10 major events of 2023

1/ The work of the century and Grande-Synthe: The state will have to demonstrate that it is doing enough for the climate

In early 2023, the associations behind the Job of the Century will ask the Paris Administrative Court to impose a financial penalty against the French state, which has been condemned for climate inaction in October 2021. In the case of Grande-Synthe, in which the state is also condemned, the unions will present a new report at the beginning of the year showing how inadequate the measures taken by the state so far are. .

2/ Total Eacop/Tilenga: decision expected on February 28 in the first trial on the duty of vigilance

On December 7, the first court session was held on the essence of the law “On Vigilance”. It opposes the big TotalEnergies and its mega oil project Eacop/Tilenga with six NGOs. This law, pioneered in France in 2017, requires multinational companies to publish vigilance plans to prevent risks of human rights and environmental violations along the value chain.

3/ Publication of IPCC’s 6th assessment report on March 20

The final report of the IPCC’s 6th assessment round, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, will consolidate the contributions of the three working groups, published in August 2021, February 2022 and April 2022 respectively. 1.5°C warming, climate change affects land and ocean, and the cryosphere in a changing climate.

4/ One Forest Summit in Libreville in March

Organized under the auspices of France and Gabon, the One Forest Summit ecosystems – primary forests, peat swamps, mangroves, etc. aims to protect – which constitutes the vital resources of carbon and biodiversity. At COP27, President Emmanuel Macron promised a “positive conservation program” that would give these ecosystems special status and offer “political and financial agreements” to help states that protect them preserve them.

5/ Global Agreement on Plastic Pollution: Next negotiations in Paris in May

The second session of negotiations on the international agreement on plastic pollution will be held in France. It aims to end plastic pollution. States must adopt a binding framework by the end of 2024, setting out obligations and control measures for the entire life cycle of plastics.

6/ Innovative finance summit in Paris in June

After announcing a new fund dedicated to loss and damage at COP27, Emmanuel Macron intends to use the summit to find new financing mechanisms with the most vulnerable countries to help them fight climate change. With Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, he called for a major overhaul of the international financial system to better address climate issues. From the spring, international financial institutions such as the IMF, the World Bank and the OECD will have to propose very concrete solutions to activate these mechanisms.

7/ The climate energy programming law (LPEC) will redefine France’s energy future

The first Energy and Climate Programming Law, expected for the second half of 2023, will set priorities for action, taking into account the increase in the European goal of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions to -55% in 2030. Later, the editions of the 3rd National Low Carbon Strategy (SNBC) and the Multiannual Energy Program (PPE) should also be updated for the period 2024-2033.

8/ TNFD’s final recommendations are expected in the 3rd quarter

The Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) is expected to release the fourth version of its framework in February, ahead of a final release expected in September. For businesses and financial institutions, this framework should help them identify and mitigate nature-related risks and opportunities.

9/ SDG summit in September: restart the momentum

This will be an opportunity to pick up stocks in the medium term and restart the momentum. In 2015, UN Member States adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at transforming our world by 2030. But the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly slowed their progress over the past two years.

10/ COP28 on climate in United Arab Emirates in November: 1st global report

2023 should be the year of assessment of climate action at the global level, as stipulated in the Paris Agreement. Ahead of COP28, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will hold a Climate Ambition Summit in September to keep the 1.5°C target alive. COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh failed to make progress on new targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Concepcion Alvarez @conce1