*[Enwl-eng] Here is the latest news from the High-Level Champions!

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Sep 18, 2023, 1:27:14 PM9/18/23

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UN Global Climate Action

18 September 2023

High-Level Champions'

Newsletter

“We can. We will”- New York Climate Week Gets Underway

New York Climate Week (NYCW) theme “We can. We will” reflects the focus on showcasing existing world-leading climate projects - and vital discussions of how to practically scale more action, faster.

The annual event hosted by the Climate Group and New York City, in conjunction with the UN General Assembly (UNGA) opens this Sunday 17 September, with some 400 sessions taking place across the city.

The UN Climate Change High-Level Champions will participate in and convene various events, aiming to engage a number of stakeholders to enhance climate action in alignment with goals of the Paris Agreement and the Global Biodiversity Framework.

During the opening ceremony, Her Excellency Razan Al Mubarak will highlight the importance of protecting nature for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement - unless we halt the erosion of nature we will destroy one of our main climate action levers. She will also raise the opportunities under nature, for example, it’s estimated that ocean-based mitigation options can reduce the ‘emissions gap ’ (the difference between emissions expected if current trends and policies continue and emissions consistent with limiting global temperature increase) by up to 21% on a 1.5°C pathway, by 2050.

H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak will also stress the role of the Global Stocktake as a critical tool for identifying the gaps and solutions pathways to 2030 and beyond to engage all stakeholders in a just transition to a 1.5C, resilient and inclusive world.

On the next day, Dr. Mohieldin will tackle the issue of financing climate justice for a sustainable and resilient future alongside Asif Saleh, CEO, Bangladesh Rehabilitation Assistance Committee (BRAC) and Dominique Hyde, Director at UNHCR at the Hub Live hosted by Climate Group, New York Climate Week Official Host. Dr. Mohieldin will mainly shed light on the hurdles to the flow of finance to the landmark Loss & Damage Fund, announced last year at COP27, and climate justice more broadly. Being concerned with both quality and quantity, he will also explain the need of developing countries for more concessional finance to avoid future debt challenges. The opening remarks of the session will be delivered by the Scottish First Minister, Hamza Yusuf, given his government’s financial pledge at COP27 and notable commitment to the issue of loss and damage.

The key focus areas of the High-Level Champions at this year’s NYWCW are:

● The release of the second annual Breakthrough Agenda Report, in partnership with IRENA, IEA and the Breakthrough Agenda, at a High-level virtual media roundtable, where Dr. Mohieldin gave opening remarks alongside Fatih Birol and Francesco La Camera at the outset of the event on the 14 September.

● The High-Level Champions will join forces with the UN Regional Economic Commissions, and the COP 27 and COP 28 Presidencies to host an event on ‘Regional Platforms for Climate Projects: Building an Impactful Climate Finance Marketplace’ on 17 September at the UN HQ. The event will demonstrate SDG 17 (Partnerships for Sustainable Development) in action, heightening the visibility of projects for public and private investors, as well as developers of projects on climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, which cut across SDGs 6, 7, 11, 13 and 14. Dr. Mohieldin will give scene-setting remarks followed by discussions around climate finance mobilisation and project acceleration in practice.

● Evidence of the significant progress made against the Sharm-El Sheikh Adaptation Agenda (SAA) adaptation outcomes, especially Health, Finance and Loss and Damage, will be discussed at the event ‘Adaptation and Resilience Action: Showcasing Progress and Catalyzing Pace and Scale.’

● Showcasing progress on nature initiatives, including transforming food systems and leveraging private finance to build resilience and drive a net zero and nature positive future. For example, on the 18 September, at the event ‘Unlocking the Catalytic Potential of Private Finance to Accelerate Delivery of a Net Zero and Nature-Positive Future’, a new Champions-led paper will be launched on the Nature-Climate Nexus - helping to catalyze private capital for nature-based solutions (NbS).

● Driving the ambition loop through stronger net zero policy and regulation. On 19 September, the event ‘Driving the Road to Regulation’ will discuss the role for non-Party stakeholders to clear and fair ground rules for a just and resilient net zero economy, which would turbocharge voluntary action and halve emissions by 2030.

