In the framework of the preparation of the COP21 events and meetings in Paris this December, a number of high-level meetings were held in New York 28 and 29 June.

UIC and its Director General were invited to participate in these discussions in order to follow up the action plan of the Lima-Paris agenda and to see how these transport issues could be better addressed and better incorporated in the global agenda of the COP21 discussions.

Furthermore, a high-level event on climate change was held at the United Nations building, with declarations from the United Nations Secretary-General and a number of keynote speakers, including ministers such as Mr Laurent Fabius from France, Mr Manuel Pulgar Vidal from Peru, representatives from the UNFCC (United Nations Framework on Climate Change) and from UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme).

Several panels were organised under the auspices of ECOSOC to focus on the various aspects of sustainable development and how science can play a key role in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

UIC actively participated in the panels and discussions on these issues.

The declaration of the railway operating community as well as the programme of COP21 were considered to be valuable messages for the overall contribution to the two-degree scenario and the hoped-for success of the discussions in December.