Nonprofit organisation (NPO) The Climate Reality Project announced its Road to Paris initiative last month, a major international campaign that will galvanise citizens, business leaders, NPOs, and nongovernmental organisations around climate-change action and encourage countries at December’s United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s twenty-first Conference of the Parties (COP 21), in Paris, to sign a strong emissions reduction agreement.
This will include meaningful emissions reduction commitments based on national circumstances, a system of periodic review for these commitments and a long-term goal of net zero carbon emissions.
TheRoad to Paris compaign focuses on mobil-ising public support from the global community and citizens in eight countries that hold strategic significance for the upcoming negotiations as a building block for a strong international agreement. Target countries include South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, the Philippines and the US.
The Climate Reality Project will also have a programmatic presence in Mexico and Europe.
“The UN climate negotiations that will take place in December mark a crucial opportunity for the international community to come to a bold, universal agreement to make significant emissions reduction commitments, including a long-term goal for zero net carbon emissions,” says former US Vice President and The Climate Reality Project chairperson Al Gore.
He adds that the Road to Paris initiative will not end at COP 21.
“We cannot afford to gamble with the future of our planet. Now is the time for people all over the world to lend their voices to the cause and urge their leaders to take this historic first step,” he says.
The Climate Reality Project’s Road to Paris campaign will build on work the group has already undertaken in each key country. In South Africa, this is through the African Climate Reality Project, which trained over 700 Climate Leaders in Johannesburg last year.
The African Climate Reality Project’s Road to Paris campaign includes urging and supporting the South African government and negotiators to commit to and submit the country’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution timeously, and a call for the adoption of 40% renewable energy by 2030.
With the support of The Climate Reality Project headquarters and in coordination with other environmental groups, the African Climate Reality Project will employ social and digital media tactics to educate and mobilise communities, hold events and offer practical suggestions for grassroots actions to support and strengthen the commitments of government.
Its partnership with the Road to Paris initiative will also play a significant role in the campaign and serve as a rallying point for in-country programmes this summer.
A Live Earth concert will be held in Durban in June.