In some ways, COP23 was a kind of staging post on the way to COP24 (Poland), when more important decisions will be taken on the ‘rulebook’ for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. It thus felt less pressurised and provided some space for reflection on implementation strategies and how countries are going to meet the deep emissions cuts required in the coming years and decades.

Turkish Climate Network event on ‘Enhancing the role of non state actors in climate action: cities & climate change’.

ECOLISE’s recent membership of CAN-Europe proved to be particularly beneficial, in terms of providing access to briefings and resources, and opportunities to input into evolving discussions. There is much that can be built on here as we shift attention to COP24 and beyond.

What did this work achieve?

Instant outcomes are not the nature of this business, but there are reasons for optimism. As governments confront the scale of the task ahead there is growing recognition of the importance of deeper engagement with Non State Actors. In this context ECOLISE and other organisations have been pushing for greater recognition of and support for the role of grassroots, community-led initiatives. Here again, there are signs that the message is getting through. Of particular note is the establishment of a new Local Communities and Indigenous People’s (LCIP) platform, which will be a party to future rounds of COP negotiations.

Through its membership of CAN-Europe, its developing relationship with the EESC, its other advocacy work at EU level, and by working in partnership with individual ECOLISE members such as GEN-International and GEN-Europe, ECOLISE will ensure that the momentum developed at COP23 is maintained and strengthened in the lead up to COP24.

Eamon O’Hara
Executive Director, ECOLISE