31 August 2018: The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the UNFCCC have signed an agreement to strengthen regional climate action, with a focus on meeting the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

During the signing ceremony, acting ESCAP Executive Secretary Hongjoo Hahm highlighted the need to boost climate action in the region to stay “well below a 2°C temperature increase.” He said the Asia-Pacific region accounts for more than 50% of global emissions and that countries’ collective Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are insufficient to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. He stated that the partnership will help build awareness and strengthen climate leadership by engaging governments, civil society and business leaders to enhance regional and national-level climate action.

A cooperative regional response is consistent with the transformation required to achieve climate goals and the SDGs.

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa said that a cooperative regional response is consistent with the transformation required to achieve climate goals and the SDGs.

The partnership will:

• identify joint projects that strengthen leadership, enhance capacity and promote collaboration of public and private sectors to implement country-driven mitigation and adaptation activities;
• ensure policy coherence by aligning the region’s approach to implementing the Paris Agreement and NDCs with the Regional Roadmap for Implementation of the 2030 Agenda, as well as with regional efforts on financing for development; and
• help develop knowledge products and training sessions for countries in the region.

The two organizations have already committed to raise awareness through the annual Asia-Pacific Climate Week, and to fundraise to support collaborative projects. The signing comes ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, meeting from 4-9 September 2018. [ESCAP Press Release]