● Harnessing the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples for the implementation of climate action. H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak and H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui, the COP28 Youth Climate Champion will address an event on 22 September on Indigenous Peoples’ (IP)’s inclusion and engagement, reporting back on IP related progress towards a more sustainable and healthier future, with a view to building momentum to COP 28 and beyond.

At the NYCW, the High-Level Champions will also focus on galvanizing leadership on climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building.

Keep fully up to date with the Champions’ involvement at Climate Week NYC here.

Africa Shows the Way - Africa Climate Summit and Africa Climate Week Highlights

Africa Climate Summit and Africa Climate Week in Nairobi at the beginning of September have supported the channelling billions of dollars of new finance towards a net zero, nature positive transformation, that would meet the socio-economic needs of Africans, while addressing energy poverty and driving development.

Bringing together more than 10,000 participants, ranging from governments, cities and subnational regions, the private sector, and civil society from across the continent and the world, the two events highlighted the challenges, barriers, solutions and opportunities for climate action and support within the context of Africa, showcasing how Africa is not just a continent facing climate impacts but also can lead the world in climate solutions, and serving as a critical source of key regional messages and recommendations to inform the Global Stocktake, which will conclude at COP 28.

The Nairobi Declaration, a blueprint for Africa’s green energy transition

The Summit culminated in the adoption of the African Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action by 19 Heads of State, a unanimous agreement to raise billions of dollars for green growth, mitigation and adaptation to address Africa’s climate challenges. The Declaration laid down a goal to raise Africa’s renewable generation capacity to 300GW clean energy by 2030, up from 56GW in 2022.

According to President William Ruto of Kenya, "Africa’s abundance of wind and solar energy can power our development, creating jobs, protecting local economies, and accelerating the sustainable industrialization of the continent. But for us to lead the way toward a sustainable and prosperous future for our continent and the world, finance and technology must be provided to our developing countries

Call for a global tax on fossil fuels

The Nairobi Declaration also proposes the establishment of a global carbon taxation system to increase climate finance and incentivise industrialised countries to accelerate their decarbonisation. The Declaration sets out the expectation for the world’s richest countries and biggest emitters to keep their pledge of USD100 billion in annual climate finance for developing nations, stating: “No country should ever have to choose between development aspirations and climate action”.

Other highlights included:

● The United Arab Emirates (UAE) committed to buying USD450 million of carbon credits from the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI) at the Carbon Markets for Global South event. Instigated by the Champions’ first regional finance event at COP27 in Egypt, ACMI seeks to unlock voluntary carbon markets to finance Africa’s energy, climate and development goals. Speaking at the event, Mohieldin welcomed the investment, adding that we now need to work on “cross border adjustment mechanisms so exporters of carbon markets like Africa ensure the integrity of their offerings”.

● H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak announced that USD100 million has been secured to accelerate the implementation of The Great Blue Wall Initiative, a Western Indian Ocean (WIO)-born, African-driven roadmap to achieve a nature-positive world by 2030. Contributions from the Canadian Government, WWF, Wetlands International, Ocean Hub Africa and Pew, were confirmed at the ‘Advancing Africa’s Blue Economy’ Presidential event.

● Following a 60-million Euro debt conversion deal between Germany and Kenya to free up renewable energy and sustainable agriculture investment, the Champions convened a broader dialogue on the need for credit enhancement led by the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to scale these instruments more broadly.

● At a ministerial meeting on ‘Scaling High Impact Climate Finance for Africa’, Bogolo Kenewendo, High-Level Champions’ Special Advisor and Africa Director, highlighted the wide range of bankable, climate-focused investment opportunities in Africa, as shown by the UN Compendium. Mohieldin, Kenewendo, and Reuben Wambui (Climate Finance Expert at the Net-Zero Africa Initiative) outlined ‘Five bold reforms to Close Africa’s Climate-Finance Gap’, in Project Syndicate.

