COP26: What’s behind the ‘blah’ and our highlights in Glasgow

“’Build back better’. Blah, blah, blah. ‘Green economy’. Blah blah blah. ‘Net zero by 2050’. Blah, blah, blah. This is all we hear from our so-called leaders. Words that sound great but, so far, have led to no action.”

Greta Thunberg, Youth4Climate summit, Milan, 28 September 2021

Admittedly, I use these terms, too. And I probably won’t be the only one as the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) has started yesterday. Until 12 November, politicians, civil society representatives and researchers from all over the world will get together in Glasgow. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) joins the Swiss delegation led by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). Yes, there will be again a lot of talking. However, in order to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, discussions are not enough. We need concrete actions.

‘Addressing climate change and its effects’ is one of four objectives set by the Government for Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2021–24 . Now how does the SDC implement this strategy? And what will be our priorities at the COP26? Let’s start with the latter question.

?Mitigation and adaptation

We all know it: Climate change and global warming are the results of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are mainly caused by humans. As a consequence, heat waves and heavy rainfalls are becoming more frequent, leading to droughts and flooding. In most cases, these facts and phenomena are irreversible. To react to both the causes as well as the effects of climate change, the SDC follows a dual strategy: mitigation and adaptation – while at the same time reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development.

On the one hand, most low- and lower-middle income countries contribute comparatively little to global emissions. Many of them, on the other hand, are particularly hard hit by climate change. Switzerland supports these countries in the implementation of adaptation measures to strengthen their resilience against climate shocks. However, their GHG emissions are likely to rise sharply in the future due to their economic and demographic development. This is why it is at the same time important for the SDC to facilitate lower-emission development paths for these countries.

Switzerland reacts to climate change on all levels of development cooperation as well as humanitarian aid. As Head of Global Cooperation at the SDC, I would like to particularly highlight the work of our Global Programme Climate Change and Environment (GPCCE) and briefly illustrate its four priorities for 2021–24 with examples:

?·????????International climate and environment governance and finance:

The GPCCE represents Switzerland jointly with the FOEN and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in the most important multilateral financing vehicles, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Adaptation Fund (AF) . In all these organisations, Switzerland contributes to transparent governance structures and to the efficient and effective use of the financial means for climate action. It also supports the translation of international policies to the national and sub-national level as well as their effective implementation.

?·????????Low-carbon development:

The GPCCE fosters access to affordable, reliable and clean energy with a geographical focus on Sub-Sahara Africa. It concentrates on providing decentralised energy access with the potential of energy storage technologies as well as access to energy efficient, affordable and clean cooling. One example for this engagement is the Energising Development (EnDev) Partnership. In this multi-donor partnership, the SDC and other donor countries aim to provide sustainable access to needs-based and climate-friendly energy services to low-income households, health centres, schools and small enterprises. The focus lays on countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, with the majority of funds spent in Sub-Sahara Africa. In the past 15 years, EnDev led to the following results: 23.8 million people and 28,500 social institutions have gained access to modern energy services, 73,550 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises grew their business through the productive use of energy and 2.39 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions are reduced annually. And we continue our commitment to this initiative.

?·????????Climate-resilient development:

The GPCCE engages in the development and the implementation of policies and measures that focus on prevention, preparedness of communities to natural hazards, early warning systems, management of water infrastructure and strengthening of risk transfer schemes such as insurance solutions. Thereby it links food and water security, environmental management as well as climate change and disaster risk reduction agendas. Results are also fed into science-policy dialogues for evidence-based adaptation policies and the elaboration of practical guidelines at national and sub-national level. An example for this priority presents the Climate Risks and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Partnership. The SDC, together with the World Bank , aims to significantly increase the provision of weather and climate services in 17 low and lower-middle-income countries. Swiss development, humanitarian and insurance expertise will be made available to generate and communicate impact-oriented as well as gender-specific early warning information to save lives, livelihoods and assets.

?·????????Sustainable management of natural resources:

In order to foster the preservation, restoration and sustainable management of ecosystems and natural resources, the GPCCE supports approaches and financing mechanisms. Particular focus lies on forest and mountain ecosystems and nature-based solutions such as landscape restoration, effective forest fire management and community-based forest conservation. One key focus area is air pollution, as it accounts for the bulk of pollution-related deaths. Mitigation measures have strong co-benefits not only for climate, but also health, food security and environment. As an example, the SDC supports the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) since 2014. This multilateral initiative promotes the reduction of short-lived climate pollutants on different (policy) levels, through seed funding of transformative actions, and by enhancing science and knowledge. Its goals are not only the mitigation of climate change, but also to control harm to human health and agricultural productivity.

In all its actions, the GPCCE relies on innovative solutions that are based on Swiss expertise and scientific evidence. Additionally, it strives to multiply their impact through the mobilisation of private funds. The GPCCE puts special emphasis on sharing good practices across its partner countries and networks and strengthening their main topics in global initiatives.

We need ambitious goals. And we need to collaborate with each other to meet these goals. Let’s start acting.

?Our highlights at the COP26

?As it is already a highlight itself that climate change is the topic of a two-week world-congress, I picked the SDC’s main events for you:

?·????????Cryosphere Pavilion: Together with the University of Geneva and the Federal Department of Foreign Affair ’s (FDFA) Prosperity and Sustainability Division, we are proud to showcase projects on mountain ecosystems that are supported by the SDC. Two events are planned on 1 November and 8 November on 5:15 p.m. CET. You will find more information on the SDC’s social media accounts .

·????????World Leaders Summit: We are excited for the 1 and 2 November on which the president of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, will debate with other world leaders to put forward actions against climate change and mobilise finance.

?·????????Climate & Clean Air Ministerial: On 9 November, our partners and we will launch the new CCAC Methane Flagship Programme: An action-centred initiative to reduce climate pollutants such as methane and black carbon for a cleaner air, to decarbonise the economy and to limit global warming.

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