The United Nations System Delivering as One on Climate Change and Sustainable Development
Climate change is the defining issue of our time. It is the ultimate test for the global community to unite and meet a challenge that respects no borders. It exacerbates nearly every other development challenge. At the same time, taking climate action will help solve many other social, environmental and economic problems as well. In fact, by acting on climate change we can significantly advance the sustainable development agenda.
More than any other institution or organization in the world, the United Nations has been at the forefront of efforts to address climate change. The UN has been a leader in assessing the state of the science through the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It has brought countries together through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and has facilitated the agreement of a universal and meaningful climate agreement: At the conclusion of the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21), held from 30 November – 11 December 2015 in Paris, Member States adopted the Paris Agreement, a historic commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change globally.
In a joint statement, issued prior to COP21, the UN System Chief Executives had pledged to provide strong and coherent support to Member States in addressing climate change as an integral part of the implementation of the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To this end, the UN system is strengthening its coordinated approach to supporting climate action in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As a first step, in April 2016, the UN System Chief Executives Board agreed on "Common Core Principles for a UN System-wide Approach to Climate Action".
In order to operationalize the principles, CEB, at its session in April 2017, adopted a “UN system strategic approach on climate change action” to guide the UN system’s collective commitment to improving collaboration and serve as a tool for delivering effective support on climate change to Member States.
The Strategic Approach represents a unifying vision for collaborative UN action on climate change and serves as a driver and tool for the UN system to reinforce and operationalize the CEB Common Core Principles for a UN system-wide Approach to Climate Action; to encourage and guide integrated action in the areas of climate change and sustainable development; to identify and foster action in key impact areas; and to ensure coherent and, where possible, joint approaches to the UN’s country-level work on climate change.
In 2016 CEB adopted the "Common Core Principles for a UN System-wide Approach to Climate Action". The principles have been designed to guide a system-wide approach and inform and strengthen the system’s collective support to climate change action under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UNFCCC process, and the implementation of the Paris Agreement at the global, regional and national and sub-national level.
On the occasion of the UNFCCC COP21, more than 40 UN system entities have compiled a collection of their most relevant and most recent climate change publications. This virtual library of over 550 publications is hosted by UN CC:Learn and can be accessed here.
In advance of the holding of COP21 in Paris in Dec 2015, CEB Principals issued a joint statement on climate change, committing their entities to provide coherent support to member states in their efforts to combat climate change in the context of sustainable development.
During the annual Conferences of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COPs), the UN system highlights actions in support of countries’ efforts to understand and manage the opportunities and challenges related to climate action, and maximize the development co-benefits that stem from low carbon and climate resilient growth. From 2007 until 2015, the UN system’s joint engagement in the COPs was coordinated by the HLCP Working Group on Climate Change. With the conclusion of its mandate in April 2016, the UNFCCC Secretariat has taken over this coordination role.
The Working Group on Climate Change was established by HLCP in 2007 with the aim of of facilitating a coherent approach and joint action of the United Nations system on climate change. Until the conclusion of its mandate in 2016, the Working Group served as a platform to share climate-related information and knowledge among its members; initiate joint implementation of climate action; inform CEB members on climate change issues; coordinate the UN system’s engagement in the UNFCCC COPs and other relevant fora; and prepare joint outreach and communication tools.
The United Nations System Delivering as One on Climate Change and Sustainable Development
Climate change is the defining issue of our time. It is the ultimate test for the global community to unite and meet a challenge that respects no borders. It exacerbates nearly every other development challenge. At the same time, taking climate action will help solve many other social, environmental and economic problems as well. In fact, by acting on climate change we can significantly advance the sustainable development agenda.
More than any other institution or organization in the world, the United Nations has been at the forefront of efforts to address climate change. The UN has been a leader in assessing the state of the science through the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It has brought countries together through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and has facilitated the agreement of a universal and meaningful climate agreement: At the conclusion of the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21), held from 30 November – 11 December 2015 in Paris, Member States adopted the Paris Agreement, a historic commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change globally.
In a joint statement, issued prior to COP21, the UN System Chief Executives had pledged to provide strong and coherent support to Member States in addressing climate change as an integral part of the implementation of the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To this end, the UN system is strengthening its coordinated approach to supporting climate action in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As a first step, in April 2016, the UN System Chief Executives Board agreed on "Common Core Principles for a UN System-wide Approach to Climate Action".
In order to operationalize the principles, CEB, at its session in April 2017, adopted a “UN system strategic approach on climate change action” to guide the UN system’s collective commitment to improving collaboration and serve as a tool for delivering effective support on climate change to Member States.
UN System Strategic Approach on Climate Change Action
The Strategic Approach represents a unifying vision for collaborative UN action on climate change and serves as a driver and tool for the UN system to reinforce and operationalize the CEB Common Core Principles for a UN system-wide Approach to Climate Action; to encourage and guide integrated action in the areas of climate change and sustainable development; to identify and foster action in key impact areas; and to ensure coherent and, where possible, joint approaches to the UN’s country-level work on climate change.
Common Core Principles for a UN System-wide Approach to Climate Action
In 2016 CEB adopted the "Common Core Principles for a UN System-wide Approach to Climate Action". The principles have been designed to guide a system-wide approach and inform and strengthen the system’s collective support to climate change action under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UNFCCC process, and the implementation of the Paris Agreement at the global, regional and national and sub-national level.
UN System joint publication on climate change
The publication "How the UN System Supports Ambitious Action on Climate Change - The United Nations System Delivering as One on Climate Change and Sustainable Development" was written and produced by the nearly 40 UN organizations and bodies that coordinated their climate-related activities through the HLCP Working Group on Climate Change. It is available in French and English.
UN System Climate Change Library
On the occasion of the UNFCCC COP21, more than 40 UN system entities have compiled a collection of their most relevant and most recent climate change publications. This virtual library of over 550 publications is hosted by UN CC:Learn and can be accessed here.
CEB Statement on Climate Change-COP21
In advance of the holding of COP21 in Paris in Dec 2015, CEB Principals issued a joint statement on climate change, committing their entities to provide coherent support to member states in their efforts to combat climate change in the context of sustainable development.
The UN system at the UNFCCC COPs
During the annual Conferences of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COPs), the UN system highlights actions in support of countries’ efforts to understand and manage the opportunities and challenges related to climate action, and maximize the development co-benefits that stem from low carbon and climate resilient growth. From 2007 until 2015, the UN system’s joint engagement in the COPs was coordinated by the HLCP Working Group on Climate Change. With the conclusion of its mandate in April 2016, the UNFCCC Secretariat has taken over this coordination role.
The HLCP Working Group on Climate Change
The Working Group on Climate Change was established by HLCP in 2007 with the aim of of facilitating a coherent approach and joint action of the United Nations system on climate change. Until the conclusion of its mandate in 2016, the Working Group served as a platform to share climate-related information and knowledge among its members; initiate joint implementation of climate action; inform CEB members on climate change issues; coordinate the UN system’s engagement in the UNFCCC COPs and other relevant fora; and prepare joint outreach and communication tools.
Suggested Pages
Related keywords