Summary report, 5–6 September 2024

The year 2024 has seen back-to-back monthly heat records, with global average temperature increases surpassing 1.5°C above pre-industrial average. Consequential wildfires, droughts, heat waves, storms, loss of biodiversity, and rising inequities, among other climate change effects, have amplified the urgency to accelerate action and take stock take of progress and challenges faced in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), both of which must go hand-in-hand as the issues they tackle are indeed interrelated.

It was within this context that the Fifth Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development convened under the theme “Building a Just World and Sustainable Planet.” The conference was aptly set in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the world came together in 1992 for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit, which agreed on Agenda 21, a targeted international development agenda, and adopted the three Rio Conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification. Conference participants were inspired to “summon the vision and ambition of our predecessors” to set the course for tangible action ahead of major negotiations taking place under these three UN Conventions in the coming months.

The conference agenda included high-level statements, interactive panel discussions, roundtable discussions, and thematic sessions focused on the climate challenge and its impact on other areas linked to the SDGs. Sessions were organized to discuss and foster an inclusive and holistic approach to addressing and realizing climate goals and the SDGs through thematic discussions ranging from: how to inspire countries to update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), taking finance needs into account, ahead of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 29); how to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and the SDGs without compromising the commitment to leave no one behind; how to empower vulnerable and marginalized populations to become agents of change and formidable decision makers; and how to build resilience in cities, encouraging integrated planning and policies.

During these sessions, participants discussed, among others: the global state of progress on strengthening climate and SDG synergies; bridging the financing divide in addressing the climate challenge; framing the climate challenge through the lens of the SDGs and 2030 Agenda and leaving no one behind; combatting hunger and poverty; and restoring forests. Speakers included high-level representatives from UN bodies, academia, government, and youth groups.

The 2024 Global Climate and SDG Synergies Conference convened from 5-6 September at the Museum of Tomorrow (Museu do Amanhã) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was co-convened by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the UNFCCC Secretariat. Close to 300 participants, including 80 speakers from around the world, attended the Conference, which was simultaneously live streamed to reach a global audience.

A Brief History of the Synergies Conference

The adoption in 2015 of both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change established a foundation for coherent implementation of climate action and sustainable development objectives across all levels and sectors. The multiple interlinkages between the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement suggest that integrated and synergistic implementation of both would lead to many benefits. 

Bearing this in mind, UN DESA and the UNFCCC Secretariat jointly organized a global conference on strengthening synergies between the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement from 1-3 April 2019, in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Conference sought to identify specific examples to illustrate the potential for synergistic and interlinked approaches, as well as to analyze gaps and challenges. It also aimed to offer recommendations for strengthening synergies, increasing ambition, advancing implementation action, maximizing co-benefits, stimulating multi-stakeholder partnerships, ensuring effective use of resources, and avoiding duplication of efforts. 

Following this, UN DESA and the UNFCCC decided to make the conference an annual event, but the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted plans to hold a second conference in person in 2020. Instead, with the cooperation of the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), they co-convened three webinars and launched an e-learning course on the theme Harnessing Climate and SDGs Synergies. The webinars and course outlined options for synergistic policy interventions in different sectors using an integrated nexus approach. 

The Third Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies provided an opportunity for participants to meet in person following the 2021 online events. Convened from 20-21 July 2022 at the United Nations University campus in Tokyo, Japan, the conference underscored the wide range of actions being taken by governments, businesses, and civil society to address climate and sustainable development objectives. Many participants identified co-benefits that can be derived from action to limit emissions, such as better public health outcomes and more appealing urban environments. Highlighting the synergies and gains to be made by tackling climate and sustainable development challenges in a coordinated manner, the conference also identified steps that countries can take in their national reporting. Several speakers noted that quantifying the co-benefits can help build support for action and counter the perception that climate mitigation is somehow too expensive. In addition, they highlighted the relevance of other multilateral processes, including the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, which was under negotiation, and action on desertification and the Ocean.

