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We live in a world increasingly affected by climate change, and if we fail to take decisive measures, the temperature rise will continue and soon exceed the Paris Agreement targets of 1.5°C and even 2°C.
It becomes ever less useful to talk about development plans and climate policies in a vacuum. The objectives of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals must be the hinge of all climate change policies and plans.
Linking the two agendas of climate action and sustainable development is imperative.
Paris Agreement 2030 Agenda
Climate action is the 21st century’s
greatest opportunity to drive forward
all the Sustainable Development Goals.
ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Latest Events
11-22 November | Baku, Azerbaijan
SDG Pavilion
The sixth SDG Pavilion, hosted by UN DESA in partnership with UNFCCC Secretariat and the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC), featured at COP29 from November 11 to 22, providing an inclusive platform to foster partnerships and advance synergies between climate action and all 17 SDGs. At the opening, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua, emphasized the importance of integrated solutions amid converging crises, stating, “We can multiply our impact by aligning climate action with the SDGs. This approach is gaining momentum.” This year, the Pavilion introduced the Forest Pavilion, focusing on forest protection and sustainable management. Over 100 hours of constructive discussions, including more than 100 events, engaged over 120 multi-stakeholder partners from nearly 90 countries, including UN entities, Member States, academia, and youth organizations. The Pavilion served as a dynamic space for dialogue, networking, and outreach, with sessions streamed online, further raising awareness on key issues like climate-SDG synergies, energy, water, and finance, while solidifying its role as a key hub for climate action at COP and advancing the alignment of global climate efforts with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
For more information, please watch here.
18 November | Baku, Azerbaijan | 13:30-14:45
Closing The Ambition Gap: Fostering Synergies Between Climate Action and SDGs
[COP29, SDG Pavilion] Organized by UN DESA and UNFCCC Secretariat, this event focused on the urgent need to integrate climate action with the SDGs. With most SDGs off-track, discussions explored synergistic solutions to accelerate progress. Members of the Climate and SDG Synergy Expert Group presented findings from the 2024 Climate and SDG Synergy report, and offered perspectives and concrete recommendations for aligning climate and development policies and actions. The panel of experts, including contributing experts to the Report, discussed key topics such as financing, sectoral strategies, multi-stakeholder engagement, and the role of upcoming NDCs in driving integrated solutions. The event emphasized the importance of political commitment and collaboration to bridge the ambition gap and highlighted the need for coherent actions that support both climate and broader development goals.
15 November | Baku, Azerbaijan | 13:15-14:45
Synergy Solutions: Overcoming Silos and Policy Incoherence to Close the Climate & SDGs Ambition Gap
The official UN system side event, co-organized by UN DESA and UNU and in collaboration with UNFCCC, convened leaders and experts to explore strategies for overcoming barriers to integrated, coherent climate and sustainable development action, moving away from fragmentation and policy incoherence to close the climate and SDG ambition gap while ensuring just transitions, nature protection, and resilience. Drawing on findings from the 2024 Global Report on Climate and SDG Synergies and Fifth Global Synergies Conference outcomes, the event featured insights from Japan, Denmark, the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy, and civil society, finance, and UN stakeholders on how synergy solutions can be more cost-effective than traditional approaches and examined ways to integrate SDGs into NDC 3.0, in view of COP29 priorities and upcoming critical milestones.
More events here>>
Latest News
8 - 18 July 2024, UNHQ, New-York
2024 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) took place from 8 to 17 July 2024, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The forum included a three-day ministerial segment from 15 to 17 July, as part of ECOSOC’s High-Level Segment, which concluded on Thursday, 18 July 2024. The theme for HLPF 2024 was: "Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient, and innovative solutions" (A/DEC/77/553).
The 2024 HLPF was the first forum under the auspices of ECOSOC after the 2023 SDG Summit, which was convened by the General Assembly in September 2023. The 2024 HLPF supported the implementation of the Political Declaration and other outcomes of the SDG Summit for advancing the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. The HLPF attracted over 90 governments high-level officials and 125 speakers.
In line with the integrated and interlinked nature of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the HLPF 2024 conducted in-depth reviews of the following goals: Goal 1: No poverty; Goal 2: Zero hunger; Goal 13: Climate action; Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions; Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals.
Thirty-six countries presented their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), sharing their progress on the 2030 Agenda. Participating countries in 2024 included: Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belize, Brazil, Chad, Colombia, Congo (Republic of the), Costa Rica,Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Georgia, Guinea, Honduras, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libya, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Palau, Peru, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
In addition to the main sessions, HLPF 2024 featured 236 Side Events, 13 VNR Labs, 13 Special Events, and 14Exhibitions held on the margins of the forum, offering opportunities for deeper engagement and collaboration.
