18 September 2017: High-level Climate Champions Hakima El Haite, Moroccan Minister Delegate in Charge of Environment, and Inia Seruiratu, Fijian Minister of Agriculture, launched the Climate Action Leadership Network to drive climate action ahead of 2020. Also during Climate Week NYC 2017, scientists have published an article outlining greenhouse gas (GHG) emission budgets and pathways consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels, which is likely to require strengthened pledges for 2030, followed by “challengingly deep and rapid” mitigation.

The Climate Action Leadership Network, launched on 18 September at Climate Week NYC 2017, aims to bring together high-level leaders to drive climate action in the run-up to 2020, when national governments will submit a new round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement on climate change. The Network is expected to support the High-level Climate Champions and the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action to encourage governments to raise the ambition of their national climate pledges ahead of 2020, when they are scheduled to take effect.

Scientists argue that, while limiting global warming to 1.5°C is “not yet a geophysical impossibility,” it will require speedy delivery of ambitious mitigation measures.

Its founding members include: UN Environment (UNEP) Executive Director Erik Solheim; UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Achim Steiner; Leader of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Climate and Energy Practice Manuel Pulgar Vidal; Mayor of Paris and Chair of C40 Anne Hidalgo, Governor of California Jerry Brown and other high-level officials. [UNFCCC Press Release]

In a publication issued on 19 September, a group of environmental scientists argue that, while limiting global warming to 1.5°C is “not yet a geophysical impossibility,” it will require speedy delivery of ambitious mitigation measures. The article, published in Nature Geoscience, warns that “strengthening near-term emissions reductions would hedge against a high climate response or subsequent reduction rates proving economically, technically or politically unfeasible.” [Emission Budgets and Pathways Consistent with Limiting Warming to 1.5°C]