Germany and France have pledged to do all they can to strike a global climate deal by the end of the year. At informal talks in Berlin, both countries stressed the need for economic incentives for decarbonization.

Chief negotiators from Latin America and the Caribbean met in Santiago de Chile, in a meeting organized with the support of ECLAC, the European Union, UNEP and France.

This year marks a watershed for Latin America as governments decide what they are willing to contribute to a new climate agreement in Paris this December. This is not just a question of offers to tackle climate change - how governments define their plans will determine the level of political buy-in from citizens, civil society, and businesses. The implementation of ambitious and solid contributions is more likely if constituencies consider them beneficial, credible, and legitimate.

13 Caribbean Heads of State and Government have called for an effective global agreement at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in December. The leaders made the call in a statement titled ‘Declaration of Fort-de-France’ on 9 May at a meeting in Martinique, chaired by French President François Hollande.