Major international discussions draw to a close in Poland

Katowice, Poland – An international conference in Poland will try to finalise a deal on how to tackle climate change, but delegates from almost 200 countries are yet to agree on how to implement the Paris climate accord reached three years ago.

Countries have been struggling to complete the complex rule book of the Paris climate agreement on how to enforce action to limit further warming of the planet. They are also under renewed pressure to boost their promises to cut carbon emissions.

It is unclear how delegates will finalise an accord to implement the Paris agreement - which aims to restrict warming to well below the 2-degree Celsius above pre-industrial times.

The latest UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released in October said the world would have to cut greenhouse gas emissions by around 45 per cent to limit global warming to 1.5C in order to avoid some of the worst effects of climate change.

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has warned attendees that failure to reach a deal would be "suicidal", and that although the dramatic interventions required do mean sacrifices need to be made, those, "would benefit us all".

A group of countries including the EU have pledged to enhance their climate plans before 2020, in response to fresh scientific warnings about the dangers of global warming.

If no further action is taken, populations around the world face all manner of consequences including increased risks of droughts, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people.

IFAD Representatives at the event reaffirmed the Agency's support for the Paris Agreement and pledged to continue supporting member countries to face up to the challenges posed by climate change.

IFAD acknowledges agriculture's role as a preeminent emitter of greenhouse gases. While agriculture contributes to the climate problem it can also be an important catalyst for the attainment of the targets set out in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Strengthening the climate resilience of the world's 500 million smallholder households represents an important pathway to eradicating hunger and poverty.

Fecha de publicación: 14 diciembre 2018