Germany is hosting the 23rd UN Climate Change Conference, its largest international conference in Bonn from the 6th - 17th of November with 25,000 representatives of governments and NGOs coming together to discuss climate change and steps that can be taken. Fiji is presiding over while Germany is hosting the conference. Main topics include climate and security and Germany will specifically focus on its climate protection policy and the adaptation with partner countries.

An important topic close to Fiji’s heart is forest preservation and the ability to support sustainable forestry projects. There are decisions being made about how to harvest wood without harming the ecosystem and that will lead to less CO2 emissions.

The conference is practicing what they are preaching by being as sustainable as possible during the meetings; providing mostly vegetarian food, lowering the amount of waste products and after the conference they will be restoring the flower meadow in the Rheinaue Park.

As part of Germany´s “environmental cultural diplomacy,” it is also going beyond their own borders, by assisting other countries that are also trying to cope with climate change. They are doing this by investing financially and was the first to pledge money for the Green Climate Fund. They are helping countries with fewer resources to prepare for the future consequences that climate change will bring and preparing them to be less vulnerable in these situations.

Germany itself has some lofty goals about their CO2 emissions. The aim is to become carbon-neutral by 2050 and there was a planned 40% reduction for 2020, and then to decrease by 55% for year 2030 and then become carbon-neutral by 2050.

Unfortunately, the Federal Environment Ministry admitted that Germany will fall short of its 2020 goal and will most likely have a reduction of about 32%. Therefore major adjustments will have to be made in order to meet their 2050 goal.

Germany and the other countries represented at the UN Climate Change Conference are working towards creating a better and more sustainable environment for the future and will certainly be successful in making positive changes through their own national policies and through their environmental cultural diplomacy.

• - http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Aussenpolitik/Themen/Klima/171102_COP23.html
• - https://www.deutschland.de/en/topic/environment/ambitious-targets
• - https://www.deutschland.de/en/topic/environment/climate-protection-strengthening-others