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Regional workshop fosters just transitions towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies
Last September, the Issue-based Coalition (IBC) on Environment and Climate Change for Europe and Central Asia delivered a workshop in Istanbul, Türkiye, to strengthen the capacities of the Resident Coordinator Offices (RCOs) and UN Country Teams (UNCTs) in effectively integrating climate change, pollution, biodiversity, water management and a just green transition into UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs).
The workshop, organised on 12-14 September 2023 in close cooperation with the UN Development Cooperation Office (DCO), was strongly supported by input from 6 UN Resident Coordinators in the region. It gathered together over 100 UN staff from 12 agencies across 15 countries and territories.
During the workshop, the UNCT and RCO members developed ideas for future collaboration at both individual country and regional levels. The participants identified ways to jointly prepare for the climate change Conference of Parties (COPs) and to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), among other key environmental goals.
The workshop provided a deep dive into 3 thematic priorities: climate change, green and just transition, and biodiversity. It also explored joint programming as a tool for a more integrated approach to addressing these issues as well as others. Different topics were discussed during the workshop.
The first session tackled “Coordinated UN Action to address Environment and Climate Change Issues” and contributed to the emergence of new ideas for joint UN work at country level. It also facilitated the work of results groups in the development of joint initiatives in the field of environment and climate change.
The “Climate Change and Energy” session focused on the latest climate change science, and policy and process at regional and global level with specific exchanges about the UNFCCC COPs, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and climate finance and carbon neutrality pathways for the energy sector.
The session on “Air Pollution” facilitated discussions for further cooperation and covered 3 subtopics on “Examples of Joint Programming at the Country Level”, “Cooperation at International” and “Country Level and Cooperation on Health Impacts”.
The discussion on “Water, including Transboundary Cooperation” was also divided into subtopics, namely: water, sanitation and hygiene; transboundary water cooperation; and water for environment, climate change, biodiversity and agriculture.
The session “Early Warning Systems for All” (EWSs) helped participants understand the severe impact of extreme weather events on economies and human well-being. Together the participants recognised existing gaps and learnt about the relevant initiatives to address the global lack of coverage by EWSs in the region.
The “Biodiversity” session focused on enhancing the capacities of UN RCs and UNCTs to deliver on the targets of the GBF, particularly those related to protected areas, food and livelihood security, financing and climate change.
The last session, “Just Transitions towards Environmentally Sustainable Economies and Societies for All”, discussed the fundamentals and practices of a just transition for greening the economy, that is, one that is fair and inclusive to all, creates decent work opportunities and leaves no one behind.
UNESCO directly contributed to the sessions on “Water, including Transboundary Cooperation” and “Biodiversity”. Notably, on 13 September, Meriem Bouamrane, Chief of the Section on MAB Research and Policy: Ecology and Biodiversity, made a presentation on UNESCO’s reconciliation strategy to implement the global target to protect 30% of the planet for nature by 2030 (known as ‘30x30’ target) in the sub-session of “Protected Areas and other Area-based Conservation Measures”. On 14 September, the UNESCO team, as part of the IBC core team, concluded the workshop with a session to wrap up and discuss the next steps.
The event was one of many steps taken by the IBC to increase awareness and integration of the Triple Planetary Crisis into the UNSDCFs and UN cooperative delivery. It served as a platform to share and discuss global and regional outlooks, and good practices that can guide the planning of the future work of and among UNCTs.
