Towards Net Zero Emissions
The risk and impact of climate change on people, urban and rural areas, economies and ecosystems remains of great concern the world over. With the expected growth in global greenhouse gases emissions in the coming decades, the pressing need to reduce these risks through international cooperation on cross-sectoral climate mitigating actions is of great importance in achieving sustainable development as published in the latest IPCC 2014 report.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which has a membership of 197 countries, has a global mandate to address climate change. It is working though the Global Environment Facility (GEF), its financial mechanism, to support developing countries shifts towards low carbon development pathways, more recently net-zero GHG emissions and climate-resilient development pathways.
The GEF UNEP Climate Change Mitigation Unit has been working with the GEF over the last several years to fulfil the Conventions mandate in developing countries. Through investments from the GEF to the recipient countries, the Mitigation Unit is instrumental in implementing projects with various national governments that address the issues of policy, regulatory approaches, financial mechanisms, institutional capacity, innovation, private sector engagement, international cooperation and information dissemination that are pivotal in addressing climate mitigation issues across different sectors.
These GEF projects, which are aligned to country national climate strategies such as their periodic national communication reports, national energy and environmental agendas and more recently the national determined contributions, are collectively contributing to the global 2050 net zero emissions target. The key thematic areas of these projects are Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Green Financing, Enabling Activities, Transparency and Global Impact Programs in Cities and Mobility.
Through its expertise and regional presence in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean Regions, the GEF UNEP Climate Change Mitigation Unit together with its UNEP initiatives are working closely with various governments and diverse partners to implement a portfolio of USD.280 million worth of GEF investments at the country level to foster global environmental benefits in the fight against climate change.
Sustainable Development Goals
The objectives in the various climate mitigation projects executed by the national governments contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through the following goals and indicators.
GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Target 7.1 By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services
Target 7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
Target 7.3 By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
Target 7.a By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology
Target 7.b By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States, and land-locked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programmes of support
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Target 11.c Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials
Target 13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
Target 13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
Target 13.b Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities * Acknowledging that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the primary international, intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change.
GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goals
Target 17.6 Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism.
