Climate Negotiations
Western European and Others Group
The Group of Western European and Other States (WEOG) is one of the five United Nations regional groups, comprising 28 member states. While its core members are from Western Europe, it also includes countries from North America, the Eastern Mediterranean, Fennoscandia, and Oceania. Unlike most other UN regional groups, WEOG’s membership is not solely based on geography but on geopolitical alignment. Its members are generally part of the "Western world," made up of affluent, developed liberal democracies, often associated with NATO or the broader US-led military-economic community.
WEOG serves as a non-binding forum for dialogue on regional and international issues. It also plays a role in helping allocate seats on United Nations bodies by nominating candidates from within the group.
Stance on Climate Change Negotiations
During COP-28 in 2023, the Western European and Others Group (WEOG), including the
United States, the European Union, Canada, Australia and other allies, played a considerable
role. WEOG took a strong stance in favour of phasing out fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse
gas emissions by 43% by 2030, and transitioning to renewable energy in order to limit global
warning to 2°C, and preferably to 1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement, thereby,
aligning with the findings of the Global Stocktake. In addition, WEOG, along with other
parties, supported the Global Pledge on Renewables and Energy Efficiency to triple
renewable energy capacity and double the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030.
Further, WEOG illustrated climate change as a major global threat, impacting food and water
security, migration, and causing geopolitical instability. Therefore, WEOG advocated for
integrating climate action into global security frameworks to ensure that mitigation and
adaptation efforts contribute to peace and stability, namely through promoting fair financing
for vulnerable nations and proposing innovations that promote a green economy. This
approach illustrates the need for global cooperation, financial support for developing nations,
and the promotion of clean energy technologies.
Further Reading
Authors
Matteo Tognocchi, Rijk van Gaalen, Caitlin Stelfox