The Fourth Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies convened as a special event during the 2023 session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and prior to the 2023 SDG Summit and UNFCCC COP 28. It further sought to feed into these processes with an assessment of progress made against recommendations from the   previous conferences, including the need to incorporate the principles of just transition at the center of integrated planning for the implementation of climate action and the SDGs. Speakers drew on specific examples for how integrative planning could be achieved linking national biodiversity actions plans, national reporting under the Paris Agreement, and the HLPF process. This was underscored by targeted discussions on finance and partnerships as a conduit to implement climate targets. 

Report of the Meeting

Amb. André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, Secretary for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, opened the conference on Thursday morning, noting the “special joy” he felt to be in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which hosted the 1992 Earth Summit. He described how Brazil, holding the current G20 Presidency and the Presidency of UNFCCC COP 30, is launching several initiatives looking at the interlinkages between climate change and such issues as poverty and hunger. He lamented the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic had  negatively impacted on the 2030 Agenda and maintained that current efforts must accelerated and increased to achieve the SDGs.

Li Junha, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), described, in his video message, the current “dark” outlook on the climate and the SDGs as emissions continue to rise and temperature records continue to be broken. He countered this by noting that momentum is still occurring in the face of these “dark times” with government actions and the unwavering political will that came across at the 2024 session of the HLPF in July.

Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC, via video message, focused on the finance needed by developing countries for a just and green transition leaving no one behind. To achieve this, he said that a new finance deal between developed and developing countries will need to be devised both inside and outside the UNFCCC COP process.

Lucas Wosgrau Padilha, President, Rio G20 Committee, and Chief Secretary, Mayor’s Executive Office, City of Rio de Janeiro, stressed the commitment of his city to implement public policies aligned with the SDGs. He noted the importance of sharing experiences, learning from each other, and staying committed to a sustainable future.

High-level Segment: Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet

This session was moderated by Bahareh Seyedi, UN DESA.

High-level Statements: Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, lamented that only 17% of the SDGs are on track to be achieved. She underlined that the next round of NDCs, to be submitted by 2025, would determine the pace of the just energy transition in the years to come. She highlighted the role of the upcoming Summit of the Future in late September to provoke discussion on the restructuring of the international financial system.

Dennis Francis, President of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly, pointing out that 80% of the SDGs are linked to climate, noted both agendas—climate action and the SDGs—are still compartmentalized and viewed in silos, putting their achievement at risk. He stressed that “disruptive action to change courses is needed” and called for reinvigorating efforts to avoid failure.

Amb. Liliam Chagas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil, underscored the importance of this conference and its aim of bringing together the goals of the Paris Agreement and the SDGs, noting synergies will enable the fulfillment of both. She called for accelerated and scaled up implementation of climate solutions.

Amb. Eva Bisgaard Pedersen, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark, drew attention to a people-centered approach to accelerating achievement of the Paris Agreement’s goals and the SDGs. Calling for turning commitment into implementation and action, she announced that Denmark will host the Sixth Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies in Copenhagen in 2025.

Masako Ogawa, Ministry of the Environment, Japan, noted the importance of fostering synergies and enhancing collaboration in implementing actions. She pointed to collaboration between NDCs and National Biodiversity Strategies and Actions Plans, highlighting the Joint Statement on Climate, Nature, and People made at UNFCCC COP 28.

Leaders’ Dialogue: Host countries of UNFCCC COPs: Hana AlHashimi, Head of the Office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change, United Arab Emirates (UAE), applauded the leadership Brazil has demonstrated since the Rio Summit in 1992 in advancing the global sustainable development agenda. She outlined her government’s role, as COP 28 host, in spearheading operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, breaking a 30-year deadlock on the issue.

Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Foreign Minister, Azerbaijan, noted how his country, as host of COP 29, is focused on what science is telling us about the cascading impacts of climate change and how we must approach the SDGs in a holistic manner. He added that his government has a plan in place to ensure that COP 29 employs a comprehensive action agenda related to all pillars of the Paris Agreement: mitigation, adaptation, and means of implementation.

Amb. Corrêa do Lago noted how the Presidencies for COPs 28, 29 and 30 will work together to ensure enhanced ambition for climate action, and how his government, by choosing to host COP 30 in the Amazon, is highlighting to the world the positive role that forests play in combating climate change, as well as in achieving the SDGs.