● Speaking at a Green Climate Fund (GCF) event on ‘Climate Initiatives to Finance Climate Action and the SDGs’ Mohieldin highlighted that Africa needs more equity investments and concessional financing to boost climate resilience for vulnerable communities.The replenishment of the GCF is one of the means ensuring that financing coupled with real-economy impact reaches people at the forefront of the climate challenge.

● Mohieldin participated in a session on “Unlocking Climate Finance Flows to African Projects” within the activities of Africa Climate Summit where he highlighted that financing for African climate projects need to account for the debt crises shackling many countries, and the continent’s climate targets, mainly the adaptation activities.

● Mohieldin also took part in the High-Level Dialogue on the Global Stocktake: Enhancing climate action and support for Africa, emphasizing how non-Party stakeholders are ready and willing to support national governments with opportunities to achieve our collective goals. He also highlighted the importance of the Global Stocktake becoming a living manual of forward-looking actions that is accessible and understandable for all.

● During the Investment in Nature and Biodiversity ministerial, Ms. Kenewendo urged the scaling of finance in nature for Africa and increasing domestic private capital to accelerate Africa’s green transformation. The launch of the Pan African Fund Managers Association aims to support this as a mechanism to help African pension funds share ideas and skills, as well as facilitate co-investment opportunities.

● During ‘The Just Energy Transition Collaboration (JET-Co) Dialogue for Africa event’ Mohieldin called for the mainstreaming of JET-Cos to contribute to economy-wide transformations, including hard-to-abate sectors and food systems.

“No one would argue that an energy transition needs to be just. Yet we’ve seen with the Jet-P initiatives how complicated the implementation can be. We need frameworks that are not just conceptual but practical too. The cost of introducing new energy infrastructure is huge so public- private finance partnerships are critical. Similarly, local communities need to be consulted on how these projects are developed and implemented to ensure they’re in line with their local priorities and realities on the ground.”

● As the official initial session of the Track 2 (‘Cities, Urban and Rural Settlements, Infrastructure and Transport’) programme, the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency, alongside the Covenant of Mayors for sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) and Cities Race to Resilience convened an event on ‘Unlocking Finance for city-scale transformation through Multi-level Governance.’ The session included opening remarks from co-hosts, the COP 28 Presidency, Bloomberg Philanthropies and the High-Level Champions - represented by Dr. Mohieldin.

Mohieldin announced that:

"The first integrated municipal financial framework for the local level, using two pilot cities in Egypt and Mozambique, will be launched at COP28" (see below).

The session included a valuable interactive segment, where Mayors, Ministers and Development Finance Institution representatives shared tangible examples of how and where multi-level governance and collaboration has directly supported the unlocking of finance within specific sectors. The outcome from the session was a strong call that multilevel action & urbanisation must be key at COP28, and the 'new normal' going forward, recognising the important role for subnational governments to translate national commitments into practice.

● Introducing the African NbS Implementation Dialogue workshop H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak said:

“Nature-based projects hold the key to unlocking the ambitious climate action required in this critical decade of delivery. The collective experiences of governments and non-government entities will shape our understanding of the opportunities and obstacles we face in accelerating the vital projects”.

● Importantly, both High-Level Champions met with Marrakech Partnership stakeholders to exchange their reflections on the Africa Climate Week and how capturing real examples of implementation and concrete solutions is crucial to bring regional perspective to the Global Stocktake going towards COP 28.

Global Stocktake technical report calls for all-of-society approach

A technical report on the Global Stocktake (GST) report recently published by the two co-facilitators of the GST technical dialogue provided the most comprehensive assessment of global climate action to date.

Based on the inputs received throughout the GST technical assessment process in 2022 and 2023, the report highlighted the progress made but also underscored a looming gap between promises and action towards limiting global warming to 1.5°C and the phase out of any unabated coal power needs to be accelerated in this decade to course correct on climate. The report coincided with the recent shocking news that June to August 2023 was the planet’s warmest summer since records began in 1940.

With 17 key technical findings, the report showed that to curtail further warming and strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty, the gap between intention and action must be urgently closed. This can be achieved, for example, through systems transformations and whole-of-society approaches with accelerated implementation efforts by and collaboration between national and sub-national governments, businesses, investors, youth, indigenous peoples, workers and civil society across all areas of climate action, including finance, adaptation and resilience, emissions reductions and nature regeneration.

