The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the UNFCCC have published a summary report of the first Climate and SDGs Synergy Conference, which seeks to further coordinated implementation of the objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, across all levels and sectors. A new knowledge platform based on the Conference outcomes will promote climate and SDGs synergies.

The publication titled, ‘Maximizing Co-benefits by Linking Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Action,’ is an extended summary report of the first Climate and SDGs Synergy Conference, formally known as the ‘Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,’ which took place from 1-3 April 2019 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The report, published on 12 November 2019, outlines key action areas identified by Conference participants, and aims to promote coordinated implementation of the objectives of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs by maximizing synergies and minimizing trade-offs.

Key takeaways from the Conference highlighted in the publication include:

• Accelerated energy transition (SDG 7), sustainable industrialization (SDG 9), sustainable food production systems and resilient agricultural practices (SDG 2), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and sustainable management of forests and other terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15) and oceans (SDG 14) can contribute to low-emission pathways (SDG 13), as well as the creation of decent work and quality jobs (SDG 8) and long-term progress in eradicating poverty (SDG 1).
• Limiting the global temperature rise would “significantly ease the path” to attaining many of the SDGs, including those related to poverty eradication (SDG 1), hunger (SDG 2), access to water (SDG 6), forests and terrestrial and ocean ecosystems (SDGs 15 and 14), health (SDG 3), and gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls (SDG 5). It would also contribute to targets related to resilience and disaster risk reduction (DRR) in SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure) and SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities).
• Simultaneously addressing climate change and sustainable development calls for a decentralized, multilevel approach, aligned with human rights, where subnational and local governments, local communities, and indigenous peoples play a key role, gender is mainstreamed, youth is involved in decision making, and vulnerable groups such as women, persons with disabilities, older persons, youth, refugees, and migrants are not left behind.
• By increasing natural variability and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, climate change is already resulting in large human and socioeconomic costs and reversing development gains across various sectors.
• While progress in transitioning towards low-carbon, climate-resilient societies and economies is visible, as evidenced by the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), the pace remains slow in spite of the ongoing expansion of the portfolio of actions to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.

Building on the inputs received from the Climate and SDGs Synergy Conference, the UNFCCC and DESA established a global knowledge platform “to continually disseminate knowledge and good practice” to help promote climate and SDGs synergies more effectively. [Publication: Maximizing Co-benefits by Linking Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Action] [Publication Landing Page] [DESA News Story] [Climate and SDGs Synergies Knowledge Platform]