Future Perfect

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eople

social

inclusion

green

jobs

education

developing world for assistance in assessing and managing

the physical and socioeconomic impact of climate change.

This initiative seeks to enhance the capacity of subna-

tional governments from developing countries to develop

low-emissions, climate-resilient development strategies.

The TACC programme draws on political commitment

towards interregional solidarity, on the experience, skills

and institutional strengths of subnational governments

in developed countries, and on their ability to induce the

participation of private businesses that have developed

expertise in green technologies, as well as the participa-

tion of non-governmental organizations and aid partners

that are familiar with conditions on the ground. Since the

TACC programme was established, it has been supported

by nrg4SD and several of its member governments, which

are currently engaged in ongoing projects across six coun-

tries in Latin America and Africa.

Protecting biodiversity

Scientists predict that at the current pace of urbanization,

natural resources and ecosystems will be severely damaged

by 2030 if no further action is taken to halt biodiversity

loss and landscape fragmentation. The United Nations

Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD) acknowl-

edges that better decisions and actions for biodiversity need

to be made at all levels of government, for the effective and

efficient implementation of the convention and its 2011-

2020 Strategic Plan on Biodiversity. The first of the so-called

Aichi Targets for the newCBD Strategic Plan recognizes the

able development across the world and is conceived as a platform for

political dialogue and technical work between developing, emerging

and developed federated states and regions. In this context, nrg4SD

establishes collaboration and partnerships between subnational

governments, academia, the private sector, international organizations

and other levels of government. It also seeks greater international

recognition of the important role of subnational governments in inter-

national decision-making on sustainable development matters.

A territorial approach

Fully aware of the cost of inaction around climate change and

particularly well placed for identifying the needs and the strengths

of their communities, subnational governments have taken up the

climate challenge with substantial human and financial resources.

Through power-sharing arrangements or constitutional attribution

of powers, subnational governments are often responsible for the

development and implementation of legislation, policy and financial

mechanisms in areas such as energy, transport, buildings, public

procurement, research and development or education – areas that

directly influence the levels of greenhouse gas emissions and deal

with the impacts of climate change. Indeed, according to the United

Nations Development Programme (UNDP), between 50 per cent

and 80 per cent of adaptation and mitigation actions necessary to

tackle climate change are or will be implemented at the subnational

or local level of governance.

With this in mind, UNDP and the United Nations Environment

Programme (UNEP) have created the Down to Earth: Territorial

Approach to Climate Change (TACC) programme

in response to an

increasing number of requests from subnational governments in the

Water is essential to all life

Image: nrg4SD