments made at COP28 in Dubai. The webpage “…will be updated regularly to reflect the latest available data and analysis” and was developed in partnership with UN Climate Change. More here. |
| Revised Text of International Instrument on Plastic Pollution Produced |
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| Image credit: ESG News |
| A revised text of international legally binding instrument on plastics pollution including the marine environment has been developed. This was during the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee which took place from 23 to 29 April 2024 at the Shaw Center in Ottawa, Canada. The revised text is available in all six UN languages and can be accessed here. |
| South Korean Court Hears Children’s Climate Change Case |
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| Image credit: Reuters |
| On Tuesday, 23 April, 2024, South Korea's Constitutional Court began hearing on a case accusing government of failing to protect children by not tackling climate change. The case includes four petitions from children and infants, including a foetus nicknamed Woodpecker. This is the first of such case, in Asia. More here. |
| First Meeting of the L&D Fund Board Held |
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| Image credit: Environews |
| The First Meeting of the Board of the Fund for responding to loss and damage took place on 30 April to 2 May, 2024, at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Top on the agenda were: Election of Co-Chairs; Workplan of the Board; Selection of the host country of the Board; Matters relating to the operationalization of the Fund as a World Bank-hosted financial intermediary fund; etc. See the decision of the Board here. |
| Sixth edition of London Climate Action Week |
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| This year’s London Climate Action Week (LCAW2024), now a key fixture on the global climate diplomacy calendar, will take place on 22-30 June 2024. LCAW2024 will bring together individuals, organisations, and communities with focus on the following four key themes: The road to climate ambition at COP 30; Financing the global climate transition; Delivering a net zero and resilient UK; and Mobilising whole of society climate action. With the UK General Election having been announced, GLOBE’s planned events at the UK Parliament and with MP, including meetings with the COP29 High-Level Champion, have been postponed to when the new Parliament sits. More here. |
| G7 Minister’s Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment Held |
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| Image credit: Climate Home News |
| The meeting of G7 Minister on Climate, Energy, and the Environment has held in Turin, Italy on 28-29 April, 2024.The meeting sought to “identify coherent, complementary and interconnected actions to address the ongoing climate, energy and environmental crisis, with a special focus on the most vulnerable areas and populations.” More here. |
| Global Parliamentary News |
| EU Parliamentary Elections to Hold 6-9 June |
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| Image credit: DW |
| The European Union will hold its Parliamentary Elections on 6-9 June, 2024. The process will see Members of the European Union Parliament elected for a five-year term. |
| NCOP Approves South African Climate Change Bill |
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| Image credit: SABC |
| The National Council of the Provinces (NCOP) has approved South Africa's Climate Change Bill. The Bill which was passed by the House of Representatives last year, needed the approval of NCOP before it could be sent for Presidential assent. South Africa's Climate Change Bill makes provisions for climate mitigation, adaptation, finance, and provides legal backing for the Presidential Climate Commission headed by the President to provide advice on climate action. More here |
| UNFCCC Parliamentary Group — Member updates |
| WfD Launches Course on Post-Legislative Scrutiny |
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| Image credit: NBI |
How is legislation being implemented and how can parliaments measure the impact of legislation? These are the key questions informing the upcoming Course on Post-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS), prepared by Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the University of London. The online course will take place in September, 2024, and have a specific focus on impact assessment of environmental and climate legislation. The Course offers an in-depth exploration of the theory and practice of PLS as an oversight tool, with specific examples, case studies and exercises related to the themes of environment and climate change. The course adopts a holistic outlook that places PLS in the legislative cycle and delves into the practice of PLS piloting and innovations over the last few years. Interested participants can find more information about objectives and content of the course, and book their place at the early bird rate via this link. |
| Global Parliamentary Forum 2024 Held |
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| Image credit: Karen Melchior |
| This year’s Global Parliamentary Forum with the theme “Multiple Global Challenges: Action for Impact” took place in Washington DC on 15-16 April, 2024. Co-organised by the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Forum brought together MPs from across the world and senior leadership of the World Bank to discuss solutions to the myriad problems facing the world, including climate change. More here. |
| OPCC to Host Event on Environmental Legislation for SIDS |
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| The Parliamentary Observatory on Climate Change and Just Transition (OPCC) will be hosting a side event at the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States, in Antigua and Barbuda. The event, entitled “Climate change and environmental legislation in support of the delivery of the new Programme of Action for SIDS”, is scheduled for the 29 May, 2024, at 4pm (local time). The British Virgin Islands’ Premier, Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley, will be in attendance, along with OPCC parliamentary participants from Montserrat and Curaçao. |
| King Charles III Announced as Patron of CPA |
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| His Majesty King Charles III has been announced as the Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). He is replacing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and will be visiting many Commonwealth Parliaments. More here. |
| Join the Ecocide Law Briefing for Parliamentarians |
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| The Ecocide Alliance, an International Parliamentary Alliance for the recognition of Ecocide, will be holding a private meeting of members of Parliament and elected representatives from all over the world during the London Climate Action Week. The online event which will be chaired by GLOBE CEO, Malini Mehra, will take place on Tuesday 25 June, 2024, at 3pm BST. Speakers included: Monica Lennon, Labour MSP, Scotland; Baroness Rosie Boycott, UK; Rep. Samuel Cogolati, Belgium, Green Party (Ecolo); Jojo Mehta, Co-founder & CEO, Stop Ecocide International; MEP Saskia Bricmont, Belgium, Greens/EFA Group; and MEP Marie Toussaint, France, Greens/EFA Group. RSVP to participate. Learn more about the Ecocide Alliance for Parliamentarians here. |
| C4C Holds Webinar on Transformative Advanced Nuclear Technologies |
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| Coalition for Conservation(C4C) convened a webinar on “The Transformative Advanced Nuclear Technologies That Are Driving Rare Bipartisanship in Washington and Globally” with expert panelists including Hon Jeffrey Merrifield, Helen Cook, Dr David Gillespie MP and Sarah Lawley. The webinar “explored the applications, operations, costs, waste management, regulatory frameworks and safety considerations of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)” and “also delved into the economics of nuclear power compared to other low-carbon options, the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid with the support of nuclear energy, and the deployment of SMRs in different countries.” Watch the video here. |
| Next UNFCCC Parliamentary Group Webinar (29 May) |
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| The monthly "Road to COP29" webinar of the UNFCCC Parliamentary Group, convened by GLOBE International, for the month of May will take place on Wednesday, 29 May, 2024. There will be Morning and Afternoon sessions. The webinars serve 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 webinar by emailing <focalpoint@globelegislators.org>. |
| Have Your Say |
| GLOBE tracks parliamentary engagements in the UNFCCC process on an ongoing basis. We would like to hear from you on your parliamentary engagement on climate change. Please connect <focalpoint@globelegislators.org> We look forward to hearing from you with your news and views on how parliaments are impacting the climate agenda. |
| Support Us |
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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| Contact 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. |
Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Simon Stiell, has said that the world has only two years to take the right actions to halt the devastating impacts of climate change. Mr Stiell stated this during a presentation at Chatham House on 10 April, 2024. More  |
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