On 15 November 2024, a UNU side event at the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP29) in Baku explored approaches to move beyond fragmented policymaking on climate change and sustainable development. It highlighted opportunities to integrate the SDGs into the national climate plans (nationally determined contributions; NDCs) that are due in 2025 ahead of COP30.
The event was co-organized by UNU and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), building on previous collaboration between UNU-IAS and DESA — including the Third Global Conference on Climate–SDG Synergies and a series of expert group meetings in March 2024.
A panel discussion led by UN DESA shared findings from the 2024 Global Report on Climate and SDG Synergies, which identified policy fragmentation in governance, finance and knowledge as a critical challenge. Speakers underlined the need for integrated funding models and highlighted the potential of cities as centres of innovation. Policymakers were urged to take inspiration from the synergy agenda to create political space for greater ambition on climate and the SDGs.
UNU led a panel discussion featuring insights from governments, UN agencies and civil society, moderated by Suneetha M Subramanian (Research Fellow, UNU-IAS). Related UNU research was presented by Sanae Okamoto (Researcher, UNU Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology; UNU-MERIT). This included UNU-IAS research on socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS) through the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI), and policy briefs published by the UNU Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS) on green hydrogen regional alliances, and on ecosystem-based approaches for integrating DRR, climate, land and biodiversity goals.
Nidhi Nagabhatla (Senior Research Fellow, UNU-CRIS) underscored the need for scientific evidence at multiple levels, drawing attention to recent discourse on the water–energy–food nexus. The discussion identified key challenges to coherent and integrated policymaking such as short-termism and lack of local representation. It was noted that siloed policymaking precludes valuable co-benefits, such as the positive health impacts of nature-based solutions. Closing remarks by Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi (Director, UNU-IAS) emphasized the need for a socio-ecological systems approach to identify and leverage synergies. She drew attention to youth empowerment and engagement as a key priority, highlighting UNU-IAS initiatives engaging students at the 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia and at COP29.
