News

4 December 2014

20th UN Climate Conference of the Parties underway in Lima

The 20th session of the annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences (UNFCCC COP20/CMP10) commenced on Monday 1 December in Lima (Peru), and will run until 12 December. The yearly conference, held as part of the UNFCCC treaty, determines and reviews the progress of climate change intervention. The 2014 conference is expected to deliver the draft of a new, universal climate change agreement and clarification of how national contributions will be communicated, to be agreed in Paris (France) at the next conference in December 2015.

ICLEI is participating in the conference in its role as Focal Point for Local Government and Municipal Associations (LGMA), is facilitating the Local Government Climate Roadmap process, and endorsing Friends of Cities. The roadmap, an advocacy process that has provided a united voice for local governments since 2007, aims to ensure that a strong and ambitious global climate regime is designed and implemented in the post-2015 period. It sets out to secure collaboration with nations and a financial framework through which local governments can fund ambitious climate actions.

Enhanced understanding for climate action at the local, subnational, national, regional, and global level will be addressed by ICLEI via several activities and resources. As part of the Lima Dialogues, one of the most significant actions being undertaken by ICLEI is the hosting of the side event Raising Global level of ambition through Local Climate Action. Taking place on 8 December, the occasion will provide a platform for reaching a conclusion on the need to enhance local climate action, with the specific goal of adopting a 10-Year Action Plan as a part of the outcomes of Paris 2015.

For updates on ICLEI’s activities, visit the City Talk blog.