This side event of 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP29) will discuss synergistic solutions at all levels towards closing the climate and SDGs ambition gap while ensuring just and equitable transitions, nature protection and socio-ecological resilience.

Informed by UNU research as well as the 2024 Global Report on Climate & SDG Synergy and outcomes of the 5th Global Climate and SDG Synergy Conference, the event will present actionable steps and recommendations to align policies, financing instruments, knowledge and data, and actions across multiple sectors and global agendas. These effectively harness positive co-benefits and reduce adverse trade-offs, enhancing resource efficiency and outcomes for people and planet.

Through an interactive discussion, this event will go beyond theoretical perspectives to showcase practical experiences from around the world of implementing synergistic, coherent and integrated planning across domains. By discussing challenges and opportunities, this panel will offer valuable insights for countries and practitioners to address interconnected issues. This event will also highlight opportunities for integrating the SDGs into the upcoming national climate plans (NDC 3.0) due in 2025 ahead of COP30.

Participation

The side event is open to attendees of COP29. It will be held in Area B, Side Event Room 4.

Please note that participants in UNU events may appear in photography, screen captures, videos and/or audio. For further information please refer to Events.

Programme

Subject to change

Opening Remarks 13:15–13:18

Daniele Violetti (Senior Director, Programmes Coordination, UNFCCC)

1st Panel Discussion 13:18–14:00

Moderator: Bahareh Seyedi (Senior Sustainable Development Officer, UNDESA)

Remarks by Hosts of Climate & SDG Synergy Conferences

Vicente de Azevedo Araujo Filh (Head for Sustainable Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil)
Ole Thonke (Under State Secretary for Development Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark)
Nobuyuki Konuma (Director, Climate Change Negotiation Office, Ministry of the Environment, Japan)

Key Findings of the 2024 Global Report Prepared by the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergies

Diana Urge-Vorsatz (Vice-Chair, IPCC; Professor, Central European University)

Interactive Dialogue

Elisabeth Gilmore (Associate Professor, Carleton University)
Kaveh Guilanpour (Vice-President for International Strategies, Centre for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES))
Soumya Swaminathan (Chairperson, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation)

2nd Panel Discussion 14:00–14:42

Moderator: Suneetha M. Subramanian (Research Fellow, UNU-IAS)

Fishbowl Session

Diego Pacheco (UNFCCC Naitonal Focal Point, Bolivia)
Niina Ratilainen (Turku City Council, Finland / President, European Committee of the Regions)
Tristan Tyrrell (Programme Officer, Biodiversity and Climate Programme, UN CBD)
Cristina Romanelli (Programme Officer, WHO)
Nidhi Nagabhatla (Senior Research Fellow; Nature, Climate and Health Programme Lead, UNU-CRIS)
IUCN (TBC)
IPLC representative (TBC)
Finance sector representative (TBC)

Closing Remarks