3 Jun - 13 Jun 2024, Bonn, Germany
SB60: June UN Climate Meetings
The 60th Subsidiary Bodies (SB 60) session of the UNFCCC, also known as the Bonn Climate Change Conference, was held in June 2024. This conference serves as an annual meeting for the Subsidiary Bodies to advance agreements from the previous Conference of the Parties (COP) and to prepare for the next one.
This year's conference provided the first opportunity for parties to discuss the implementation of recent calls to action and other elements of the Global Stocktake (GST) decision. Key areas of focus included the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, the outcomes of the First Global Stocktake, the Mitigation Work Program (MWP), and Article 6 of the Paris It also addressed other important topics, including the Global Goal on Adaptation and the Just Transition Work Programme.
The conference saw participation from 8,606 registered individuals, comprising 3,444 party delegates, 2,467 observers from non-governmental organizations, and 225 media representatives.
19 March 2024, Bonn, Germany
2024 Adaptation Forum Discussed Solutions for Implementation: Synergy Is a Leading Path
The recent UNFCCC Adaptation Forum brought together experts and officials to evaluate COP28’s adaptation outcomes and promote collaboration. The session featured a presentation on Climate and SDG Synergy work, setting the stage for discussions. The First Global Report on Climate and SDG Synergy suggests that mainstreaming climate adaptation and considering co-benefits can help achieve nearly 70% of the SDG targets by 2030. The secretariat highlighted various opportunities and solutions for addressing climate adaptation and SDG challenges in an integrated manner. Looking forward, the upcoming 2024 report will enhance these efforts by outlining actionable steps to overcome key barriers in integrated planning and action. Collaboration between Climate and SDG Synergy work and the Adaptation Committee will continue to serve as a pivotal entry point for synergistic action.
More news here>>
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About
The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world’s plan of action to achieving sustainability and resilience for people and planet, are closely linked with climate. Maximizing on the interlinkages between the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement by leveraging Climate and SDG Synergies, has the potential of achieving both agendas and guaranteeing a livable future for next generations by leaving no one behind.
UN DESA is working to support the implementation of these interlinked SDG and climate frameworks through the Climate Action and SDGs Synergies Platform, created with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The Platform acts as a multi-stakeholder partnership catalyst with the aim at supporting the coherence, alignment, and monitoring of the interlinkages between climate action and the SDGs. The three focus areas of the Platform are:
Advocacy: mainstream climate and SDGs synergies in key UN intergovernmental processes and outcomes.
Analyses: develop a comprehensive and systemic global assessment on climate and SDGs synergies.
Capacity-building: enhance knowledge sharing at all levels through global conferences, regional seminars, and workshops.
Co-conveners:
Milestones
April 2019
The First Global Climate and SDGs Synergy Conference, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, emphasized that taking climate and SDG development action simultaneously and in an integrated way is not a theoretical concept, but a practical guideline for all forms of decision making. The success and impact of the conference led to a decision to make this an annual event.
December 2020
Addressing the urgency for action to pursue synergistic approaches in order to recover better and faster from COVID-19, UN DESA, UNFCCC and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) co-convened a series of three webinars and launched an e-learning course on the theme of ‘Harnessing Climate and SDGs Synergies’. These events pointed to a variety of options for synergistic policy interventions in different sectors using an integrated nexus approach.
July 2022
Building on the outcomes of the first Climate and SDGs Synergy Conference in 2019 and the virtual consultations in 2020/2021, the Third Global Conference on Synergies, held in Tokyo, Japan, provided a unique opportunity to take stock of practical measures that are being implemented to advance climate and SDG synergies in regional, national and subnational efforts, including through COVID recovery plans and the NDCs.
July 2023
The Fourth Global Conference on Climate and SDG Synergy was convened on 16 July 2023 as a special event of the 2023 session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and prior to the SDG Summit and the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 28), which will conduct a Global Stocktake of progress. The Fourth Global Conference sought to feed into these processes with an assessment of progress made against recommendations from the previous conferences, including the need for principles of just transition at the center of each integrated planning.
September 2024
The Fifth Global Conference on Climate and SDG Synergies was held at the Museum of Tomorrow (Museu do Amanhã) on 5-6 September in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the two-week series of Group of 20 (G20)-related events convened by Brazil as the 2024 Chair of the G20 in the lead-up to the G20 Summit in November. Building on the 2024 Global Report on Climate and SDG Synergy, the Conference highlighted empirical evidence and case studies on climate action and SDG co-benefits, addressed climate finance, risk mitigation, and adaptation strategies, and emphasized public participation.
