The United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the COP28 Presidency-designate, has appointed South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, and Denmark’s Minister, Dan Jørgensen, to co-facilitate discussions at a political level on the Global Stocktake (GST) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
South Africa’s appointment to the role of co-facilitator reflects its instrumental role in the development of the multilateral process for addressing climate change. South Africa played a crucial role in the adoption of the Paris Agreement and continues to support its implementation phase, demonstrating its commitment to the global climate agenda.
Creecy and Jørgensen will engage with a diverse range of parties, groups, and constituencies to understand their perspectives on the critical elements of the GST outcomes. They will report their findings to the UAE ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in September 2023. The UAE will guide the international community towards a successful GST outcome at COP28 through a ministerial meeting.
The Global Stocktake (GST) is the primary mechanism under the Paris Agreement for assessing collective challenges and opportunities in implementing the agreement. Its purpose is to inform parties preparing their next nationally determined contributions and to enhance international cooperation. The GST aims to cover all aspects of the convention, including mitigation, adaptation, and enabling means of implementation and support for developing countries.
Transformational change is required to effectively address climate change, backed by the best available science and on-the-ground realities from around the world. The GST is the key moment for facilitating discussions, focusing on stocktaking and setting the direction for enhanced climate action at the collective level. The process is facilitative, non-punitive, and collective, ensuring that all stakeholders work together to tackle this common threat.
The appointment of Creecy and Jørgensen does not affect South Africa’s role in climate negotiations. The country is set to develop its negotiating mandate by the third quarter of this year, informing its position in the negotiations alongside fellow negotiators in the African Group and the G77 plus China.
The collaboration between Creecy and Jørgensen in the lead-up to the GST signifies a commitment from both developed and developing nations to drive forward ambitious climate action. As the world faces the mounting impacts of climate change, this partnership highlights the importance of international cooperation and shared responsibility in addressing this global challenge.
In Kraaifontein, a lively part of Cape Town, the community faces a tough battle against…
The Good Hope Centre in Cape Town is getting a fresh start! Plans are underway…
The My Cape Town Market is a lively summer event in the beautiful Company's Garden,…
Boatica Cape Town is Africa's biggest boating show, taking place from October 2527, 2024, at…
The South African Police Service (SAPS) is taking strong steps to fight crime and keep…
Alexkor SOC Ltd is a stateowned company in South Africa that started in 1992, focusing…