Following the recent ‘Pre-COP’ (Conference of the Parties) ministerial, the Chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Group is calling on the G20 to further the discussions and push for greater ambition ahead of the COP21 climate change negotiations.

Areas of agreement and shared concerns were discussed at the ministerial, but Giza Gaspar-Martins states that the political will to agree on an ambitious outcome is still far outpaced by what the science demands from the global community.

Chair of the LDC Group, Mr Giza Gaspar-Martins of Angola said: “Political leaders must be ready and willing to adopt a durable, ambitious and legally binding agreement designed to limiting warming to below 1.5⁰C to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience to the impacts of climate change. It is still unclear whether leaders are ready to deliver on these broad objectives.”

The G20 leaders’ summit takes place on 15-16 November, and the outside world is viewing this meeting as climate critical. Every member state is also one of the world’s biggest CO2 emitters, while the LDCs represent many of the nations most vulnerable to climate change impacts.

Giza continued: “We need all political leaders to set out the direction of travel consistent with the long-term temperature goal of the 1.5 degree target and short term commitments to not only to communicate national climate action plans but also to implement and fulfil them. The G20 can ensure momentum on this ahead of Paris next month.”

The Turkish G20 Presidency has committed to making climate change finance a priority in 2015.1

Giza added: “It is clear that many developing countries will not be able to fully achieve their intended plans without increased support from the international community. Climate finance was a key discussion point at the Pre-COP ministerial but we are not clear is whether the financial support will be matched with assistance in building an infrastructure that allows countries to deliver their national climate action plans.”