16 September 2017: Canada, China, and the European Union (EU) convened a Ministerial Meeting on Climate Action, which aimed to galvanize momentum for the full implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change and to demonstrate continued political commitment to global climate action.

The meeting took place in Montreal, Canada, from 15-16 September 2017, two months before the next round of the international climate negotiations scheduled to take place from 6-17 November, in Bonn, Germany, and days before Climate Week NYC 2017. It brought together representatives from 34 governments, namely Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, the EU, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Maldives, Mali, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Poland, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the UK and the US.

Participants expressed commitment to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement, while the US reiterated its intention to withdraw from the treaty, indicating that it is open to “reengaging on terms more favorable to it.”

Participants recognized the role of ambitious climate action in protecting the environment, spurring clean growth and sustainable development, creating jobs and improving human health. Expressing commitment to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement, they stated that it will not be renegotiated. The US reiterated its intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, and indicated that it is open to “reengaging on terms more favorable to it.”

Participants also: expressed support for determining the modalities for the 2018 Facilitative Dialogue; acknowledged the importance of pre-2020 action, and financial, technology and capacity-building support; and recognized the role of sub-national governments, indigenous and local communities and non-party actors in making progress under the Marrakesh Partnership on Global Climate Action.

Canada, China and the EU offered to co-convene a second ministerial meeting in 2018 in Europe. [Government of Canada Press Release] [European Commission Press Release] [Climate Action Press Release] [Marrakesh Partnership for Global Climate Action] [Facilitative Dialogue 2018]