Marrakesh takes action at COP22

The 22nd UN Conference on Climate Change will continue the process initiated at COP21 with the Paris Agreement 

Today, 7th of November, the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP22), which will take place until the 18th of November in Marrakech, Morocco. After last year’s adoption of the Paris Agreement at COP21, the meeting in Marrakech is intended to act as the bridge between decision-making and action, and to start implementing the priorities set out in the text.

Now is the time for the signatory countries to start implementing their national adaptation plans, and for those who have not yet committed to the agreement, to do so. Another objective of the Conference is to help underdeveloped and developing countries, especially in Africa, to elaborate programs against climate change.

The role of regions

Intermediate Governments will have a close involvement in COP22. On the 12th of November, ORU Fogar, R20 (Regions of Climate Action) and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, organize a Side Event focusing on the campaign of R20 and the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) “100 Climate Solutions Project Campaign”. This initiative consists in identifying and financing one hundred climate projects launched by local and regional governments all over the world, ten of which will be selected among the region members of ORU Fogar. The event will feature the participation of the Organization’s President, Adbessamad Sekkal, together with the authorities representing the other co-organizers. 

President Abdessamad Sekkal will also participate on the 14th of November in the opening of the Climate Summit for Local and Regional Leaders, co-organized by the Association of Moroccan Regions (ARM) and the Moroccan Association of Municipal Presidents, with the collaboration of ORU Fogar and other regional and local networks. He will do so together with Mohand Laenser, President of ARM, and other representatives. Other members who will take part in the different panels are, Josep Rull, Regional minister for territory and sustainability at the Catalan Government; Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michèle Sabban, Founder and President of R20 respectively and Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR).

The Summit will address the role of intermediate governments in the International Agenda in the area of Climate Action, and will conclude with the approval of a joint Declaration which will be presented at the Blue Area of COP22. The event will have the participation of the United Nations’ authorities such as the Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Images: COP22 / Climate Summit for Local and Regional Leaders

Related content:

Paris Agreement, adopted at COP21 in Paris in December 2015 (it entered into force last 4th of November). 

Regions take active part in the COP21 in Paris. Article published by ORU Fogar, 09/12/2015

The regions view the Paris agreement on Climate Change as historic. Article published by ORU Fogar, 17/12/2015