COP28: Action for Climate Targets: ACT for a Net-Zero Future

To address the urgent need for accelerated climate action, UNOPS will kick off its events agenda on December 1st with a panel discussion hosted by its Water, Environment, Climate (WEC) global portfolio. The event will convene prominent global climate funds, financial institutions and partner countries committed to advancing impactful climate action.

For over 15 years, UNOPS Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, worth over USD 450 million, has supported its +130 partners globally in creating impact. It has gained solid experience delivering partner commitments on the ground through tailored operational mechanisms. Access to climate finance, enabling Long-term Strategies and climate proven investments through country-led holistic climate solutions are among the prominent focus areas the WEC dedicated pillar for Action for Climate Targets (ACT) supports on behalf of its partners. With its experience in brokering partnerships to implement climate impact on the ground, UNOPS is convening this conversation among key partners to highlight best practices and lessons learned, as well as presenting new strategies to further enhance and
accelerate the implementation of climate-action solutions. 

Amid the growing climate emergency and the evidence that the world is off-track from achieving the 2030 Agenda, there is a clear need for partners to scale up efforts towards a net-zero, resilient future. The UNOPS led Panel will discuss with distinguished participants their new strategies and partnerships-driven approaches for addressing climate change on international, regional, national and subnational scales. The panel aims to explore collaborative solutions among partners that empower developing countries’ climate resilient development pathways. UNOPS is fully committed to collaborating with the international development community, to upscale and intensify our efforts to bring us back on track to achieving our climate targets. 

Suggested themes and key panelists:

• The Green Climate Fund (GCF), the largest climate fund operating under the United Nations framework, is set to unveil its forward-looking approach. With fresh leadership, the success of the second replenishment cycle, and an ambitious strategy, including a new Readiness strategy, the GCF is ready to channel new, additional, adequate and predictable financial resources to developing countries and catalyse climate finance. Central to this approach are the pivotal roles played by national and regional leaders in driving climate action. The GCF's novel Readiness Strategy will be presented to demonstrate how it intends to respond to the narrowing window of opportunity to find climate emergency solutions.
• The World Bank Group - the world’s largest financier of climate action in developing countries delivered a record $38.6 billion in climate finance during the 2023 fiscal year and has just confirmed its landmark commitment to end extreme poverty and boost prosperity on a livable planet at its recent annual meeting in Marrakech. The WB new leadership presented its new playbook that promotes simplifying processes, reimagining partnerships, and joint financing mechanisms. As part of the panel, the World Bank will share details about their shift towards climate resilient outcome orientation, the leadership it applies to coordinating multilateral Development Banks’ and their focus on moving towards country driven Long-term Strategies.
• Ghana, as the current chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) & Vulnerable Twenty Group of Ministers of Finance (V20) plays a pivotal role in coordinating the efforts of the most vulnerable countries that are frequently the most severely affected by the adverse impacts of climate change. Acting on behalf of the V20, Ghana will share the developing countries perspective and its priorities of international climate action support. Ghana will
  share its experiences in implementing climate resilient pathways and identify innovative opportunities to collaborate internationally.
• The NDC Partnership, since its inception is effectively providing support by bringing together more than 200 members to create and deliver on ambitious climate action that help achieve the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. The collaborative partnership model has proven successful in offering tailored support to almost 80 countries through over 120 partners. The NDC Partnership will showcase its country-led working arrangements, a core element driving its initiatives.