International News
UNEP DEVELOPS
TOOLKIT TO PROMOTE
CLIMATE-SMART URBANISATION
Compiled by Ntsako Khosa
T
he United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat,
and the Commonwealth Secretariat, in collaboration with several
United Nations entities, have developed a law and climate change
Global heating has been described as the ‘defining issue
of our time’. An effective response to climate change requires
deliberate and sustained action from both state and non-state
actors that is anchored in nationally determined contributions.
Implementing these contributions requires supportive regulatory
and institutional frameworks and a regular assessment of their
adequacy and effectiveness.
UN-Habitat – in partnership with UNEP, the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat, and the
Commonwealth Secretariat – held a panel discussion at the World
Urban Forum in Abu Dhabi in February to showcase how the law
and climate change toolkit works.
“The toolkit is an innovative online database designed to
help countries establish legal frameworks necessary for effective
domestic implementation of the Paris Agreement and their
nationally determined contributions,” says María Socorro
Manguiat, senior legal officer in UNEP’s Law Division.
“Urban law defines urban forms, where land, infrastructure,
housing and basic services can be built; lays out rules for planning
and decision-making; and sets the context within which urban
authorities, local governments and communities are expected to
fulfil their mandate and react to emerging challenges.”
UN-Habitat has led the development of the urban law module
of the toolkit, which was developed in recognition of the close
nexus between urbanisation and climate change.
“The urban law module aims to demonstrate, in very concrete
terms, how important urban planning laws and regulations are in
achieving climate mitigation and adaptation objectives, and what
laws and regulations you should have to make them ‘climate-
smart’,” says Gianluca Crispi, Programme Management officer,
Policy, Legislation and Governance Section, UN-Habitat.
During the Forum, UNEP presented strategies and approaches
to improve urban planning and management. These included a
microsimulation modelling tool to support data gathering, and air
quality monitoring to make informed decisions.
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toolkit to promote climate-smart urbanisation.
UNEP provides technical assistance to countries in the review and
development of their national legislation, drawing on examples
and best practice from around the world and in collaboration with
other entities such as UN-Habitat.
“Urban legal frameworks play an important role in climate
change mitigation and adaptation,” says Sharon Gil from
UNEP’s Cities Unit. “The toolkit is an innovative and a very useful
instrument to help countries review their domestic legislation.”
Globally, an
estimated 3.6
billion cooling
appliances are
in use today.
UNEP EMISSIONS GAP REPORT
On the eve of a year in which nations are due to strengthen
their Paris climate pledges, a new UN Environment Programme
(UNEP) report warns that unless global greenhouse gas emissions
fall by 7.6% each year between 2020 and 2030, the world will miss
the opportunity to get on track towards the 1.5°C temperature
goal of the Paris Agreement.
UNEP’s annual Emissions Gap Report says that even if all
current unconditional commitments under the Paris Agreement
are implemented, temperatures are expected to rise by 3.2°C,
bringing even wider-ranging and more destructive climate
impacts. Collective ambition must increase more than fivefold
over current levels to deliver the cuts needed over the next
decade for the 1.5°C goal.
2020 is a critical year for climate action, with the UN climate
change conference in Glasgow aiming to determine the future
RACA Journal I April 2020
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