A practise session for the Talanoa Dialogue was held on the 6 May, as part of the climate change conference that took place in Bonn, Germany, from 30 April to 10 May. The Talanoa Dialogue aims to achieve the goal of the Paris Agreement and reduce the rise in temperature to 1.5℃ - 2℃ above pre-industrial levels, and rather than using conventional negotiation. it encourages the sharing of stories (which can include experiences or ideas) by countries, cities, local governments, industries and other organisations, in order to develop a sense of empathy and strengthen the strategies used by each of those involved. This time, the Talanoa Dialogue was attended by over 250 participants, who split into seven groups to share over 700 stories relating to the themes of “Where are we?”, “Where do we want to go?” and “How do we get there?”.

Where Are We?

In response to this question, many of the participants commented on current greenhouse gas emission levels, and the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere. At the same time, they also discussed more specific examples of how the negative effects of climate change have become apparent, such as abnormal weather, reduced access to water and energy, influences on public security conditions, and migration resulting from rising sea levels. Prior to the dialogue, the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii announced that it had recorded CO2 concentrations of over 410 ppm in April 2018, for the first time in its history of over 60 years (for comparison, CO2 concentration was at 280 ppm prior to the Industrial Revolution). Partly due to this, many of the participants conveyed to those around them the urgency of the problem and the need for immediate counter-strategies.

Conversely, detailed approaches relating to emission reduction policies, relevant legal regulations, the formation of cooperative relationships between government ministries, the development of long-term strategies and the use of traditional knowledge were provided by the countries that took part, regardless of level of development or country size. These proactive strategies were introduced to the discussion not only by governments, but also by a diverse range of actors including businesses, local governments, and civil action groups. For example, it was brought up that the number of businesses using Science-Based Targets for emission reduction (SBTs), which can be thought of as the business equivalent of the 2℃ target for nations, has risen dramatically. International negotiations can often fall into the trap of developed countries and developing countries taking sides against each other, but in this instance the nature of the dialogue, and how it involved a diverse range of actors providing detailed examples of ways in which they are seriously tackling climate issues, appears to have brought about a constructive atmosphere among the participants.

Where Do We Want to Go?

The participants discussed their vision of where they want to be in the future. Many of those attending voiced their opinion that we should aim for the long-term temperature goal set by the Paris Agreement (i.e. 2℃ or 1.5℃), and work towards decarbonisation, carbon neutrality, and stronger action on climate change. In addition, participants also commented on the importance of having a comprehensive, all-encompassing vision that covers a diverse range of topics, including sustainable development, economic development, human development and ecosystems, as well as the necessity of involving regional approaches and gender/youth participation.

Discussions also featured specific examples of mid-term and long-term emission reduction goals provided by the various countries, cities, local governments and businesses attending the dialogue, as well as the importance of strategies and plans for achieving these aims. Stories like these can also be seen to overlap with the next question, “How do we get there?” One aspect of the dialogue that left a particularly powerful impression was the way in which many of the participants spoke of the importance of focusing not only on the reduction of emissions alone, but also working towards drastic emission reductions, decarbonisation and carbon neutrality as part of a larger development plan and national strategy that involves the whole of society.

How Do We Get There?

After confirming current global conditions, and sharing their desired destinations for the future, the participants discussed how they would go about getting there. Many of the people attending the dialogue pointed out that it is absolutely essential to the success of their goals that all of the actors commit to working together, and they discussed the importance of political leadership in making such action a reality. In addition, some of the participants also discussed the importance of economic measures, such as carbon pricing. There were also points raised concerning technological revolution and the importance of international cooperation to achieve this, as well as the use of public funding to encourage the mobilisation of private funds. The underlying thread running through the diverse range of stories shared in the dialogue was the idea that ambitious climate change policies are drastically needed, that social justice, comprehensiveness, and participation are important factors in developing and implementing such policies, and that there is a need for policies and cooperation at both international and domestic levels with a basis in solidarity and the building of trust.

Another viewpoint shared was that the shift to zero carbon would require a dramatic transformation of social frameworks and economic structures, and that we should ensure that such a shift is achieved without leaving anyone behind. During the “Where are we now?” session, one of the stories shared described how the shift away from coal-fired power generation has resulted in employment issues affecting around 1.1 million people. In this way, it can be seen that making a major shift towards decarbonisation is by no means straightforward, and the challenge of realising such changes as smoothly as possible will almost certainly be faced by many countries in the future. There are high hopes that success stories for a switchover like this will be shared in future dialogues to come.

Moving Towards the Future

During the Talanoa Dialogue this time round, many of the participants responded favourably to the sessions, stating that the sharing of a diverse range of stories allowed for meaningful discussions to take place. There were also those who wanted to see dialogues using this structure continue to be held in the future. The office for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will announce a comprehensive report summarising the discussions held during the recent dialogue in due course. Further, following the second round of input—with submissions until the end of October this year—COP24 will be holding a Talanoa Dialogue at the political (specifically, ministerial) level.

The Talanoa Dialogue has drawn attention as a pioneering event leading towards the overall progress report—otherwise known as the “global stocktake”—that takes place every five years and will next be held in 2023, according to the terms of the Paris Agreement. While the dialogue involves a diverse range of actors sharing each of their own stories, in reality, there may have been many things they found difficult to agree with. However, they avoided condemning each other and viewing each other critically, and were required instead to try to overcome their circumstances through mutual understanding. It is sure to be of vital importance that this “Talanoa philosophy” is carried on during the global stocktake in the future.

On the other hand, when considering the ultimate goal of the Talanoa Dialogue—i.e., the discovery of methods for improving current strategies, and an increase in the political opportunities required to make this possible—it can be seen that dialogues such as the one held recently are not sufficient on their own. In order to ensure that these diverse stories are not just shared and then forgotten, it is vital that a structure is put in place to receive the stories, along with a process for increasing the range of political opportunities pertaining to them. In relation to this, it is of note that the EU, South American countries, and many business groups have expressed their intention to hold Talanoa Dialogues within their own domains, countries and organisations. It is also anticipated that circular discussions with a basis in the Talanoa philosophy will be held in Japan too, through which stories can be introduced and shared between a diverse range of stakeholders. As part of these initiatives, it is hoped that a strong message leading to improved strategies against climate change can be extracted from these discussions and shared throughout society.