Optimism for COP23 in Bonn, despite uncertainty about US position

The presidency of this November’s UN Climate Change Conference, the government of Fiji, is “very optimistic” about the outcome of COP23, while the US administration still has not decided on its international climate policy positions. “The rest of the world must continue to work towards progress together” should the US administration decide to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement, said chief COP23 negotiator Nazhat Shameem-Khan at a press conference in Bonn. Shameem-Khan hopes that the US will “walk with the rest of the family.” State secretary in the federal environment ministry Jochen Flasbarth said that while Germany was working very hard within the G7 and G20 forums to convince the US to remain in the Paris Agreement, “of course, the decision will be made in Washington.” COP23 is co-organised by the government of Fiji and host country Germany and will take place in Bonn 6 – 17 November.

Find the press release by the UNFCCC in English here and find more information about COP23 in Bonn on the UNFCCC website, including the press conference video.

Also read the CLEW article Germany keeps pushing for G20 climate focus.