Ministers from all over the world are meeting to discuss the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Under the heading "Fulfilling the Promise of Paris", they want to determine how global climate targets can be achieved together.
Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze and designated President of the next UN Climate Change Conference, Chilean Environment Minister Carolina Schmidt, invited approximately 35 ministers from all corners of the world to the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, taking place in Berlin on 13 and 14 May 2019. Under the heading "Fulfilling the Promise of Paris", they want to discuss how global climate targets can be achieved together. This year marks the tenth year of the Petersberg Climate Dialogues. Federal President Steinmeier will be hosting a reception for the ministers on Monday in Schloss Bellevue. Federal Chancellor Merkel will address the delegates on Tuesday.
Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze commented: "In my opinion, 2019 marks the beginning of a new chapter in international climate policy. In future, the focus will be less on the negotiation of rules. Rather, it is becoming increasingly important for us to concentrate on implementing climate action and cooperation. And as this year's Petersberg Climate Dialogue heading says, to fulfill the promise of Paris."
Following the conference in Katowice at the end of 2018, at which the international community agreed on a common set of rules for the Paris Agreement, this year, negotiation topics will be less in the spotlight than in previous years. The dialogue will be centred on finance, implementation and enhancing the NDCs.
Under the Paris Agreement, all countries have submitted nationally determined contributions, NDCs. However, the targets overall are not yet enough to limit global warming to considerably below two degrees, and if possible 1.5 degrees, as agreed. The agreed review and possible update of the NDCs in 2020 will therefore be a focal point of discussions.
As in previous years, the Climate Dialogue provides a trustful environment for a high-level political exchange to discuss pressing issues in international climate action and prepare the most important meetings this year: the UN Secretary-General's Climate Action Summit in New York in September and the 25th UN Climate Change Conference in Chile in December (COP25).
The Petersberg Climate Dialogue was launched in 2010 after the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. It is held every year and facilitates open discussions in small groups on key issues in international climate policy. Since then, the dialogue has established itself as an important event for international climate diplomacy. In its first year, the Climate Dialogue was held on the Petersberg near Bonn.