Statements of countries representing regional and other important groups: Sariha Belen Moya Angulo, National Secretary of Planning, Ecuador, described how her country is integrating national strategic planning in conjunction with commitments made to the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. She provided an example of how Ecuador has implemented sustainable land practices and plans with the inclusion of women as decision makers in this endeavor.

Verónica Tomei, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection, Germany, noted how effective accounting of synergies and trade-offs can be enhanced through increased dialogue with all stakeholders. She highlighted the reduction of carbon footprints on nature as a way to deal with climate change, as well as the importance of considering the social dimension when implementing climate measures.

Hans Olav Ibrekk, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway, stressed the close links between climate change and security. He further acknowledged the courage needed to meet the SDGs through collective actions in the context of conflicts, competition, and lack of confidence in political leaders. He underscored the need for increased quantity and quality in climate finance and broadening resource mobilization sources.

Statements by Heads and Senior Representatives of UN Agencies: Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), emphasized the links between climate change, biodiversity, and the SDGs. She drew attention to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly to its targets on minimizing the impact of climate change on biodiversity and building resilience (Target 8), and on restoring, maintaining, and enhancing nature’s contributions to people (Target 11).

Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, pointed out the links between climate change and health, as well as with infrastructure. He called for building a more inclusive economy that does not need to rely on fossil fuels to meet its economic goals.

Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), described, via video message, how fragmentation between governments, finance, and science prevents actionable results on climate action. She added that the WMO provides the bedrock of information needed by every sector impacted by climate change for informed decision making. She encouraged an interdisciplinary and inclusive approach to science.

Anacláudia Marinheiro Centeno Rossbach, Executive Director, UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), in her video message, encouraged new climate policies to consider how the most vulnerable populations in informal settlements in cities can build resilience to climate shocks.

Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), and Head of the UN Office for DRR (UNDRR), noted, via video message, that better governance in conjunction with better quality and quantity of data is needed to address the climate crisis. He mentioned the Santiago Network, which catalyzes technical assistance for developing countries to avert, minimize, and address loss and damage caused by climate change.

Juliette Biao, Director, United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), drew attention to how forests suffer from the climate crisis, namely through deforestation and wildfires, while also posing solutions by providing ecosystem services and food security, promoting health and well-being, and improving livelihoods.

Juan Carlos Mendoza Casadiegos, International Fund for Agricultural Development, stressed that the “world is not prepared for the effects of climate change.” He described the impacts of climate change on food production, from floods, droughts, and forced migration. He also emphasized the essential role of small-scale food producers for food security.

In her remarks, Laura Patterson, UN Development Programme (UNDP), highlighted the recent launch of the SDG Gender Index, which notes that in 40% of countries, progress towards equality is stagnant or reversing. She added that while the same trend can be seen in poverty and inequality data, it is important to understand that climate sits at the center of solutions to these challenges. She emphasized that UNDP’s Climate Promise 2025 underlines the need to build meaningful coalitions, support national ambitions, maintain scale, look at what is possible in different contexts, and ensure actions are accelerated and inclusive.

Camila Gramkow, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, pointed out that climate inaction deepens structural development gaps in the region. She called for designing and implementing policies as an outcome of inclusive and democratic participation of stakeholders.

Jorge Meza, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, noted how climate change exacerbates hunger in poor populations, and stressed that a just world is not possible without a sustainable planet. He underscored the need to balance climate mitigation and socio-economic development.

Youth Statements: Ashawnté D. Russell, World’s Youth for Climate Justice, emphasized the critical role of youth in building a just and sustainable world. She called for youth empowerment, noting this goes beyond just participation. She also explained that the SDGs are more than just targets as they provide a roadmap towards such empowerment where future generations can thrive.

Parth Bhatt, Sustainable Youth Foundation, acknowledging the intergenerational and transboundary nature of climate change impacts, noted that young people have made significant contributions to climate action and must continue to be included in climate policy making and implementation.

Scene-Setting Conversation: Global State of Progress on Climate and SDG Synergies

Bahareh Seyedi, UN DESA, moderated this session, which focused on the 2024 report Synergy Solutions for Climate and SDG Action: Bridging the Gap for the Future We Want, published by the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy in 2023.

