The UNFCCC Secretariat has published a synthesis report by the co-facilitators on the technical dialogue of the first Global Stocktake (GST), a conversation among parties, experts, and stakeholders. The report provides a comprehensive overview of discussions and identifies key areas for further action to bridge gaps and address challenges in the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Available in an advance version, the report (FCCC/SB/2023/9) “provides an assessment of the collective progress towards achieving the purpose and long-term goals of the Paris Agreement.” It highlights potential areas where countries could update and enhance their action and support, along with potential areas for enhancing international cooperation for climate action.

The report finds that “since its adoption, the Paris Agreement has driven near-universal climate action” but “much more is needed now on all fronts.” It stresses the need for governments to support systems transformations that mainstream climate resilience and low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions development, to strengthen the global response to climate change “in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty.” In pursuing systems transformation, the report urges focus on inclusion and equity, which “can increase ambition in climate action and support.”

On mitigation and response measures, the report emphasizes that the window to raise ambition and implement existing commitments to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels is narrowing rapidly. It states that to reduce global GHG emissions by 43% by 2030 and by 60% by 2035, compared to 2019 levels, in order to reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, “much more ambition in action and support is needed,” including more ambitious targets in countries’ nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and systems transformations across all sectors and contexts.

The report indicates that with tailored approaches addressing different contexts, “just transitions can support more robust and equitable mitigation outcomes.” It identifies economic diversification as “a key strategy to address the impacts of response measures.”

On adaptation and loss and damage, the report shows that increased adaptation action and efforts to avert, minimize, and address loss and damage are urgently needed, particularly for those who are least prepared and least able to recover from disasters. Yet, it warns, “most observed adaptation efforts are fragmented, incremental, sector-specific and unequally distributed across regions.” It underscores that transformative adaptation needs to be informed by local contexts, populations, and priorities, to improve its adequacy and effectiveness.

The report finds that to avert, minimize, and address loss and damage, urgent action across climate and development policies is needed “to manage risks comprehensively and provide support to impacted communities.” It calls for loss and damage funding to be “rapidly scaled up from expanded and innovative sources … to meet urgent and increasing needs.”

On means of implementation and finance, the report stresses that “scaled-up mobilization of support for climate action in developing countries entails strategically deploying international public finance, which remains a prime enabler for action.” It calls for “creating opportunities to unlock trillions of dollars [from international and domestic, public and private sources] and shift investments to climate action across scales.” It also calls for “effective country-led and needs-based cooperation,” to ensure capacities are built, enhanced, and retained.

The Paris Agreement’s GST provides the basis for enhancing ambition, action, and support to respond to the climate crisis. Drawing on the findings of the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the first GST technical dialogue started with a data collection phase in 2021, followed by three meetings of the technical dialogue in 2022 and 2023.

The first GST is set to conclude at the UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). As part of its final phase, a series of high-level events will be held to discuss the implications of the technical findings included in the synthesis report. According to a UNFCCC press release, “[t]hese discussions will inform a decision and/or declaration summarizing key political messages, identifying opportunities, good practices, and challenges to enhance climate action and support.” [Publication: Technical Dialogue of the First Global Stocktake: Synthesis Report by the Co-facilitators on the Technical Dialogue] [UNFCCC Press Release]