Seeking Integrated Solutions: Fifth Global Climate and SDG Synergy Conference

Governments, experts and youth to seek integrated solutions at 5th Global Climate and SDG Synergy Conference

4 September 2024 -- How to drive forward integrated solutions that tackle the climate emergency and the sustainable development crises together will be the challenge facing governments, experts and civil society representatives at the Fifth Global Conference on Climate and SDG Synergy on 5-6 September 2024 at the Museum of Tomorrow (Museu do Amanhã) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Commitments are far off track on both fronts, lending urgency to the Conference. Emissions continue to rise as climate action under the Paris Agreement lags behind, and the last 12 months were the hottest on record. The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024, monitoring progress of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, has warned that only 17 percent of the SDG targets are on track, and progress on over one third has stalled or even regressed.

Conference to examine synergies to bridge divides The Conference will include roundtables and discussions with expert contributions from Member States, UN agencies, youth, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders, on key topics such as how synergistic solutions can help bridge the financial divide and ensure equitable transitions aligned with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C.

The event will feature a high-level segment with statements from governments, including Brazil, Denmark and Japan, the three countries that have hosted conferences in this synergy series, as well as other Member States active in the climate COPs and SDG review processes. Other session topics include regenerating nature and using bioeconomy as a key paradigm; shifting to lifestyles with more sustainable consumption and production; and how cities can be drivers for synergistic solutions, by building climate action and resilience at local levels.

The Conference is being co-convened by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the UN Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC), hosted by the Government of Brazil in conjunction with their current role leading the G20.

Expert research and growing support The discussions at the event build upon a growing body of evidence showing the need for synergistic action. An Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy convened by the UN has concluded that we must solve the climate emergency and sustainable development challenges together, if we are to solve them at all.

Over 80 percent of SDG targets are directly linked to climate, they pointed out, noting that it is no longer feasible to address these two crises separately. Members of the Expert Group will present their findings and analysis of the global state of progress on synergies research at the upcoming conference.

”Governments and experts alike are increasingly recognizing the need for integrated solutions. The global stock-take at COP28 highlighted the critical importance of the SDGs in achieving climate goals,” said Mr. Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. “Let us commit to tackling climate change and to the transformative changes needed to achieve the SDGs by 2030. The future of our planet and people depends on the actions we take today."

In their declaration at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development this year, which reviews implementation of the SDGs, ministers committed to enhance synergies towards effective climate and development policies and actions. The drive to accelerate synergistic action is expected to gain traction at upcoming UN events such as the Summit for the Future later this month, COP29 in Azerbaijan in November, and the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, in Spain next year.

"Our focus on development and climate action, hand in hand, is the only way we can make sure that the huge economic opportunities that spring from the green transition can reach every community -- justly, equitably and swiftly," affirmed Mr. Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UN Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC). "We must leave nobody behind."

The programme, background, expert reports and other information can be found on the Conference website.