14 November 2011: A two-day meeting of the Cartagena Dialogue, which brought together high-level representatives from nearly 30 countries, was held in Santiago, Chile. The meeting focused on finding a constructive way forward in the UNFCCC Climate Change negotiations and provided an opportunity for the most ambitious and progressive countries to discuss how to make the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UNFCCC as successful as possible.

Acknowledging substantial progress made by the Transitional Committee for the design of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), participants supported the approval of the draft governing instrument for the Fund at COP 17. They also discussed possible outcomes for Durban on mitigation and how to finalize modalities of the 2013- 2015 Review of the long-term global goal for limiting warming to below 2ºC.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, María Ignacia Benítez, Minister of Environment of Chile, underlined that the “issue of a Kyoto Second Commitment period is pivotal to this year’s negotiations in Durban.” Ambassador José Luis Balmaceda, Director of Environment and Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who chaired the meeting, added that “COP 17 will be fundamental to the future climate regime and crucial to the Kyoto Protocol.”

The Cartagena Dialogue for Progressive Action is an informal space, open to countries working towards an ambitious, comprehensive and legally binding regime in the UNFCCC, and who are committed domestically to moving their economies onto a sustainable, low-carbon pathway or avoiding a more carbon-intensive development. [Government of Chile Webpage]