Dialogue in Paris reviews global climate challenges

PARIS — The sixth Friends of the Paris Agreement High-Level Dialogue was held in the French capital last week, where global leaders and stakeholders gathered to review both the significant progress and ongoing challenges faced by the international community in addressing the climate-related crises since the Paris Agreement's enactment.

The dialogue was co-chaired by Xie Zhenhua, China's former special envoy for climate change, and Laurence Tubiana, France's former climate change ambassador and special representative for COP21.

Organized by the European Climate Foundation and co-organized by the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development of Tsinghua University, the dialogue has drawn more than 20 high-level officials from signatory countries.

As next year marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, participants reached a consensus on the need for all countries to embody the spirit of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP21, held in Paris in 2015, amid the current complex global challenges.

They also emphasized a strong commitment to defending and upholding multilateralism, advancing the global process for climate action, and adhering to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

The participants held in-depth discussions on various climate-related issues, such as the Nationally Determined Contributions, climate finance, energy transition, and technological innovation.

They all agreed to further strengthen the role of the "Friends of the Paris Agreement", supporting and advancing the success of this year's COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, and laying the foundation for next year's COP30 in Belem, Brazil, in line with the goals and principles established by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.

The Friends of the Paris Agreement High-level Dialogue was initiated in 2019. Gathering highlevel representatives who have played key roles in the formulation and implementation of the Paris Agreement, it serves as a platform for them to provide recommendations to the United Nations, the host countries of the Climate Conference and the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, to promote the multilateral process.

Xinhua