Activities of Secretary-General in Germany, 15-16 November

United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres arrived on Wednesday, 15 November, in Bonn, Germany, from Manila, Philippines, to participate in the twenty-third session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP23).

At the high‑level segment of COP23, the Secretary‑General said that we need more ambition in the fight against climate, the defining threat of our time.

In his speech, as well as during a press conference, Mr. Guterres identified five ambition action areas:  reducing emissions, strengthening resilience, mobilizing finance, building partnerships, and exercising political leadership.  (See Press Release SG/SM/18785.)

In Bonn, the Secretary‑General also held a series of bilateral meetings, including with President Emmanuel Macron of France and China’s Special Representative on Climate Change Affairs, Xie Zhenhua.

He left the next morning for the United Kingdom to give a lecture at the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London on “Counter‑terrorism and human rights: winning the fight while upholding our values”.