At the United Nations global climate conference in Marrakech, a global climate partnership was launched today that is intended to provide support to developing countries in particular so that they can implement the Paris climate agreement. The German government had initiated the partnership together with Morocco, the host of this year's climate conference, and with the World Resources Institute. The partnership's founding members include more than 40 industrialised countries, developing countries and international organisations.
The partnership is intended to ensure ambitious and quick implementation of national climate plans. To that end, members will coordinate closely and improve developing countries' access to finance and technical assistance.
German Development Minister Müller said, "Every delay in implementing the Paris climate agreement will push up costs. So we need to act now and assist developing and emerging economies in carrying out their climate plans. After all, climate change does not stop at the border. The partnership will serve as a driver of global tailor-made climate solutions."
German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks said, "The nationally determined contributions (NDCs) are the centrepiece of the Paris climate agreement. Only if we support developing countries in systematically implementing their NDCs will they be ready to gradually increase their ambitions. This is the prerequisite for ensuring that we will not exceed the temperature targets we have agreed – to remain well below an increase by two degrees and to set our sights on 1.5 degrees."
The German government will align a significant portion of its climate finance with the partnership – 2.7 billion euros based on budget funding in 2015 alone –, thus supporting countries on all continents in their climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Activities range from support for the world's largest and most modern solar power station in Ouarzazate, Morocco, to forest and biodiversity protection in Colombia all the way to coastal protection in Viet Nam. Every year, significant reductions in emissions are being achieved with funding from the German government.
The German government finances the establishment of the Partnership Secretariat as well as targeted consultancy on the implementation of national climate plans. The Secretariat will also be the point of contact for developing countries that have specific questions. For example, interested countries can receive advice on how climate action can be incorporated in budget planning and where to find financial support for climate investments. As part of the NDC Partnership, the BMZ will make available 28 million euros for related efforts, as well as 3 million euros for the establishment of the Partnership Secretariat. The German Environment Ministry (BMUB) supports the International Climate Initiative (ICI), which focuses on reporting activities and efforts to make national climate plans more ambitious.