UNFCCC COP 24 - December 2018

Mr President,

I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Umbrella Group of countries

We came to Katowice with collective resolution to finalise the implementation guidance for the Paris Agreement. Together, we have achieved it.

The Katowice Decisions provide encompassing guidance on issues under the Agreement. We have brought Paris to life.

It has not been easy and we have all worked hard to find each other. We are pleased that we have been able to do so.

The outcome here is a clear signal of the commitment to move forward in the spirit of Paris, and now the spirit of Katowice.

We welcome clear guidance on the information parties will put forward as part of future commitments, and clear guiding principles for accounting toward targets.

The guidance on adaption will stimulate increased efforts on adaptation.

The comprehensive and robust Enhanced Transparency Framework will underpin mutual confidence, collective understanding of our commitments and allow us to track progress toward our goals.

The outcomes on finance and means of implementation will provide a strong basis to support implementation.

We welcome the modalities for the Global stocktake, a crucial part of the Agreement that will inform our progress for years to come.

We are committed to work with Parties to secure a strong and robust outcome to operationalise Article 6 at COP25 in Chile.

We have found the Talanoa Dialogue a constructive and enriching process, with significant inputs including the recent IPCC report. It is significant that at the same time as adopting an important outcome on Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform, we have also embraced a traditional way of communication and sharing stories in support of climate action.

Going forward, we welcome opportunities to consider ways of increasing our climate efforts. In this, we will be informed by the constructive spirit of the Talanoa Dialogue – in its many forms.

We would like to express our respect and gratitude to the Presidencies of Morocco and Fiji for their tireless efforts to keep us on the path to Katowice and to State Secretary Kurtyka and your Presidency team for your able leadership.

Landing the Paris work programme has been no mean feat. Congratulations.

We also reiterate our gratitude to the Presiding officers and the Secretariat for their integral role on this journey. And finally, we thank you Parties.

Mr President. The [Katowice Text] sets us firmly on the path to delivering the commitment made in Paris.

Thank you.