Marrakech, 16 November: UNDP today formally launched the 2nd edition of its flagship report on climate change, this time focusing on the impact of climate change on development gains.
Specifically, the report, ‘UNDP and Climate Change: Scaling up Climate Action to Achieve the SDGs’ looks at how local efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change empowers communities across a range of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including education, healthcare, food security and gender empowerment.
“We have long known that climate change and sustainable development are inextricably linked,” notes Magdy Martínez-Solimán, UN Assistant Secretary- General and UNDP Assistant Administrator.
“What this report does, possibly for the first time, is really showcase how each of the actions taken to address climate change has profound and concrete results that benefit human, social and economic development.”
Compelling narrative
Showcasing UNDP’s rich climate portfolio and country examples, the report provides a compelling narrative on how action on climate change positively contributes to the achievement of the SDGs.
Through vivid infographics, the report illustrates how UNDP’s nearly 800 climate change programmes – covering a US$2.8 billion portfolio across 140+ countries in five regions – are contributing to achievement of each and every one of the 17 SDGs.
Since 2008, UNDP has assisted more than 140 countries, including all the 48 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and 39 Small Island Developing States (SIDs), to access climate grant finance.
Nearly 40% of the portfolio is contributing to adaptation efforts – the largest portfolio with around US$ 1 billion.
Mitigation action, including both sustainable energy and forests, amount to 30% and 22% respectively; while cross-cutting issues such as finance, capacity building, policy and institutional strengthening, and support to achieve the targets of the Paris Agreement – the Nationally Determined Contributions or so-called NDCs – amount to around 11% of the portfolio.
A path for the world
“Thanks to the Paris Agreement, we now have a path for the world to work together on an integrated solution to climate change,” notes Martínez-Solimán.
“It is now our responsibility to work with our partners to follow this path and to help achieve climate and development priorities.”
Launched on the sidelines of the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP 22) in Marrakech, the report reiterates UNDP’s key message going into the conference – the deal is done; the time to act is now.