Youba Sokono, South Center and former Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), acknowledged that although the Synergy Solutions report has many important findings (such as the need to achieve finance flows consistent with the needs of the SDGs and climate action transformations, promote technological innovations for job creation and economic growth, and strive for low demand and high well-being), especially in high-energy-demand sectors and urban settings, it has not reached a wider audience. In promoting the report’s recommendations, he added that it is important to understand that unless we work very hard to reduce inequalities, medium-term solution on low-carbon emissions will not be sustainable.

Túlio Andrade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil, Kaveh Guilanpour, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions and Member of the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy, Elisabeth Gilmore, Associate Professor, University of Carleton, Canada, and Member of the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy, and Amanda McKee, Director for Knowledge and Learning, NDC Partnership and Contributing Expert to Seeking Synergy Solutions: The Four Thematic Reports all contributed to the conversation. Some of their comments included, among others, that: as the Summit of the Future is taking place in two weeks’ time, strong effort should be exerted to reference and integrate recommendations made in the 2024 Synergy Solutions report; decision makers and a diversity of stakeholders should be advocating for a cultural shift in the valuation of nature as well as a commitment to harness what data and knowledge is telling us about the current statement of our climate; while the report is not “reinventing the wheel,” how its recommendations can be applied in an accessible way by stakeholders should be considered; and UNFCCC National Focal Points should integrate the IPCC’s recommendations in their updated NDCs to be submitted in 2025.

Roundtable 1 – Rising to the Climate Challenge Through the SDGs: Bridging the Financing Divide

Daniele Violetti, UNFCCC, moderated this session. In her keynote address, Amb. Liliam Chagas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil, underscored the need to reform the international finance system to be fit for purpose and introduce new financial mechanisms for the energy transition. Reiterating commitments made under the UNFCCC, she drew attention to the historic responsibility of developed countries and their obligation to provide funding to developing countries.

Roundtable with Experts and Stakeholder Representatives: During the roundtable, Juliano Assunção, G20 Task Force for Global Mobilization Against Climate Change, stressed that 80% of historic emissions come from developed countries and, thus, solutions should come from those countries. He stated that as long as substantive fossil fuel subsidies remain in place, the ability to evoke significant changes to the economic system and development policies will be undermined.

Eric Usher, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Finance Initiative, commended financial institutions for advancing in a transparent manner, but added that for effective results, development policies must remain dynamic and work in conjunction with financial policies.

Jianyu Zhang, BRI Green Development Institute, stressed that the biggest challenge is related to the fact that developing countries must still be able to develop. He called for mobilizing “every single possible dollar” while assessing the risk of investments.

Christopher Dekki, Environmental Defense Fund, noting that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is discussing a levy on carbon emissions from shipping, called for synergies beyond UN agencies, conventions, and programmes.

Alexandre Batista, Breathe Cities Brazil, Clean Air Fund, emphasizing that, currently, most of the world’s population lives in cities, said that the transition should begin in cities. He also underscored that air pollution solutions are often underfunded.

Morten Houmann Blomqvist, Climate and Green Energy Transition, Denmark, called for avoiding single-goal projects and instead fostering integrated projects. He reflected on ways to mobilize private capital in developing countries, noting that the challenge is to choose quality over quantity when funding projects and measures.

In response to a question from the moderator on whether “we are moving in the right direction,” panelists mentioned, among other things: the economic implications of the climate change crisis, noting the cost of inaction is much greater than the cost of action; the need for policy signals for the alignment of financial flows; the need to reform the international financial system; how to develop innovative ways to mobilize resources, noting how difficult it is to speak about adaptation in the financial sector; and the need for measures to address short and long-term risks, air pollution in cities, and the benefits of decarbonizing cities.

Roundtable 2 – Rising to the Climate Challenge Through the SDGs: Delivering Co-benefits and Leaving No One Behind

Minoru Takada, UNFF, moderated this session. In her keynote statement, Izabella Teixeira, Co-Chair, International Resource Panel, and former Minister of Environment, Brazil, stressed the challenges of managing short and long-term expectations, the need to move beyond geopolitical perspectives, and the importance of social protection in a multi-crisis scenario. She stated that “if we want change, we need to change ourselves first.”

