Towards new synergies between climate change adaptation, mitigation and sustainable development.

In the context of climate action, the success of the Paris Agreement is still limited by conventional silo-based thinking tendencies, in which adaptation and mitigation are rarely framed within the same picture. Ongoing research shows that the intrinsic interdependence of both, adaptation and mitigation, within a broader context of sustainable development, cannot be ignored. Therefore, there is an imperative need for a change in the narrative of sustainable and resilient societies where regional action, innovative ideas, and decentralized solutions are considered as a component of a multi-benefit agenda. This agenda can only be achieved through jointly set objectives and via holistic approaches.

Together with the Support Project for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement (SPA) that GIZ implements on behalf of the International Climate Initiative (IKI), Global Factor has developed a quick guide for climate change projects, a tool to strengthen holistic and sustainable climate action in IKI projects.

The guide can be used by project developers to design and promote sustainable climate action projects. And reflects the advantages of holistic climate action. Inspiring project showcases presented in an embedded video format can help stakeholders in different contexts to learn about solutions elsewhere. Guiding questions offer the user to dig deeper into the potential synergies between mitigation, adaptation and sustainable development. The discussion triggered by this presentation ideally leads to new and effective climate action. Collaboration opportunities between different activities of the administration, civil society and the private sector to work jointly towards important objectives can be identified and are key for the success of IKI projects.

  • This guide seeks to inspire IKI project developers and others in the planning phase by reviewing the project’s orientation and objectives, considering the benefits of integrated climate action, and strengthening the project’s embedding in the country context.
  • If the project is currently being implemented, the guide allows the project stakeholders to find new synergies and act efficiently in the achievement of goals. Projects might use the tool to incorporate upcoming urgencies like green recovery from the pandemic or energy independency. In this sense the project could be updated and expanded according to new needs and requirements.

The guide, therefore, can be used to design new projects but also to strengthen the collaboration within existing projects. The discussion along the guiding questions shall be arranged in an open collaborative manner where stakeholders are encouraged to contribute by expressing their ideas, challenges and needs and are inspired to think out-of-the-box.

The time required to use the presentation and engage in a discussion depends on the availability and motivation of the stakeholders and can vary between 30min and a half-day workshop. Ideally, the discussion would take place as a half-day in-person workshop.

You can receive the presentation by filling the following form. Go into the presentation mode to see the embedded video animation.

Source: Global Factor.

Global Factor is an international group with 18 years of experience, specialised in offering global, original, and innovative solutions in the fields of climate change adaptation and mitigation, carbon footprint, sustainability, circular economy, renewable energies, climate neutrality and carbon markets. Global Factor has an interdisciplinary team with a presence in 8 countries and has participated in more than 2,000 projects for more than 700 public and private clients, international organisations and non-profit entities in 51 different countries.