The IASS is pleased to invite you to a lecture and discussion on the challenges and opportunities of the Paris agreement on Climate Change by

Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf


co-chair of “Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP)” of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which is taking place at the end of this year in Paris is a crucial conference that needs to achieve an globally effective and fair climate agreement in order to effectively push the climate protection forward and to promote sustainable development.

The declaration of the G7 in June in Elmau and the encyclical of Pope Francis have shown that there are clear commitments on the part of broad alliances in politics and society on a sustainable development oriented climate policy. The linking of development policy processes and instruments, such as the adoption of the "Sustainable Development Goals" of the post-2015 agenda and the process of "Financing for Development" as well as the UNFCCC process offers an unprecedented opportunity. For a successful conclusion of the negotiations on a new global agreement on climate change mitigation and adaptation, the integration of these processes and the development of routes for sustainable economic development of all countries is an important prerequisite.

We are very pleased and honoured that we could win Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf to discuss the prospects of international climate policy before COP 21 in Paris. Dr. Djoghlaf is co-chair of the „Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action” (ADP) and former Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) from 2006 - 2012. In the context of ADP, Dr. Djoghlaf has taken on the task, together with his American colleague Dr. Daniel Reifsnyder, to lead the negotiations on the draft agreement, which will be finalised during the COP 21 in Paris. The integrative negotiating style of the two co-chairs currently contributes to develop an agreement that is supported by all Member States of the Convention on Climate Change. This opens up the opportunity for cooperation, creating a global climate policy with development prospects for all.

We are looking forward to fruitful discussions on the prospects of the Paris conference and agreement and its implications for future climate governance.
Please forward this invitation to interested colleagues and let us know if you are going to participate by 5th September in response to this E-Mail (reply to: jana.fasheh@iass-potsdam.de).