Roundtable with Experts and Stakeholder Representatives: During this roundtable, Sunimal Jayathunga, Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka, drew attention to data management to prepare and assess climate change vulnerabilities. He outlined his country’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2050, and highlighted progress in renewable energy projects, and data management to prepare and assess vulnerabilities.

Rosa Montanez, Executive Director, Fundación Natura, Panama, called for bringing technologies to communities and tailoring complex concepts to farmers and local communities.  

Akihiro Miyazaki, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), said that the Paris Agreement “reads easy, but is not easy to implement,” noting that JICA is committed to its implementation and provides technical cooperation and financial aid to this end.

Saulo A. Ceolin, G20 Task Force for the Establishment of a Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, stressed the role of food security in order to leave no one behind.

Maria Netto, Director, Climate and Society Institute, stated that “we can’t talk about addressing climate change without looking to development issues.” She called for the creation of institutions and capacity building to integrate climate change in all sectors. 

Zarifa Zulfugarova, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Azerbaijan, emphasized that climate change solutions must be innovative, interconnected, and transboundary.

When asked to deliver key messages in one word or in as few words as possible, panelists mentioned: co-benefits, synergies, dialogue, integration, access to scientific knowledge, and collaboration. 

Troika Majlis: Roadmap to Mission 1.5°C: Transformational Adaptation for Climate Resilience: Enhancing National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Securing Finance for Global Goals

On Friday, the Troika Majlis, the coalition of Presidencies of the 28th, 29th, and 30th sessions of the UNFCCC COPs came together for this session. Representing the COP 29 Presidency, Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Foreign Minister, Azerbaijan, outlined the areas of focus for the upcoming COP in November, namely placing the urgent need for adaptation at the center of the negotiations.

Hana AlHashimi, UAE, representing the COP 28 Presidency, emphasized the need for integration in adaptation plans, policies, and sectors so that resilience is viewed in holistic terms and considers issues, such as food, water, health, culture, and poverty.

Ana Toni, Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Brazil, representing the COP 30 Presidency, echoed the previous speaker’s call for integration by noting that gender, age, socioeconomic status, and Indigenous Peoples should be considered in adaptation plans. Regarding bridging the finance gap for climate action, she said the cost of inaction today will result in a sizeable percentage of GDP in the future needing to be earmarked to address adaptation needs. She explained that this is why her government, in its capacity as the G20 President, established a working group on adaptation finance.

Laura Patterson, UNDP, highlighted how adaptation must play a central role at COP 29. She emphasized the need for increased support for NAPs, and how UNDP is providing support to 38 out of the current 54 NAPs. She added that this support should come in the form of both technical and financial support and stressed that transparency is key. In this regard, she posited that we value what we measure, and, therefore, we must measure what we value in order to arm local implementation and leadership in communities with data and decisions that are their own. Like other speakers, she called for scaling up private finance and noted that biodiversity and land desertification COPs also taking place in 2024. She added that a stable environment is not possible without a stable climate.

During the panel session, speakers drew further attention to the financing gap by repeating the call for the private sector to scale-up its financial commitments to adaptation efforts. One speaker noted that, presently, private sector finance only represents 1% of total available funds for climate resilience. Other speakers elaborated on continued challenges that adaptation efforts contend with, including the need for: increased institutional and technical capacity; enhanced innovation focus to harness technologies; and people-centric solutions to enable local communities to make informed decisions.

During the question-and-answer session, audience members encouraged decision makers to think of vulnerable populations as agents of change with centuries of local and traditional knowledge that is valuable to adaptation solutions. The Troika Majlis concluded by underlining the importance of transformational adaptation and employing an integrated approach to adaptation planning.

Thematic Session 1 - Regenerating Nature – Bioeconomy as a Key Economic Paradigm for Tackling Climate Change, Promoting Sustainable Development and Restoring Forests 

On Thursday, Emilio Sempris, Coalition for Rainforest Nations and former Minister of Environment, Panama, moderated this session. He emphasized that for the concept of bioeconomy to flourish, increased incentives, such as more competitive salaries, will ensure more biologists in the field.

In her keynote address, Juliette Biao, Director, UNFF, pointed out that currently forest finance receives only USD 2 billion annually – less than 1% of the USD 460 billion needed annually to address forest challenges.

