6 October 2017: The Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group issued the ‘Addis Ababa LDC Ministerial Communiqué on Climate Change,’ outlining the Group’s priorities for the UN Climate Change Conference, scheduled to take place in Bonn, Germany, from 6-17 November 2017.
In the Communiqué, LDC Ministers and Heads of Delegation, inter alia, emphasize that global climate action “must be fair and equitable to advance the interests and aspirations of poor and vulnerable countries and peoples.” They highlight the need for support to enable the LDCs’ delivery and implementation of climate commitments reflected in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and other climate plans, in order to ensure equitable and effective global transition to a zero-carbon society.
In the Addis Ababa LDC Ministerial Communiqué on Climate Change, the LDCs highlight coherent integration of NDCs and SDGs into national economic planning as a priority for all Parties.
The LDCs express concern over the gap between the level of ambition needed to reach the long-term goal of pursuing efforts to limit global warming to below 1.5°C above preindustrial levels and the current level of ambition, projected to result in an increase of at least 2.8°C by 2100, even with the full implementation of current emission reduction pledges and commitments. They highlight adaptation and loss and damage as “crucial components” of the global response to climate change, and express readiness to formulate National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) by 2020, with support from developed countries and international partners.
The LDCs also stress that climate action enables the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and that coherent integration of NDCs and SDGs into national economic planning is a priority for all Parties.
Annexed to the Communiqué are the Group’s key messages for the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UNFCCC on mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, climate finance, technology, capacity building, gender, transparency of action and support, the global stocktake (GST), and facilitating implementation of and promoting compliance with the Paris Agreement on climate change. [Addis Ababa LDC Ministerial Communiqué on Climate Change]
The Communiqué emanated from the LDCs’ ministerial and strategy meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 2-6 October 2017. The meeting followed the annual ministerial meeting of LDCs on 22 September 2017, held in New York, US, during the opening week of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly.
Speaking at the LDCs ministerial meeting in New York, LDC Chair Gebru Jember Endalew expressed the Group’s commitment to being at the frontline of the clean energy revolution through the LDC Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiative.
UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Achim Steiner underscored that, while all countries are seeking new ways to address shocks from crises, economic stagnation, inequality and poverty, they begin their “journey” towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development from different starting points. With Steiner, UNGA President Miroslav Lajčák highlighted the establishment of the Technology Bank for LDCs and its contribution to Target 17.8 (Fully operationalize the technology bank and science, technology and innovation capacity-building mechanism for LDCs by 2017, and enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology (ITC)). [LDCs Press Release on LDCs at UNGA 72] [Statement by UNGA President Miroslav Lajčák] [Statement by UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner]