The 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was held in Marrakech from 7 to 18 November. While the swift ratification of the Paris agreement provides room for optimism, much still needs to be done to turn national pledges into concrete action in order to limit the rise in world temperature to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. While implementation was never going to be easy, Donald Trump’s election as the next US president casts an unwanted shadow over the talks, fuelling concern about the way forward. Whether the US and others eventually implement the Paris agreement, and how momentum can be maintained, are likely to be questions that remain long after the conference. This Policy Briefing explored the outcome of the Marrakech conference; the impact of the US elections on the Paris agreement; and the implications for EU climate and energy policies.
Speakers included: Romain Pardo, Policy Analyst at the European Policy Centre (EPC), Elina Bardram, Head of Unit, International and Inter-Institutional Relations, European Commission’s DG Climate Action, Tom Brookes, Executive Director, Strategic Communications, European Climate Foundation