Context
Commitments on combatting climate change have increased in an encouraging way in recent months across the world, but at the global level they still fall way short of what is needed to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Policy makers need to urgently address the interrelated major challenges of poverty, inequality, climate change, and the recovery from COVID-19 pandemic simultaneously. Today, synergistic and integrated policy making, and action is more important than ever before.
Development policies and projects need to be well coordinated across ministerial portfolios, be based on genuine public participation, and deliver co-benefits beyond their main objectives. Resources need to be used in targeted and effective manner and advance a fair transition from a “grey” economy to a “green” economy, leaving no one behind.
Policy makers seeking to advance climate action will need to identify the most economically feasible and socially acceptable solutions that also generate SDG co-benefits. Similarly, stakeholders seeking to advance economic and social progress towards one or the other SDG will need to anticipate the impacts of such action on future climate emissions. Pursuing climate and SDG synergies is not only a guideline for national or local policy makers, but also for industrialists, investors, service providers, and private consumers.
Additional resources:
Expert Group
In May 2023, UN DESA and the UNFCCC secretariat co-convened an international group of 14 experts from diverse backgrounds. Their goal was to provide analytical research and practical recommendations, building the evidence base for how actions addressing both the climate emergency and sustainable development challenges can work synergistically as a win-win solution, maximizing impact. In 2024, three experts joined the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy, contributing their valuable expertise to further enhance this year's publications.
The members of the expert group are shown below.
Expert Group Publications
The first report, Synergy Solutions for a World in Crisis: Tackling Climate and SDG Action Together, was launched in September 2023 during the UN SDG Summit, coinciding with the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Climate Action Summit convened by the UN Secretary-General in support of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
This report was initiated based on recommendations from the Third Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, held in Tokyo in 2022.
Following the initial report, the Expert Group published Four Thematic Reports which were launched at the sixtieth session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body (SB60) in Bonn in June 2024. These reports, developed through collaboration among various organizations, focus on key areas: Knowledge and Data, Policy Framework, Finance, and Cities.
These thematic reports laid the groundwork for the second report, Synergy Solutions for Climate and SDG Action: Bridging the Ambition Gap for the Future We Want, released in July 2024 at the 2024 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. (HLPF). The Synthesis Report aims to inform intergovernmental processes and provide concrete policy recommendations.
Co-Leads:
Luis Gomez Echeverri Bio
Emeritus Research Scholar International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
Contributing Experts:
Kaveh Guilanpour Bio
Vice President for International Strategies, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)
Meagan Fallone Bio
Founder, Step Up AdvisErs, Ltd. & Executive Adviser Climate Justice, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, CARE
Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi Bio
Secretary General, United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC)
First in-person meeting of the Expert Group
The Expert Group met in person for the first time since its inception in Tokyo on March 4 - 6, hosted by Japan's Ministry of the Environment and supported by the Institute of Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). The meeting served to advance the preparations of the 2024 edition of the Global Report on Climate and SDG Synergy.
Global Reports
2024 Global Report
The 2024 Global Report on Climate and SDG Synergy titled "Synergy Solutions for Climate and SDG Action: Bridging the Ambition Gap for the Future We Want" is the outcome of the independent work of the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy. It builds on the work of the 2023 Global Report on Climate and SDG Synergy. Close to 100 experts have been consulted on their insights, feedback, and suggestions with the goal of refining and enhancing the intended outcomes of the 2024 Global Report.
The 2024 Global Report also benefits from insights from this year’s thematic series Seeking Synergy Solutions: The Four Thematic Reports. The four thematic reports build on extensive consultations, focusing on one of the four themes identified as critical entry points for synergistic action.
Read the full report here>> | Read the web release here>> | Download the recommendations here >>
2023 Global Report
In May 2023 UNDESA and UNFCCC Secretariat co-convened the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy. The Group consists of 14 renowned experts from diverse thematic and geographic backgrounds who were given the task of developing the First Global Report on Climate and SDG Synergies.
This report demonstrates that aggressively acting on climate and development in an integrated and synergistic way is an important opportunity to achieve the course correction the UN Secretary- General has called for. It highlights some of the challenges but also the opportunities if the international community is seriously committed to enhancing these synergies and thereby addressing these challenges.
The report is designed to provide a broad overview of available data and evidence, insights from experts on the frontlines, and recommendations for enhancing synergistic action across the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. This first edition will form the basis for future iterations, which will entail a wider scope of sectors, and thematic areas and deep dives on specific issues pertaining to strengthening and operationalizing synergic climate and SDG actions at all levels.
