Working together for better climate action

The report comes as countries around the world scale up action to curb climate change. Mitigation policies are on the rise, including carbon pricing policies, with 75 carbon taxes and emission trading schemes currently in effect worldwide, covering approximately 24 per cent of global emissions.

Published by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the Organisation for Economic and Co-operation for Development and the World Bank, the report outlines pathways for coordinated approaches on climate action, carbon pricing and the cross-border effects of climate change mitigation policies, with a view to achieving global climate goals.

The report stresses the need to step up climate action to meet global emission reduction targets, while contributing to broader development goals. It makes four important contributions to that end:

  • It provides a common understanding of carbon pricing metrics to improve transparency on how countries are shifting incentives for decarbonization.
  • It examines the composition of climate change mitigation policies, emphasizing the important role of carbon pricing as a cost-effective instrument that also raises revenues.
  • It outlines how international organizations can support the coordination of policies to foster positive and limit negative cross-border spillovers from climate change mitigation policies. It also analyses the advantages and disadvantages of carbon border adjustment policies, including their impact on developing countries.
  • It shows how such coordination can help to scale up climate action by closing the transparency, implementation and ambition gaps.

The report makes clear that international organizations’ future work can help fill important knowledge gaps. These include a need for more granular and better data on embedded carbon prices and embedded emissions, the design of border adjustment policies and their interoperability, and other approaches to enhance cooperation to increase ambition and ensure a just transition for all.

Download file: Report

Organization: UNWTO, OECD, IMF, World Bank, UN

Theme: Science

Topic: Energy, Finance, Industry, Science

Type of material: Analytical-Technical Document

Publication date: 2024

Language: English

Yearbook of Global Climate Action 2017

This policy document presents the first balance-sheet of The Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, launched at COP22. It reveals that climate action is indeed increasing, eventhough the pace and scale of action may not be sufficient to close the gap between what Parties have pledged in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and what is required to meet the goals for adaptation that are laid down in the Paris Agreement. Various data and recommendations about climate action are provided.

Download file: English

Organization: UNFCCC

Theme: Adaptation

Topic: Environment, Adaptation, Economic Analysis, Mitigation, Governance – General

Type of material: Policy Document

Publication date: 2017

Language: English

Getting Climate-Ready: A Guide for Schools on Climate Action

This guidance document explains the reason that schools should take on a whole-school approach to climate action and provides six guidelines that suggest how to concretely include climate action in school governance, teaching and learning, campus and facility management, and partnerships with the community. The guidelines and examples are based on a survey looking at climate action projects at 55 schools in 12 countries of UNESCO’s Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet). 

Download file: English

Organization: UNESCO

Theme: Education

Topic: Education, Training, Adaptation, Children, COP23 List of UN Publications, Public Participation, Capacity Development

Type of material: Guidance Document

Publication date: 2016

Language: English

Guiding Principles for City Climate Action Planning

This guidance document for City Climate Action Planning reviews typical steps in the city-level climate action planning process in light of a proposed set of globally applicable principles. The principles, developed through a robust and open multi-stakeholder process, support local officials, planners and stakeholders in climate action planning. Such plans aim to help cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adopt low emission development trajectories, as well as adapt to the impacts of climate change and build local climate resilience.

Download file: English, Spanish

Organization: UNHABITAT

Theme: Adaptation

Topic: Risk Reduction/Management, COP22 List of UN Publications, Governance – Territorial and Local

Type of material: Guidance Document

Publication date: 2015

Language: English, Spanish

Aiming Higher: Elevating Meaningful Youth Engagement for Climate Action

This guidance explores what meaningful youth engagement in climate action looks like, both conceptually and practically. It does this by identifying dimensions and pathways that support meaningful youth participation and by providing actionable recommendations for climate action in general and NDC implementation specifically. The guidance builds upon UNDP’s knowledge and experience working with young people and was developed after extensive consultations with global youth climate actors.

Download file: English

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Organization: UNDP

Theme: Youth

Topic: Environment, Public Participation

Type of material: Guidance Document

Publication date: 2020

Language: English

Global climate action from cities, regions and businesses

This report is the second global analysis of local and regional government and corporate climate contributions, updating “Global Climate Action from Cities, Regions, and Companies” launched at the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit. 

It aggregates the climate mitigation commitments reported to some of the world’s largest voluntary pledging and reporting platforms for city, region, and company climate commitments. The analysis was conducted at a global level as well as for ten major emitting economies: Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union (EU), India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, South Africa and the United States (US).

 

Download file: EN

Organization: UNFCCC

Theme: Cities

Topic: Environment, Urban, COP25 List of UN Publications

Type of material: Analytical-Technical Document

Publication date: 2019

Language: English

Climate Action and Support Trends

The report was prepared as UN Climate Change input to the UN Climate Summit and it puts a spotlight on the progress made over the past 25 years since the inception of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This can help in scaling up further action, as governments prepare to submit the next round of national climate action plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), by 2020.

