The 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UNFCCC will take place from 7-18 November 2016 in Marrakesh, Morocco. During COP22, parties will begin preparations for entry into force of the Paris Agreement.

As non-Party stakeholders have a significant role to play in enabling the global economy to achieve its climate goals, CDP is hosting a number of events at COP22 aiming to increase non-Party stakeholders’ engagement in the process and facilitate dialogue between the private and the public sectors.

Get in touch with us if you are interested to meet one of our colleagues attending the conference.

Water management for business success and climate resilience

8 November, 10:30 – 12:00, Nordic pavilion, Blue zone
Co-host: Stockholm International Water Institute

Integrating water challenges into the global climate policy architecture is essential for the successful implementation of the Paris Agreement. Business leaders are already addressing the issue of water stewardship in the global climate change dialogue through The Business Alliance for Water and Climate Change (BAFWAC), led by CDP, CEO Water Mandate, World Business Council for Sustainable Development and SUEZ. The alliance encourages companies to analyze and report water-related risks, implement collaborative response strategies, report on water use data, and reduce their impacts on water availability and quality in direct operations and along the value chain. This event will showcase best practice by companies and CDP will present its analysis of water related actions companies are taking to enhance resilience while maintaining and indeed enhancing competitive advantage.

Global Climate Action Agenda - Business and Industry Day

9 November, 13:30 – 18:30, TBC, Blue zone
Co-Facilitator: We Mean Business/ Confédération Générale des Entreprises du Maroc / UN Global Compact

Business has a significant role to play in enabling the global economy to achieve – and exceed – its climate goals. As a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, the private sector is a crucial partner in securing a prosperous and sustainable low-carbon economy for all. Business leaders are taking heed; more companies are now committed to leadership on climate action than at any time in history. But, there is more to be done to fully realize business’ potential to contribute to putting the world on a below 2°C trajectory.

The Business & Industry Day will bring together representatives from the private and public sectors, to showcase corporate action and discuss how it can be rapidly scaled-up ahead of 2020. The day will be split into the following two sections:

1) The showcase event, which will:

• Showcase some of the most impactful private sector climate actions in support of the Paris goals and report on the progress these initiatives have made since COP21;
• Identify how policy measures can increase and accelerate private sector action and what the key means of tracking progress and measuring the impact of initiatives will be going forwards.

2) The dialogue session will be dedicated specifically to the topic of carbon pricing, reflecting the extraordinary extent of cross-sectoral collaboration that has developed around this issue since COP21, as exemplified by initiatives such as the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition.

Please register your interest here.

Side-event: Proposing a “ladder” towards accountability on climate commitments

10 November, 14:30 – 16:00, EU Pavilion, Blue zone
Co-host: ADEME, French government

Companies, cities, and regions have made thousands of ambitious climate commitments, for example setting targets for science-based emissions reductions and renewable electricity consumption, or committing to deforestation-free supply chains and responsible policy engagement. How can we know whether these commitments are in line with a transition to a 2 degrees pathway? In this event we propose that corporate reporting against climate commitments climbs a “ladder” of accountability that consists of four iterative steps: measurement, reporting & transparency, commitment and accountability. We will explore how these steps can be operationalised and the challenges and co-benefits involved, from the perspective of the data gatherer, the non-state actors and the policymakers.

Unlocking ambition: How non-party stakeholders are contributing to the low carbon transition at COP22

12 November 11:30 – 13:00, Room 'Arabian', Blue zone
Co-host: Climate-KIC/ International Standards Organization

Non-party stakeholder climate action is key to achieving the Paris goals. Non-party stakeholders are already making ambitious climate commitments, but their relevance needs to be assessed in regard to the long-term goal of limiting global warming towards below 2 degrees. In order to align with this long-term goal, companies need a few tools, such as international standards, innovation incubators and an enabling policy environment. The overall purpose of this event will be to help accelerate implementation and create a virtuous cycle of climate action, including public and private sector collaboration, guided by new standards and powered by innovation.

Side-event: Business Alliance for Water and Climate

14 November, 14:00 – 15:00, Suez stand, Green Zone
Co-host: Suez

Preparing for and adapting to new climate realities will be one of the defining challenges of the 21st century. Recognizing the considerable environmental, social, and economic value at stake due to worsening water stress and climate change, the private sector - through the Business Alliance for Water and Climate Change (BAfWaC) - is calling for:

• Water challenges to be integrated into the global climate policy and financing architecture, and
• Businesses to commit to take meaningful action to address water and climate challenges.

CDP Global Water Forum

15 November, 08:00 – 10:00, Royal Mansour, Marrakesh

Water security is fundamental to achieving companies’ transition to a low carbon future. At the Forum, CDP will release the results of its annual water report and celebrate the Water A List, those companies leading the way in the sustainable management of water resources. CDP is honoured to welcome key note speaker Mrs Hakima El Haite, Minister of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment of Morocco and UNFCCC's Climate Champion and Barry Parkin, Chief Sustainability Officer of Mars Inc at the event. If you are interested in attending the Forum, please register here.

For successful implementation of the Paris Agreement, we call on policy makers to:

1. Reduce emissions in the short term through the Global Climate Action Agenda.
2. Enhance adaptation to build climate-resilient economies and communities.
3. Connect non-state action to an increase in ambition with every 5-year cycle, starting in 2018.
4. New and additional climate finance at scale from public and private sources.
5. Enact meaningful pricing of carbon and eliminate fossil fuel subsidies.
6. Drive towards net zero emissions by ensuring that the 2020 NDCs align with long-term low-GHG development strategies.