Climate Alliance @COP23

Active for the local level

Together with our COP23 ambassadors, we showed our presence at this year's Climate Summit with a variety of activities – workshops on the role of the Global Sustainability Goals (SDGs) in climate action (see results, pdf) and global climate partnerships (see results, pdf) were among the highlights. One of the most important events for the local level took place on November 12th, when hundreds of mayors from all over the world, including many members of Climate Alliance, came together for their own conference within the Climate Summit. The goal: to make the commitment of the municipalities visible (Bonn - Fiji committment, pdf).

For two weeks at the Climate Alliance stand, more than 300 people and groups from all over the world shared their messages for the future, including UN Climate Secretariat Head Patricia Espinosa, German Minister for the Environment Barbara Hendricks, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri and the President of the EU Committee of the Regions Karl-Heinz Lambertz (see photo gallery on Facebook). At COP23, children have once again shown their commitment to climate action while presenting their "Green Footprints" to Patricia Espinosa. The moment even drew the attention of the Fijian Prime Minister and President of COP 23, Frank Bainimarama (see press release and photo gallery).

Our indigenous partners were also visible at the COP, for example, through the indigenous Caucus, their own pavilion and a variety of events. They took the opportunity to point to the continued dramatic destruction of their territories and to present themselves as key actors for urgently needed climate protection. Over 30% of the carbon still present in the Amazon rainforest can be found in indigenous territories, which also house a large part of the world's biodiversity. Indigenous land is also rich in resources; the seizure of them is becoming ever more relentless.

Climate Alliance highlights

Climate Alliance was present throughout the two-week summit at a variety of key events. To learn about each individual event, click on the dates below.

Saturday, 4 November

  • 12:00 Klima schützen – Kohle stoppen / Save the climate – stop coal demonstration
  • As of 18:00 Indigenous Peoples Caucus Reception at the Cologne City Hall

Tuesday, 7 November - Indigenous Day | Impressions (pdf)

  • All day International Rights of Nature Tribunal
  • All day People and Climate Change – How Do We Want to Live Tomorrow
  • 09:45 – 11:15 Traditional Knowledge, Paris Agreements and Indigenous Territorial Organisations
  • 10:30 – 12:00 Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030 – towards policy coherence (Agenda (pdf) | Results (pdf))
  • 13:15 – 14:45 Protecting and promoting indigenous territories and knowledge
  • 13:30 – 14:30 Indigenous Peoples @Climate Planet 
  • 16:45 –  18:15 Bottom-up approaches to achieve NDCs 

Wednesday, 8 November

  • All day International Rights of Nature Tribunal
  • 10:30 – 12:00 The Future We Want – Transforming our World (Agenda (pdf) | Results (pdf))

Sunday, 12 November

  • All day Climate Summit of Regional and Local Leaders (Final document)

Monday, 13 November

  • All day Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy: Cities and local authorities for climate action
  • 19:45 – 21:30 Energy-efficient redevelopment of urban neighborhoods: Experiences from Germany and Europe 

Thursday, 16 November

For a complete overview of side events, see the UNFCCC website