Chair’s Summary: High Ambition Coalition Leaders’ Meeting at UNGA 79

  1. Heads of State and Government of the High Ambition Coalition gathered in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly. The leaders agreed on the vital importance of securing ambitious outcomes at COP29 in Baku. They agreed that we cannot afford for any country to wait in the wings, and that leaders must be bold in their climate commitments and action. Leaders noted the importance of trust to the climate process, and the role of accountability and delivery on promises in securing that trust.

  2. Leaders emphasized the economic and security potential of the green transition, even as they recognised the challenge to making that transition fair, equitable and fast enough to keep 1.5C in reach. Some noted that, as climate impacts are increasingly felt, voters are increasingly driven by candidates’ climate positions.

  3. Members noted the importance of the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the need for those NDCs to be 1.5C aligned, and demonstrate how countries will deliver on the commitments made in Dubai. They stressed that finance will be key to their delivery. Some members re-affirmed their commitment to submit NDCs ahead of the February 2025 deadline, and called on all members of the G20 to do the same.

  4. On finance, leaders from developing countries described eye-watering costs of climate impacts already affecting their nations. Members agreed that it was time to move from conversation to action on World Bank and IMF reform, and for members to use their influence to shape reform of these institutions and encourage others to do the same.

  5. Ongoing negotiations in the International Maritime Organization were raised by several members, with a proposal for a universal greenhouse gas levy identified as an innovative form of finance that can be delivered quickly, and provide a new source of much-needed revenue.

  6. The members affirmed the value of the High Ambition Coalition, noting its role in securing results at recent COPs. They committed to working together to find the finance needed and turn ambitious commitments into reality.

  7. The meeting was chaired by Her Excellency Hilda C. Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and facilitated by His Excellency Kalani Kaneko, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Opening remarks were given by UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell. The meeting was attended by His Excellency Alexander Stubb, President of Finland; His Excellency Daniel Risch, Prime Minister of Liechtenstein; His Excellency Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines; His Royal Highness Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme of the Netherlands; Her Excellency J. Udouch Sengebau Senior, Vice President and Minister of Justice of Palau; His Excellency Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand; His Excellency Eamon Ryan, Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications of Ireland; His Excellency Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, Minister for Natural Resources and Environment of Samoa; His Excellency David Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, of the United Kingdom; His Excellency Delvin Thoma, Deputy Minister for National Seabed Minerals Authority of Nauru, and His Excellency Kevin Magron, Climate Ambassador of France.

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