As the political pioneer in international climate policy, Germany under guru climate leader Chancellor Angel Merkel initiated the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in 2010. The primary goal of the dialogue is to facilitate informal discussions of key issues in international climate policy. It serves to complement the UN climate negotiations (not to duplicate or replace them) in order to lend greater momentum to the political process that underlies international climate action.
Despite the fact that Petersberg Climate Dialogue has been informal international climate dialogue out of UNFCCC structure has proved success in formal global climate action across the world. In 2010, first dialogue held in Bonn, Germany with 43 Ministers responsible for climate change issues from various countries attended following the invitation made by Germany and Mexico. This dialogue called after failure of fifteen Conference of Parties (COP15|CMP05) held in Copenhagen in reaching global climate agreement with theme of “Building Momentum for Mexico” as a COP16 Presidency, dialogue played an important role of generating political momentum among parties with aim of comprehensively support and advance the international climate change negotiations and provide an implementation track to supplement and support the negotiation track. Among many successes of first dialogues, was launching of initiative to support developing countries in elaborating environment and climate-friendly growth strategies by Germany, South Africa and South Korea. Furthermore Ministers identified priority issues for further United Nations (UN) negotiations; these included reducing emissions, international system for monitoring mitigation activities and climate finance including supporting for adaptation measures in developing countries.
This informal dialogue of its kind continued to strengthen climate agenda in international level in terms of providing link between negotiation and implementation, in 2011 second Petersberg Climate Dialogue held in Berlin, again Germany shared chairing with South Africa who was following presidency of COP. With theme of “Rising to the Climate Challenge” Petersberg Climate Dialogue II succeeded to reduce the firewall referring to former efforts in 2010 when Germany and South Africa launched the International Partnership for Emission Reductions and MRV, thus drawing developed and developing countries closer together on one of the core issues of the negotiations. This second dialogue aimed to impact global community again to achieve concrete results, these included:- A clear political statement at a decisive moment, A political summary with direct relevance for the UN negotiations, To provide direct support for all states, and especially developing countries, and A clear message on the future of climate finance. Out of these we saw formal results at global level as result of national political willing to act on climate change.
“Matching Ambition with Action” this was a driving theme of Petersberg Climate Dialogue III held in Berlin where Germany and Qatar was chair of dialogue. Being held in July 2012, before COP18|CMP18 in Doha, dialogue focused to ensure ambitions are matching with climate action at National to International level. Federal Environment Minister of that time, Peter Altmaier said "Many countries are already doing a great deal to protect the climate and reduce their emissions, but this is not enough to keep global warming below the 2 degree upper limit. We must all do more". Dialogue succeeded to build consensus prior to Doha conference especially in focusing for future climate agreement and while adopting second commitment of Kyoto Protocol. In concluding dialogue more than 30 delegates from various countries together with the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Federal Environment Minister Peter Altmaier and the upcoming President of the COP18|CMP18, Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, discussed how to swiftly take further climate action, and what can be accomplished in Doha. By discussing so Petersberg Climate Dialogue with its informality has been always result into formal action and target in climate change arena.
After pushing for Action that matches Ambition in 2012, in 2013 Fourth Petersberg Climate Dialogue held in Berlin advocated for “Shaping the Future”, not only the future of 35 countries who were represented by Ministers responsible for environment but future of the whole world under threat of climate change. Again Federal Environment Minister Peter Altmaier was co-chair of the dialogue together with Marcin Korolec, Polish Minister of Environment. Dialogue played important role in developing political will towards designing ambitious, fair and effective 2015 agreement, as well as developing national policies that will provide incentives for private sector and cities to do climate related investment. Moreover Ministers recognized the importance of upcoming COP19|CMP09 towards global long term goal in climate change, this helped to prepare favorable environment before negotiations especially on political support basis.
In July 2014, under the presidency of Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks and Peruvian Minister for Environment Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Fifth Petersberg Climate Dialogue held in Berlin with ambitious theme of "Addressing the urgency – stepping up our contributions". This theme reflected the issue of INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) which in COP19|CMP09 parties agreed to present their national climate action by March 2015 to UNFCCC. But till that first formal deadline, only 35 parties were submitted their INDCs. In response to that parties agreed informally the second submission deadline is 01 October 2015, and then UNFCCC will prepare synthesis report which will be made available to Parties during COP21|CMP11 in Paris. 2015.
Back into topic, this fifth dialogue aimed to introduce new ideas into the negotiations and discuss new strategies in preparation for the COP20|CMP10 in Peru. At end of dialogue spirit of change in international climate policy was observed among ministers attended whom in one way or another had influence in international formal climate negotiations and discussions. In line with theme, state of urgency that world leaders are required to take action in having global agreement as well as committing to contribute in global efforts from national perspectives was witnessed and acknowledged by Chairs. Reflecting the call for stepping up our contributions, German marked a good example to the world after announcing to reduce emission for 55% from 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Current plan is to reduce greenhouse gases emission at least 40% by 2030.
Delegates from 37 countries from each continent and European Union (EU), United Nations Framework Convection for Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC), UN Secretary General Office (UNSG), Ad hoc working group on Durban Platform of Enhanced Action (ADP) Co-Chairs together with Mary Robinson, United Nations Secretary General Special Envoy on Climate Change as well as Valli Moosa, former South African Environmental Minister were in Berlin for informal sixth International Climate Dialogue named Petersberg Climate Dialogue VI that held from 17th – 19th May 2015 at Axica Convention Center.
Before COP21|CMP11 in Paris, under the presidency of Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius chaired Sixth Petersberg Climate Dialogue which held in third week of May at Berlin this year. Is six year now after failure of Copenhagen in delivering climate agreement, where that failure marked the basis of founding Petersberg Climate Dialogue by German, now this year we expect climate agreement as expected in 2009. But now things are really different and awareness and witness on climate change are more open to all. Again the intensity of climate diplomacy is more significant and active than before.
Chairs view were “the international community could adopt an ambitious and durable climate agreement at the end of this year, as the political will to deliver such an agreement is greater than ever before”.
Personally I acknowledge the effort of Federal Government of German in addressing climate change with the perspective of promoting climate action and leading as example in this arena. Moreover, after failure of Copenhagen, Petersberg Dialogues plays an important role of building trust among parties and this will help to reach consensus in negotiations as well as partnership in implementation of climate actions worldwide.
