Under2 Coalition

The world climate conference COP28 took place in Dubai from November 30th to December 12th, 2023. The main results of this year's COP were:

• “Global Stocktake” (GST): For the first time, a global inventory was created as to whether the greenhouse gas reductions promised so far are sufficient to achieve the 1.5° degree target and which “gaps” still need to be filled to achieve this. The result of the “Global Stocktake” was that humanity is heading towards an increase in the global average temperature of 2.1 to 2.8 degrees if all of the states’ current voluntary commitments are implemented. According to the final document, in order to further reduce global warming, a “comprehensive, rapid and sustainable reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions” of 43 percent by 2030 and 60 percent by 2035 compared to 2019 levels is required. By 2050, net carbon dioxide emissions should be zero (Number 27 in the final document).
• “Loss and Damage” compensation fund for poorer countries: So far, these countries have only received financial resources for adapting to the climate crisis and for projects to reduce emissions - but not for damage and losses. The fund is based at the World Bank for a transitional period. At the start of the conference, Germany and the United Arab Emirates each pledged 100 million dollar for the fund (as of December 12, 2023: a total of around 800 million dollar).
• Triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030
• Doubling energy efficiency by 2030
• Attempt to find a common position on ending the use of fossil fuels

Until the final declaration was passed, the last point was the main issue. It is an achievement that such wording was included in the final document. The call to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 is also welcome. In the same period, energy efficiency is to be doubled.

The next world climate conference COP29 will take place from November 11th to November 22nd, 2024 in Baku/Azerbaijan.

As part of Climate Week New York, Baden-Württemberg has the opportunity to share its experience as a member of the Under2 Coalition via a quote by Minister Thekla Walker. This quote explains in a few words why we are amongst the founding members of the Under2 Coalition and highlights the benefits of our activities.

Before the World Climate Conference COP28 (November 30 to December 12, 2023) in Dubai, there are many issues that we as european regions and countries want to focus on. Minister Thekla Walker explains in the video which issues need to be prioritized in Dubai from her point of view. (picture: © The Climate Group)

The World Climate Conference COP27 took place from 6 to 20 November 2022 in Sharm-el Sheikh in Egypt. In the final declaration, it was decided to set up a joint fund to compensate for climate damage in poorer countries. The participants reaffirmed their earlier decision to phase out coal. However, there is no mention of a farewell to oil and gas. The climate damage fund is intended to compensate the unavoidable consequences of global warming. The discussion about the fund was the biggest point of contention during the conference. It was discussed until the very end whether the demand for the expansion of renewable energies would be included for the first time. Now, only a "clean energy mix" is demanded, which should include energy production with low greenhouse gas emissions as well as renewable energies. An action programme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions was also adopted. In order to close the gap to the 1.5 degree path, the states are to improve their national targets for 2030 accordingly by the next climate conference in November 2023.

This year's General Assembly of the Under2 Coalition was held on the margins of the COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow and was a hybrid event (digital and face-to-face).

Franz Untersteller, former Minister of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector in Baden-Württemberg, is now Global Ambassador for the Under2 Coalition.

In just five years, the Under2 Coalition has established itself as the global climate protection network at the subnational level. Baden-Württemberg is proud to be one of the twelve founding members and supports the activities of the alliance to the best of its ability. Due to the Covid19 Pandemic, the anniversary is being celebrated virtually.

The General Assembly of the Under2 Coalition is held at the margins of the climate change conference COP25 in Madrid in Spain.

At the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg to the European Union, another Under2 Coalition Europe Members’ Meeting is taking place to set priorities for the incoming legislative period on the European level.

The Climate Week 2019 in New York City is linked to the Climate Action Summit of the UN Secretary General. The Under2 Coalition is involved and members meet for an exchange and to network.23rd to 29th of September 2019: The Climate Week 2019 in New York City is linked to the Climate Action Summit of the UN Secretary General. The Under2 Coalition is involved and members meet for an exchange and to network.

