Creation of a general secretariat for the preparation and organization of the COP21
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development and the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy have presented the preparation of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference.
The Paris Conference will be a crucial milestone, with the goal of achieving a new international climate agreement applicable to all countries, capable of limiting global warming to less than 2°C in accordance with the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), so as to limit human and ecological damage linked to climate change caused by the use of fossil fuels.
Preparing for the 2015 Paris Climate Conference
As incoming Chair of the Conference, France will be attentive to all countries and stakeholders, and will work to achieve a universal agreement. It will be working closely with the current Peruvian Chair of the 20th Conference of the Parties (COP20). France will hold several informal negotiating sessions in addition to the United Nations process and will conduct numerous bilateral consultations.
France will also work hard to promote a “Paris Climate Alliance” in multilateral negotiations, based on four aspects: a universal legal agreement, applicable to all countries; national commitments covering control and reduction of emissions; a financial aspect guaranteeing international solidarity with the most vulnerable countries; an “Agenda of Solutions” aimed at implementing accelerators to ensure more ambitious progress, above and beyond binding commitments.
At national level, France is already working actively to be exemplary in combating climate change.
France's action: the “energy transition for green growth” bill
The bill on the energy transition for green growth, already adopted by the National Assembly and currently being debated in the Senate, aims to achieve environmental excellence, as do the tangible efforts made at local and regional level and by private businesses using various financial instruments including the energy transition fund. France's resolute action has already contributed to achieving an ambitious agreement at EU level. Above and beyond the legitimacy it provides in European and international forums, France's action to combat climate change contributes to the message of solidarity it promotes worldwide, the most vulnerable countries and populations being particularly exposed to the consequences of global warming.
The Conference will be held at Le Bourget and more than 40,000 people are expected. The government and the local authorities concerned are working to put in place a site for the Conference that provides absolute guarantees of security, that is pleasant, that is easy to access and that meets sustainable development requirements. An area for civil society, including non-governmental organizations and businesses, is planned, right next to the negotiating area for the delegates of the States Party and accredited observers.
Government mobilization
The government is mobilized. Under the authority of the President of the Republic and Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development will be taking overall responsibility for the multilateral negotiations as Chair of COP21. France's contribution to building an ambitious European position has been entrusted to the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy who, as Minister with responsibility for climate issues, will be occupying France's seat in EU and UN forums.
The mobilization of civil society will draw on initiatives proposed by the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. All other Ministers will cover areas within the scope of their portfolios, such as the Minister of Finance and Public Accounts who will be tackling financing issues.
Nicolas Hulot, the special envoy of the President of the Republic for the protection of the planet, will for his part be carrying out tasks entrusted to him in the COP21 framework.
Under the authority of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development and the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, an interministerial team has been assembled for negotiations and the “Agenda of Solutions”. It is being led by Ms Laurence Tubiana, Ambassador responsible for climate change negotiations and special representative for the 2015 Paris Climate Conference. Material and logistical organization of the Conference has been entrusted to Pierre-Henri Guignard, who will also be coordinating the teams responsible for communication and civil society, on the basis of the decree to create the COP21 General Secretariat, decided by the Council of Ministers/