An unprecedented surge of businesses, investors, cities, regions and civil society demonstrating robust, science-based commitments, is helping to shift entire sectors, redirecting capital, disseminating new technologies, and driving innovation. These include the Marrakech Partnership Climate Action Pathways, 2030 Breakthroughs, Breakthrough Agenda, and Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda, as well as Race to Resilience and Race to Zero campaigns.

Ms. Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for the UAE’s COP28, said:

“The global stocktake shows us that businesses, investors, cities and regions can provide the groundswell of action needed to halve emissions, build resilience and end nature loss by 2030, if they collaborate to implement commitments. A more resilient, nature-positive, net-zero emissions economy will enhance health, security, jobs, equality and wider sustainable development for all.”

Further information on the GST report, including responses from Dr Mohieldin, plus the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy and the We Mean Business Coalition can be found here.

The Road to Regulation: Turning climate policies into reality

On Tuesday, 19 September, an important roundtable will take place at New York Climate Week, ‘The Road to Regulation’, focusing on the role of non-Party stakeholders to align and collaborate to encourage a supportive policy and regulatory environment.

Through the lens of the GST technical synthesis report the problem is abundantly clear - voluntary commitments are still not translating into the scale of real emissions reductions we need. According to the IPCC, reaching net zero by 2050 requires halving emissions by 2030. That requires commitments to be implemented and ramped up – quickly.

The ground is therefore ripe for net zero rules, regulations and incentives. The recent groundswell of voluntary commitments has built common norms, aligning actors behind common criteria and signalling to governments that climate action is feasible and desirable. Since launching in 2020, the partners of the Race to Zero campaign have mobilized over 12,000 businesses, investors, cities, regions, healthcare facilities and academic institutions behind robust, science-based commitments to halve emissions by 2030.

However, voluntary action can only go so far. Government policies will help to ensure these commitments are fulfilled, supported, and strengthened. They will create a level playing field across regions and industries, drive innovation, reward first-movers, and unlock investment.

The High-Level Champions are already working with partners to encourage greater advocacy. They put out a call to action in June for businesses, investors, cities, regions and civil society to join the Race to Zero and align their advocacy, policy and engagement with net zero goals. The Race to Zero also released The 5th P (Persuade) Handbook setting out best practices for advocacy, policy and engagement and showcasing examples of leadership.

Prior to the Road to Regulation roundtable, a blog will be published here highlighting the growing momentum behind net zero policy making, both in the public and private sector. Watch this space.

Race to Zero latest developments:

Exponential Roadmap Initiative launched their Greening Cash Action Guide. This Guide examines a driver of corporate GHG emissions - emissions associated with how banks manage and repurpose the cash deposits of their corporate clients for emission-producing activities. You can read more details here.

The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), who supports a number of Race to Zero’s finance partners, such as Net Zero Asset Owners Alliance, Net Zero Investment Consultants and Net Zero Asset Managers, has just released a report on ‘Responsible Investment and Sustainability Outcomes in China’. Positively, the report notes that: “Internationally, China’s foreign investment activity, particularly through the Belt and Road Initiative, is focused on open, green, clean and inclusive sustainable development that follows high standard, people-centred and sustainable approaches.”

In an open letter coordinated by Climate Group and We Mean Business Coalition, and covered in the Financial Times, leading Indian businesses and companies operating in India have written to G20 leaders with seven key policy asks. Read the letter in full here.

Race to Zero also warmly welcomes their first UAE based Accelerator, The Surpluss. The Surpluss is a B2B climate-tech operator with more than 400 members in the UAE that drives the net zero transition by assisting companies to reduce the intensity of their industrial processes by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through resource sharing and industrial symbiosis cluster formation. The Surpluss aims to transform excess into equal access, empowering communities and reshaping the future of business, one synergy at a time.

Race to Resilience latest developments:

Race to Resilience Partners Convene with Dr. Mohieldin at Africa Climate Week

Champions Re-energise Resilience

A host of knowledge-sharing meetings took place at Africa Climate Week, between Dr. Mohieldin, H.E. Ms Al Mubarak and a range of Race to Resilience partners. During the meetings, partners shared their experiences of adaptation and resilience solutions that are currently being implemented, including challenges and opportunities for scalability and replicability across the African region.

