9 August: The UNFCCC has published a report providing insights into government action to address climate change, as well as knowledge and experience that governments can deploy to increase ambition.

The report titled, ‘Climate Action and Support Trends,’ is based on national reports submitted to the UNFCCC Secretariat under the current reporting framework. It provides an overview of actions taken in response to UNFCCC mandates, and highlights status of support provided and received. The report comes ahead and will serve as input to the UN Climate Action Summit on 23 September in New York, US.

Highlighting progress made over the past 25 years since the UNFCCC’s inception, the report acknowledges that emissions have continued to increase and that current national efforts are insufficient to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change. The publication aims to help scale up further action in advance of the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to be submitted by 2020.

The report also highlights that:

• reporting by Parties provides a clear picture of climate-related impacts and hazards;
• although progress is slow, Parties are transitioning towards low-emission, climate-resilient societies and economies, including through enhanced participatory processes, with the submission of, inter alia, 183 NDCs, 12 low-emission development strategies (LEDS) and 13 National Adaptation Plans (NAPs);
• institutional arrangements for planning, funding, implementing, monitoring and evaluating climate action are increasing; and
• the portfolio of climate actions is expanding with the adoption of new instruments, replication of successful actions, reformulation of existing policies and discontinuation of ineffective policies.

It also details support levels provided and received by developing countries, and cites the need for: improving the availability, volume and coverage of and access to international financial sources; more effective technology development and transfer; and building and retaining capacity.

Other events aimed at increasing ambition over the next few months include Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week from 19-23 August in Salvador, Brazil, Asia-Pacific Climate Week from 2-6 September in Bangkok, Thailand, and the Santiago Climate Change Conference from 2-13 December in Santiago, Chile. [Publication: Climate Action and Support Trends] [UNFCCC Press Release] [SDG Knowledge Hub Curtain Raiser for UN Climate Action Summit]