Leaders rally round Paris agreement

Heads of state gathered in Morocco have reiterated the need for governments to take action to mitigate climate change, amid concerns over the future commitment of the United States.

The Marrakech Action Proclamation, agreed by heads of state meeting at the COP22 meeting on 18 November, called for “the highest political commitment to combat climate change, as a matter of urgent priority”. It came two weeks after the global ratification of the 2015 COP21 Paris agreement, in which governments agreed to try to keep global temperature rises well below 2 degrees celsius by the end of the century.

“We call for urgently raising ambition and strengthening cooperation amongst ourselves to close the gap between current emissions trajectories and the pathway needed to meet the long-term temperature goals of the Paris Agreement,” the Marrakech proclamation said.