Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian will attend the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change tomorrow.
The COP26 is the most important international meeting on the climate since the COP21, which culminated in the Paris Agreement in which the Parties decided to step up their commitments to cap global warming at 2°C and ? to the greatest possible extent ? 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels. The COP26 must finalize the rules to implement to the Paris Agreement and address the issue of the financial commitments of developed countries.
Mr. Le Drian will meet with COP26 President Alok Sharma to review progress on the negotiations to finalize the rules for implementing the Paris Agreement. He will champion France's climate priorities:
- The need to strengthen partnerships with emerging countries to accelerate decarbonization. The Minister will take part in the launch of two initiatives: the Green Grids Initiative, to accelerate investments in green electricity networks, with the Indian environment minister; and another initiative to boost private investments in solar energy, supported by the French Development Agency, the World Bank, and the International Solar Alliance.
- Solidarity with the countries most vulnerable to climate change. The Minister will confirm France's commitment to allocating ?6 billion per year to climate finance for developing countries; this makes our country one of the leading contributors in that area. Mr. Le Drian will also review the results of the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative launched by France at the COP21, which has already allocated $50 million to projects in more than 50 countries, and will speak with representatives of the countries that have benefited from this initiative.
- Promoting the excellence of French companies and regions in key sectors for the global energy transition. The Minister will take part in an event on the complementarity of renewable and nuclear energies, as well as an event on the development of the French decarbonized hydrogen industry, with Engie, GRTgaz et Lhyfe, and the president of the Brittany region. This event will illustrate how investments in new technologies contribute to the fight against global warming while bringing development to French regions.