Baden-Württemberg hosts the International Conference in Climate Action (ICCA2019) in cooperation with the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and the City of Heidelberg. The conference revolves around the collaboration of different governance levels for climate action. The Under2 Coalition is on the spot and co-organizes one of the workshops.

At the climate change conference COP24 in Katowice in Poland, Under2 members meet for a common breakfast to network and exchange.

At the margins of the Global Climate Action Summit, the Under2 Coalition holds its General Assembly. Moreover, 18 new members are welcomed in the coalition.

The Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco showcases the manifold efforts of states and regions, cities, companies, investors and citizens. Several Under2 members commit themselves to certain challenges. Baden-Württemberg aims to reach net-zero carbon buildings in its sphere of responsibility at the latest by 2050.

A European members’ meeting of the Under2 Coalition is taking place in Brussels to set priorities with regards to climate and energy policy of the European Union.

The Under2 Coalition celebrates the opening of a liaison office at the premises of the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg to the European Union in Brussels. The office shall serve to better coordinate the European activities of the Under2 Coalition.

In the margins of the climate change conference COP23 in Bonn, the General Assembly of the Under2 coalition is held. The profile of the Under2 Coalition is raised by establishing a Steering Group and by transferring the parallel existing “States and Regions Alliance” into the Under2 Coalition. Moreover, another 16 states and regions join the Under2 Coalition. The total number of members has increased to more than 200 in the meantime.

At the Climate Week 2017 in New York another meeting of Under2 constituencies takes place.

Regional climate initiatives such as the Under2 Coalition are the main focus of this year’s edition of the Summer Academy at the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg in Berlin.

Then Governor of California, Jerry Brown, is appointed as special advisor for states and regions for the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP23 in Bonn later that year.

At the Clean Energy Ministerial in Peking Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is appointed as first Global Ambassador of the Under2 Coalition.

US President Donald Trump announces the withdrawal of the United States of America from the Paris Agreement. Despite that change in direction, more than 20 American States and cities reaffirm their commitment to ambitious climate action as part of their membership of the Under2 Coalition.

At the climate change conference COP22 in Marrakesh 29 further states and regions join the Under2 Coalition. The amount of members is now at 165 jurisdictions.

At the 2016 edition of the Climate Week in New York, representatives of the members of the Under2 MOU exchange their views. A discussion on the further strategic focus of the coalition ensues.

The Clean Energy Ministerial takes place in San Francisco, a meeting of national-level ministers in charge of the energy industry. California thus organises under this context a subnational Clean Energy Ministerial with representatives of Under2 MOU signatories.

Baden-Württemberg hosts a panel discussion on the Under2 MOU in cooperation with the Four Motors for Europe at the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg to the European Union in Brussels.

At the climate change conference COP21 in Paris,43 new signatories of the Under2 MOU are welcomed. At the end of 2015, more than 100 states and regions have joined the subnational initiative for climate action.

From now on, the non-governmental organisation “The Climate Group” acts as Secretariat to the Under2 Coalition due to its experience in coordinating the “States and Regions Alliance”.

At the EXPO in Milano the next signing ceremony for the Under2 MOU is organised. With the accession of Lombardy, all Four Motors of Europe have now signed the Under2 MOU.

At the Climate Week in New York another signing ceremony takes place for the Under2 MOU. Another six states and regions join, the total number rises to about 40 states and regions.

At a conference in Lyon, another partner region of Baden-Württemberg, Rhône-Alpes (now: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) and further states and regions sign the Under2 MOU.

At a conference of the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force (GCF) in Barcelona, further states and regions announce their support for the Under2 MOU due to the efforts of the initial signer Catalonia, which is a partner region of Baden-Württemberg.

Minister President Winfried Kretschmann, former Governor Jerry Brown and ten other government leaders sign the Under2 MOU, building the basis for the Under2 Coalition.

The idea for worldwide cooperation on climate at the subnational level arises at a meeting in San Francisco between Minister Franz Untersteller and then Californian Governor Jerry Brown.