Read the full report here >> | Download key messages here >> | Download the map of case studies here >>
Thematic Reports
The Four Thematic Reports
Building on the success of the 2023 Global Report on Synergy between Climate and the SDGs, which strengthened the evidence base on the co-benefits of synergistic action, the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy’s thematic reports call for ways to overcome the fragmentation of siloed institutional structures and break down silos. Under the umbrella title “Seeking Synergy Solutions”, the four thematic reports were launched on 11 June 2024 at the sixtieth session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body (SB60) in Bonn.
These reports resulted from the Expert Group’s in-person meeting, held in Tokyo from 4-6 March 2024, co-convened by UN DESA and UNFCCC. The group advocated for integrated approaches to accelerate action on the SDGs and climate through four key entry points: Knowledge and Data, Policy Frameworks, Finance, and Cities.
Among other upcoming milestones, these reports emphasized the upcoming update of national climate action plans (NDCs) in 2025 as a prime opportunity for countries to align their climate actions with the SDGs. Developed through the co-creation of various organizations and individuals, these thematic reports lay the groundwork for the new 2024 Global Report on Synergy between Climate and the SDGs, released in July at the 2024 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
Read the Knowledge and Data report here | Read the Policy report here.
Read the Finance report here. | Read the Cities report here.
Events
11-22 November | Baku, Azerbaijan
SDG Pavilion
The sixth SDG Pavilion, hosted by UN DESA in partnership with UNFCCC Secretariat and the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC), featured at COP29 from November 11 to 22, providing an inclusive platform to foster partnerships and advance synergies between climate action and all 17 SDGs. At the opening, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua, emphasized the importance of integrated solutions amid converging crises, stating, “We can multiply our impact by aligning climate action with the SDGs. This approach is gaining momentum.” This year, the Pavilion introduced the Forest Pavilion, focusing on forest protection and sustainable management. Over 100 hours of constructive discussions, including more than 100 events, engaged over 120 multi-stakeholder partners from nearly 90 countries, including UN entities, Member States, academia, and youth organizations. The Pavilion served as a dynamic space for dialogue, networking, and outreach, with sessions streamed online, further raising awareness on key issues like climate-SDG synergies, energy, water, and finance, while solidifying its role as a key hub for climate action at COP and advancing the alignment of global climate efforts with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
For more information, please watch here.
18 November | Baku, Azerbaijan | 13:30-14:45
Closing The Ambition Gap: Fostering Synergies Between Climate Action and SDGs
[COP29, SDG Pavilion] Organized by UN DESA and UNFCCC Secretariat, this event focused on the urgent need to integrate climate action with the SDGs. With most SDGs off-track, discussions explored synergistic solutions to accelerate progress. Members of the Climate and SDG Synergy Expert Group presented findings from the 2024 Climate and SDG Synergy report, and offered perspectives and concrete recommendations for aligning climate and development policies and actions. The panel of experts, including contributing experts to the Report, discussed key topics such as financing, sectoral strategies, multi-stakeholder engagement, and the role of upcoming NDCs in driving integrated solutions. The event emphasized the importance of political commitment and collaboration to bridge the ambition gap and highlighted the need for coherent actions that support both climate and broader development goals.
Watch it here | Concept Note | More info here.
15 November | Baku, Azerbaijan | 13:15-14:45
Synergy Solutions: Overcoming Silos and Policy Incoherence to Close the Climate & SDGs Ambition Gap
The official UN system side event, co-organized by UN DESA and UNU and in collaboration with UNFCCC, convened leaders and experts to explore strategies for overcoming barriers to integrated, coherent climate and sustainable development action, moving away from fragmentation and policy incoherence to close the climate and SDG ambition gap while ensuring just transitions, nature protection, and resilience. Drawing on findings from the 2024 Global Report on Climate and SDG Synergies and Fifth Global Synergies Conference outcomes, the event featured insights from Japan, Denmark, the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy, and civil society, finance, and UN stakeholders on how synergy solutions can be more cost-effective than traditional approaches and examined ways to integrate SDGs into NDC 3.0, in view of COP29 priorities and upcoming critical milestones.
