UNEP: universal climate change agreement must be in place by 2015

By 2015 a plan must be in place to enable countries to implement a universal climate change agreement that will help facilitate a transition to an inclusive green economy, according to Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Steiner’s comments come in the eighth edition of Climate Action, a publication supported by UNEP, as world leaders met in Lima, Peru, earlier this month to discuss how to tackle the issue around climate change. In Paris next year, leaders will once again congregate with the aim of creating a universal climate treaty.

The UNEP executive director states that all indications suggest that the private sector and financial institutions are willing to get on board in creating a more sustainable future.

“With the support of all sectors of society, and the financial resources to make the implementation of a new climate agreement possible, it is more than feasible to keep the promises we made at Rio+20 for the future we want,” he added.

Stenier also noted that whilst more voices are calling for a universal agreement on climate change, there are still challenges to limiting global warming and that the transition can only happen with the support of the private sector and an enabling policy environment.

Steiner writes, “The private sector and financial institutions are showing increasing signs of their willingness to redirect resources for a low carbon, green economy transition, with some leaders from private finance calling for the creation of an enabling environment to undertake the required investment in low-carbon climate resilient growth.

“The impact of an effective and clear policy signal can be seen in many countries.”

The Climate Action report also features many other international climate leaders, including the ministers of the environment for Peru, Brazil and Chile, Peter Bakker, president of World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the executive director of the Green Climate Fund Héla Cheikhrouhou, and Dr Andrew Steer, president and CEO of the World Resources Institute.

Photo: kirchli via Freeimages  

Further reading:

New series demonstrates climate change impacts on businesses

Investors asked to disclose climate change risks

‘Urgent action’ required to protect pension savings from climate change

Conservative party conference: Osborne criticised for welfare cuts and inaction over climate change

UN climate talks get underway in Lima