20 November 2018: The UNFCCC has published the Talanoa Dialogue Synthesis Report, which reflects the information shared during the preparatory phase of the Dialogue, and will provide the basis for the Dialogue’s political phase. The synthesis report consists of key messages that respond to the three Talanoa Dialogue questions: Where are we? Where do we want to go? and How do we get there?

The report was prepared based on submissions to the Talanoa Portal, which was launched on 10 January 2018 and received 471 inputs throughout the year, including the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR15). The report also drew from stories presented by government and non-government representatives during the Bonn Climate Change Conference held in May 2018.

The Talanoa Dialogue process shows the ways in which holistic approaches and policy frameworks can be implemented across all sectors.

The publication shows that, while climate action can help achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change, all actors must urgently accelerate the pace of action to avoid the worst impacts. The report finds that despite current efforts, emissions and global warming are still increasing. The report also describes the devastating impacts that atmospheric changes are already having, citing 11,000 extreme weather events between 1997 and 2016 that have resulted in around 524,000 deaths and trillions of dollars in damage.

The report outlines ways to increase ambition, and highlights untapped potential, which, if fulfilled, could lead to US$26 trillion in economic gains and 65 million clean energy jobs.

Speaking about the Dialogue, Inia Seruiratu, High-Level Climate Champion, Fiji, underscored that the Talanoa Dialogue process shows the ways in which holistic approaches and policy frameworks can be implemented across all sectors. Noting that Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) address not only mitigation, but adaptation, disaster resilience and efficient use of resources as well, he emphasized that non-Party engagement will be critical to achieving climate goals.

The Talanoa Dialogue Synthesis Report was issued by the Fijian Presidency of the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UNFCCC and the incoming Polish Presidency of COP 24 in advance of the Katowice Climate Change Conference in December 2018, where governments are expected to adopt the implementation guidelines for the Paris Agreement and where the political phase of the Talanoa Dialogue will convene. [Publication: Talanoa Dialogue Synthesis Report] [Talanoa Portal] [UNFCCC Press Release]