Mandate

The COP, CMP and CMA by their decisions 13/CP.28, 4/CMP.18 and 19/CMA.5[1], mandated the forum on the impact of the implementation of response measures to promote the exchange of experience in relation to national and subnational legislation, action plans, frameworks and other structural factors for just transition and economic diversification and transformation, to be implemented at SB 62.

Background

Effective climate action is subject to numerous national and subnational institutional, legal, and political frameworks for its design and execution. Climate policies, including just transition and economic diversification strategies, are often created as integral components of wider national development strategies. The IPCC’s sixth assessment report highlights the crucial role of national and subnational governance and effective institutional structures in climate action and the importance of developing comprehensive policy frameworks that explicitly seek to maximize positive mitigation potential while minimizing the trade-offs. Thus, effective governance is key to safeguarding against the potential adverse effects of mitigation actions and enhancing the equitable distribution of benefits.

On a national scale, national laws can provide an overarching framework within which climate policies can be integrated, often considering unique national social, economic, and political contexts. On the other hand, national climate policies and frameworks such as the NDCs, NAPs, and LT-LEDs provide a more detailed, specific, and often long-term strategy for climate action, and may include goals on long-term emission reductions, possible trajectories, resource capacities, and potential impacts. On a subnational scale, climate actions relating to areas such as urban planning and infrastructure, housing, and local economic development are often undertaken. Subnational actors are also vital for the implementation of climate policies and community engagement. Therefore, ensuring coherence and coordination across all levels of governance is essential for achieving inclusive climate outcomes.

It is, however, important to highlight that the building of effective legislations and institutions can be hindered by various challenges. Coordination, coherence across departments and levels of governance, and competing interests, are some of the key challenges to the development and implementation of effective just transition and economic diversification strategies. However, the complementarities existing between these strategies and overall development priorities can also be an opportunity to drive both climate and development goals.

Community participation and engagement is also essential in the process of developing legislation and frameworks. The inclusion of a wide variety of stakeholders in the process helps build goodwill and fosters buy-in, particularly from communities that will likely be affected by the policies. The design and implementation of any just transition and economic diversification strategies should, thus, be people-driven and people-centred.

Objective of the event

The primary objective of this event is to provide a platform for national and subnational entities to share their experiences and best practices in the development and implementation of legislation, national and subnational action plans, and other structural frameworks which aim to promote and spur just transition and/or economic diversification and transformation. This comes at an opportune moment as countries continue to develop and submit their NDCs 3.0. This session will, thus, provide an opportunity for stakeholders to seek insight from peers. It will provide an exchange and learning platform to entities who are in the process of developing or enhancing their NDCs and other climate plans or are in the process of exploring alternative economic activities that can support the transition to a zero- and low-emission economy.

Agenda

Moderator: Peter Govindasamy, KCI Member

Format: Panel discussion