Our planet faces numerous climate changes and the negative effects on the environment are key to the universal sustainable agenda. 2015 was a key year for multilateralism and sustainable development with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the conclusion of the 21 Conference of Parties within the UN Framework Convention on Climate change (Cop 21) and the agreement on a multilateral legal framework.

Within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development all sustainable development goals are interconnected and their aim is that good governance empowers people to create more peaceful, prosperous and environmentally friendly societies.  Environmental sustainability is key for a sustainable prosperity, well-being and preservation of the planet. The greener economies will certainly change societies to more equitable and sustainable lifestyles.

Cycling is an active part in this, and ECF issued the “Cycling delivers on the development goals” document to support the 2030 UN agenda.

The Paris agreement at Cop 21 completed the 2030 agenda for sustainable development,  (goal 13) promising to strengthen the development agenda through the numerous cobenefits of climate. The 2015 Paris Agreement at COP 21 is the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate agreement and a significant landmark in the worldwide fight against climate change.

June 18-24 has seen the 1^st 2018 Green Diplomacy Week with several key events with EU institutions, EU member states and worldwide leaders preparing the next Cop24 Conference in Katowice.

Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, said: "With 2018 a crucial year for accelerating our work to turn the Paris Agreement into action, the EU is stepping up its efforts to reach out to countries and stakeholders all around the world. We are determined to continue playing a leading role in delivering on the promises of the Paris Agreement – and we want everybody on board."

On 17-19 June the Petersberg Dialog hosted by the Federal Environment Ministry and the Government of the Republic of Poland with representatives of 35 countries, formulated a clear belief that the Paris Agreement implementation rules will be adopted at the UN Climate Change Conference in Katowice at the end of 2018.

On 20-21 June the Ministerial on Climate Change MoCA convened in Brussels by Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete , the Canadian Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna, and China’s Special Representative on Climate Change, Xie Zhenhua  addressed the key issues in global climate negotiations to support the Cop24 UN negotiating process.

On 22 June a conference on Climate, peace and security was hosted by HRVP Federica Mogherini in Brussels gathering Ministers from around the world, top climate United Nations officials, experts and advocates discussing global security and peace challenges affected by climate change.

One of the most important goals of the 24th Session of the of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) will be the adoption of a package of decisions to fully implement the Paris Agreement, in accordance with the decisions adopted in Paris (COP21) and in Marrakesh (CMA1.1).

As The Guardian stated  in its article How cycling could help the Paris climate talks change the world “Transport is a major contributor to overall greenhouse gas emissions – in most nations the second-biggest element after energy generation. In the EU, road transport alone makes up about 20% of all emissions, and unlike for most other sectors it is still tending to rise”

ECF’s Secretary General Bernhard Ensink, who represented ECF and the World Cycling Alliance at the Sum4All consortium meeting at COP23 in Bonn, Germany, said: “I am happy with the acknowledgement of the important role of cycling in the Global Mobility Report 2017 e.g. where it states in the vision on the future (p. 16): ‘Transport networks will be seamlessly integrated to meet mobility needs through motorized and active modes - walking and cycling.’'

ECF issued a study calculating that if all the EU’s nations achieved Danish levels of cycling this alone would account for between 5% and 11% of the emissions reductions needed to reach the EU’s official 2020 emissions targets, and would be between 57% and 125% of the reduction needed in transport emissions.

Cop24 conference is round the corner and ECF will support and attend the event to ensure cycling is represented, supporting a more environmentally friendly planet for all future generations.