CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRESS, THE US WITHDRAWAL AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM COP23

The document outlines the technical goals of COP23, focusing on the 'Rule Book' for the Paris Agreement, climate finance for developing countries, and the role of non-state actors. It analyzes how the US withdrawal has paradoxically strengthened international coalitions and spurred sub-national action within the US, while emphasizing Fiji's leadership in advocating for loss and damage and ocean governance.

• COP23 is designated as a 'technical' meeting intended to finalize the implementation guidelines and the 'Rule Book' of the Paris Agreement, with a deadline for completion by COP24 in November 2018.
• Developing countries are seeking clarity and more effective delivery of the promised $100 billion annual climate finance by 2020, specifically requesting simplified access procedures and the continuation of the Adaptation Fund (AF) over the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
• The US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in June 2017 has strengthened the international coalition of G7, G20, EU, China, and India, and triggered domestic responses from US sub-national entities, such as the US Climate Alliance led by California, Washington, and New York.
• Fiji, as the COP23 chair, is prioritizing the voices of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), specifically pushing for the completion of the 2013 Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage.
• There is a conflict between developed and developing countries regarding 'loss and damage'; developing nations want an independent policy track within the UNFCCC, while developed nations prefer to frame it as adaptation, risk reduction, or insurance to avoid liability and compensation.
• Ocean governance is a key theme for COP23, with Fiji promoting the Oceans Pathway Partnership to integrate healthier oceans into the UN climate process by 2020, noting that Africa's 30,500km coastline is already suffering negative climate impacts.
• The Global Climate Action Agenda leverages non-state actors, including cities and the private sector, to implement the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda, with over 70 initiatives involving nearly 10,000 players from 180 countries.

APA

Chevallier, R. (2017). CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRESS, THE US WITHDRAWAL AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM COP23. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Policy-Briefing-169.pdf

Chicago

Chevallier, Romy. CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRESS, THE US WITHDRAWAL AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM COP23. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2017. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Policy-Briefing-169.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Chevallier |first1=Romy |title=CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRESS, THE US WITHDRAWAL AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM COP23 |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=November 2017 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Policy-Briefing-169.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{chevallier2017climate, author = {Chevallier, Romy}, title = {{CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRESS, THE US WITHDRAWAL AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM COP23}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2017}, month = nov, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Policy-Briefing-169.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }