CLIMATE

REVIEW
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United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs Climate Review
Published by the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs
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01
06 Introduction
02
16 Leaving no one behind
03
28 The Ocean
04
36 Energy
Learning from the past; in the fight against
acting for the future climate change

05
44 Transport
06
52 Forests
07
60 Data and statistics
08
68 Frontier issues
 LEARNING FROM THE PAST; ACTING FOR THE FUTURE

“
Building on the lessons of the past 30 years is
the best way that DESA, as a UN Department,
can take action against climate change.
“
– Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic
and Social Affairs

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© Giovanni Diffidenti / PNUD Guatemala

 LEARNING FROM THE PAST; ACTING FOR THE FUTURE

01
Introduction
Learning from the past;
acting for the future
By Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs

© UN Photo

Participation in climate change negotiations has occupied Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was At the Earth Summit, the world recognized the importance used energy; but used very little. Through most of human
an important part of my career. Before I joined UN DESA adopted. Since the Convention’s entry into force in 1994, of addressing climate change by looking at the sources history there was a natural balance between the emissions
in 2017, I had participated in 10 COPs—the annual UN Parties have met annually in the Conference of the Parties and the sinks. The sources, those things that contribute to and “the sinks”; or the natural parts of our planet that
Climate Change Conference—over 10 years, four years as (COP) to monitor its implementation and continue talks on climate change, such as greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), absorb GHGs, including carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is not
a lead negotiator for the Chinese Government, six years as how best to tackle climate change. emanate from different sectors and processes such as always negative; plants rely on absorbing CO2 for life. But
the deputy head of the delegation. Based on my experience energy, transport, urbanization, industry and agriculture we have lost the historic balance between emissions and
I would say climate change negotiations have been one of This process laid the groundwork for humans to address and have proliferated since the Industrial Revolution their natural absorption; between sources and sinks; the
the most consequential processes in human history. The climate change. By linking environment and development, 250 years ago, when people started to make greater use Industrial Revolution and changing pattern of energy use
process and its outcomes have implications for the survival it was the start of sustainable development becoming not of fossil fuels for energy. Since then, use of fossil fuels, led to a rapid increase in emissions. Nature can no longer
of humanity and have changed human behaviors on a only the objective, but also the ideal for human beings. For especially coal, oil and gas, has become a critical part of keep up.
global scale. me, personally, the climate change process consolidated energy consumption, and also of GHGs.
my understanding of sustainable development. That's why, The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change was
In 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment since joining UN DESA, I've worked to connect all aspects For thousands of years prior to the industrial revolution, the first time in human history that we acknowledged that
and Development, also known as the Earth Summit, United of our work with the climate change process. people lived peacefully and harmoniously with nature. They the climate is changing because of human activity and that

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 LEARNING FROM THE PAST; ACTING FOR THE FUTURE

© UN Photo © UN Photo

United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali opened the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and British artist Edwina Sandys unveil Ms. Sandys' sculpture "Paradise Regained" on the
(UNCED) - or Earth Summit - on 3 June 1992. grounds of Rio Centro on 4 June.

human beings need to figure out how to slow and adapt to wetland, can absorb GHG emissions effectively. Arable emissions. Commitments would not be sufficient to that developed countries must take the lead in reducing
the change. land – land that can be farmed – is a comparably limited seriously tackle climate change. So, at the first COP in emissions. It was agreed that the burden to reduce
part of the Earth’s surface that is threatened by climate Berlin, Parties launched a new round of talks to formulate greenhouse emission would be shared by the developed
The Convention focused on how we can reduce the sources change and must also be preserved. legally binding constraints on GHG emissions. This started economies, including European Union members and most
of climate change by reducing human-made emissions. As a the so-called Kyoto process. In 1997, at COP 3 in Kyoto, OECD members, with differentiated targets. For European
result, policies have been developed to respond to climate Extractive activities have damaged the ocean and reduced Japan, the Kyoto Protocol was agreed. For the first time Union members, the target was to reduce emissions by 8
change by controlling and mitigating emissions, reducing forest coverage, lessening their capacity to absorb in human history there was an agreement to limit the per cent; for Australia, the target was to increase no more
emissions, and controlling the increase of emissions. GHGs. That's why addressing the issues of ocean health, emissions of GHG by Member States. A target was set to than 8 per cent.
deforestation, and reforestation to increase forest coverage, reduce emissions by at least 5 per cent globally from 1990
Preserving the natural GHG sinks, such as the ocean and as well as land use management to avoid desertification, is levels during the period 2008-2012. After the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol, people immediately
forests, is another essential aspect of addressing climate urgent. started to assess what had been left out. The agreement
change. The ocean is the largest sink, covering 70 per cent From the beginning of the climate negotiation process deferred commitments for eight years with a mandate for
of the Earth's surface. 30 per cent of the Earth's surface Even though the Convention was very comprehensive, there was an acknowledgment that climate change after 2000. I think that was one of our shortcomings. The
is land, and of that, 30 per cent is forests. Forests and immediately after its adoption Member States recognized was a result of GHG emissions accumulating since the Convention was adopted in 1992 and entered into force
other water-related surfaces such as reservoirs, lakes, and they needed to do more to control greenhouse gas Industrial Revolution. There was also an acknowledgment in 1994. But not until 2008 would countries start to really

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 LEARNING FROM THE PAST; ACTING FOR THE FUTURE

undertake this legally binding commitment, and even then, global temperature rise this century to well below 2 degrees
only until 2012. The question became, what is going to Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to
happen until 2008? and what would happen after 2012? limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees
Celsius was formulated in the Paris Agreement.
Also, immediately after the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol,
several developed economies realized it was going to be The new bottom-up approach of the Paris Agreement is
too difficult to implement. There was a lack of agreement, why Glasgow is so critical. Glasgow will help determine
even among developed economies. So, the Kyoto Protocol whether the NDCs would really be met as laid down in the
did not enter into force until 2005. Paris Agreement. COP 26 in Glasgow will be an opportunity
to push for further action, whether it's carbon neutrality,
In this regard, the Copenhagen Accord in 2009, though or whether it's preserving the increase of the global
many saw it as a failure, was in fact an important temperature to within 1.5 degrees Celsius. These are not
breakthrough. Although there was no legally binding new concepts; they are all included in the Paris Agreement.
agreement negotiated, the Copenhagen Accord was a But whether these goals are achieved will depend on the
political agreement, and it changed the so-called top-down concrete actions of the Member States. That is the critical
approach of the Kyoto Protocol which had set a global cap issue for the forthcoming COP26.
for limitation and reduction.
Technology has become an important part of addressing
© UN Photo
The Copenhagen Accord started to focus on how Member mitigation and the reduction and limitation of emissions.
States can really collaborate. It also laid the foundation Our capacity to really change the pattern of emissions and
for the Paris Agreement and its nationally determined transition to sustainable energy depends on technology. of the energy mix, to help ensure stability, but it will be a In the UN system we have the UNFCCC, which has been
contributions (NDCs). After the Kyoto Protocol in 2012, During the Convention negotiations 30 years ago, the small part. We need to ensure the emissions are absorbed devoted for the past 30 years to supporting the negotiation
there was a gap until 2020. During that period, they agreed only readily available decarbonised energy sources were by improving our ocean, forests, wetlands and other GHG of the climate change issues. In addition to this, all our
to implement the Copenhagen Accord. Negotiations hydro and nuclear. Since then, technology has improved sinks. So by 2050, the goal is to achieve a balance of nature. agencies are being asked to focus on how their mandates
started immediately after Copenhagen and continued considerably in developed economies and emerging There will be emissions, but they will be absorbed by sinks. in their respective areas contribute to climate action, both
in earnest after the Doha conference in 2012. In Doha, economies have increasing access to more sustainable That's carbon neutrality. on the UNFCCC, under the 2030 Agenda, as well as on the
Parties recognized that the Kyoto Protocol was going to technologies. In parallel with access to technology, financing Paris Agreement.
expire at the end of the year, so there was an urgency to for developing countries has become an important aspect The Convention laid a good foundation and basic
the negotiations. of climate negotiation over the last 30 years. framework for climate action moving forward. It touched However, there's not a single entity to coordinate all these
upon many of the basic issues relating to climate change. issues. This is difficult especially for agencies, because they
In 2015, the historical Paris Agreement was reached. It People are talking about achieving carbon neutrality by For a person like myself, who had been involved in climate have independent governing boards for their functions to
changed the top-down nature of the Kyoto Protocol, to a 2050. But as living standards rise around the world, so will change processes for some years, I see how the 2030 ensure they stay within their original mandate.
bottom-up approach with the NDCs, leaving it to Member demand for energy. Make no mistake, carbon neutrality Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are
States to decide what they can contribute to mitigating doesn’t mean zero emissions. It means that the emissions closely linked with climate. Of course, the 2030 Agenda has That's why I think UN DESA has an important role to
climate change. This was a major shift in approach to can be absorbed. Consumption patterns must change; there SDG 13 devoted to climate change. But many of the other play. In UN DESA, our Divisions and Offices work on a
addressing climate change. There is no legal obligation to must be a dramatic increase in renewable energy like solar, SDGs are also closely linked to climate action. range of interlinked issues including the SDGs, energy,
achieve carbon neutrality, but the concept of keeping the wind and hydro. Fossil fuel-based energy will remain a part transport, water, the ocean, technology, forests, and many

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 LEARNING FROM THE PAST; ACTING FOR THE FUTURE

other issues. We are responsible for analytical work and We also advise the Secretary-General on how to improve
for policy advice. And most important, we support the the implementation of the SDGs. In the next 9 to 10 years,
intergovernmental process. we will continue to see our work pay off with improved
synergies across the UN system in the service of climate
That's why I'm pushing UN DESA to play an increasing action.
role in supporting this process in partnership with the UN
system. Since I arrived at UN DESA, we have worked with UN DESA has learned from the climate change process. We
all agencies to identify synergies in our work. UN DESA shall continue to work towards achieving the global peak
has organized the SDG Pavilion at COPs and organized of emissions by 2030 and to achieve the global carbon
symposiums on the synergy between climate change and neutrality by 2050. At the same time, we need to be ready to
the 2030 Agenda. Through these efforts, UN DESA is respond to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme
working to improve our coordination with other entities. weather events. For example, low-lying coastal areas and
We use the 2030 Agenda as both our framework and our small islands must prepare for the sea-level rise. We must
guiding principles to continue to improve our performance. also look ahead to the future, beyond 2030. Otherwise, we
will not be able to preserve our Earth.

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© Ashwa Faheem / UNDP Maldives

 LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

“
Responding to climate change is a common
objective for all human beings. For UN DESA,
our work contributes to finding alternatives
and options to control emissions, in order to
preserve nature and ensure that our Earth can
continue to develop sustainably for future
generations.
“
– Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic
and Social Affairs
Key Messages

• By seeking out the inequalities and barriers that

people face in accessing climate services, resources
and opportunities, UN DESA has been working hard
to put a spotlight on the discriminatory practices, laws
and policies that leave particular groups of people
further and further behind.
• Despite the many challenges of the COVID-19
pandemic, UN DESA continues to press forward in
finding innovative ways to protect the planet for
the most vulnerable by integrating climate goals
with social and economic policies that aim to reduce
vulnerabilities, support those affected by climate
change and create decent jobs.

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© AlexandraDaryl
 LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

02
Leaving no one behind
in the fight against
climate change

© UN Photo/ Logan Abassi

The combined challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic The effects of climate change are experienced to varying the inequalities and barriers that people face in accessing Fighting for the furthest behind
and worsening climate conditions across the globe have degrees across and within countries due to differences climate services, resources, and opportunities, UN DESA
strengthened UN DESA’s resolve to align short-term in exposure, susceptibility, and coping capacities. If aims to put a spotlight on the discriminatory practices, laws People living in poverty are on the frontlines of the climate
solutions to these pressing problems with the medium and left unaddressed, climate change will lead to increased and policies that leave particular groups of people further change crisis—severe droughts bring hunger and intense
long-term sustainable development objectives of reducing inequality both within and among countries and could leave behind. Our activities in this area have been broad and floods ruin crops. They often live in low-quality, unsafe
poverty and improving the standards of living for the most a substantial part of the world further behind. Developing wide-ranging, with particular attention paid to indigenous housing in unhealthy environments or in unsafe areas
vulnerable populations. In seeking these solutions, we have countries, particularly small island developing States (SIDS) peoples, youth, women, older persons, persons with along mountain edges or swamps. When an environmental
identified five megatrends that have broad implications and least developed countries (LDCs), face disproportionate disabilities, and persons living in SIDS and LDCs. disaster strikes, their homes and lives are the first to be
for the future of policymaking. These are climate change; risks from an altered climate. An equitable transition towards a green economy calls affected and they are often forgotten by their governments.
demographic shifts, particularly ageing populations; for integrating climate goals with social and economic The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the hardship for
urbanization; digital technologies; and inequalities. We are Climate action strategies have the potential to reduce policies aimed at reducing vulnerability, supporting those those who suffer from extreme poverty—and is reversing
working hard to highlight the challenges that vulnerable inequalities, but they may not always incorporate this affected by climate change and creating decent jobs. decades of progress in the fight against poverty. According
groups are facing considering these megatrends, such as objective. Beyond their core intended purposes, these Despite the many challenges posed by the pandemic and to the World Bank, “between 71 to 100 million people are
how to reduce the impacts of consumption growth on strategies often have other effects—both positive and its faltering recovery, UN DESA continues to press forward being pushed into poverty as a result of the crisis, with the
the environment or how to preserve the Earth’s resources negative—that can differ greatly for individuals from in finding innovative ways to secure the planet for the most majority of the new extreme poor being found in South
while providing food and energy for a growing population. different income levels and social groups. By highlighting vulnerable.

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 LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

© UN/Martine Perret

Asian and Sub-Saharan countries where poverty rates are social networks to find friends and family in the aftermath
already high.” of a hurricane. With climate change causing more severe
weather around the world, improving digital connectivity
This year’s International Day for the Eradication of must be a key component of our preparedness efforts.
Poverty, organized by UN DESA, called for strengthened
global efforts to combine poverty eradication strategies However, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed a spotlight Efforts to identify gaps in access to environmental information were addressed at the 15th Internet Governance Forum in 2020.

with climate action and post-COVID-19 recovery efforts on the complexities of global digitalization. The ability of
amplifying digital cooperation and how the Internet can Following these discussions, the IGF now features an
that focus most on the communities that have been most industries to rapidly shift to online operations to
support and fulfil the nexus of respecting human rights and intersessional workstream focused on the intersections
pushed furthest behind. A worldwide consultation with the manage the effects of the pandemic laid bare persistent
achieving the SDGs. The discussions took place under four between the environment and digitalization processes,
Permanent Forum on Extreme Poverty, a global network digital divides and the many concerns over Internet
thematic tracks: data, inclusion, trust and for the first time, called the Policy Network on Environment (PNE). The vision
of people and organisations working to overcome poverty, governance, including the infodemic—the rapid and far-
the environment. of the PNE is a world in which digitalization is used as a
found that these strategies should aim to “build forward” reaching spread of accurate and inaccurate information—
force for good, and where progress is made towards the
and actively encourage and support people living in poverty data privacy and cybersecurity. While maintaining social
Of the many key messages put forth by the IGF, several 2030 Agenda’s climate and environmental goals. The PNE's
to be engaged in informed and meaningful participation in distancing and quarantine measures were essential for
were groundbreaking in their scope and intention. In work is spearheaded by a Multistakeholder Working Group,
the decision-making processes that directly impact their public health, Internet connectivity and digital technologies
particular, the Forum reported that the potential of data whose primary aim is to publish a report by December 2021
lives. became vital to address isolation and keep people informed
to contribute to sustainable development is not sufficiently containing concrete, actionable policy recommendations,
and engaged.
tapped into. The Forum highlighted that consolidated many of which are expected to support climate action.
Bridging gaps in access to environmental
multistakeholder efforts are needed to democratize
information It was in this historic context that UN DESA provided
access to the Internet and digital services to ensure that Highlighting the use of indigenous peoples’
substantive and administrative support to the 15th
vulnerable and marginalized groups (for example, women, traditional knowledge
Being excluded from Internet connectivity means being meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) on 2-17
minorities and people in remote areas) can benefit from
shut out of the opportunities of the 21st century. Access November 2020. Under the overarching theme “Internet
the opportunities that the Internet and digital technologies Traditional knowledge plays a critical role in protecting the
to information is especially paramount in preparing for for human resilience and solidarity,” IGF 2020 provided
have to offer. planet’s biodiversity and maintaining the overall health of
and responding to natural disasters—for example, people a multistakeholder platform for engaged and informed
ecosystems. For indigenous peoples, such knowledge is
need the ability to access news and weather reports, and discussions about policy issues pertaining to the Internet,

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 LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

systems do not disappear. Furthermore, indigenous

knowledge should be recognized as an equal source of
information in the inter-scientific dialogue to meet the
challenges mentioned above.

UN DESA continues to highlight the importance of

traditional knowledge, with the publication of several policy
briefs that show how traditional knowledge plays a central
role in climate change mitigation and adaptation actions.

Helping small island developing States find

solutions

SIDS are on the front lines of climate change impacts—they

are increasingly vulnerable to rising sea levels, extreme
weather events, and habitat degradation. Many SIDS lack
the resilience to deal with the rising incidence of natural
© UN Photo
disasters and economic shocks. To help them face these
UN DESA supported the 18th Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in 2019 where members advocated for the challenges, UN DESA has developed various guides and Partnering for environmental management services in the
rights of indigenous peoples to use their traditional knowledge and practices in the fight against climate change.
toolkits to streamline processes that facilitate investment, Maldives through the Small Island and Developing States
(SIDS) Partnership Accelerator.
such as the 2030 Agenda Partnership Accelerator.
transmitted across generations and often communicated effects on indigenous peoples, as well as the development Pathway in SIDS.
through indigenous languages. UN DESA, as the home to of global standards on conservation and human rights. Building multistakeholder partnerships in SIDS is more than
the Secretariat to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous a quick one-off project—they require considerable time Over the past two decades, as the field of multistakeholder
Issues, has been seeking to highlight this knowledge and In April 2019 UN DESA organized the 18th session of the and effort to develop, particularly when dealing with the partnering has matured as a professional discipline and
bring it to a wider audience through various mechanisms Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues with the main far-reaching impacts of climate change. The 2030 Agenda field of practice, certain success factors have emerged,
and forums. theme of Generation, Transmission and Protection of Partnership Accelerator is a collaborative initiative by UN which are referred to as ‘building blocks’. These partnership
Traditional Knowledge. The Forum stated that: DESA and The Partnering Initiative, in collaboration with building blocks also hold true when it comes to setting
In January 2019, UN DESA organized a three-day the UN Office for Partnerships, the UN Global Compact up and managing multistakeholder partnerships in SIDS.
international expert group meeting on Conservation and • Although there is increasing awareness in international and the UN Development Coordination Office. UN DESA is Due to their peculiar vulnerabilities and characteristics,
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Nairobi, Kenya. The forums related to climate change, environmental spearheading the effort to accelerate effective partnerships there are additional aspects to consider when developing
meeting highlighted the need to recognize indigenous degradation, food security and genetic resources, as in support of the SDGs with the goal of finding partnerships such partnerships in SIDS. The partnership accelerator
peoples’ traditional knowledge and institutions, and the well as science, technology and innovation, of the that align and combine the interests and resources of includes several tools and guides that provide insights to
role they play in sustainably managing their environment. importance of traditional knowledge, Indigenous multiple national stakeholders—government, business, these special considerations and serve as a starting point
Several proposals were made to engage Member States and Peoples’ traditional knowledge remains threatened by NGOs, communities, academia, media etc.—to support for anyone seeking to understand the challenges and
global conservation organizations in the monitoring and misappropriation, misuse and marginalization. Urgent the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SAMOA opportunities of partnering in SIDS.
evaluation of conservation activities and projects and their action is needed to ensure that such knowledge

One country where the 2030 Agenda Partnership

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 LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

Accelerator is being used to great effect is in the Maldives.

In close consultation with the UN Resident Coordinator’s
Office in the Maldives and the Government of the
Maldives, the SIDS partnership accelerator is supporting a
process to advance the implementation of the SDGs and
build back better from COVID-19 by enhancing cohesion
among sectors and stakeholders and inspiring new
multistakeholder partnerships.

An initial online national workshop was held on 2 November

2020, which brought together leaders from across all
sectors of society to celebrate examples of partnerships
that are already delivering towards the SDGs, to build © UN Photo

an understanding of what it takes to make partnerships

successful, and to discuss how to scale up effective
Mobilizing the world’s youth for sustainable the COVID-19 pandemic and the negative effects of
multistakeholder partnering in the Maldives. Following
development climate change.
the workshop, a consultative process was organized with
the government, the private sector, civil society, and key
When provided with the opportunities they need to thrive, During the 2021 ECOSOC Youth Forum chaired by the
development partners, that resulted in the Maldives
youth can be a decisive force for peace, development and President of the Economic and Social Council and co-
Partnership Landscape Assessment.
climate action. Young people’s unprecedented mobilization organized by UN DESA and the Office of the Secretary
Partnership platforms for the SDGs are emerging as key General’s Envoy on Youth (OSGEY), in collaboration with
around the world is already creating results. Youth actions
The assessment showed that there is a broad interest and mechanisms for brokering new partnerships, providing
around climate change are clearly demonstrating they several partners, young people stated they are confident of
willingness to partner among most of the stakeholders in coherence and coordination among stakeholders, and
are not only the victims of climate change, but also vital their role as drivers of global environmental change. They
the Maldives. Stakeholder and resource mappings were aligning investments for SDG implementation. Such
contributors of solutions. Through a multitude of sectors, called for increased opportunities to create awareness of
conducted as an integral part of the assessment to identify platforms are being developed around the world, including
young people are scaling-up their efforts and using their common environmental challenges and the potential and
areas of interest, convergence, and available resources in Kenya, Uganda, and Samoa, among others, and appear to
skills to accelerate climate action and to address this global importance of individual climate action. Youth should be
among national stakeholders. These mappings yielded a set have great potential to accelerating progress towards the
crisis. given the opportunity to contribute to fight the existential
of thematic areas which seem to have strong potential and SDGs. threat of climate change, which will greatly impact their
interest among stakeholders and sectors in forging new
UN DESA in particular helps to build awareness of the present and future.
partnerships. Two areas were prioritized by the Government The 2030 Agenda Partnership Accelerator is continuing its
global situation of young people, promotes their rights
to be explored further, namely waste management and support to the Maldives in advancing effective partnerships
and aspirations, and seeks to increase their participation As part of the 2021 International Youth Day, UN DESA
mental health. and to enhance engagement and cohesion among
in decision-making processes as a means of advancing hosted a webinar to provide a platform for young people
stakeholders and sectors, in the advancement of the SDGs. to explore the theme of Transforming Food Systems: Youth
peace and development. Through trainings, meaningful
The 2030 Agenda is built on a fundamental shift in approach
engagement, research and innovation, policy advice and Innovation for Human and Planetary Health. The forum
to international development: engaging the unique roles and
entrepreneurial solutions, UN DESA aims to ensure young allowed for a unique dialogue among youth working in this
resources of all sectors of society and requiring extensive
people have their seat at the table so that they can be space and stakeholders from different walks of life, that
collaboration across sectors to achieve its ambitious goals.
active participants as we strive to build back better from promoted innovation, knowledge exchange, and youth

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 LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

engagement. The webinar was structured around different In June 2020, at an official side event to the 2020 High-
roundtables, designed to boost interactions among the level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, a panel
participants. The different segments focused on specific of experts looked at older persons’ experience during the
topics under the overarching theme of Transforming Food pandemic to identify opportunities to build a more age and
Systems, including: planetary health, nutrition, health, disability inclusive world and accelerate action to achieve
education, innovation, and Indigenous youth. the SDGs for all. Some of these opportunities include filling
The World Youth Report: Youth Social Entrepreneurship and the data gaps that exist regarding age—in particular, that
the 2030 Agenda, was launched by UN DESA in July 2020, the rights, capacities and needs of older persons remain
to assesses the potential of youth social entrepreneurship to overlooked in humanitarian relief situations. There is a
support youth employment and development while helping pressing need to collect and collate information on older
us meet the SDGs and the goals of the Paris Agreement. persons and include such information in humanitarian
The report examines the challenges faced by young social assessments and planning, and disaster preparedness and
entrepreneurs and explores how innovative technologies response strategies.
can be used to help youth succeed. It offers policy guidance
for developing enabling, responsive and sustainable UN DESA remains committed to making sure the needs and
national ecosystems for young social entrepreneurs. the voices of the least represented and the most vulnerable
are heard in the fight against climate change. UN DESA
SDG delivery for older persons: increasing continues to advocate for policymaking that considers the
resilience to natural and man-made disasters interlinkages between the megatrends that will shape our
society in the decades to come. These issues must be at
Older persons are among those worst affected by disasters, the forefront of the global effort to achieve sustainable
both natural and man-made, and the COVID-19 pandemic development— in a way that goes together with climate
has disproportionately affected older persons. The impact action and that leaves no one behind.
of climate change on older persons is severe, affecting
their livelihoods, shelter and resources, and leading to
displacement or insecurity. UN DESA is working hard to
make their plight a part of the conversation when it comes
to the delivering on the SDGs.

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© Ashwa Faheem / UNDP Maldives

 THE OCEAN

“
The ocean belongs to every person and every
creature that breathes, but it is changing
dramatically and we need to preserve it. We
have to make good use of all areas of our work
to preserve nature.
“
Key Messages
– Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic
and Social Affairs
• UN DESA has been working hard to bring the impact
of climate change on the ocean to the forefront of
discussions on how to achieve the 2030 Agenda
and highlight how our work towards SDG 14, Life on
Water, also supports SDG 13 on Climate Action.
• Through our role coordinating and collaborating
with the Communities of Ocean Action and the UN
Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean, UN
DESA has become a key partner to a vast network of
public and private sector actors as they move forward
on their commitments to conserve our ocean and
marine resources.
• UN DESA is committed to providing breakthrough
analytical work to the people and countries that need
it most—and where it can have the greatest impact.
Protecting the ocean and helping ocean-based
economies to rebuild and improve their livelihoods
sustainably are a key outcome of our efforts.

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© Dan Charity
 THE OCEAN

03
The Ocean

© unworldoceansday.org/ Domenico Tripodi

The ocean — including seas, coastal areas, and marine SDG 13 on Climate Action. Our broad expertise on the of the current situation pertaining to the ocean. marine environmental issues. Bans on single-use plastics
resources — forms an integrated and essential component ocean — from economic and statistical analysis to support Efforts to keep up the momentum on ocean action have have been successfully implemented by governments,
of the Earth’s ecosystem and is critical to sustainable for intergovernmental processes — has placed us in a key continued despite the COVID-19 pandemic. UN DESA resulting in noticeable differences in the appearance of the
development. It contributes to poverty eradication position to inform the senior leadership of the United has been taking stock of the implementation of voluntary local environment. In ocean science, networks of scientific
by creating sustainable livelihoods and is crucial for Nations as they work to address climate change and its commitments registered with the Communities of Ocean cooperation have had a global reach, and have resulted in
global food security and human health. The ocean is the impacts on marine systems. Action since the 2017 UN Ocean Conference, with the innovative efforts in capacity development and technology
primary regulator of the global climate, an important aim of sharing best practices, identifying challenges transfer. The heightened awareness of ocean acidification
sink for greenhouse gases and hosts a huge reservoir of Through our role coordinating and collaborating with the and innovative solutions as well as to understand the is evident in the increasing number of acidification action
biodiversity. However, climate change is leading to the Communities of Ocean Action and the UN Secretary- impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. From the available plans developed by both local and national governments.
destruction of marine and coastal habitats and landscapes General's Special Envoy for the Ocean, Mr. Peter Thompson information, the voluntary commitments already have had
and is threatening the sustainability of this vast resource. of Fiji, UN DESA has become a key partner to a vast some impressive results. For example, some 3.3 million Diving deeper, we have been able to focus efforts on some
network of public and private sector actors as they move km² was reported as newly conserved marine protected of the communities that are most immediately affected by
UN DESA has been working hard to bring the impact of forward on their commitments to conserve our ocean and areas (an area slightly larger than the land area of India). the dire consequences of climate change—SIDS. As these
climate change on the ocean to the forefront of discussions marine resources. This function, coupled with the ability Many grassroots initiatives have collected marine litter countries face threats to their livelihoods and food security,
on how to achieve the 2030 Agenda and highlight how to analyse and survey these efforts, places us in a unique from beaches and under water, resulting in both massive UN DESA has developed strategies and toolkits specifically
our work towards SDG 14, Life on Water, also supports position to provide decision-makers with a bird’s eye view amounts of litter removed, and awareness raised about designed to use the ocean to their advantage through the

3 0 3 1
 THE OCEAN

development of policies and practices for the sustainable

development of a blue economy. UN DESA remains
committed to finding new and innovative ways to save the
ocean and tackle one of the most significant challenges to
achieving the 2030 Agenda.

Committing to saving our ocean…

UN DESA is a staunch supporter of the global effort to

save the ocean and has continued this work despite the
disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the
past several years, UN DESA has been coordinating and
collaborating with the nine thematic multistakeholder
Communities of Ocean Action (COAs) to follow-up on the
implementation of the voluntary commitments made at the
2017 UN Ocean Conference and to mobilize new voluntary
commitments ahead of the upcoming second UN Ocean
Conference, to be held in Portugal in 2022. The nine COAs
© Underwater Seascapes/ Anders Nyberg
deal with Coral Reefs; Implementation of international
law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law UN Ocean Conference, Lisbon 2022.
of the Sea; Mangroves; Marine and coastal ecosystems
management; Marine pollution; Ocean acidification; the COAs to share best practices and experiences, provide …and protecting our future strengthening its efforts to mobilize, create and drive
Scientific knowledge, research, capacity development and partnership opportunities and to catalyse additional pledges solutions to realize the 17 SDGs by 2030 in the context of
transfer of marine technology; Sustainable blue economy; for ocean action. The quarterly Ocean Action Newsletter The Department, in collaboration with related UN entities, an ongoing global pandemic. How we respond to COVID-19
and Sustainable fisheries. produced by the Department further promotes the work informs UN senior leadership and the public about how beyond the immediate and necessary recovery of health
of the COAs and provides updates about the upcoming UN climate change is significantly impacting the ocean in ways and livelihoods will likely determine not only whether we
Some 1,650 pledges of ocean action have been made since Ocean Conference and ocean news from around the UN that are challenging the implementation of SDG 14, Life will reach SDG 14, but also how sustainable the world of
the 2017 conference and the list is still growing. These system. Below Water, and the rest of the goals. tomorrow will be.
commitments have been made by governments, the United
Nations system, civil society organizations, academia, The voluntary commitments have shown us the power To showcase the intricate and symbiotic link between Recently, UN DESA carried out an online survey on the
the scientific community, and the private sector and they of inclusion, grassroots action and innovation, on levels the ocean and climate change, UN DESA has also been implementation of the voluntary commitments published
are a significant milestone on the path to the sustainable ranging from the local to the global, but now we need to supporting the Governments of Kenya and Portugal to on the Ocean Conference Registry to get an update on
management and conservation of the ocean, seas and build on successes and scale up promising solutions. We organize the second UN Ocean Conference, which will the achievements and challenges as well as to receive
marine resources. need to build partnerships, increase capacity and expand be held from 27 June to 1 July 2022, and its preparatory suggestions on their implementation. The assessment,
our networks to ensure that no one is left behind. meetings.. based on the survey and other available information,
concluded that the ocean commitments have helped
The Department has organized workshops and webinars for The conference comes at a critical time as the world is us make progress on SDG 14 from large increases in

3 2 3 3
 THE OCEAN

protected marine areas to the removal of massive amounts provides an opportunity to build back better and a blue
of litter from the ocean and growing awareness of ocean economy is the chance to do just that. Blue economies
environmental issues, such as acidification. Nevertheless, have the potential to build resilience to climate change, and
various challenges to their implementation have been create jobs and economic opportunities while achieving
reported, such as the lack of resources, funding, technical food security, reducing inequalities and eradicating poverty.
expertise, partner cooperation and political environment. Blue economies comprise a range of economic sectors
Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated and related policies that are interlinked and can ensure
challenges to the implementation of the commitments. the sustainable use of ocean resources. An important
These and other topics are slated to be discussed during challenge of the blue economy is to understand and better
the Ocean Conference. manage the many aspects of oceanic sustainability, ranging
from sustainable fisheries to ecosystem health and the
Building back blue prevention and mitigation of pollution. The blue economy
will also require collaboration across borders and sectors
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has decimated the through a variety of partnerships, which is particularly
tourism industry and thus had a particularly significant challenging for SIDS and LDCs but for which UN DESA is
impact on ocean-based economies, the road to recovery particularly well-suited to assist.

UN DESA investigates the conditions and safeguards

necessary to make ocean-based economies sustainable and
develops guidance that can help countries transition from
theory to practice. For example, in July 2021, UN DESA 2019 to aid these countries in finding suitable partnerships where it can have the greatest impact. Protecting the

launched the publication “Promotion and Strengthening of that align and combine the interests and resources of ocean and helping ocean-based economies to rebuild and

Sustainable Ocean-based Economies”. multiple national stakeholders—such as governments, the improve their livelihoods sustainably are a key outcome of
private sector, and local communities, among others—to our efforts. More must be done. We look to the 2022 UN

Many of the efforts to further grow ocean-based economic support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Ocean Conference, with its overarching theme of "Scaling

sectors focus not only on growing existing sectors such SAMOA Pathway, the sustainable development framework up ocean action based on science and innovation for the

as fisheries, maritime tourism and shipping, but also developed by and for SIDS. These partnerships intend to implementation of Goal 14: stocktaking, partnerships and

on developing newer sectors such as renewable ocean find long-term and sustainable solutions to the countries’ solutions" to launch a new chapter of global ocean action.

energy, blue carbon sequestration, marine biotechnology pressing economic concerns while addressing the dire

and extractive activities, with due attention paid to the impact that climate change will have on these economies

environmental impacts, including cumulative impacts, and and populations.

carbon emissions of these activities. UN DESA’s analysis

provides insight to the financing and intergovernmental A healthy ocean is essential to life on Earth and the future

processes needed to achieve such goals and serves as a of our planet. We can, and must do more to protect our

guide for policymakers and thought leaders as they embark ocean by scaling up science and innovation and building

on the road to build back better. on global awareness and cooperation. To this end UN

Building a sustainable blue economy is the backbone of DESA is committed to providing breakthrough analytical

the SIDS Partnership Accelerator launched by UN DESA in work to the people and countries that need it most—and

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 ENERGY

“
Without ensuring universal access to
affordable, reliable and modern energy
services, many SDGs will be in jeopardy since
energy is strongly interlinked with progress
on poverty eradication, gender equality, food
security, health, education, clean water and
sanitation, jobs, innovation, transport and
other objectives.
“
Key Messages
– Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic
and Social Affairs
• UN DESA’s efforts to help transform the way the
world produces and consumes energy are focused
on four key areas: reducing carbon emissions; closing
energy access gaps; creating new green jobs; and
facilitating a just and inclusive transition during the
post-COVID-19 period.
• Ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable and
clean energy is of dire importance if we are to slow
the rapidly accelerating impacts of climate change and
reduce carbon emissions from the energy sector. UN
DESA will continue to provide in-depth analysis and
bring together global leaders and changemakers to
formulate policies that will have the greatest impact.

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© GEF/SGP Cabo Verde

 ENERGY

04
Energy

© Stéphane Bellerose/UNDP in Mauritius and Seychelles

Currently, 75 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions stem carbon emissions; closing energy access gaps; creating new UN DESA also supports many intergovernmental processes Paving the way for affordable and clean
from the energy sector, making it one of the main drivers green jobs; and facilitating a just and inclusive transition. that deal with the energy sector, such as convening the energy for all
of climate change. Almost 760 million people live without SDG 7 Technical Advisory Group that addresses universal
electricity, and 2.6 billion cook with dirty, unhealthy fuels. To address these concerns and the implementation of the access and clean energy transitions as part of the UN The High-Level Dialogue on Energy, was the first
Global temperatures are already 1.2 degrees Celsius higher SDGs, particularly SDG 7 on Affordable and Clean Energy, Decade of Sustainable Energy for All 2014-2024. UN gathering of leaders in more than 40 years at the UN solely
than in the late 1800s, with climate-related disasters UN DESA led the organization of the 2021 UN High- DESA also provides support to the Secretary-General’s devoted to energy issues. UN DESA Under-Secretary-
displacing millions of people and destabilizing their energy Level Dialogue on Energy, the first global gathering on Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All. The General Liu Zhenmin served as the Secretary-General
access. energy under the auspices of the General Assembly since Special Representative, Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi of Nigeria, of the Dialogue to facilitate its organization. The event,
1981. This was a historic and game-changing meeting for is committed to ensuring continued and rapid progress on convened in September 2021 and supported by UN DESA
The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened these concerns action and cooperation on clean, affordable energy for all access to sustainable modern energy for all, but particularly in collaboration with several other UN entities, brought
as the rapidly accelerating impacts of climate change have by 2030, on the way to net-zero emissions by 2050. The for the most vulnerable in society. together Heads of State and Government as well as leaders
produced more damaging effects. The growing need to goal of the Dialogue was to secure concrete and ambitious from business, foundations, international civil society and
stave off a potentially devastating climate crisis have given commitments and actions by countries, businesses and youth organizations, to mobilize commitments and actions
UN DESA’s efforts to help transform the way the world cities to improve the lives of the billions of people who lack to transform the way our world produces energy with the
produces and consumes energy a new sense of urgency access to energy while accelerating energy transition to aim of tackling the climate crisis and the energy access
and we have focused our efforts on four key areas: reducing address the climate crisis. crisis.

3 8 3 9
 ENERGY

partnerships are expanded. Progress on the compacts more than 40-member multi-stakeholder group delivered
will be tracked through the 2030 target year, with annual a set of key messages, among which was the need to
reporting through a publicly transparent online database. harness affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy
solutions to scale up efforts aimed at ending hunger,
As the Secretariat for UN-Energy, which brings together over strengthening global food security, reducing inequalities
25 UN System entities and key partners for collaboration and ensuring a just and inclusive energy transition that
in the field of energy, UN DESA will continue to support leaves no one behind.
these transformational commitments and partnerships, as
the Department works tirelessly to sustain the momentum Indeed, the briefs place a special focus on the interlinkages
created by the Dialogue. of SDG 7 with all other SDGs. They underline that decisive
action on sustainable energy can catalyse progress towards
Making progress toward SDG 7 all the other SDGs, as well as towards global climate
protection targets. In fact, energy is essential to all other
Leaders gathered to discuss energy issues at the UN in September 2021. The SDG 7 Technical Advisory Group delivered a series of SDGs.
policy briefs on Leveraging Energy Action for Advancing
More than US$400 billion in new finance and investment equivalent to the output of 500 onshore wind turbines. The the Sustainable Development Goals in June 2021, to UN DESA also co-developed the Tracking SDG 7: Energy
was committed by governments and the private sector, and energy compacts also include commitments to save energy inform intergovernmental discussions on universal access Progress Report 2021. Prepared in partnership with other
over 35 countries—ranging from SIDS to major emerging equivalent to more than 7,000 GW by implementing and clean energy transitions. Convened by UN DESA, the global custodians for SDG 7 indicators, the report presents
and industrialized economies—made significant new energy efficiency measures. comprehensive coverage and in-depth analysis of over
commitments in the form of over 150 energy compacts. 180 countries and their progress toward universal energy
Additionally, several new partnership initiatives were The Dialogue also produced a global roadmap for access and clean energy solutions. The report shows
announced, aiming to provide and improve access to reliable accelerated SDG 7 action in support of the 2030 Agenda that during the last decade, a greater share of the global
electricity to over a billion people. The new commitments for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement population gained access to electricity than ever before, but
will result in large increases in the installed capacity of on Climate Change. The roadmap calls on governments, the number of people without electricity in Sub-Saharan
renewable energy and significant improvements in energy businesses and civil society organizations to halve the Africa actually increased. Unless efforts are scaled up
efficiency around the world that will lead to hundreds of energy access gap by 2025, and accelerate the clean significantly in countries with the largest deficits, the world
new renewable energy facilities and the creation of millions energy transition by tripling investments in clean energy will still fall short of ensuring universal access to affordable,
of new green jobs. and energy efficiency by 2030. It also calls for phasing out reliable, sustainable, and modern energy by 2030. While
coal by 2030 for OECD countries and 2040 for all others, renewable energy has seen unprecedented growth over
Commitments under the energy compacts will give a and shifting fossil fuel subsidies to renewable energy the last decade, its share of total final energy consumption
huge boost to renewable energy worldwide. National investments, while creating new, decent and healthy jobs remained steady as global energy consumption grew at a
governments committed to install an additional 698 and ensuring a just and inclusive transition. The roadmap similar rate. UN DESA is committed to providing thoughtful
gigawatts (GW) of clean energy from solar, wind, draws on inputs from expert working groups and was and in-depth analysis to guide policy makers as they seek to
geothermal, hydro and renewables-based hydrogen, and discussed at Ministerial-level forums in June 2021. make progress toward SDG 7.
businesses, notably power utilities, pledged to install an
additional 823 GW, all by 2030. Several partnerships and In line with the need to continue raising ambitions,
industry associations promised to mobilize an additional additional energy compacts are expected to be registered
3,500 GW of renewables by 2030. One gigawatt is roughly in the months and years ahead, as momentum grows and

4 0 4 1
 ENERGY

Virtual workshop on the Handbook on Carbon Taxation for Developing Countries.

Developing a Carbon Tax can cater to the different needs and priorities of countries.
It is meant as a practical guide, and it contains many real-

The UN Handbook on Carbon Taxation for Developing world examples and practical tools, including checklists to

Countries was developed by UN DESA over the course guide on the design and administration of the tax.

of several years—from 2017 until 2021—in response to

the need, often expressed by developing countries, for Our goal is to help countries in every region and at all

clear and holistic guidance on the application of carbon levels of development to reorient their domestic policies

taxes. Applying a carbon tax can be a policy option that toward green fiscal reform. UN DESA’s work in this regard

is geared towards curbing carbon-based emissions that is aims to help countries align their fiscal policies with the

are responsible for climate change; and living up to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to help

commitments assumed by countries under the Paris developing countries integrate the goal of carbon neutrality

Agreement. into their economic development policies.

The handbook outlines some of the common reasons Ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable and clean

why countries might want to introduce a carbon tax, and energy is of dire importance if we are to slow the rapidly

provides options for policy design and administration that accelerating impacts of climate change and reduce carbon
emissions from the energy sector. UN DESA will continue
to provide in-depth analysis and bring together global
leaders and changemakers to formulate policies that will
have the greatest impact. But there is still so much to
do. We look forward to helping countries implement the
Global Roadmap from the High-level Dialogue on Energy
and develop additional energy compacts to help close the
energy access gap and meet the targets of SDG 7.

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© UNDP
 TRANSPORT

“
The need for sustainable transport systems
that leave no one behind and are inclusive,
affordable, efficient, environmentally friendly
and safe, are more apparent than ever. Let us
use this moment to find concrete solutions
to enhance sustainable transport worldwide,
as a crucial enabler of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development and the Paris
Agreement.
“
Key Messages – Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic
and Social Affairs and Secretary-General of the Second
UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference
• UN DESA is committed to ushering in a transport
revolution that ensures a transition from the status
quo to a transport sector that is sustainable, inclusive,
efficient, and affordable.
• We are moving forward the global dialogue on
sustainable transport, providing guidance on response
and recovery to the COVID-19 crisis in the transport
sector, producing forward-looking analysis on the
current situation of transport across the world and
providing policy guidance on the potential for progress
in the transport sector.

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© GEF/SGP Cabo Verde

 TRANSPORT

05
Transport

© Busan, Republic of Korea

Transport does not just take us from point A to point B; In short, transport is fundamental to the realization on the current situation of transport across the world and to the concerns of developing countries, especially those
it is key for economic growth and livelihoods. This has of key objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable providing policy guidance on the potential for progress in of Africa, LDCs, SIDS, and landlocked developing countries
become increasingly evident as the COVID-19 pandemic Development and the Paris Climate Agreement. The world the transport sector. (LLDCs). In the “Ashgabat Statement on Commitments
dramatically slowed road and air traffic and disrupted needs better and safer ways to move people and goods, and and Policy Recommendations”, participants reaffirmed the
essential public transit all over the world. Transport enables to reduce air pollution, traffic and fatalities. Accelerating Mapping out the opportunities… commitment to enhancing the role of sustainable transport
the mobility of people and goods, while improving access the implementation of solutions to these problems is a in connecting people and communities to jobs, schools and
to quality services, such as health, education and finance. critical part of the United Nations efforts to achieve the The global commitment to sustainable transport was health care and in the delivery of goods and services to
It strengthens connectivity at all levels, helping integrate SDGs and address the global climate crisis. spotlighted in the first ever Global Sustainable Transport rural and urban communities, thus providing all with equal
economies, improving social equity, enhancing rural-urban Conference in 2016 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The opportunities and leaving no one behind.
linkages and building resilience. UN DESA is committed to ushering in a transport revolution; Global Conference, organized by UN DESA, brought
one that ensures a transition from the status quo to a together key stakeholders to engage in a dialogue that The second UN Sustainable Transport Conference,
However, the negative environmental, social and health transport sector that is sustainable, inclusive, efficient, and emphasized the integrated and cross-cutting nature of organized by UN DESA in October 2021 in Beijing, China,
impacts of transport systems cannot be denied. Experts affordable. We are doing this by moving forward the global sustainable transport and its multiple roles in supporting further spurred commitments and steeled the resolve of
estimate that close to a quarter of all greenhouse gas dialogue on sustainable transport, providing guidance the achievement of the SDGs. The Conference addressed key stakeholders from Governments, the UN system and
emissions come from the transportation sector and these on response and recovery to the COVID-19 crisis in the all modes of transport—road, rail, air, waterborne, including other international organizations, the private sector, and
numbers are only expected to increase over time. transport sector, and by producing forward-looking analysis both passengers and freight—and gave particular attention civil society to advance action for sustainable transport.

4 6 4 7
 TRANSPORT

emergency. The Conference paid particular attention to transport sector that have made commitments to become
countries in special situations, namely LDCs, SIDS, and carbon neutral as well as engaging the business and science
LLDCs, as transport and especially, access to affordable and and technology communities, through a dedicated Business
reliable forms of transport, is central to both the challenges Forum and Science, Technology and Engineering Forum. The
and potential solutions that many of these countries face. Conference also identified incentives to encourage people
to move towards sustainable transport, by promoting and
The Conference focused on the critical role of transport highlighting the use of electric cars, public transport and
as more than just a provider of services and infrastructure bicycle lanes.
for the mobility of people and goods and highlighted new
ideas and innovation that are leading to transport solutions …as we find ways to recover
that are affordable, realistic, socially acceptable and
environmentally sound. All modes of transport—road, rail, As the pandemic raged and governments across the globe
© UN Photo
aviation and waterborne—were addressed. The Conference took the unprecedented steps of closing borders and
considered the concerns of women, children and youth, implementing stay-at-home orders to contain the spread
The outcome document, the Beijing Statement, presented address the climate crisis. The Conference and its follow-
older persons, persons with disabilities, the poor and other of COVID-19, observers became more keenly aware of the
at the closing ceremony by China's Minister of Transport in up aim to provide a roadmap toward achieving transport
groups, and took into account the challenges and needs impact of the transport sector on the economy and the
his capacity as Conference Chair, put forward a framework systems that will open economic opportunities and greater
of developing countries. Key transport objectives, such as environment. While they were successful at containing the
to guide implementation for accelerating progress towards prosperity, improved health and well-being while protecting
access for all while leaving no one behind, green mobility, spread of COVID-19, travel restrictions also endangered
sustainable transport. The Declaration further called for our environment.
efficiency and safety were discussed. progress across multiple SDGs due to disruption of
participants to scale up existing partnerships for sustainable
tourism, trade, global supply chains and labour movements,
transport and engage stakeholders in sustainable transport The Conference was organized in part because, despite its
By organizing the conference, UN DESA was able to resulting in jobs lost, livelihoods placed at risk, increased
initiatives, particularly in the scientific, technological and multiple benefits, sustainable transport has yet to live up
facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues to identify solutions food insecurity, and endangered supplies of medicines and
business fields. to its full potential. It was also an opportunity to highlight
and build on previous high-level meetings, while also other essentials. These impacts contributed to, and were
promising avenues, such as the electrification of buses,
informing the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in exacerbated by, economic recessions and inequalities in
With thousands of participants from over 100 countries cars, trucks and trains. Building well-balanced and properly
November 2021 and the UN Ocean Conference to be held countries.
this year, the conference served to accelerate the designed transport systems, with an emphasis on public
in 2022 in Portugal, in particular with regard to maritime
implementation of transport solutions that are affordable, transport and active modes, such as walking and cycling,
transport. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted changes in
realistic, socially acceptable and environmentally sound. will be critical for building safer and more livable cities,
both demand and supply for transport services—from
This critical part of the United Nations efforts to achieve promoting economic growth, addressing inequalities and
The Conference highlighted the many companies in the the dramatic drop in international and domestic travel
the SDGs comes at a key moment in the global effort to reducing the emissions that are contributing to the climate

4 8 4 9
 TRANSPORT

potential for progress of the transport sector. The onset access to transport services as well as those that mitigate
of the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis have environmental impacts across the entire product cycle of In the area of sustainable transport, UN DESA is committed
hastened the need to speed up the transition to sustainable vehicles must accompany any such efforts. to helping global thought leaders and policymakers meet
transport, and although that transition is underway, there changing transport demands while preserving the planet
remains much to be done. Sustainable transport solutions exist and need now for current and future generations. Sustainable transport is
to be put into action. The two-part webinar series on achievable, but it requires stakeholders collaborating at all
The report finds that over a billion people still lack access "Sustainable Transport and COVID-19: Response and levels to overcome the historical fragmentation within the
to an all-weather road, only about half the world’s urban Recovery" organized by UN DESA in June and July 2020 sector. We must change the way we plan, develop and use
population have convenient access to public transport, displayed current thinking on recent developments linked transport modes and systems, while taking into account
road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among to COVID-19 and sustainable tranport, and outlined the challenges and needs of vulnerable groups. UN DESA
young people aged 15 to 29, and transport systems options for the way forward. Among others, participants is uniquely positioned to provide platforms and networking
and infrastructure are not resilient enough in the face elaborated on the positive impacts of transportation opportunities that bring together all segments of society to
of frequent and more intense extreme weather events. restrictions due to the pandemic, such as reductions in ensure that all voices are heard as we encourage sustainable
Transport is also responsible for about a quarter of direct greenhouse gas emissions, while envisioning the future of development and individual and collective action all in the
CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion. the sector and the improvements that could be undertaken spirit of supporting the achievement of the 2030 Agenda
if reduced supply and demand were to continue post- and the Paris Agreement.
The research also indicates that all regions and people pandemic, due to increased telework, remote learning and
do not experience the shortcomings of transport equally. changed behaviors such as increased walking and cycling.
Countries in special situations, namely LDCs, LLDCs, and The webinar was also meant to inform work at UN DESA
SIDS, face specific challenges like geographical location, on the subject.
during the initial lockdown phases of the pandemic to the insufficient infrastructure investment and limited capacity,
diminished use of mass transit in key population centres to poor cross-border connectivity, and greater exposure to
the growing use of bicycles and electric vehicles, to name climate change and extreme weather events. The poor,
just a few. It is a chance for all actors to rethink passenger women, children and youth, older persons, those living in
and freight transport and come up with solutions which can rural areas or informal urban settlements, persons with
not only withstand possible future crises of this nature, but disabilities and other groups face the most difficulties in
also support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the accessing and benefitting from mobility services.
Paris Agreement.
The report urges policymakers to extend and deepen
…while building on our technical knowledge efforts to improve the energy efficiency of all modes of

to foster sustainable transport transport and to increase the use of low-carbon fuels
without delay over the next decade, as waiting to act would

Sustainable Transport, Sustainable Development, the noticeably increase the cost of reaching climate targets.

interagency report on sustainable transport, coordinated by Scientific advances and the rapid deployment of new

UN DESA, was launched in October 2021 just ahead of the technologies are essential for the transition to sustainable

UN Sustainable Transport Conference. The report includes and green transport to take place at the scale and speed

a wealth of information on the cross-cutting nature and required. Measures to maintain and expand equitable
© UN REDD

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 FORESTS

“
Forests offer nature-friendly solutions to
many global challenges, from combatting
climate change, land degradation and
biodiversity loss, to building resilience against
future crises. We must strengthen our global
efforts to protect and restore forests and
support the livelihoods of forest-dependent
communities. Only then can we realize our
shared vision for a more just, equitable and
sustainable world.
“
– Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic
Key Messages and Social Affairs

• UN DESA is helping to protect our forests by

supporting the development of forest policy, helping
countries develop their capacity to monitor progress
toward sustainable forest management, and mobilizing
forest financing.
• UN DESA is working hard to ensure that countries
are using the most up-to-date forest and land-use
monitoring systems to generate the most transparent
and accurate forest data.

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© UNDP Guatemala
 FORESTS

06
Forests

© Giovanni Diffidenti/PNUD Guatemala

UN DESA is working hard to promote the management, UN DESA is helping to protect our forests by supporting the Measuring progress on protecting the COVID-19 pandemic, to the escalating effects of climate
conservation and sustainable development of all types of development of forest policy. We help countries develop world’s forests change and a biodiversity crisis. For each of these complex
forests. Limiting the average global temperature increase their capacity to monitor progress toward sustainable global challenges, forests and forest-dependent people are
to 1.5°C will be impossible without a major role for forests, forest management and mobilize forest financing. Our work In April 2021, UN DESA launched the Global Forest Goals both a casualty and an important part of the solution. The
both because of the massive emissions reductions that as the Secretariat for the UN Forum on Forests supports Report 2021, the first evaluation of where the world stands path forward needs to be paved with greater sustainability
can be achieved by ending deforestation and because of the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests in implementing the United Nations Strategic Plan for and a greener, more inclusive economy—of which healthy
the additional carbon that can be sequestered through and the UN Forest Instrument, and is guided by the 2030 Forests 2030. It provides a snapshot of the actions that are forest ecosystems and forest-dependent communities
improved forest management and reforestation. Agenda for Sustainable Development and other global being taken for forests, while stressing that it is necessary are an integral part. Sustainably resourced and managed
agreements. Our efforts have taken on greater importance to meet the 2030 deadline in the Plan. The report finds that forests can bolster employment, disaster risk reduction,
The world’s forests are beset by changing weather patterns, as forest fires threaten the “lungs of the planet.” To this while the world had been making progress in key areas such food security and social safety nets, for starters. They
unsustainable management practices and lack of financing end, UN DESA aims to strengthen existing collaborative as increasing global forest area through afforestation and can also protect biodiversity and advance both climate
to combat these and many other challenges. Sustainably initiatives and to support new initiatives to promote restoration, these advances are also under threat from the mitigation and adaptation. And with regard to global
managed forests, however, can help mitigate the worst technological collaboration and the exchange of scientific worsening state of our natural environment. health, safeguarding and restoring forests are among the
effects of climate change and finding ways to preserve data in fire management and research. environmental actions that can reduce the risk of future
the “lungs of the planet” are vital to implementing and The world is combatting unprecedented, worldwide crises zoonotic disease outbreaks.
achieving the SDGs. on multiple fronts, from the devastating impacts of the

5 4 5 5
 FORESTS

regional and subregional organizations and processes.

While this first report primarily focuses on the actions taken
by Member States, future reporting intends to include data
and information from the many other actors that play a vital
role in sustainable forest management and in the world’s
efforts to achieve the Global Forest Goals and targets.

Financing for sustainable forest

management

The lack of adequate funding for sustainable forest

management has been a long-standing challenge for
countries, in particular developing countries and countries
with economies in transition. To address this need, in 2015,
the UN Forum on Forests established the Global Forest
Financing Facilitation Network (GFFFN). The Network
works to facilitate access to forest financing, share data and
best practices, and to achieve the Global Forest Goals of
the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2030.

The Global Forest Goals Report provides an initial Since its inception, the Network has worked with 34 adaptation, through sustainable forest management. For
overview of progress towards achieving the six Global countries and two sub-regions to help in their efforts to example, Thailand, Malawi and Guinea Bissau aim to secure
Forest Goals and their 26 associated targets as contained secure financing for sustainable forest management in their funding for forest landscape restoration projects, which
within the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2030. country or region. The Network assists in designing national will, in turn, contribute to increasing carbon stocks and to
Each chapter features actions taken by countries, and an forest financing strategies and project proposals for building the resilience of ecosystems and forest-dependent
overview of progress towards each Goal, as well as some submission to funding institutions. To date, around 1,000 communities.
success stories that illustrate best practices. The report forestry professionals around the world have benefited

draws upon 52 voluntary national reports and 19 voluntary from the capacity development and training provided by Building consensus to sustainably manage
national contributions, representing 75 per cent of the the GFFFN. As of September 2021, project support to our forests
world’s forests. 17 countries had been completed, while projects in other
countries were still ongoing. The Collaborative Partnership on Forests has a unique role
The Strategic Plan recognizes that achieving the to play in building consensus and policy coherence to protect
Global Forest Goals and targets requires ambitious and All projects conceptualized through the GFFFN include a and sustainably manage all types of forests, providing data
transformational actions inclusive of all actors, at all levels. climate focus and target securing funding from climate- and analysis for solutions and agreements, and accelerating
These entities include Member States, the Collaborative related funding institutions, namely the Global Environment action in countries through the participation and technical
Partnership on Forests, the United Nations system and Facility and the Green Climate Fund. The conceptualized support of its members. UN DESA serves as the Secretariat
other intergovernmental partners and stakeholders, and projects aim to benefit climate change mitigation and for the Partnership.

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The core functions of the Partnership are to support the that policy and finding ways to finance sustainable forest
work of the UN Forum on Forests and its member countries, management. In addition to the work described in this
to enhance coherence, cooperation as well as policy and chapter, UN DESA also supports the sustainable use and
programme coordination at all levels, including through management of mangroves—the world’s ocean forests—
joint programming and the submission of coordinated through the dedicated Community of Ocean Action
proposals to members’ governing bodies, consistent with described in Chapter 3.
their mandates; and to promote the implementation of the
UN Forest Instrument and the United Nations Strategic Much remains to be done, and UN DESA is well-poised to
Plan for Forests as well as the contribution of forests and continue our work in capacity development to ensure that
trees to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development countries are using the most up-to-date forest and land-use
and other major forest-related agreements. monitoring systems to generate the most transparent and
accurate forest data. We will continue to use our financing
Hearing the voice of the forest databases and networks to mobilize global partnerships and
cooperation and we will continue to work to ensure policy
Restoring balance to the world’s forests requires concerted coherence across sectoral, environmental and economic
action by governments, the private sector and civil society policies to align public incentives and ensure consistent
to promote sustainable forest management. UN DESA implementation across national and sub-national levels.
has a key role in being the voice of the forest in this
regard—helping to formulate forest policy that focuses
on sustainable management, monitoring progress toward

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 DATA AND STATISTICS

“
The pandemic has taught us that weaknesses
in data and information systems present an
added and enormous challenge to decision
makers. Data deficiencies have serious
consequences for people’s lives. Policies,
programmes and resources aimed at
protecting people during this challenging time

Key Messages
will inevitably fall short without the evidence
to focus and hone interventions.
“
• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance
of trustworthy and high-quality data to inform
evidence-based decision-making and gauge progress.
UN DESA is committed to supporting countries in – Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic
and Social Affairs
every corner of the world to bolster their statistical
capacities to measure the drivers and impacts of
climate change and produce reputable information
that is transparent, trustworthy and timely.
• High-quality data also helps us monitor progress and
prepare for future challenges. UN DESA is committed
to continuing to be the standard of excellence when
it comes to high-quality, trustworthy data. We will
continue to develop cutting-edge technologies to help
Member States build their capacities to collect, report,
and use data and statistics to formulate efficient and
effective policies that best meet their needs.

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© UNDP
 DATA AND STATISTICS

07
Data and statistics

© UNDP

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of that countries will be able to pick from in order to set up sophisticated modelling techniques and forward-looking necessary statistics or indicators to support climate policy
trustworthy and high-quality data to inform evidence- their statistical systems for environmental monitoring. The planning perspectives into policymaking and planning action.
based decision-making and gauge progress. In fact, the lack purpose of the Global Set is to help countries at various strategies.
of data and statistics to measure the drivers and impacts stages of development that may not have the capacity to The Global Set contains a thematically comprehensive list
of climate change has been a major impediment to sound implement such sophisticated statistical systems. Such Developing climate change statistics and of indicators and statistics structured according to the five
policymaking. UN DESA is committed to supporting countries will need to tailor their data collection to meet the indicators areas defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
countries in every corner of the world to bolster their reporting requirements that stem from their commitments Change (IPCC): drivers, impacts, vulnerability, mitigation
statistical capacities to produce reputable information that under international climate agreements. In the area of climate change, UN DESA has advanced and adaptation, and accompanied by metadata, including
is transparent, trustworthy and timely. its efforts to develop the Global Set of Climate Change definitions, aggregations, measurement categories and
UN DESA is also turning to cutting-edge technology to Statistics and Indicators, in collaboration with the UNFCCC. data references.
To this end, the Department has stepped up efforts to support countries as they work to build their statistical data The Global Set is a broad range of indicators and statistics
develop the Global Set of Climate Change Statistics sets. Employing open data systems and artificial intelligence that will help countries monitor the drivers and impacts of Given the complexity of climate change monitoring, the
and Indicators, which will benefit all countries and the allows countries to more quickly implement ecosystem climate change, assess mitigation and adaptation measures, Global Set provides a statistical framework with suitable
international climate change reporting process under the accounting systems on a global scale. In addition, UN as well as evaluate vulnerability. The Global Set is also a indicators to serve as guidance for countries to prepare
Enhanced Transparency Framework of the Paris Agreement. DESA is helping countries develop their capacities to way of linking the reporting requirements stemming from their own sets of indicators. This statistical framework will
The Global Set is a comprehensive framework of indicators implement coherent policymaking systems, incorporating the Paris Agreement, the climate-related SDGs and the link the reporting requirements stemming from the Paris

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 DATA AND STATISTICS

responses. UN DESA is helping Member States to implement New functionalities will be developed to enable users to
SEEA in order for them to find the most effective policy add their own datasets through a simple drag-and-drop
responses to climate change, which is essential for meeting function. This will allow users to incorporate local/national
their targets under the Paris Agreement. data into the Explorer and improve the quality of their
results. Users will also be able to decide who accesses their
To further propel this effort, UN DESA launched the ARIES additional datasets: they can keep their dataset confidential
for SEEA Explorer in April 2021, which allows countries or give access to selected users or make it broadly available
to create their SEEA ecosystem accounts in a matter of for further reuse. The goal is to increase interoperability

Agreement and the agreed reporting modalities known on the progress achieved, the EGES recommended that the minutes, rather than months. The tool automates accounts and access, allowing users to more readily be able to build

as the “Katowice package” to the indicators necessary final Global Set be submitted to the fifty-third session of production through the use of global datasets, models and their accounts, and more efficiently formulate their policies,

to support climate policy action. Similar to the Basic the Statistical Commission in March 2022 for adoption. artificial intelligence (AI). While many tools for ecosystem all while taking action to mitigate climate change.

Set of Environment Statistics in the Framework for the accounting make use of global datasets, the Explorer is
Development of Environment Statistics (FDES), the Global Using cutting edge technology to help the first and only one to use AI, through the Artificial Integrating climate change into policy
Set will be a comprehensive, but not exhaustive, set of countries build their ecosystem accounts Intelligence for Environment and Sustainability (ARIES) making processes
indicators and statistics designed to support countries technology. Users can specify compilation for any area
according to their individual concerns, priorities and Policymakers at all levels need access to data that (such as a country, watershed or administrative region), A large part of UN DESA’s activities center on capacity

resources. considers the interlinkages between the environment and and the application uses machine reasoning to select the development. The Department has been working hard to

the economy. The System of Environmental-Economic “best available” models and data sources to generate the help countries identify tradeoffs and synergies in policy

A Global Consultation on the draft Global Set took place Accounting (SEEA) provides a framework for just that. Data accounts, which users can then further refine through the and strategy formulation. The Department's analysis

between May and September 2021. To help improve derived from the SEEA provide a valuable complement use of particular datasets or parameters. and capacity development activities help governments

engagement in the Global Consultation, six online to emissions inventories and play an important role in reflect on how to organize, mobilize and equip all parts

information sessions were offered in three official United understanding which “rapid and far-reaching transitions” Users can compile accounts for land cover; ecosystem of national and local governments and public servants for

Nations languages. Responses and feedback were received governments should focus on, without damaging the extent; ecosystem condition (forests); physical ecosystem implementing the SDGs, placing a special focus on policy

from 86 Member States from all regions and 26 agencies economy. The SEEA provides this information through services (crop provisioning, pollination, global climate integration, coherence and innovation.

which were summarized and presented to the eighth policy-relevant indicators as well as through supporting regulation and sediment regulation); and monetary
meeting of the Expert Group on Environment Statistics analytical and modelling techniques that can be used ecosystem services. More services, such as nature-based
(EGES) in October 2021 for review and discussion. Based to assess the full impacts of climate change and policy tourism and water regulation will be added in the future.

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 DATA AND STATISTICS

Recently developed guidance notes on sound policymaking Helping countries to develop their capacity to implement
suggest ways to incorporate climate change objectives in such approaches is key to formulating efficient policies that
policymaking processes, for example in connection with will help to mitigate the effects of climate change. UN DESA
strategic planning and foresight. “Strategic foresight” is an held two virtual workshops to promote sound policymaking
organized, systematic way of looking beyond the expected for regional sustainable development in February 2021.
to engage with uncertainty and complexity. Instead of The first workshop focused on Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius,
attempting to provide solutions for current challenges, South Africa and Uganda. The second workshop focused
strategic foresight encourages policymakers and strategists on Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
to consider the nature of future challenges—such as the
impacts of climate change—when formulating policy Now more than ever, transparent decision-making that is
options. backed up by trusted data is critical to ensure that climate
action meets the needs of all people. Efficient policies rely
A foresight-based approach is instrumental in ensuring that on high-quality data to determine the best solutions to
strategic policies and plans—such as policies to mitigate some of our greatest challenges—including climate change,
the risk of extreme weather events or policies to reduce poverty and inequalities. High-quality data also helps us
emissions, for example—are developed to ensure a more monitor progress and prepare for future challenges. UN
equitable future and incorporate diverse voices and DESA is committed to continuing to be the standard of
perspectives. By using sophisticated modelling techniques, excellence when it comes to high-quality, trustworthy data.
policymakers can work out what impact potential policies The Department will continue to develop cutting-edge
might have on a given scenario. This forward-looking technologies to help Member States build their capacities
policymaking perspective is innovative because of the to collect, report, and use data and statistics to formulate
use of data sets and statistical modelling frameworks and efficient and effective policies that best meet their needs.
also because it bases the policy options on possible future
scenarios, rather than on historical precedents.

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© UNDP China
 FRONTIER ISSUES

“
We live in a world of hope, possibility, and
enormous achievement. We can build on what
has been accomplished, but also shape new
directions, realizing what has been promised
to make a better future for all.
“
Key Messages

• UN DESA is hard at work finding new and innovative

ways to identify and address the weaknesses that
are hindering progress on the SDGs and on climate – Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic
and Social Affairs
change. To do so, the Department is developing tools
to help countries implement new technologies to spur
risk-informed decision-making, studying the need to
build resilient cities, and researching megatrends and
the impacts these will have on our collective future.
• UN DESA remains steadfast in our commitment to
help countries build their capacities to undertake
effective responses and increase their resilience to
combat climate change.
• UN DESA will continue to provide thought-provoking
research and analysis and transparent and trustworthy
data to further the development of policies that will
have the greatest impact on reducing the effects of
climate change.

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© UNDP
 FRONTIER ISSUES

08
Frontier issues

© Igor Schimbator/UNDP Moldova

UN DESA is a global leader in advancing innovative The COVID-19 pandemic has put the weaknesses that We have been hard at work finding new and innovative interventions; strengthens national capacities; facilitates
scientific approaches to implementing the SDGs. We work have hindered progress on the SDGs into stark relief. The ways to face these challenges, from developing tools to communication and application of risk information; and
to facilitate cooperation at the intersection of science, pandemic has affected us all, but it has not affected us all help countries implement new technologies to spur risk- supports risk-informed development decision-making.
policy and society, and in multi-stakeholder engagement equally. It has highlighted and deepened the fault lines of informed decision-making, to studying the need to build
on science, technology and innovation for the goals. The existing inequalities among and within countries and has resilient cities, to researching megatrends and the impacts To this end, in September 2021, UN DESA published the
Department provides cutting-edge research and policy had the greatest adverse impacts on those countries and these will have on our collective future. Handbook on Risk-informed Governance and Innovative
analysis on frontier issues and how they affect countries groups least able to protect themselves, and already at Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience.
and people in special situations. greatest risk of being left behind. The vast disparities in Risk-informed decision-making for climate The Handbook was based on the Training of Trainer Toolkit
resources available to finance recovery efforts have further change action on Risk-informed Governance and Innovative Technology
Climate change affects countries and regions in different worsened inequality. for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Resilience. The
ways, with the biggest burdens falling on the most Incorporating disaster risks and climate impacts into Handbook and the Toolkit seek to build national capacities
vulnerable groups of people and countries. SIDS, LDCs, In this context, UN DESA has focused its efforts on development processes is necessary to achieve the key to spearhead innovations and use information and
older persons, and children are among those facing the identifying and addressing the weaknesses that hinder objectives of sustainability, resilience, poverty eradication communications technologies and key frontier technologies
greatest hardships from worsening climate conditions. progress on the SDGs, and on climate change, such as and leaving no one behind—especially as the climate crisis in government in order to drive DRR and resilience. Special
resource constraints, gaps in public administration and worsens. To do so, policymakers need data that supports emphasis is given to public service innovations that
governance systems, and inadequate disaster preparedness. disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation and mitigation serve the needs of vulnerable states, including methods

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 FRONTIER ISSUES

cooperation across seemingly unrelated areas, such as Finding interlinkages between food security
urban planning and energy production. For example, and climate action
proper urban planning and sustainable energy production
and usage can help to limit the emissions of greenhouse The goal of the April 2021 Commission on Population and
gases and waste that are generated by large urban centres. Development on “Population, food security, nutrition and
Properly managing urbanization can help mitigate and sustainable development” was to help achieve the SDGs
overcome negative climate change impacts and boost the on ending poverty and hunger, improving health, achieving
benefits of sustainable cities. gender equality, ensuring responsible consumption and
production, and urgently taking climate action, among
The report warns that without an overhaul of policymaking, others.
it is unlikely that we will achieve the SDGs and targets
for adapting and scaling these innovations to align with urbanization; the emergence of digital technologies; and set by the Paris Agreement. It calls for governments and The Commission, supported by UN DESA, stressed that
developing country contexts. inequalities. While these trends are not inherently good or policymakers to design policies in a more holistic way. As food production is a major driver of biodiversity loss and
bad, the way we react to them and how we address their such, the report encourages policymakers to implement of air and water pollution, deforestation, soil degradation
The materials explore the mechanisms for access, adoption, implications, whether through coordinated, intentional, policies with the right balance of sustainability and and water scarcity. Food production occupies 50 per cent
uptake, financing, and maintenance of emerging technology forward-looking efforts or not, will shape their positive or inclusiveness. Designing policies with the potential for co- of the Earth’s habitable land, accounts for 70 per cent
in practical formats that seek to advance public sector negative impacts on our collective future. benefits, where a positive result is achieved in one area of freshwater consumption and produces around one
capacities for risk-informed policymaking and resilience. through an intervention designed to generate change in quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. The impacts
The goal is to help policy-makers close technology gaps The Report of the UN Economist Network for the UN 75th another, can propel more effective, mutually reinforcing are especially severe in low- and middle-income countries,
and establish public governance frameworks for DRR Anniversary: Shaping the Trends of Our Times, published changes, and significantly greater impacts. where many people depend on agriculture for their
and sustainable development in vulnerable states, with a by UN DESA in September 2020, finds that five years
livelihoods and where food security and adaptive capacity
particular emphasis on climate change impacts. into the implementation of the Sustainable Development The report stresses that international cooperation, and the are low.
Agenda, progress is off-track and may have even been United Nations, have a crucial role in framing the responses
Identifying megatrends and their impacts reversed by the COVID-19 crisis, a view that is supported to the global megatrends, by encouraging domestic However, the Commission also stressed that policy
by UN DESA’s annual SDG Progress Report. political consensus for sustained action. The UN can also approaches, including incentives, regulations and dietary
Five megatrends are profoundly affecting economic, assist in mobilizing the global support needed for individual guidelines, can encourage people to adopt healthy diets
social, and environmental outcomes. These are climate In examining the roles of the megatrends in shaping our countries, particularly those with fewer resources, based on foods that have lower environmental burdens.
change; demographic shifts, particularly population ageing; progress towards the SDGs, the report argues for greater particularly in areas of dire need such as climate change. Government policies can create market incentives to

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 FRONTIER ISSUES

encourage shifts in production, while also using consumer Disruptive technologies for the SDGs
education and school curricula to affect consumption
habits. There is an urgent need for affordable, nutrient-rich The fast pace of development in fields such as robotics,
foods, including plant-based proteins, fruits and vegetables. artificial intelligence, biotechnology and nanotechnology
is having broad impacts on the economy, society and
UN DESA is well poised to help policymakers find such environment. Such disruptive technologies can be vital
synergies by encouraging dialogue at the highest levels and for breakthroughs in achieving the SDGs and combatting
providing policymakers with the data and tools to develop climate change, but they can also have unanticipated
and build their capacities to implement such policies. consequences, exacerbate inequalities, and constrain

© UNDP

sustainable development. Calls for a more responsible science-policy interface and the IATT works closely with the
and ethical deployment of such technologies must 10-Member Group representing science, civil society, and
contend with concerns that such activity would hamper the private sector, in order to assess the impacts of rapid
innovation and deprive society of technological advances technological change on the SDGs and climate change.
and improvements. We must strike the right balance
between fostering innovation and ensuring the ethical and Most recently, UN DESA and the STI Forum have sought
responsible use of new technologies. to highlight innovations and great new companies through
an annual competition. The 2021 Call for Innovations
To harness the benefits and reduce any downside negative sought cutting-edge initiatives developed or adapted to
risks, countries need to be able to make informed decisions, address COVID-19-associated disruptions, while the 2020
while also building skills and capabilities for the future. edition focused on innovations for transformative change
Multi-stakeholder engagement is important, as many of to support the SDGs. Almost 1,000 applications were
these advances are initiated in the private sector and received during the two years, indicating the diversity,
academia, but then have differentiated impacts across dynamism and depth of the initiatives underway. The
groups of people and societies. To aid in this process, UN winning solutions from both years have adapted to address
DESA supports the UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism the impacts of COVID-19 and will remain relevant beyond
(TFM). The TFM is made up of several components—the the pandemic as they promise to help accelerate progress
Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and towards one or more of the SDGs. For example, Lejan
Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum) and the Inter-agency Energy, a Kenyan renewable energy company has developed
Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation for a process to recycle biomass waste into biomass briquettes.
the SDGs (IATT). The STI Forum works to strengthen the These briquettes are of high calorific value, economical,

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 FRONTIER ISSUES

and 100 per cent eco-friendly for use by factories and Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in
institutions, with the goal of reducing carbon emissions 2019 as a result of the Climate-SDG Synergies Conference
and deforestation. Another winner, E-RTH of Malaysia, is the organizations hosted in Copenhagen. Since then, UN
a digital platform that provides an on-demand electronic DESA and UNFCCC have collaborated on related learning
waste recycling service to individuals and businesses and series, and issued the synthesis report "Raising Ambition
pays them in cash for their waste. in the Era of Paris+5 and Pandemic Recovery," as well as a
technical summary report, "Consultations on Climate and
Harnessing climate and SDG synergies SDG Synergies for a Better and Stronger Recovery from the
COVID-19 Pandemic."
The need for collective and coordinated action on the 2030
Agenda and the Paris Agreement has never been greater— In addition, UN DESA manages the UN Office for Sustainable
as evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic—and the sheer Development (UNOSD) in Incheon, Republic of Korea,
size and intensity of the many recent climate change crises and the UN Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)
highlight the need for concerted action. The SDGs are the in Nagoya, Japan, which support Member States through
blueprint for the recovery and necessary transformation SDG and climate capacity-building, research, training and
needed to overcome the pandemic. The policy response partnership-building. For example, in May 2021, UNOSD
to the climate change crisis and the pandemic should hosted a Carbon Neutrality and SDGs Conference aimed
trigger that transformation. The objective of building at reducing global greenhouse gases, and UNCRD held
back better through a sustainable recovery should also in October 2021 an International Symposium on Water-
frame the interventions that will shape the megatrends related Disaster Management During the COVID-19
and their impacts, so they reinforce and accelerate that Pandemic.
transformation. Recovery offers the opportunity to
address, head on, issues that under normal circumstances The negative impacts of climate change are increasingly
would have been very difficult to manage, and to do so in being felt by the most vulnerable. While the world’s leaders
innovative ways. struggle to implement policies and practices to reverse
our current climate trajectory, we must also be pragmatic.
Commitments to tackle climate change have increased in The mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction and resilience
an encouraging way in recent months, but at the global mechanisms are essential to try and minimize the impacts
level they still fall short of what is needed to achieve of climate-induced catastrophes on the most vulnerable.
the goals of the Paris Agreement. Policy makers need to
address urgently the interrelated major challenges of UN DESA remains steadfast in our commitment to help
poverty, inequality, climate change, and the recovery from countries build their capacities to undertake effective
COVID-19 pandemic simultaneously. responses and increase their resilience to combat climate
change. We will also continue to provide thought-provoking
UN DESA is working to support these interlinked SDG and research and analysis and transparent and trustworthy data
climate frameworks through the Climate and SDG Synergies to further the development of policies that will have the
Knowledge Platform, which it created with the UN greatest impact on reducing the effects of climate change.

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