5-6 September, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fifth Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The Fifth Global Conference on Climate and SDG Synergies was held at the Museum of Tomorrow (Museu do Amanhã) on 5-6 September and hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil. The Conference brought together around 80 speakers from 30 countries, including high-level representatives from member states, as well as heads of UN agencies, youth and civil society leaders. The Conference was attended by close to 300 in-person and around 3,000 virtual participants. Building on the 2024 Global Report on Climate and SDG Synergy, the Conference highlighted empirical evidence and case studies on climate action and SDG co-benefits, addressed climate finance, risk mitigation, and adaptation strategies, and emphasized public participation. The Conference was co-convened by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
16 July, New York, United States
Launch of the 2024 Global Report on Climate and SDG Synergy
The 2024 Global Report on Climate and SDG Synergy has been launched at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, in a special event titled "Bridging the Ambition Gap for the Future We Want through Climate and SDG Synergy" co-convened by UNDESA and the UNFCCC Secretariat. Developed by the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy, with inputs from over 100 multi-stakeholder experts, the report addresses intertwined challenges through collaborative action, emphasizing the need to dismantle fragmentation and silos globally and domestically. Representatives from Brazil, Denmark, Japan, Belize, Ireland, and Uganda, along with various experts, affirmed the importance of synergistic action. The report focuses on enhancing synergies in policy instruments, knowledge sharing, financial mechanisms, and leveraging cities for sustainable development. Following the Special event, discussions at a high-level luncheon, hosted by the Government of Japan and DESA, brought together approximately 100 representatives underscoring the critical need for integrated solutions to climate impacts and financial constraints.
Watch it here | Read the 2024 Global Report | Read the Web Release | Learn more here
10 July, New York, United States
HLPF 2024: SDG 13 and interlinkages with other SDGs – Climate action
During the 2024 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, convened under the auspices of ECOSOC, the main session on “SDG 13 and interlinkages with other SDGs – Climate action” highlighted that progress on SDG 13 is severely off-track. With over 80 percent of the SDG targets directly linked to climate, this affects the interlinked SDGs. Participants stressed the urgent need for integrated actions and heightened synergies, particularly in energy transition and climate risk management, to align with a pathway towards carbon neutrality. Discussions underscored the critical role of comprehensive, inclusive approaches involving governments, societies, and the private sector. Calls were made to significantly increase climate financing to address the investment gap, enhance capacity building, facilitate technology transfer, and foster robust partnerships. The recently adopted 2024 HLPF Ministerial Declaration emphasizes the importance of enhancing synergies in national climate and development policies to achieve global climate goals and deliver on the 2030 Agenda, while ensuring transition pathways that are just, equitable, and inclusive across all sectors, leaving no one behind.
Watch it here | Learn more here
11 June 2024, Bonn, Germany
Launch of the Thematic Reports by the Climate and SDG Synergy Expert Group
Four Thematic Reports were launched at the sixtieth session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body (SB60) in Bonn, Germany, during the side event "Seeking Synergies Across Rio Conventions and the SDGs: Unlocking Transformative Strategies for a Multi-Crisis World," by the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy. Highlighting how action to tackle climate change and the SDGs can be accelerated by addressing both crises together, notably in the key areas of policy frameworks, financial systems, knowledge and data, and cities. Expert Group co-leads, Mr. Luis Gomez-Echeverri, Ms. Heide Hackmann, together with another key member Mr. Kaveh Guilanpour, presented the reports on behalf of the Group. These reports lay the groundwork for the 2024 Global Synthesis Report on Climate and SDG Synergy, to be released in the high-level political forum on the 16th of July.
Thematic Reports | Web release | Climate and Synergy Expert group | Reports’ presentation by the Experts
22 May, online
Synergies Between Climate Action and SDGs: Implications for Multilateralism
The WSDS-Act4Earth Virtual Dialogue, organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), delved into the critical topic of synergies between Climate Action and the SDGs. The dialogue aimed to explore how these synergies could be leveraged to align the targets set in the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The dialogue also addressed the organizational insulation that has emerged between discussions on climate within different multilateral processes, such as COP and HLPF, and sought to identify ways to address this insulation for more effective outcomes. One of the highlights of the event was a presentation by a member of the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy, who shared insights into the group’s ongoing work and provided a glimpse into the recommendations of the 2024 report.
10 May 2024, Incheon, Republic of Korea
2024 Executive Training Course for Policymakers on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The 2024 Executive Training Course for Policymakers on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which took place from 7-10 May 2024 in Incheon, Republic of Korea, gathered over 70 participants globally. This year’s focus was on aligning SDG planning with country NDCs to drive integrated policymaking for sustainable development and climate action. Hosted by the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD), the event aimed to enhance participants' capacities in sustainable development planning and policymaking. It featured presentations, discussions, and peer collaboration, guided by a 'whole-of-government' and 'whole-of-society' approach. UN DESA presented on the Climate and SDG Synergy work, highlighting the importance of alignment and key findings from the first Global Report on this topic developed by the Expert Group. This event was particularly relevant for the 20+ attending countries, some of which will present their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) at this year’s High-Level Political Forum.
