18 October 2017: In preparation for the UN Climate Change Conference in November, the Fijian Presidency of the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UNFCCC convened the 2017 Ministerial Dialogue, known as the “Pre-COP.” During the event, country leaders achieved greater clarity on COP 23 deliverables, including resilience building, adaptation finance and the 2018 Facilitative Dialogue.

Countries discussed the implementation guidelines for the Paris Agreement on climate change to be finalized in 2018, including completing a robust framework for reporting on climate action and finance, and stressed the need for a global Grand Coalition of action between all levels of government, business and civil society.

Among key deliverables for COP 23, taking place in Bonn, Germany, from 6-17 November 2017, they stressed the need to highlight progress on reaching the US$100 billion that developed countries agreed to provide to developing countries on an annual basis by 2020; and for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) to underpin investment plans that attract sufficient finance, including from the private sector. Another major deliverable highlighted by participants was to provide the design for the 2018 Facilitative Dialogue “on where the world stands, where it wants to be and how it will jointly get there to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goals.” In light of recent extreme weather events, countries also underscored the need for urgent action on loss and damage, and the importance of a strong gender dimension in building resilience. [UNFCCC Press Release on Fiji Ministerial Outcomes] [Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s Remarks at Opening of Pre-COP] [Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s Remarks at Pre-COP Dinner]

The objective of the Pre-COP was to allow country leaders and key advisers to frankly exchange views in closed session on key political deliverables for COP 23.

The Pre-COP took place in Nadi, Fiji, from 17-18 October 2017. The objective of the Pre-COP was to allow country leaders and key advisers to frankly exchange views in closed session on key political deliverables for COP 23. [Pre-COP Webpage] [Pre-COP Agenda]

On the margins of the Pre-COP, the Leonardo Di Caprio Foundation announced that it would provide seed funding for a new charitable trust, which will be used to provide renewable energy to two off-grid communities in Fiji. “We need to make the Paris Agreement come to life through real projects, for real people with real benefits,” said Fijian Prime Minister and Incoming COP 23 President Frank Bainimarama, describing the initiative as “a good example of what is meant by the ‘Grand Coalition’ for climate action.” [UNFCCC Press Release on Fiji Ministerial Setting the Tone for COP 23]

Prior to the Pre-COP, the COP 23 Presidency held a ‘Partnership Day’ on 16 October 2017. The Partnership Day built on the outcomes of the Climate Action Pacific Partnership (CAPP) event held in Suva, Fiji, in July 2017, the UNFCCC Climate Action Agenda, and on international efforts to build a Grand Coalition to help the world limit global warming to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels. The event called for more action on climate change and disaster risk through joint implementation of the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

Speaking at the Partnership Day, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed welcomed climate action and pledges from cities, states, regions, territories, the private sector, the investment community and civil society. She emphasized the need to “bring all sectors of society and the economy into alignment with the Paris Agreement’s pathways, timetables and goals,” including finance. [UNISDR Press Release] [Fijian Prime Minister and Incoming COP 23 President Frank Bainimarama’s Speech at the Opening of Partnership Day] [Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s Remarks at Partnership Day] [UNFCCC Press Release]