Eduardo do Couto e Silva, Director, Brazilian National Biorenewables Laboratory, delivered the second keynote address, highlighting how integrated frameworks that incorporate multiple ecosystem services are paramount for sustainable development.

Moderated Roundtable: Panelists continued discussions by encouraging less rapid, top-down policies, considering traditional knowledge and local populations in regenerating nature, and addressing how the Ocean poses sustainable solutions to the bioeconomy. They also agreed that hand in hand with these recommendations, securing the land rights of local populations is paramount for regenerating nature and restoring forests.

Gustavo Alberto Fermin, United Nations University, drew attention to the key role a bioeconomy can play in engaging local populations and boosting ecosystem restoration. Speakers also posited the value of restoring native vegetation as an essential component for the conservation and maintenance of biodiversity. The Bonn Challenge, a global goal to bring 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes into restoration by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030, was flagged as an effective driver to restore forests, that has, to date, met successful results.

Reiterating key messages and concerns from this session, speakers and audience members noted that decision makers must elevate their understanding of how Indigenous populations and local communities are impacted by the economic exploitation of the Amazon which exacerbates hunger, poverty, and inequities.

Thematic Session 2 – Who Prospers, Who Gets Left Behind? – The Just and Equitable Transitions Pathway to Ensuring a 1.5°C Aligned Future that Leaves No One Behind

Kaveh Guilanpour, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, moderated this session. In setting the scene, Laura Carvalho, Open Society Foundation, stated how the Global North embraced the opportunities and economic benefits of climate transition efforts by developing and exporting climate solutions, while the Global South imports such solutions and exports their commodities. She said the Global South should be able to find its own economic development pathway and lead the international finance and trade system.

Moderated Roundtable: Tri Mumpuni, People Centered Business and Economic Initiative (IBEKA), pointed out that the opportunity must be given to communities to solve their problems and promote local development. She urged overcoming top-down projects and fostering empathy to achieve empowerment, highlighting the role of social preparation and building social capital

Giovanna Kuele, Igarapé Institute, stressed the need to shift the relationship with the planet in order to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, recognize the essential role of forests in the transition pathway, and align climate action with economic development goals.

Débora Castiglione, International Organization for Migration, stressed the need to address human migration and relocation, as well as immobility in adaptation plans and action, and how this interacts with socioeconomic, gender, and other equity and justice issues.

José Clayton Murilo Cavalcanti Gomes, Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent, called for inclusive commitments in the transition pathway for marginalized and vulnerable populations, which are mostly affected by climate change impacts. He said that addressing any transition is impossible without dealing with discrimination issues, such as those related to access to land, forced migration, racism, denial of rights, deforestation and diminishing livelihood resources, and social exclusion.

Daniela Sota Valdivia, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, pointed out the effects of corruption on climate and environmental efforts, including: distorting decision-making processes; increased costs of measures and the potential loss of funds; private investment discouragement; and a decrease in trust.

During the ensuring discussion, participants from the audience asked about, among other things, examples of effective anti-corruption measures, and how to ensure meaningful community engagement to guarantee a just transition. Panelists answered that education is key to empowering people and to reduce the risk of corruption, as well as having proper and transparent mechanisms in place. They also stressed: that the crucial role of social preparation is community involvement and shifting from top-down to bottom-up solutions; and the challenge of implementing successful solutions without dealing with discrimination issues.

Thematic Session 3 – Walking the Talk: Shifting to Lifestyles with More Sustainable Patterns of Production and Consumption

This thematic session examined SDG 12 (sustainable consumption and production) framed against the climate and SDG synergies theme. The session was moderated by Ralph Wahnschafft, Independent Senior Advisor on Sustainable Development Policies, who noted how this juxtaposition of SDG 12 against the impacts and correlation with climate and other SDGs is a unique and rare consideration.

Moderated Roundtable: Junichi Fujino, Programme Director, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), presented key findings from the IGES and JICA report on JICA’s efforts to bring synergies between climate change and the SDGs within international cooperation. Some case studies he highlighted from this report included how JICA is supporting activities for increasing synergies and resolving trade-offs in supporting Viet Nam’s NDC.

Henry Ngara, Youth Constituency for Sustainable Production and Consumption, noted that youth continue to be excluded from the decision-making process and require a seat at the table to describe how they are impacted by inequities resulting from climate change. He pointed out that youth will inherit the consequences of inaction on global inequities.