Download file: EN

Organization: UNFCCC

Theme: Other

Topic: Education, Environment, Finance, Technology, COP25 List of UN Publications

Type of material: Analytical-Technical Document

Publication date: 2019

Language: English

Scaling Up Climate Action to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

This activity report emphasizes successes and notes the opportunities that climate action presents for countries as they transition their economies towards zero-carbon and climate-resilient sustainable development, as countries begin to take concrete action to deliver on their national climate goals. In this report, is a special focus on the linkages between climate change and sustainable development. 

Download file: English

Organization: UNDP

Theme: Adaptation

Topic: Economic and Development Planning, Environment, COP22 List of UN Publications

Type of material: Activity Report

Publication date: 2016

Language: English

Greening curriculum guidance: teaching and learning for climate action

Education is a powerful tool to transform the world and drive long-long-term climate change action.

This Guidance responds to the calls from young people for a holistic approach to climate change and sustainability in the curriculum. It outlines a common language on how quality climate change and sustainability can be reflected in the curriculum by setting expected learning outcomes per age group (from 5-yearolds and up to 18+ age group, including a lifelong learning approach).

This is crucial for accelerating country-level action and ensuring joint monitoring of progress. The objective is to have 90 per cent of all countries include climate change in their curricula by 2030, as established by the Greening Education Partnership.

Download file: Report

Organization: UNESCO

Theme: Education

Topic: Education, Training

Type of material: Guidance Document

Publication date: 2024

Language: English

High-level synthesis report of latest climate science information convened by the Science Advisory Group of the UN Climate Action Summit 2019

This document prepared under the auspices of the Science Advisory Group of the Climate Action Summit features the latest critical data and scientific findings on the climate crisis. It shows how our climate is already changing and highlights the far-reaching and dangerous impacts that will unfold for generations to come.

Download file: EN

Organization: WMO, IPCC, UNEP, Global Carbon Project, Future Earth, GFCS

Theme: Energy

Topic: Energy, Environment, Industry, Trade, Transport, Biodiversity, COP25 List of UN Publications

Type of material: Analytical-Technical Document

Publication date: 2019

Language: English

Finance for climate action: scaling up investment for climate and development

This paper follows from the logic of delivering on the goals of the Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Pact. The first part (Sections 1– 3) focus on this purpose and the necessary investment and actions, drawing on earlier work on the analysis of investments by members of the group and others. The second part (Sections 4–9) is about the scale and nature of the different forms of finance that are necessary for this investment and how they complement each other. Section 10 is on how the framework and the key elements described can be taken forward through our systems for international collaboration, while Section 11 concludes with overall next steps. The paper is intended to provide a framework for finance for climate action covering the overall needs for the comprehensive approach embodied in the Paris Agreement and UNFCCC. All the elements are necessary and urgent; it is a complementary and mutually supportive package. Most of the actions must start now; it is the science and the world’s perilous condition that set the urgency and timing. The paper also looks ahead to the coming decade and beyond. We do not attempt to provide great detail on every element of the package, but we are clear that there is a practical way forward on each.

Download file: Report

Organization: UNECE

Topic: Finance, Economic Analysis

Type of material: Analytical-Technical Document

Publication date: 2022

Language: English

Development and Climate Action: Reinforcing Synergies

This brief details the World Bank’s contribution to achieving synergies between development finance and climate change mitigation and adaptation. It explains that all of the 17 country assistance and partnership strategies prepared in Fiscal Year 2011 address climate change. It also showcases results achieved in projects related to: forestry, climate smart agriculture and water efficiency measures in urban municipalities. The brief further highlights efforts undertaken to strengthen operational links between climate change and disaster risk management, as well as partnerships with other UN programmes and organizations for climate action.

Download file: ENG

Organization: WB

Topic: Agriculture and Food, Finance, Forestry, Water, Adaptation, Mitigation, Risk Reduction/Management

Type of material: Other

Publication date: 2012

Language: English

Climate Action: Why It Matters to Businesses

This infographic highlights the role of businesses in addressing climate change, as climate change and environmental degradation pose important new risks and opportunities for companies’ competitiveness, growth and development, and are turning the climate challenge into a market opportunity. It also explains how businesses can take climate action by by committing to decarbonize their operations and supply chains. 

Download file: English

Organization: UN SDGs

Topic: Economic and Development Planning, Energy, Environment, Green Jobs/Economy

Type of material: Other

Publication date: 2016

Language: English

Scaling Up Climate Action to Achieve the SDGs

This activity report highlights the importance of climate action in delivering on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and provides examples of UNDP’s on-going projects. The report also presents UNDP’s commitment to scale up climate change action in order to deliver on the agenda that countries agreed to in 2015.