4 - 5 March 2024, Tokyo, Japan
Expert Group Meeting on SDG 13: Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and Combating Climate Change
At the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda and the conclusion of the first Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement, it is found that no SDG 13 target is making significant progress, while the global emissions are on the trajectory of a steady rise. On 4 - 5 March 2024 the Expert Group Meeting on SDG 13 was co-convened by UN DESA and UNFCCC in Tokyo, hosted by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan. The meeting served as a crucial step in delineating strategic and actionable recommendations to get SDG 13 back on track while ensuring co-benefits with other interlinked SDGs. Over 60 experts gathered to review progress and provide substantial contributions to the SDG 13 thematic review during the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in July 2024, shaping the global response to climate change and advancing sustainable, resilient solutions.
4 December 2023
Health as Entry Point for SDG / Climate Synergy: A Focus on Cities, Air Pollution and Justice
[COP28, SDG Pavilion, Blue Zone] - The session, organized by the University of Cambridge and UrbanBetter, explored with panelists the windows of opportunity for intersectoral policy making and advocacy at the health-SDG-climate interface. The expert panelists also explored how they perceive the link between implementation realities and what policies provide for; and how advocacy initiatives can support transformative ideas that seek to bridge this gap. Two data-driven presentations on the interlinkages between health and climate change set the scene for the open discussion. Here, participants contributed with a number of key examples of policies and advocacy approaches that they personally worked on, and which directly contribute to strengthening the synergistic implementation of climate and SDGs through the lens of health.
5 December 2023
Tackling climate and SDG action together. Call for Minister-level Working Group on Climate-SDG Synergy
[COP28, SDG Pavilion, Blue Zone] - This event at the SDG Pavilion, hosted by the governments of Denmark and Rwanda, did a soft-launch for a High-Level Working Group with a clear purpose of addressing the topic of climate development synergies at the highest level. The Ministers represented, the Administrator of UNDP and Executive Secretary of UNFCCC called for a stronger political commitment to merge the climate and SDG agenda and maximize the impact. After the introduction to the Minister-level Working Group, a technical panel discussed the findings from first global report from the Independent Expert Group on Climate-SDG Synergies entitled “Synergy Solutions for a World in Crisis - Tackling Climate and SDGs Together”, and mapped the road ahead to maximize co-benefits of increased synergies between the two agendas.
Watch it here | See the agenda here
5 December 2023
The Global Climate 2011-2020: Accelerating Climate Change, Accelerating Action
[COP28, Science for Climate Action Pavilion, Blue Zone] - This side event, organized by the World Meteorologic Organization (WMO), launched the State of the Climate report, covering 2011-2020. This timely report is another important contribution to understanding long-term changes in the state of the climate. It offers many insights, particularly on extreme events, including attribution to anthropogenic climate change and connecting their impacts on development to the achievement of the SDGs. The first Expert Group report served as one of the key resources for the WMO report. The launch event served to bring greater awareness toward the need for enhanced mitigation and adaptation efforts, and to provide key insights on the importance of improved climate finance and synergistic action with the SDGs.
Watch it here | Learn more here
6 December 2023
Redefining Success: A Just and Equitable Transition through greater Climate Action and SDGs Synergies
[COP28, Official COP28 Side Event, Blue Zone] - The official UN system Side Event, co-hosted by the UN DESA and the UNFCCC secretariat, held during the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28), brought together a diverse group of stakeholders. Participants included members of the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy, alongside representatives from Japan, Denmark and Brazil, and non-state actors actively engaged in advancing the intersection of climate action and SDGs.
Watch it here | Summary | Concept Note
8 December 2023
Bridging Science, Policy, and Society: Tackling Climate and SDGs in Synergy
[COP28, SDG Pavilion, Blue Zone] - Organized by UN DESA and UNFCCC secretariat, this event shed light on how to address the disconnect between the science-policy-society interface towards acceleration of synergic action on climate and the SDGs. Many countries face a number of barriers, including access to sound data, methodologies and tools that can help translate scientific findings into digestible and actionable polices. This was also one of key the findings of the recently published Expert Group Report on Climate and SDG Synergies, an overview of which was presented by the co-chair of the Expert Group at the event. Speakers shared insights and concrete examples at the national, regional, and local levels on challenges and opportunities in enhancing the interconnection between science-policy-society interface. Importance of inclusive processes that take into account participation from a wide range of stakeholders, including youth, civil society and the private sector was highlighted.
