In a recent statement, Rachid Tahiri, head of climate change at the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, called for the removal of “the last remaining obstacles” and the establishment of guarantees to initiate substantial discussions on Article 9.1, which governs the legal obligation of developed countries to provide financial support to developing countries.
He emphasized that the success of global commitments will depend on the clarity of resources allocated to developing countries to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
According to a summary note released by the presidency, consultations have helped identify a foundation of agreement on several key areas: the centrality of multilateralism, the transition from a negotiating COP to an implementation COP, the crucial role of international cooperation, and the necessity of accelerating climate action in this “critical decade.”
The presidency also mentioned an “increasing alignment” on energy transition, the importance of broader access to financing, and the need to reduce capital costs for developing countries.
However, financing remains a major sticking point. The note highlights three distinct options on how to approach financial flows, their governance, and their integration with existing commitments, particularly regarding adaptation and the implementation of Article 9.1. This gap is seen as “too significant” by several delegations to reach a rapid compromise.
“We remain concerned about the scale of unresolved issues, as time is pressing,” stated Rachid Tahiri, calling for “serious and structured discussions” on Article 9.1.
“We can only make progress with a dedicated process for this article, one of the few that establishes a clear legal obligation,” he insisted.
Morocco, aligning with both African and Arab groups on climate finance, pointed out that some countries remain hesitant to open up this issue and requested that the presidency identify the “necessary guarantees” to reassure all Parties.
“We encourage our partners to specify what safeguards they would need to engage in a non-prejudicial dialogue on 9.1,” the Moroccan official added, urging the Brazilian presidency to lead a more detailed discussion on this aspect.
While acknowledging the recognition by several Parties of the role of public financing, Morocco advocated for a framework that clearly distinguishes the three levels of financial action: provision, mobilization, and expanded flows, to allow for balanced progress. “We are ready to leave Belém with active processes on these three levels, provided that each has its own space,” the Moroccan representative reiterated.
For him, these clarifications are essential to “build trust” and ensure the capacity of developing countries, including Morocco, “to implement Nationally Determined Contributions in line with their ambitions, including their conditional aspects.”
The presidency, for its part, recalled the urgency of action to keep the 1.5°C target “within reach” and called for intensified efforts in adaptation, energy transition, transparency, and technical cooperation, notably through Article 6 and existing support mechanisms.
MAP