Download file: English, French, Spanish

Organization: UNDP

Theme: Adaptation

Topic: Adaptation, Mitigation, Governance – General

Type of material: Activity Report

Publication date: 2016

Language: English, French, Spanish

Good practice in climate action in Africa

limate action must confront the vulnerabilities experienced on much of the continent among people who bear a disproportionate share of climate impacts despite contributing relatively little to global emissions (approximately 4%). The focus of this compilation is on projects where international organizations are partnering with national government and local stakeholders in implementation through funding, technology transfer, and capacity building.

The report focuses on initiatives where national governments have partnered specifically with UN entities, often together with other international partners, local stakeholders, and the private sector. The examples provided are diverse, cutting across countries, sectors, approaches, and implementing partners. They cover successful practices in climate-sensitive sectors in need of urgent and scaled up responses: energy, agriculture, land restoration, water and sanitation, coastal restoration, tourism, waste, and transport. The report also identifies important cross-cutting lessons. While tailored and context-driven approaches are crucial to success, some takeaways emerge from across the full set that are relevant for further action across sectors.

Download file: Report

Organization: UNECA

Topic: Energy, Transport, Tourism, Water, Agriculture and Food, Chemicals and Waste, Ecosystems

Type of material: Other

Publication date: 2022

Language: English

Decent Jobs in a Safe Climate: ILO Solutions for Climate Action

This guidance document presents the implications of climate change on labour markets in terms of effects on employment and incomes. It then provides an illustration of practical intervention models and tools for climate adaption and mitigation which advance social protection floor, reduce the carbon footprint of enterprises and create decent work as part of a just transition for all.

Download file: ENG

Organization: ILO

Topic: Labour, Green Jobs/Economy, COP22 List of UN Publications

Type of material: Guidance Document

Publication date: 2015

Language: English

The race to net zero : accelerating climate action in Asia and the Pacific

The theme study sets out the transformations that are needed for Asia and the Pacific to transition to a net-zero-carbon future in support of sustainable development. It provides an outline of the regional context of climate change and identifies policies and actions that could be taken in various sectors of the economy to support the global climate agenda, while also making broad economic, social and environmental gains. To close the emissions gap in key sectors, efforts must be made to transition away from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. Low-carbon mobility and logistical solutions are crucial for accelerating innovation, developing technologies and tapping into greener fuels. The move towards low-carbon transport options requires an integrated approach to land use and urban planning, as Asia and the Pacific is rapidly motorizing. Furthermore, Governments need to boost their climate-smart trade and investment sectors so that they can decarbonize industries that are currently notable for exporting carbon-intensive goods. Trade and investment should be utilized as force multipliers to combat climate change but are still missing from the existing regional climate landscape. The theme study also contains information on climate-related financing needs in the region and addresses data gaps for better monitoring. Given the carbon neutrality commitments from the majority of Asia-Pacific countries, the report recommends strengthening regional policy dialogue and technical cooperation on low carbon, climate-resilient transition.

Download file: Report

Organization: UNESCAP

Theme: Energy

Topic: Energy, Environment, Finance, Transport

Type of material: Analytical-Technical Document

Publication date: 2023

Language: English

Climate Investment Funds (CIF) Annual Report 2009: Building Partnerships for Climate Action

This activity report presents the first Annual Report on the CIF. It is an informative summary of the CIF’s status and a useful first step in beginning to document the early lessons on the design and start-up of the CIF. Its purpose is to make the CIF known to a wide range of stakeholders and to describe the design and early implementation process.

Download file: ENG

Organization: WB

Topic: Economic Analysis, Governance – General, Financial Mechanisms

Type of material: Activity Report

Publication date: 2009

Language: English

Corporate Social Responsibility as an Enabler of Green Growth and Climate Action

The discussion paper is intended primarily for policy makers, regulators, and implementing agencies to relook at the private sector initiatives under corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a driver for green growth and climate action as well to encourage the private sector and organizations interested in CSR to act with national / regional governments to align their CSR efforts with broader sustainable development goals.

Download file: ENG

Organization: UNDP

Topic: Mitigation, Green Jobs/Economy, Governance – General

Type of material: Other

Publication date: 2014

Language: English

Corporate Social Responsibility as an enabler of Green Growth and Climate Action

The discussion paper is intended primarily for policy makers, regulators, and implementing agencies to relook at the private sector initiatives under corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a driver for green growth and climate action as well to encourage the private sector and organizations interested in CSR to act with national / regional governments to align their CSR efforts with broader sustainable development goals.

Download file: ENG

Organization: UNDP

Topic: Mitigation, Green Jobs/Economy, Governance – General

Type of material: Other

Publication date: 2014

Language: English