Glaucia Mendes Souze, University of São Paulo, described Brazil’s policies to create market incentives for biofuels production. She presented the policy framework adopted by Brazil in 2019 to reward biofuels producers, and further noted that between 2003 and 2020, Brazil’s avoidance of ethanol use resulted in the avoidance of 550 million tonnes of CO2.

Speakers also included: Wladmir Henriques Motta, Federal Center for Technological Education, Rio de Janeiro; Kulwant Singh, President of KSS Institute of Spatial Planning and Environmental Research, Panchkula, India, and CEO, 3R Waste Foundation; and Fábio Véras Soares, Director of International Studies, Institute of Applied Economic Research, Brazil. They discussed how to evoke change in consumption patterns, daily habits, and lifestyles that will collectively promote efficiency and circular economy practices. Discussions also reflected the right of developing countries to grow in productive sectors while decreasing their carbon footprint.

During the discussion, speakers and audience members underscored the role that technology transfer plays in efficiency in production. Linkages between SDG 12 and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals) were underscored as a means to implement and encourage sustainable patterns of production and consumption in the Global South without compromising market access and profitability in the production sector.

Thematic Session 4 – Cities as Drivers: Building Climate Action and Resilience at Local Levels

Elisabeth Gilmore, University of Carlton, Canada, and Member of the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergy, moderated the session. Delivering the keynote presentation, Parisa Kloss, Resilient Urban Planning and Development, Germany, stressed the role of cities in climate action and sustainable development. She underscored the need to invest in resilient infrastructure and inclusive decision-making processes, as well as the benefits for cities of implementing nature-based solutions.

Moderated Roundtable: Rodrigo Perpetuo, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, speaking of ways to tackle poverty and climate change impacts, called for the inclusion of subnational governments and cities as decision makers in the international system.

Carlos Felipe Pardo, SabidurAI and Founder, Despacio.org, underscored electric-assisted small vehicles as an urban transportation solution.

Ana Carolina Querino, UN Women Brazil, encouraged considering the gender agenda through all the SDGs and called for gender-sensitive urban planning.

Ilan Cuperstein, Regional Director for Latin America, C40 Cities, emphasized climate change as an inequality maximizer, stating that the financial system was developed in a less urbanized world and calling for the empowerment of cities and improving their access to funding.

Pablo Escribano Miralles, International Organization for Migration (IOM), drew attention to the role of cities and mobility challenges, stressing that climate migration mostly takes place from rural areas to cities.

During the ensuing discussion, participants asked for ways to improve urban planning leaving no one behind. In response, panelists reflected and commented on, among other things: the consideration of local communities and cities’ knowledge for planning and managing cities; inclusive participatory decision-making processes; and links between NDCs and cities, and consideration of the need to include subnational governments in developing and updating NDCs.

Conference Summary by Representatives of the Co-Convening Organizations

During this closing session, Behareh Seyedi, UN DESA, and Daniele Violetti, UNFCCC, summarized key messages from the conference. Seyedi highlighted that:

• evidence indicates that pursuing the goals of the Paris Agreement in conjunction with the SDGs will lead to greater co-benefits than trade-offs;
• unlocking barriers to synergistic solutions should be a primary focus;
• adaptation and mitigation should be driven by inclusive processes by taking into account the most vulnerable; and
• the diversity of stakeholders in decision-making is paramount.

She added that in the context of synergies, a win-win end goal will not be possible without political commitment, and that the evidence is clear: urgent action is needed in these critical years to unleash action for the attainment of the SDGs. Other recommendations included the need to focus on inclusive processes, bridge the financing divide, and deepen the evidence base for informed policies and decisions.

In his concluding remarks, Violetti encouraged countries to take into account the most salient expert recommendations from this conference when submitting their NDCs ahead of COP 30 in Brazil. He applauded participants for engaging in and contributing to a conversation that has increased and enhanced the discourse on SDG synergies. He also said the conference further engaged senior experts who offered solutions in a distinct manner, steering away from the silo approach of going “from COP to COP” without examining the linkages between them. The meeting was closed at 4:19 pm.