Coronavirus slows developing nations’ plans to step up climate action in 2020

(Climate Change News, 19 Mar 2020) The coronavirus is threatening developing countries’ plans to step up climate action this year as meetings are being postponed and resources are needed to combat the pandemic.

Five years after the Paris Agreement was adopted, governments are under pressure to submit tougher climate plans to the UN ahead of a critical climate summit in Glasgow, or Cop26, still scheduled for November.

This is the first test of the ratchet-up mechanism built in the Paris accord.

More than 100 vulnerable and developing countries representing about 15% of global emissions have expressed their intention to increase their climate plans, also known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), according to a tracker by the World Resources Institute.

But their efforts could be delayed after international organisations which support developing countries design and deliver their climate plans have had to postpone national coordination meetings and workshops.

External link

Climate Change News, 19 Mar 2020: Coronavirus slows developing nations’ plans to step up climate action in 2020