4.1
How can the world reach a net-zero path while also ensuring a just transition that leaves no one behind?
The world is not on track to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. There are substantial gaps in terms of mitigation, finance and adaptation.
A recent United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) report highlights that the aggregated impact of all Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) would set the world on a 2.7-degree pathway. This is nowhere near the 1.5 degree mark that scientists believe is necessary to avert a global climate disaster. It was stressed that swift de-carbonization of entire economies, enabled by huge investments in green energy, is a pre-requisite to get back on track.
A Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) is "a climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts. Each Party to the Paris Agreement is required to establish an NDC and update it every five years".
A new mindset is needed to ensure that NDCs are being implemented at the national level, with growing support from the multilateral system, and also through new clusters of bilateral cooperation to boost climate action.
UN Photo/Pasqual Gorriz
The public sector has a role and responsibility in changing this trajectory while ensuring a just and inclusive transition that does not cause major disruption or dislocation.
Clear roadmaps are needed that detail the path ahead, including for the near term. Outlining the concrete steps to be taken, rather than merely pointing out the obstacles, would be particularly helpful to developing countries.
Public policy should ensure economic recovery from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and integrate measures for climate change mitigation, adaptation and a just transition allowing countries not only to recover, but to build back better. The creation of decent jobs must be at the heart of this. In addition, just transition policies need to consider differences within countries, as well as between them.
For example, addressing differential climate vulner- abilities among often marginalized groups such as women and girls and ethnic and racial minorities, is essential. We also need to take into account environmental and ecological impacts for countries that extract lithium and other essential minerals as part of the shift to renewable energies and electrification. Just transitions should not cause major disruptions and exacerbate existing challenges but offer a pathway toward achieving national and local sustainable development priorities. Technology transfer to lower income countries is essential in this regard, to ensure that transition to green energy takes place globally.
The UN system has a crucial role to play to help countries ensure that these transitions are smooth and just, for instance, by providing inputs and analysis on how climate action could ignite economic and social development and promote trust between the public and private sectors and governance structures.
Just transition policies need to consider difference within countries, as well as between them.
Climate action could ignite economic and social development and promote trust between the public and private sectors.
4.2
Commitments at COP26 were not sufficient to fully address the concerns of climate change. What more must be done?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to climate action, as countries operate in very distinct contexts.
Photo/Willi Heidelbach
For instance, while energy-related activities are the main source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally, in some countries, deforestation is the main source of emissions. The narrative in support of climate action must be adapted to local contexts to address specific local concerns. It may often be more effective, for example, to frame conversations in terms of the loss of biodiversity, deforestation and depletion of local resources, rather than around levels of carbon emissions. It is necessary to go beyond the language at the global level to communicate on issues that have a real impact on communities in the developing world.
In the past, climate action has been influenced largely by developed countries, but developing countries are increasingly demonstrating a leadership role, and this trend needs to be further bolstered, not only on energy but on issues such as land use, mass migration and adaptation. Coalitions of developing countries could work together on specific issues.
It is necessary to go beyond the language at the global level to communicate on issues that have a real impact on communities in the developing world.
Indonesia, India and Brazil, which are hosting the upcoming G20 meetings in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively, should come together to develop a road map on how to move forward.
Photo/Marek Krzystkiewicz
In order to mitigate climate change and accelerate sustainable development, there needs to be a change in mentality among countries.
Rather than viewing themselves as in competition with each other, countries must embrace cooperation. As the UN Secretary-General has highlighted on a number of occasions, trust on climate action must be built between countries. An important step in that direction would be for developed countries to fulfill their promise of providing 100 billion dollars of climate finance annually for developing countries. It must also become easier for developing countries, particularly those that have least capacity, to access the climate finance that is available. Sharing and disseminating technology can also help to build trust and accelerate climate action and a just transition.
Trust on climate action must be built between countries.
