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This report provides key highlights of the progress made by the Collaborative in 2022. It includes a deep-dive analysis and recommendations that have advanced a shared understanding on adaptation and resilience impact metrics and identifies some areas where further analysis and development is needed. It presents the 2023–24 work programme to accelerate progress across the three technical workstreams: (i) physical climate risks; (ii) investor-relevant adaptation and resilience metrics, and (iii) investment vehicles and approaches, set out in the Collaborative’s 2022 Progress Report. 

UN Women and UNIDO have joined forces to produce this guide on “Gender equality in the sustainable energy transition”, which provides an overview of key and emerging issues in the gender and sustainable energy nexus, illustrated by research findings and case studies. This guide has been drafted with a view to supporting policymakers and development practitioners in government, the private sector, and civil society, as well as in the UN system, who are involved in designing and implementing sustainable energy policies, programmes, and projects.

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.

The world is on track to reach a peak global temperature rise by 2100 that far exceeds the 1.5⁰C target needed to reduce the worst climate change impacts. Cities are particularly critical as they account for 70% of greenhouse gas emissions, consume 78% of the world’s energy and will comprise 68% of the global population by 2050. This report explores the linkage between national climate plans known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and urban issues.

The Capacity-building sub-division of the Means of Implementation Division together with the respective UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centres and the support of regional and international partners (such as the International Development Research Centre of Canada) have conducted mapping studies in three regions, in order to identify knowledge gaps and capacity-building needs to enable the private sector, and in particular Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to engage effectively in climate action and accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement.

These studies were conducted in the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA), in the Southeast Asia (SEA), and in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) regions and have also examined the potential role that local/regional academic and research organizations can play to support capacity-building efforts benefiting SMEs.

The Capacity-building sub-division of the Means of Implementation Division together with the respective UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centres and the support of regional and international partners (such as the International Development Research Centre of Canada) have conducted mapping studies in three regions, in order to identify knowledge gaps and capacity-building needs to enable the private sector, and in particular Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to engage effectively in climate action and accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement.

These studies were conducted in the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA), in the Southeast Asia (SEA), and in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) regions and have also examined the potential role that local/regional academic and research organizations can play to support capacity-building efforts benefiting SMEs.

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.

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.

With extreme events such as heatwaves, severe precipitation and droughts all expected to increase in a warming world, adapting to a changing climate requires as much attention as mitigating climate impacts. Action on adaptation is particularly salient for countries in many emerging markets and developing countries where the costs of climate impacts will far outweigh the costs of emissions reductions. UNEP’s latest Adaptation Gap Report, ‘Too Little, Too Slow’ issued just ahead of COP27 estimated the adaptation needs for developing countries alone to be up to $340bn annually by 2030.

The report shows that updated national pledges since COP26 – held in 2021 in Glasgow, UK – make a negligible difference to predicted 2030 emissions and that we are far from the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C. Policies currently in place point to a 2.8°C temperature rise by the end of the century. Implementation of the current pledges will only reduce this to a 2.4-2.6°C temperature rise by the end of the century, for conditional and unconditional pledges respectively.

The report looks at progress in planning, financing and implementing adaptation actions. At least 84 per cent of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have established adaptation plans, strategies, laws and policies – up 5 per cent from the previous year. The instruments are getting better at prioritizing disadvantaged groups, such as Indigenous peoples.

The report provides the main scientific input to COP28 and the Global Stocktake at the end of this year, when countries will review progress towards the Paris Agreement goals.

The report outlines that the 1.5°C limit is still achievable and outlines the critical action required across sectors and by everyone at all levels. The report focuses on the critical need for action that considers climate justice and focuses on climate resilient development. It outlines that by sharing best practices, technology, effective policy measures, and mobilising sufficient finance, any community can decrease or prevent the usage of carbon-intensive consumption methods. The biggest gains in well-being can be achieved by prioritizing climate risk reduction for low-income and marginalized communities.

The Toolkit on Digital Transformation for People-Oriented Cities and Communities supports strategizing and planning the digital transformation of cities and communities to promote sustainable, inclusive, resilient and improved quality of life for residents in cities and communities.

This report presents the findings of the survey ran by UNESCO with over 58,000 teachers worldwide on the topic of climate change education.

When choosing professional future, many young people, sensitive to planetary issues, would like their future job to be consistent with their convictions and help to bend the carbon curve. However, for non-specialists, the green economy is still very vague. Which careers to go to? What skills to acquire? This guide aims to provide them with answers.

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.

This report analyses potential links between global finance to small-scale clean energy projects in developing countries. The analysis identifies key barriers, market enablers, case studies, insights and recommendations to wider adoption of financial aggregation as a means to enable capital flows at scale toward small-scale low carbon energy initiatives.