Climate summit in November to push implementing Paris Agreement: Morocco's FM

The global climate summit COP 22 is slated for November in Marrakech, Morocco, as a move to achieve the commitments made under the Paris Agreement, Moroccan foreign minister Salahedine Mezour said Thursday.

The COP 22, the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, aims to speed up the implementation of the agreement through a voluntary, strong and sustaining action, the minister said at the opening of the plenary session of the first Alliances and Coalitions Global Forum.

"Today, climate actions involve not only countries, but also the private sector, the financial area, cities, regions and civil societies," Mezouar said.

Segolene Royal, chairwoman of the COP 21, said the issue of climate change is a matter of life, which causes death of millions across the world, calling for urgent actions.

The Paris Agreement on climate change can only take effect when the 55 countries with 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions ratify it, she noted.

Royal also praised the close cooperation between Morocco and France during Morocco's preparation for organizing the COP 22.

The two-day forum aims to establish a structure to make the COP 22 a high-level event, so as to encourage innovative initiatives.

It will also provide an opportunity for coalitions to discuss the plans for the Marrakech event, as well as potential cooperation, organizers say.

Participants will discuss means to strengthen voluntary initiatives to accelerate the process of limiting global warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius from the former target as two degrees Celsius. Endit