In 2021, the Climate Policy Council, together with its counterparts in the UK and Chile, initiated and established a new global network of national climate policy councils – the International Climate Councils Network, ICCN. The network officially launches today, November 1, at COP26 in Glasgow.
The event; Making ambition count – the role of Climate Councils in turning commitments into actions (18:00 – 19:00, local time) can be followed live via the UK Climate Council’s Youtube channel here
The climate policy councils participating in the network provide evidence-based and independent expert advice and assessments to guide governments’ implementation of effective policies leading to reduced emissions and adaptation to climate change.
Councils face many common challenges, so the network aims to increase opportunities for cooperation, exchange of experience and joint learning. The response and interest has been above expectations and over 20 climate councils from six different continents have participated in the two meetings held so far this year (in May and September).
In connection with the launch, several members of the network, including the Climate Policy Council and the Swedish National Expert Council for Climate Adaptation, will publish an open letter addressed to the heads of state and governments of the world and COP26 President Alok Sharma to stress the importance of moving from ambitions to actions and the importance of science based policy. We believe that independent and expert oriented climate councils can play an important role in making visible, reviewing, evaluating and analysing whether national ambitions are translated into sufficiently robust policies needed to deliver on the Paris Agreement.