30 November 2015: The UNFCCC has published a report outlining policies, initiatives and actions that could be scaled up and replicated by countries to realize significant mitigation potential in the pre-2020 period. Together, the report, titled ‘Climate Action Now: Summary for Policymakers 2015,’ and a dedicated website, Climate Action 2020, aim to highlight the potential for greater climate action and ambition before 2020.

The Summary for Policymakers (SPM) focuses on the outcomes of UNFCCC technical expert meetings (TEMs) on the following thematic areas: renewable energy; energy efficiency; transport; carbon capture, use and storage (CCS); non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases (GHGs); land use climate action; and adaptation co-benefits. It reveals a range of existing opportunities to immediately scale up GHG emissions reductions to limit temperature increase to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

The SPM consists of an introduction, four chapters, a foreword by UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, and a list of key messages for policymakers. The first chapter makes a scientific case for urgent action, describes the effects of inaction, identifies barriers to action, and addresses ways to realize mitigation potential and harness multiple co-benefits from action. The second chapter deals with priority thematic areas. The third chapter addresses international cooperation, including: the catalytic role of the UNFCCC; intergovernmental organizations and development institutions that foster climate action; and action by non-State actors. The fourth chapter sets out the path toward greater ambition and action through 2020 and beyond, by outlining: national policies that stimulate investment in low-carbon development and sustainable growth; and ways to foster international cooperation on climate change, and encourage further engagement by non-State actors.

The SPM identifies six key messages for policymakers: enhanced action is urgently needed, as current pre-2020 pledges fall short; solutions exist to limit warming to 2°C above pre-industrial levels; leadership and willingness to act are required to overcome barriers to mitigation action; financial support, technology transfer and capacity building at scale are urgently needed; cooperative initiatives are essential to mobilize climate action across a range of stakeholders and need to be further promoted; and the UNFCCC has the potential to play a catalytic role in helping countries overcome barriers and realize their mitigation potential. [Publication: Climate Action Now: Summary for Policymakers 2015] [SPM Webpage] [Climate Action 2020]