24 April 2016: Two days after 175 Parties to the UNFCCC signed the Paris Agreement, the Major Economies Forum on Climate and Energy (MEF) met in New York, US, and contemplated how to continue the momentum ushered in by the adoption of the Agreement by the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 21). The 24 April meeting was the first time the MEF, which includes the world’s largest emitters, convened since the Agreement was adopted in December 2015.

In a statement delivered at the meeting, Indian Minister of State of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar pointed to pre-2020 actions that could both build momentum and facilitate implementation of the Paris Agreement. In particular, he called on developed countries to immediately ratify the Kyoto Protocol’s second commitment period (the Doha Amendment) and take enhanced pre-2020 action. He also highlighted the “urgent task” of mobilizing US$100 billion, which will be crucial for developing countries to implement their intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs).

Javadekar also warned against early entry into force of the Agreement, saying it would not allow time to formalize the procedures and modalities that the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 1) is supposed to adopt. He added that early entry into force would not absolve countries of their commitments through 2020 under the Kyoto Protocol.

Other topics on the agenda of the meeting included: COP 22, which will be held in November 2016 in Marrakesh, Morocco; efforts to limit air transport emissions under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); and work on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol. The meeting was chaired by the US and attended by UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres. The meeting was the last Figueres will attend in her capacity as UNFCCC Executive Secretary.

The MEF, which was launched on 28 March 2009, is intended to facilitate a dialogue among major developed and developing economies, help generate the necessary political leadership to achieve a successful outcome at the annual UN climate negotiations, and advance the exploration of concrete initiatives and joint ventures that increase the supply of clean energy while cutting emissions. The 17 major economies participating in the MEF are: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the EU, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Russian Federation, South Africa, the UK and the US. [MEF Website] [Indian Environment Minister Statement] [US Department of State MEF Webpage] [IISD RS Sources]