US Special Envoy for Climate Change Jonathan Pershing joined the Atlantic Council on October 25, 2016 to discuss the current status of the Paris Agreement and the agenda for COP-22. Central to COP-22 will be safeguarding the Paris Agreement and endorsing an acceleration of the implementation timetable. A definite shift in the stakes of climate change has made it more likely that national governments will indeed implement the agreement, even without external pressure. As increasing GDP while decreasing emissions is clearly feasible, states from around the globe are initiating the transfer to a low-carbon economy. This trend facilitates the departure from a bifurcated globe, divided between the developed and developing countries where interests of both parties are at odds. Now, an increasing number of countries accept that the inaction in the face of climate change is not an option and are using international forums to negotiate solutions. COP-22 will likely keep the momentum on these issues rolling. New York Times correspondent, Coral Davenport moderated the discussion, asking important questions about the transparency and specificity of the Paris Agreement as well as Russia’s role in the global effort to curb climate change.

Image: Special Envoy for Climate Change Jonathan Pershing discusses US climate policy and priorities prior to COP-22 in Marrakech, Morocco.