8 December 2023
Climate-Biodiversity-SDGs Synergistic actions in Asia-Pacific
[COP28, Japan Pavilion, Blue Zone] - This seminar, hosted at the Japan Pavilion by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), serves as a platform for expanding partnerships with like-minded nations and international organizations. The main focus of this gathering is to engage in substantive dialogues about policy measures that can be implemented to realize synergies and promote climate action, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development at the same time, particularly within the Asia-Pacific region. Through this seminar, we aim to enhance our collective efforts in addressing global environmental challenges.
11 December 2023
The SDGs and the Global Stocktake: A Vision for Our Future
[COP28, SDG Pavilion, Blue Zone] The official UN system Side Event, co-hosted by the UN DESA and the UNFCCC secretariat, held during the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28), brought together a diverse group of stakeholders. Participants included members of the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy, alongside representatives from Japan, Denmark and Brazil, and non-state actors actively engaged in advancing the intersection of climate action and SDGs.
16 September 2023
Orchestrating Global Synergies for Climate Action and SDGs
[SDG Summit side event] Co-hosted by UNDESA and UNFCCC on 16 September as part of SDG Action Weekend provided an opportunity for a deeper conversation about how to build greater climate and SDG synergies following the launch of the expert group report. Representatives from the Governments of Denmark, Japan and Brazil offered their views, and several NGOs, academics and a youth climate activist stressed the need to address inequalities, climate justice, accountability and lack of finance. COP28 was seen as an important step ahead to integrate SDG indicators into the climate process.
Concept Note | Recording | Flyer
13 September 2023
Launch of the First Global Report on Climate and SDG Synergy
The first global report titled “Synergy Solutions for a World in Crisis: Tackling Climate and SDG Action Together” was jointly launched by DESA and UNFCCC secretariat at the SDG Studio in New York. The report launch was presided over by Mr. Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General of UN DESA and Mr. Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of UNFCCC, along with the co-leads and a member of the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy. The event was organized as a dynamic conversation with a professional moderator, offering online spectators a good understanding of the report’s scope, mission, and desired impacts.
Event Page | Recording | Flyer
16 July 2023
Fourth Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The Fourth Global Conference on Climate and SDG Synergies was held at the United Nations on 16 July 2023, bringing together Ministers and high-level representatives from government, business and civil society, among over 400 in-person and nearly 4,000 virtual participants from 140 countries. Building the evidence base for win-win synergies that tackle both the climate emergency and the Sustainable Development Goals, participants shared experiences and viewpoints, and made recommendations for how to break down silos and advance integrated action. The Conference was co-convened by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as a special event of the 2023 UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
Event Page | Outcome Summary | Concept Note
12 June 2023
Accelerating Climate and SDG Synergies as an Enabler for Just Transition
[Bonn SB58 side event] Just Transition is all-encompassing and is aligned with the integrated approach to the implementation on climate and SDGs synergies. This event aimed to share developments and processes in which participants can contribute towards an increased understanding and scaling up of synergistic implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement goal. The event also served as an opportunity to shape key recommendations of the global assessment on climate and SDGs synergies, which scope is to inform key 2023 milestones such as the SDG Summit, the Climate Ambition Summit, the UNFCCC COP28 and its Regional Climate Weeks, to mainstream a coordinated climate and SDG action among their processes and outcomes.
Concept Note | Presentation | Recording
16 November 2022
Delivering in Synergy on Climate Action and the SDGs: A Pathway to Untapped Potential
[COP27 event] Building on evidence and lessons learned in the context of the Third Global Conference on Climate and SDGs Synergies, the aim of this event was to strengthen support for coordinated implementation and determine context-specific key regional priorities and opportunities for synergistic action on the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement.
14 November 2022
Turning pledges into inclusive and equitable actions: Synergistic Implementation of Climate and the SDGs
[COP27 event] Lead experts from a variety of backgrounds explored how harnessing synergies across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement can at the same time help advance inclusive and just transitions. Speakers shared practical insights on incorporating a “climate and SDGs” lens into their areas of work, from science and policy to financing and delivery of development co-benefits, towards more equitable, fair, and resilient outcomes.
20-21 July 2022
Third Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Building on the outcomes of the first Climate and SDGs Synergy Conference in 2019 and the virtual consultations in 2020/2021, the joint UNDESA and UNFCCC Third Global Conference on Climate and SDGs Synergies, hosted by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan, in partnership with the United Nations University (UNU) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), provided a unique opportunity to take stock of practical measures that are being implemented to advance climate and SDG synergies in regional, national and subnational efforts, including through COVID recovery plans and the NDCs. At the high-level segment of the Conference, Ministers, heads of UN organizations and agencies, business leaders, scientists and youth representatives emphasized the need for greater SDG and climate ambition. The need to urgently boost joint implementation and address gaps such as financing and capacity building was also recognized.
