For many people across the world, climate change is already a matter of life and death. Yet we are still not doing enough to protect them. Nor are we doing enough to capitalize on the social, economic and environmental opportunities of climate action,
which can enable economies and societies to thrive sustainably for decades to come.
The UNFCCC Conference of Parties in Katowice was undoubtedly a step forward. By agreeing on the rules to operationalize the Paris Agreement, nations signaled that they are ready to step up ambition.
At COP 24, we also saw other critical players, such as leaders in the finance sector, demonstrate their readiness to act on climate change with the urgency
and seriousness it deserves. Multilateral development banks, private banks and investors all made promises that bode well for divesting their holdings of fossil
fuels, incorporating climate risks in their portfolios
and investing in concrete solutions to help developing
nations adapt to climate change.