Petersberg Climate Dialogue 2023 : Building Trust and Driving Climate Action

Petersberg Climate Dialogue

The Petersberg Climate Dialogue 2023 took place in Berlin from May 2-3, 2023. The German Federal Foreign Office and the United Arab Emirates co-hosted the event, with the UAE also serving as the incoming COP28 Presidency. Delegates from 40 countries attended the event, aimed at strengthening trust in multilateral climate negotiations and between states.

The Petersberg Climate Dialogue is an annual high-level political and international forum that occurs before the annual United Nations Climate Change Conferences (Conference of the Parties or COP). The Dialogue is a series of negotiations to prepare for the yearly UN Climate Change Conferences between the COP conferences in the spring or summer. The appointed next COP-president and their delegation usually co-host the Petersberg Climate Dialogue.

This year’s focus included topics such as climate adaptation, climate finance, dealing with loss and damage, and most notably, the first-ever global stocktake.

The dialogue focused on a number of key issues, including:

• The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
• The importance of supporting developing countries in their transition to a low-carbon economy.
• The need to mobilize climate finance to support developing countries.

The dialogue also highlighted the need to address the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and food insecurity.

What is Petersberg Dialogue?

The Petersberg Climate Dialogue is an annual high-level political and international forum that takes place ahead of the annual United Nations Climate Change Conferences (Conference of the Parties or COP). The Dialogue facilitates open discussions in small groups on key issues in international climate policy. The central goal of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue is to strengthen trust both in multilateral climate negotiations and between countries, and to facilitate the negotiations leading up to COP of UNFCCC.

The first Petersberg Climate Dialogue was initiated by German politician and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2010, aimed at improving communication between leaders and environmental ministers following the nearly unsuccessful negotiations at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP15). The meeting took place at Hotel Petersberg, located on the hill named “Petersberg” near the German city of Bonn, where the UNFCCC is headquartered.

What is the purpose of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue?

The purpose of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue is to strengthen trust both in multilateral climate negotiations and between countries, and to facilitate the negotiations leading up to COP of UNFCCC. The Dialogue is a series of negotiations to prepare the yearly UN Climate Change Conferences in spring or summer time between the COP conferences. It facilitates open discussions in small groups on key issues in international climate policy.

The aim is to build alliances among nations that want to forge ahead, where industrialized countries, island states, and others can come together to discuss concrete steps towards overcoming the climate crisis. In addition to emissions reduction and adaptation, the agenda of the Dialogue features a long-held demand from many countries particularly affected by the climate crisis: financial support for overcoming loss and damage caused by climate change. The Dialogue is an annual high-level political and international forum held before the United Nations Climate Change.

How does the Petersberg Climate Dialogue relate to the UN Climate Change Conferences?

The Petersberg Climate Dialogue is an annual high-level political and international forum that takes place ahead of the annual United Nations Climate Change Conferences (Conference of the Parties or COP). The Dialogue is a series of negotiations to prepare the yearly UN Climate Change Conferences in spring or summer time between the COP conferences. The appointed next COP-president with his delegation usually is the co-host of PCD.

The central goal of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue is to strengthen trust both in multilateral climate negotiations and between countries, and to facilitate the negotiations leading up to next COP of UNFCCC. The Dialogue facilitates open discussions in small groups on key issues in international climate policy.

Key Takeaways from the Petersberg Climate Dialogue 2023

What is the Global Stocktake?

It is Administered by: UNFCCC.

It’s like taking inventory. It means looking at everything related to where the world stands on climate action and support, identifying the gaps, and working together to agree on solutions pathways (to 2030 and beyond).

The Global Stocktake (GST) is a process that evaluates the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Its purpose is to assess the collective progress made by countries in achieving the goals of the agreement over a five-year cycle. The stocktake is conducted in a transparent manner, involving both Parties (countries) and non-Party stakeholders.

The first stocktake began at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26) and will conclude at COP28. The GST plays a crucial role in evaluating global efforts under the Paris Agreement and identifying opportunities for further action and support.

It is a participatory process, allowing stakeholders to contribute valuable input and enhance our understanding of global efforts and priority actions.

The GST consists of two main components: the technical assessment, which evaluates the implementation of the Paris Agreement and progress towards its goals, and the facilitative dialogue, which provides a platform for Parties and non-Party stakeholders to share information and perspectives on progress and priorities.