Communication from the
Informal ministerial consultations of EEG countries on UNFCCC process
27-29 April 2017 Piła - Tuczno, Poland
The ministers and other high level representatives of the member countries[1]of the UN regional group of Eastern Europe States met on 27-29 April in Piła, Poland.The participants discussedthe forthcoming UNFCCC Conferences of the Parties, the current state of negotiations and what role should beplayed by the group,both now and in the future, in demonstrating individual and collaborative climate action.
The participants welcomed the preparations of the Government of Fiji to preside over this year COP23/CMP13/CMA1-2, to be held in Bonn in November, and also appreciates the assistance the government of Germany has been continuously providing to the COP23 organisation. We strongly believe that the COP23 will result in a number of milestone conclusions leading to the successful adoption of the implementation package for Paris Agreement at the COP24/CMP14/CMA1-3 in 2018.
The group fully supports the closest possible collaboration between the incoming Fijian and Polish Presidencies of COPs 23 and 24 as well as the incumbent Moroccan Presidency of COP22.
The group expresses their appreciation of the Poland’s decision to host UN Climate Conference in 2018 for the third time.
The participants believe that the COP24 will be a historic event adopting implementation package for Paris Agreement and taking a number of important decisions that will set the conditions for collective, global fulfilment of Agreement’s mitigation and adaptation goals. The group highlights the importance of delivering all the Paris Agreement goals for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aiming to ensure low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient economy development in all countries. According to the Agreementany climate action should address interactions between all components of the Earth climate system – atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and biosphereand contribute to the eradication of poverty,to fight against hunger etc. Countries of UN group of Eastern Europe declare full support to all efforts to efficiently implement the Paris Agreement and will cooperate as closely as possible with the incoming Polish COP24 presidency.
The regional group of Eastern European States – EEG encompasses diversity of countries with their own political, social and economic priorities. The participants have not therefore strivedfor elaboration of any common position of the group. Instead, possible areas of common interest and cooperation have been discussed.
The participants consider the COP 24 an opportunity to present and promote internationally our collective historical achievements and contributions to the global climate goals. Significant reductions of GHG emissions resulting from economic transitionin many countries of the regionhave been reinforced by carbon sequestration by forest, soil and other ecosystems. Sustainable forestry, agriculture and land management in our countries have been helping to improve the quality of the environment as a whole, and quality of water, soil and richness of biodiversity in particular.
The participants discussed how to strengthen regional cooperation in planning and practical implementation of climate action as well as education and capacity building, in particular in collaboration with and between businesses, cities and other non-state actors. Regional, bilateral or multilateral seminars, workshops etc. on sustainable economic transition focusing on various audiences, including media, non-governmental organisations, business, cities will be further discussed.
The participants have expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the government of Poland for organizing the consultations and decided that both political and expert level dialogue amongst EEG countries will be continued as a part of group’s preparation to the COP24/CMP14/CMA1-3.
[1] The meeting was attended by the representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine.The Communication is also supported by Russian Federation