A platform from Japan’s Ministry of Environment seeks to support efforts to address two global crises: the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. The ‘Platform for Redesign 2020’ is supported by the UNFCCC Secretariat and managed by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES).

The Platform for Redesign 2020 brings together information on countries’ policies and actions being taken in the wake of the global pandemic. It identifies climate mitigation measures, climate adaptation measures, cross-cutting measures, and other environmental measures.

As of 25 August 2020, the platform lists the measures that 26 countries have taken. The measures are organized by country and are tagged according to whether the measure relates to one of three categories: response, recovery, or redesign, defined as follows:

• Response: Short-term emergency measures that address concerns that emerged as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic;
• Recovery: Socioeconomic measures that address medium-term objectives. These measures include an environmental or climate focus to “build back better” from COVID-19. 
• Redesign: Measures taken with a long-term perspective and seeking to prompt paradigm shifts. They focus on “redesigning current socioeconomic and sociocultural systems to be sustainable and resilient.” 

For example, a climate mitigation action in Sweden categorized as a response, recovery, and redesign measure involves a decision by which the government will invest in night trains to Europe. This measure will provide greater opportunities for low-carbon travel using public transport. In another example, Chile has announced energy efficiency measures, which the Platform for Redesign 2020 categorizes as both a response and recovery measure. 

IGES reports that the platform will be updated with a view to maintaining and enhancing global momentum toward the Glasgow Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 26), which is expected to take place in November 2021.

The platform also provides details on an online ministerial meeting taking place 3 September 2020. During this event, ministers and high-level officials of UNFCCC Parties will exchange views on climate policies and other environmental measures relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister of the Environment, Japan, introduced the idea of the platform during the 11th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in April 2020 and the June Momentum organized by the UNFCCC Secretariat in June 2020.