Updates from COP24

December 10, 2018

Alix Kashdan, YCELP Research Assistant

This page displays updates from COP 24, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland. Currently, the final text is still being negotiated in Katowice, as Parties have remained in the city for extra time to reach an agreement. It has also been announced that Chile will host COP 25 in 2019.


Thursday, December 13, 2018

  • On Thursday, a draft version of the COP24 text was drafted and submitted to Parties to review and negotiate.
  • The World Resources Institute convened a panel on long-term climate strategies


Panel on long-term strategies.


Wednesday, December 12, 2018


Coal display at the Poland pavilion.

  • Wednesday at COP24 marked the end of the Talanoa Dialogue, a year-long process initiatied by Fiji, the President of COP23.
  • C40 Cities hosted an event around urbanization in sub-Saharan African cities.
  • National ministers gave statements about their country’s climate pledges and hopes for the remainder of COP24.


The Fijian President of COP23 speaks during the closing of the Talanoa Dialogue.


Panelists discuss C40’s work with cities in sub-Saharan Africa.


Tuesday, December 11, 2018


Michał Kurtyka, Poland’s Secretary of State in the Ministry of Energy and COP24 President.

  • Tuesday concluded with a stocktake of progress so far and what is left to do at COP24. Much remains to be finalized, and COP24 President Michał Kurtyka stressed that the approach to negotiations needs to be rethought for the remaining days of the conference. He advised negotiators to “look at the big picture and avoid micro issues.”
  • A program on integrated urban planning stressed the importance of coordination between national and local governments, as well as among different sectors, in order to achieve net-zero emissions in cities.
  • Panelists from the private sector described their efforts to engage in low-carbon investing activities.


A graphic conveys the greater climate ambition of cities compared to nations.


Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Co-President at The Club of Rome, speaks about private finance.


Yale FES students attending COP24.


Monday, December 10, 2018


The India pavilion at COP24.

  • The first day of the second week of COP24 saw the arrival of ministers from around the world, here to finalize the Paris Rulebook text by the end of the week. 
  • Sue Biniaz, Yale Visiting Lecturer and former U.S. lead climate lawyer and negotiator, and Todd Stern, Brookings Fellow and U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change, spoke about the future of the Paris Agreement.
  • An event around sub-national actors in North America included speakers from Maryland, California, British Columbia, and Oaxaca.
  • The Climate Law and Governance Initiative and the Green Economics Institute convened a panel to discuss progress in environmental law, governance, and finance.


Sue Biniaz and Todd Stern.


Discussion on sub-national actors in North America.


Panel on environmental governance, law, and finance.