10 November 2015: In preparation for the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC, 62 ministers gathered in Paris, France, for a three-day “Pre-COP” at the invitation of incoming COP 21 President Laurent Fabius, French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development. The Pre-COP aimed to consider potential compromises and build political momentum, particularly in the areas of ambition, fairness, post-2020 financing and pre-2020 action.

At a closing press conference, Fabius said the meeting represented a major step forward, noting “an obligation to succeed” as threats stemming from climate change “shake geopolitical, economic and social balances.” UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres called the Pre-COP the “most productive” in the history of the Conference of the Parties (COP), highlighting that it was also “the most important ever organized.”

The reported outcomes on ambition include a large consensus on the need for periodic review of contributions and regular presentation of new contributions, as well as on a “no backtracking” clause, meaning each new objective must be more ambitious than the previous one. On fairness, representatives at the Pre-COP showed increasing support for a single, but flexible, system that takes into account capabilities.

On post-2020 financing, the meeting heard positive signals that new financial commitments toward the goal of US$100 billion per year by 2020 will be announced at COP 21. There were also indications that the concept of encouraging developing countries capable of doing so to contribute climate financing is increasingly acceptable. On pre-2020 action, ministers discussed the idea of a stocktaking in 2017 or 2018 on implementation of all pre-2020 commitments. They also expressed strong support for the continuation of the Lima-Paris Action Agenda.

The meeting, which took place 8-10 November 2015, brought together representatives from 70 countries. According to the COP 21 Presidency, all major greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters attended, as did COP 2o President Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Peruvian Minister of the Environment. [COP 21 Presidency Press Release] [COP 21 Host Country Website] [COP 21 Meeting Webpage]