The King attends the COP21 climate conference in Paris

On Monday 30 November and Tuesday 1 December, The King took part in the UN's COP21 climate conference.

The nations of the world came together in Paris between 30 November and 11 December for COP21, the 21st session of the Conference of the Partie

 The King and the Prime Minister at the Swedish delegation's table. The King speaks with a delegate from Sri Lanka. Photo: royalcourt.se

s under the UN's climate convention. The aim of COP21 was to reach a climate agreement so that global warming can be limited to a maximum of two degrees. Important issues included financing and monitoring the agreement.

Monday 30 November

During the morning, The King and Prime Minister Stefan Löfven arrived at Le Bourget, the conference area where COP21 was held, for the introductory meeting attended by around 150 heads of state. The attendees were welcomed by France's President François Hollande and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The conference began with a minute of silence to honour the victims of the Paris terror attacks on 13 November. The conference was then opened with speeches by François Hollande, Ban Ki-moon and France's Minister of Foreign Affairs Laurent Fabius.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opens COP21. Photo: royalcourt.se

The national speeches continued during the afternoon, and Prime Minister Stefan Löfven gave the Swedish address.

World leaders came together on Monday for the UN climate conference. Photo: royalcourt.se

Tuesday 1 December

The King's second day at the climate conference in Paris began with a meeting with Johan Kuylenstierna, CEO of the Stockholm Environment Institute, followed by discussions on the day's programme and a summary of the previous day's high-level meeting.

The King then took part in a conference on forestry and the climate. Manuel Pulgar Vidal – Peru's Minister of State for the Environment and Chairman of COP20 – welcomed the attendees.

  During the forestry conference. Photo: royalcourt.se

  

The forestry conference was a Peruvian initiative within the framework of the Lima Paris Action Agenda. Prince Charles gave an opening speech. Geographic panels (Brazil, Indonesia, Latin America and Africa) presented local initiatives, followed by discussions.

 The King, Swedish Board of Agriculture investigator Frida Edström, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences' Susanne von Walter and Mia Crawford from the Ministry of Enterprise discuss forestry issues. Photo: royalcourt.se

 The morning continued with a seminar on the theme "Paris and Beyond? How Non-state Actors Can Help Assess Contributions and Ratchet up Ambition", organised by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) together with the Norwegian climate research institute CICERO. The seminar was held at CICERO's pavilion, and featured discussions on how the global targets should be safeguarded after the climate conference.

 The King at CICERO's pavilion with Kristin Halvorsen, Director of the Norwegian climate research institute CICERO, and Veronika Wand-Danielsson, Sweden's ambassador to France. Photo: royalcourt.se

After lunch, which was served at CICERO's pavilion and hosted by Kristine Halvorsen and Johan Kuylenstierna, The King visited the Nordic Council of Ministers' pavilion. There, The King met the chief negotiators for the Nordic delegations and was given a status update on the discussions held during the first two days.

 The Nordic Council of Ministers was responsible for a joint Nordic pavilion during the COP negotiations, with the theme of new Nordic climate solutions. The aim was to contribute towards the climate dialogue from a Nordic perspective, but with a global view. Photo: royalcourt.se

 French Minister of Agriculture Stéphane Le Foll, Director-General of FAO José Graziano da Silva, The King and Deputy Director-General of FAO Maria Helena Semedo. Photo: royalcourt.se

 

COP21 in Paris

The UNFCCC's twenty-first Conference of the Parties (COP21) was held in Paris, France, on 30 November-11 December 2015.

The idea was that the nations of the world should decide there on the international climate policy frameworks for the period following 2020, in line with what was agreed in Durban in 2011. In Durban, it was resolved that an agreement should be reached no later than 2015 to enter into force in 2020.

In addition to the negotiations, a major fair took place during COP21 including workshops and seminars, with presentations of new technology and various environmental initiatives. zee Gustavolt Iswearnews.com