Concept Note | Conference Summary | Event Page
6 July 2021
Launch of E-Learning Course on Harnessing Climate & SDGs Synergies
The course builds on the 2019 Climate and SDG Synergies Conference and the 2020-2021 Synergies Learning Series, going into more depth to provide policymakers with tools and evidence they may use to advocate for climate and synergies in related intergovernmental fora as well as their local context.
Registration | Concept Note | Poster | Event Page
15 December 2020 – 2 February 2021
Virtual Learning Series: Harnessing Climate & SDGs Synergies to Raise Ambition in the Era of Paris+5 and Pandemic Recovery
Building on the Climate and SDG Synergies Conferences, this learning series provided stakeholders and practitioners with tools they can use to apply climate and SDG synergies in practice.
2 February 2021
Webinar 3: Overcoming Constraints to Implement Climate & SDG Synergies: capacity, financing and monitoring
Webinar 3 responded to the 'How' question, offering particpants tools and methods to address the re-occurring challenges of realizing climate & SDG synergies in practice.
19 January 2021
Webinar 2: How to Maximize Climate & SDG Synergies? Identifying Opportunities and Navigating Trade-offs
Webinar 2 responded to the 'What' question, introducing range of tools participants can use to identify opportunities to realize climate & SDG co-benefits; and navigate trade-offs.
15 December 2020
Webinar 1: Making the Case for Integrated Climate and SDG Action
Webinar 1 responded to the 'Why' question, providing participants with tools and evidence they can use to advocate for climate & SDG synergies.
25 May – 30 June 2020
Global Consultations on Climate & SDG Synergies for a Better and Stronger Recovery, 25 May – 30 June 2020
The Consultation aimed to advance the application of synergies in practice by collecting good practices that illustrate the potential of synergistic approaches to recover better & faster from Covid-19, accelerate enhanced climate action and transitions to sustainable development.
25 June 2020
Webinar 3: Going Forward with Climate & SDG Synergies for Covid-19 Recovery
Participants considered next steps to strengthen climate & SDG synergies in practice. Speakers propose ways to leverage intergovernmental processes on biodiversity, food, transport and oceans.
11 June 2020
Webinar 2: Synergies for Just Transitions & Economic Recovery
Diverse experts suggested policies and changes that can enable countries to realize “quick wins” for people & planet, while laying the ground for enduring climate, economic & SDG co-benefits.
28 May 2020
Webinar 1: Thinking ahead for a sustainable, just and resilient recovery
Thought leaders and practitioners shared lessons learned from integrated planning to date, and suggested ways to maximize climate & SDG synergies in recovery planning.
1-3 April 2019
First Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (informally the Climate & SDGs Synergy Conference) was organized by UN DESA and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate, Denmark. The first-ever global conference aimed to align the climate and SDG processes, and stimulate action from stakeholders at the global, regional and country levels to maximize co-benefits. Limiting global warming to 1.5 degree Celcius above pre-industrial levels, including through scaling up climate action towards both adaptation and mitigation, is an imperative critical to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. The conference examined how best to advance joined-up efforts for both the SDGs and climate action at the global, regional and country levels, thus also helping to scale up levels of ambition towards these objectives.
Concept Note | Conference Summary | Event Page
SDG Pavilion at COP
The UNFCCC "Conference of the Parties" (COP) is a crucial component in the fight against climate change. It provides a platform for nations to come together and assess the progress made in addressing the issue, identify challenges and find solutions to overcome them. The COP meetings provide an opportunity for Parties to engage in constructive dialogue and negotiate binding agreements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The decisions made at the COP, including the setting of emissions reduction targets, financing mechanisms, and the implementation of various adaptation and mitigation measures, play a significant role in shaping global efforts to tackle the climate crisis. The annual meetings of the COP serve as a reminder of the urgency and importance of collective action on climate change, and their outcomes help to drive the necessary global action towards a more sustainable future.
UN DESA's engagement at the UNFCCC COP aims at contributing to the objectives of the conference and promoting the synergetic implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Through its annual SDG Pavilion, UN DESA brings together global experts and policymakers leading the implementation of climate action and the SDGs for discussions on how to accelerate action across both the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.
SDG Pavilion at COP29
SDG Pavilion at COP29
SDG Pavilion at COP29
SDG Pavilion at COP28
SDG Pavilion at COP28
SDG Pavilion at COP28
SDG Pavilion at COP27
SDG Pavilion at COP27
SDG Pavilion at COP27
SDG Pavilion at COP26
SDG Pavilion at COP26
SDG Pavilion at COP25