High Ambition Coalition

High Ambition Coalition is an international diplomatic alliance formed to advocate for elevated targets and accelerated timelines in global United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations, linking ambitious climate mitigation, adaptation, and finance goals with multilateral diplomacy. It emerged amid high-profile negotiations during the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference process and has engaged with a wide range of states, non-state actors, and international organizations to shape outcomes in landmark agreements. The coalition has been cited in discussions involving major summits such as the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, the Paris Agreement, and the COP26 deliberations.

History and formation

The coalition was launched in the context of contentious talks at the 2013 United Nations Climate Change Conference and the lead-up to negotiations influenced by actors present at the 2014 United Nations Climate Change Conference and the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Founding diplomacy involved negotiators from small island states like Republic of the Marshall Islands and influential capitals including delegations from United Kingdom, United States, and European Union member states such as France and Germany. Early momentum intersected with advocacy from entities like Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, and policy initiatives echoed by institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. High-profile figures connected to early efforts included negotiators and officials who had operated within frameworks like the Kyoto Protocol process and later contributions at events like the G7 summit and the G20 summit.

Membership and structure

Membership has encompassed a diverse mix of countries spanning regions represented in forums like the African Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the Pacific Islands Forum, as well as individual states including Australia, Canada, China, Italy, Japan, Spain, Norway, Kenya, Bhutan, Seychelles, Fiji, Tuvalu, Nauru, Maldives, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Portugal', Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname, Guyana', Belize, Honduras', Guatemala and others at various times. The coalition’s convening and coordination have drawn on mechanisms similar to those used by groups like the Like-Minded Developing Countries caucus and the Umbrella Group, while organizational practices mirror multilateral coordination seen in the United Nations Development Programme and the World Health Organization. Leadership has rotated among diplomats and negotiators who previously served in institutions such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (United Kingdom), United States Department of State, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and national ministries akin to Ministry of Environment (Chile).

Objectives and policy positions

Core objectives align with pushing for a more ambitious implementation of targets reflected in the Paris Agreement, advocating for mechanisms comparable to the Loss and Damage Fund, and promoting accelerated commitments in areas addressed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Renewable Energy Agency, and the Green Climate Fund. Policy positions emphasize accelerated reductions akin to pathways modeled by research from the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C, support for transparency frameworks similar to the Enhanced Transparency Framework under the UNFCCC, and stronger finance commitments paralleling those discussed within the GCF and Multilateral Development Banks such as the Asian Development Bank. The coalition has promoted ambition in nationally determined contributions in keeping with scenarios explored by institutions like the International Energy Agency and advocacy campaigns led by groups such as 350.org and Sierra Club.

Key initiatives and actions

The coalition played a visible role in negotiating textual outcomes during the adoption of the Paris Agreement and in subsequent COP sessions including COP24, COP25, and COP26, coordinating positions that influenced references to mechanisms like carbon markets discussed under Article 6 and finance arrangements reminiscent of proposals considered by the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund. It has engaged with high-level events such as the UN Secretary-General's Climate Action Summit, the High-Level Segment of the UNFCCC COP, and multilateralside meetings at summits like the Climate Ambition Summit (2020). The coalition collaborated with civil society organizations including World Resources Institute, Climate Action Network, C40 Cities, and business coalitions such as We Mean Business to catalyze pledges and alignments similar to those announced at initiatives like the RE100 and Powering Past Coal Alliance.

Influence and criticisms

Observers credit the coalition with helping to secure stronger language in agreements paralleling outcomes advocated by the Paris Agreement negotiators and contributing to pressure for enhanced national commitments similar to those sought by the IPCC authors and climate science institutions. Critics from groups like Friends of the Earth and commentators in outlets such as coverage of the COP process have argued the coalition’s approach can prioritize rapid mitigation ambition at the expense of debates over equitable finance akin to disputes seen in the Loss and Damage negotiations and historical tensions with blocs like the G77 and China and the Alliance of Small Island States. Academic analyses referencing scholars affiliated with universities such as University of Oxford, Harvard University, and London School of Economics have debated its influence on negotiating dynamics compared to other caucuses like the African Group.

Category:International climate policy coalitions