With the postponement of the 26th Conference of the Parties under the UNFCCC (COP26) to November 2021, many in the climate sphere are reflecting on how to keep up the momentum on international climate negotiations as well as support increased ambition on climate action in 2020. This was the central topic discussed by panelists on the “COP26: Ramp Up the Ambition” panel co-hosted by QUNO as part of the “Faiths Unite: Visions for Transformative Climate Action” online events series last week.

QUNO, through the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), is the only faith-based observer at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  The IPCC collates the latest climate research worldwide to advise governments on effective climate policy.  At the latest IPCC Meeting, held from 24-28 February in Paris, countries negotiated an outline for the Synthesis Report of the upcoming 6th Assessment Report, to be released in 2022.  Content in the Synthesis Report is critical as few policy makers read the entire Assessment Reports, which are often over 1000 pages long.

This leaflet was written to help decision makers better understand how a rights-based approach in forming climate policy will lead to more effective and fair action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).  The leaflet explains a ‘human rights based approach’, why it is advantageous for policy makers, and offers positive examples of successful rights based climate action in reducing GHG mitigation and adaptation. The leaflet was presented to negotiators at the climate negotiations (SB50) in Bonn, in June 2019.

Watch the webcast of the QUNO side-event on Tuesday 8th May 2018 at the SB48 climate change meeting in Bonn. The event is titled "Why aren't we really mitigating? Honest conversations on effective climate action". 

What are the most effective and ethical mitigation approaches, and why are they not being sufficiently implemented? Which approaches help us shift from resource exploitation to ecological integrity, and help us avoid reliance on unproven geo-engineering, which may fail to address root causes while damaging ecosystems further?