20 November 2018: The UNFCCC Secretariat and the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action have published the Yearbook for Global Climate Action, which emphasizes that all actors must urgently accelerate the pace of climate action to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change and avoid the worst effects of climate change.

The Yearbook documents the ways in which climate action can deliver on existing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and shows that Parties and non-Party stakeholders acting together may lead to more emission reductions, faster delivery on NDCs and the strengthening of biosystems’ capacity to store atmospheric carbon. It focuses on “exponentiality,” and explains that global emissions in 2030 would be in a range consistent with the 2°C global average temperature rise above preindustrial levels if countries fully implemented their NDCs and if cooperative initiatives achieved their objectives.

Global emissions in 2030 would be in a range consistent with the 2°C target if countries fully implemented their NDCs and cooperative initiatives achieved their objectives.

The Yearbook considers approximately 9,000 commitments from cities, regions, businesses, investors and civil society, incorporating 128 countries, 240 states and regions, and more than 6,000 businesses representing US$36 trillion in economic activity. While Europe saw the greatest increase in stakeholders engaged in climate action between 2016 and October 2018, the report notes, the number of stakeholders in Asia, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has also increased.

The Yearbook outlines ways to accelerate climate action through: strengthening finance; setting the right policies; sharing and creating knowledge about high-potential solutions; recognizing and showcasing existing action; and enhancing integration. On pre-2020 ambition, it includes key messages for Parties on NDC and policy development, and on international cooperation, as well as key messages for non-Party stakeholders.

The Yearbook was issued by High-level Climate Champions Inia Seruiratu, Fijian Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, and Tomasz Chruszczow, Special Envoy for Climate Change, Polish Ministry of Environment, ahead of the Katowice Climate Change Conference, convening in Poland from 2-14 December 2018. The Marrakech Partnership supports Paris Agreement implementation by enabling collaboration on climate action between governments, and cities, regions, businesses and investors. [Publication: Yearbook for Global Climate Action 2018] [UNFCCC Press Release] [Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action Webpage]