Climate talks in Katowice into the hands of ministers – Tiilikainen from Finland invited to facilitate negotiations on adaptation
The negotiations on the rules of the Paris Climate Change Agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference in Katowice continue at the ministerial level. The Polish Presidency has invited selected ministers to facilitate the negotiations on the most difficult issues in the Paris “rulebook”. The Minister of the Environment, Energy and Housing of Finland Kimmo Tiilikainen will facilitate the negotiations on climate change adaptation, together with the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources of Gambia Lamin Dibba.
“Taking the lead is a great honour, but the negotiations will not be easy, also because of the challenging financial issues involved in adaptation. Together with Minister Dibba we will make every effort to find a solution that the various parties will be able to accept”, Minister Tiilikainen says.
The consultations facilitated by other pairs of ministers deal with transparency in implementing the Paris Agreement, financing, emissions reductions, market mechanisms, and five-year assessments of the Paris Agreement, i.e. the so called ambition mechanism.
Political phase of Talanoa Dialogue started on Tuesday
The ministerial-level Talanoa Dialogue in Katowice started on Tuesday. In his statement Minister Tiilikainen stressed the significance of a fair transition to the acceptability of climate action.
“We are facing a radical economic transition to a circular economy that is based on sustainable and efficient use of energy and materials. It is clear that this change is not going to be easy, nor will it treat us all in the same way. We must prevent the polarisation of societies by carefully planning the steps towards a emissions-free society and by minimising the negative impacts, especially those on the weakest. This has also been a key theme in the national Talanoa Dialogues we have held during this year with our own key stakeholders”, the Minister says.
“As stated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, no-one should be left behind. The same principle should also apply to the implementation of climate policy.”
Inquiries:
Taru Savolainen, Special Adviser to Minister Tiilikainen, Ministry of the Environment, tel. +358 40 535 8622, [email protected]
Outi Honkatukia, Chief Negotiator for Climate Change, Ministry of the Environment, tel. +358 40 535 1758, [email protected]
Marjo Nummelin, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of the Environment, tel. +358 40 535 250 227, [email protected]
Riikka Lamminmäki, Communications Specialist, Ministry of the Environment, tel. +358 50 576 2604, [email protected] (requests for interviews with Minister Tiilikainen and negotiators during the Climate Conference)