On the 5th September, a roundtable discussion took place with Dr. Mohieldin and select R2R partners. The meeting had the participation of Mayor Manuel de Araújo from the City of Quelimane, Mozambique, one of the first member cities of Cities Race to Resilience, who shared on some of the resilience building efforts undertaken at local level:

“As the city of Quelimane, we recognise the importance of underpinning our actions with sound policies and strategies to strengthen resilience and DRR work. This DRR work is also aligned with our Cities Race to Resilience and Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) commitments and further supported by these initiatives. These voluntary opportunities are raising the ambition of our current climate adaptation actions, and accelerating implementation, but more work is needed in proactively securing finance for climate change, disaster risk reduction and sustainability actions. This funding is essential for implementing risk reduction measures. It can be used to build seawalls, improve drainage systems, restore our ecosystems, educate residents about disaster preparedness, and more.”

Dr. Mohieldin challenged partners to support Quelimane, and his own home village, Kafr Shokr in Qalyobeya in Egypt, to explore avenues to increase the delivery of finance, capacity building and technology for locally-led adaptation action in the two African cities, by using an integrated municipal financing framework that builds on resilience efforts and enhances collaboration between R2R partners.

H.E Razan Al Mubarak meets with Slum Dwellers International SDI)’s Women Collaborative Group in Nairobi, Kenya

Looking ahead to COP28, Ms. Al Mubarak expressed her interest in working on grant mechanisms that flow efficiently and directly to support the resilience building of communities in informal settlements.

Water: a Resilience Amplifier and a Priority for Africa

The climate crisis is exacerbating a severe drought crisis in the Horn of Africa. Over 36.1 million people in the region are currently affected, with Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya shouldering the highest burdens.

During Africa Climate week the Race to Resilience, Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) and UNICEF Somalia, co-hosted a panel discussion highlighting the role of non-State actors working closely with governments, and UN agencies to deliver Climate Resilient Solutions for Water, Hygiene and Sanitation in the Horn of Africa.

The event convened Rania Dagash, UNICEF Regional Deputy Director; plus Ahmed Nur Yusuf, Director General of Somalia’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change; and Dr. Ismail Fahmy M Shaiye, Advisor- Water and Climate Change, Executive Office of the President of Kenya; plus the Youth Ambassador for SWA, Anita Soina, among others.

News from Race to Resilience Partners

Build Change celebrated a significant milestone after eight years of collaboration with the Colombian Seismic Engineering Association and the Colombian Government. The adoption of AIS 410 into Colombia's Building Code marks the nation's first guideline for enhancing the resilience of informal housing.

The Global Evergreening Alliance welcomes its newest member - the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which is an international nonprofit organisation leading timber certification to promote the sustainable management and consumption of forest and forest products worldwide.

Resilience First welcomes its newest member - the International SOS, which is delivering customised health, security risk management and wellbeing solutions to fuel organisations' growth and productivity.

Ocean Risk Resilience Alliance Executive Director Karen Sack shares her insights on the race to ocean resilience, and why COP28 will mark a pivotal moment to build momentum for the protection of oceans.

The International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure announces a call for contributions to the second issue of The Climate Resilient Infrastructure report, which focuses on Nature. Deadline for contributions 30 September.

Solution Stories:

DARAJA: Transforming Weather Information into Urban Resilience in East Africa

Partner: DARAJA, Resurgence

Implementers: Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) in Nairobi, the Centre for Community Initiatives (CCI) in Dar es Salaam, Resurgence, the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) and key local community partners and leaders.

Countries & Region: Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda – Africa

Impact System: Human Settlements /Early Warning Systems

Beneficiaries / Impact: 982,000 people benefited to date

Manhattan debuts ambitious coastal protection blueprint

Partner: International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI)

Implementer: New York City

Country & Region: U.S , North America

Impact System: Human Settlements, Infrastructure and Water

Beneficiaries / Impact: < 110,000 people