Under the leadership of the Royal Government of Bhutan, the Chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group in the UNFCCC hosted the Thimphu Ambition Summit: Momentum for a 1.5°C World on Wednesday 9 December 2020, to encourage global climate action at a time when it is most needed.
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While the COVID-19 pandemic prevented us meeting in person for COP26 in 2020, the LDCs remained united in the fight for climate action. The Thimphu Ambition Summit provided an opportunity to convene and to discuss critical issues around ambition, climate finance and the green economic recovery.
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The Summit showcased LDC leadership on climate action; made a clear call for countries to submit updated national climate plans that are in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement; demonstrated the need for the international community to scale up finance in support of vulnerable countries’ efforts to address climate change; and identified COVID recovery options aligned with inclusive and green economic development pathways.
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There is an existential need for faster, deeper emissions reductions at scale, for building the capacity of countries to adapt to climate impacts and increase resilience against climate shocks, and for the mobilisation of significantly scaled up finance to support developing countries to address climate change. Among the most vulnerable to climate change, hit hardest by its impacts and the added challenges it brings to sustainable development efforts, the 47 Least Developed Countries recognise the importance of urgent, scaled up climate action all too well.
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It was in this context that – even in the midst of a global health pandemic that has paused many things but has not slowed climate change – the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group convened a high-level virtual event to build global political momentum on climate action.
See the individual country ambition statements.
Read the LDC Chair’s Reflections
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The Thimphu Ambition Summit can be watched in full below.
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