Ambassador Elisabeth Millard
Senior Area Advisor for Europe and Eurasia
New York, New York
December 14, 2021
AS DELIVERED
Thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting, which is a valuable opportunity for us to take stock of COP26 outcomes.
I’d also like to thank today’s distinguished speakers for sharing their insights, as well as to recognize the United Kingdom’s generosity for hosting COP26 in Glasgow.
We left Glasgow having met the core U.S. objectives for COP26.
First, the world is far closer to keeping a 1.5 degrees Celsius limit on global temperature rise within reach. U.S. climate diplomacy throughout 2021 focused significantly on this goal, particularly through engagement with the major economies.
Second, the Parties to the Paris Agreement adopted a consensus decision—the “Glasgow Climate Pact”—which makes clear their commitment to keeping the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit within reach.
Acknowledging a gap between where we are and where we need to be, it lays out various actions and timelines related to continuing to increase ambition after Glasgow during this decisive decade.
This includes a request for Parties to revisit and strengthen, by the end of next year, their 2030 targets as necessary to align with the Paris Agreement temperature goal.
Third, the Paris Parties adopted the final set of guidelines that will enable full operationalization of the Paris Agreement, including with respect to providing transparency on Parties’ actions towards achieving their targets and the use of international carbon markets.
The United States will continue to push for more progress at home and abroad in this decisive decade for climate action. Thank you.
###
