The 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 21) opened with more than 140 Heads of State and Government and other high-level officials delivering statements at a Leaders Event organized by the COP 21/CMP 11 Presidency.
Many leaders emphasized the crucial juncture the meeting represents in terms of securing humanity's future.
The first plenary session of the 12th part of the second session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP 2-12) took place the night before, on Sunday evening, 29 November.
ADP 2-12 will begin negotiations in spin-off groups on 30 November.
30 November 2015: The 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 21) opened with more than 140 Heads of State and Government and other high-level officials delivering statements at a Leaders Event organized by the COP 21/CMP 11 Presidency. Many leaders emphasized the crucial juncture the meeting represents in terms of securing humanity’s future. The first plenary session of the 12th part of the second session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP 2-12) took place the night before, on Sunday evening, 29 November. ADP 2-12 will begin negotiations in spin-off groups on 30 November.
The Paris Climate Change Conference is convening from 29 November to 11 December 2015, in Paris, France. The Conference will comprise COP 21 and the 11th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 11). The 43rd sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 43) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 43) will also meet.
At its opening plenary, delegates to ADP 2-12 established spin-off groups so that technical negotiations could commence. ADP 2-12 will continue working under the agenda (ADP/2013/AGENDA) adopted at ADP 2-1, structured around workstream 1 (the 2015 agreement) and workstream 2 (pre-2020 ambition). The ADP is expected to work towards the expected conclusion of the ADP’s mandate “to develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties” for adoption by COP 21.
In addition to the negotiations, numerous side events, pavilions and other fora will gather representatives from government, business and civil society to discuss the ways and means for addressing the global climate change challenge. IISD Reporting Services will be covering selected side events, the Rio Conventions Pavilion, the Africa Pavilion, and several special focused “day” events. [UNFCCC Newsroom story about Leaders Event][Earth Negotiations Bulletin summary of ADP 2-12 opening plenary]