Five questions on the One Planet Summit

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On 12 December 2017, two years to the day since the historic Paris Agreement, the One Planet Summit kicks off with the aim of bringing together actors of public and private finance in order to explore ways of innovating, supporting and accelerating our common fight against climate change. Learn more…

Q: What is the difference between the One Planet Summit and a COP?

A: The summit is not a ‘second COP’ and is not trying to compete with it. It is a complementary process. A COP is a time of negotiations between States within the diplomatic framework of the United Nations. The One Planet Summit is not a substitute for a COP but rather a complement, a reinforcement. If December 12 is also the anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement, it is because it is important to emphasise its irreversible nature and the dynamic of growing support that it receives.

Q: How does this summit link in with other climate deadlines, in particular within the process of climate negotiations?

A: The ‘One Planet’ Summit is part of an international dynamic. It should not be considered separately but in the perspective of the other major international events: recently COP23 in Bonn, but also the Global Climate Action Summit which will be organised in California in September 2018 at the initiative of the Governor Jerry Brown or that which will be organised by the United Nations Secretary General in 2019. The goal of the One Planet Summit is to maintain mobilisation to fight climate change at the highest political level.

Q: Who is participating in the summit?

A: The One Planet Summit is not a State summit but it brings together a range of actors in the fight against climate change. It proposes to give everyone, both States and civil society representatives, the possibility to express themselves in an equitable way.

Q: Why is the focus on finance?

A: Because it is the crux of the matter. The development of green finance was one of the pillars of COP21. It is the basis of all action and the assurance of implementation of concrete projects, as well as being one of the objectives of the Paris Agreement. We must show our solidarity with the countries that suffer the most from climate change and at the same time, in order to get on track for the 1.5/2°C target, we must redirect billions towards low-carbon investments. It is therefore also a means to once again give ‘meaning’ to finance by reconnecting it with transformative projects that are also useful to citizens as part of climate action.

Q: Illustrative projects will be presented during the summit. What are they and how have they been selected?

A: The goal of these projects is to present concrete solutions that work in the field and that can be reproduced. They are representative of all geographic dimensions, of the variety of players and of funds, from the smallest to the largest. All the summit’s partners have joined forces to propose the best examples and projects, in relation to these criteria of quality and diversity.

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