The involvement of non-Party stakeholders—businesses, investors, local governments, and civil society—is accelerating global efforts to meet the Paris Agreement’s climate targets. As highlighted in the 2024 Yearbook of Global Climate Action, their contributions are crucial in shaping climate progress.
“Comprehensive climate action requires the participation of the entire economy and society,” said Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary. “Parties and non-Party stakeholders must collaborate, sharing best practices and strategies.”
The Yearbook outlines how these diverse stakeholders are driving meaningful climate actions, influencing everything from finance to nature conservation. Their increasing involvement is pivotal as governments prepare their new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) next year and strive to build climate resilience.
NON-PARTY STAKEHOLDERS: CHAMPIONS OF CLIMATE ACTION
The Yearbook emphasizes the growing role of non-Party stakeholders in tackling the climate crisis. Their engagement is key in raising ambition. It spurs action on various fronts, including environmental sustainability. These efforts also extend to financial investment and climate justice.
The UNFCCC reports a dramatic surge in participation on its Global Climate Action Portal (GCAP). It is now tracking more than 39,000 actors. This represents an increase from just 1,000 a decade ago. This growing network includes 175 Cooperative Climate Initiatives (CCIs), collaborative efforts that unite stakeholders to work toward climate goals. Nearly 80% of these initiatives operate on a global scale, demonstrating the broad reach of climate action.
CLIMATE CHANGE: BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND RESILIENT FUTURE
One key take away from the Yearbook is the shift toward inclusive, whole-of-society climate action. Multi-stakeholder partnerships are central to this effort. Significant contributions come from the private sector, cities, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and gender-responsive initiatives.
This collective action aims to address the crisis in a holistic way. It ensures that all sectors of society participate in climatesolutions. Such collaboration not only strengthens resilience but also enhances the potential for meaningful progress in the fight against climate change.
CLIMATE CHANGE: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Despite the momentum, challenges persist, particularly in securing equitable finance and scaling decarbonisation efforts. These hurdles underscore the importance of continued cooperation. They also highlight the need to amplify the voices of those most affected by climate change.
Yet, the growing engagement of non-Party stakeholders offers a solid foundation for accelerating climate action. This is especially important as the global community moves toward COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
REFLECTING ON COP 28 AND PREPARING FOR COP 29
The Yearbook’s foreword reflects on the transformative progress made at COP 28. It is written by High-Level Champions Razan Al Mubarak of COP 28 and Nigar Arpadarai of COP 29. “Climateaction is advancing across the globe. Together, we have the power to create a thriving, sustainable future,” they wrote.
COP 29 will take place from November 11 to 22, 2024. It is poised to be a critical juncture for turning ambition into action. It will build on the momentum of COP 28 and push for even greater collaboration among all stakeholders.
CLIMATE CHANGE: A CALL FOR CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT
The High-Level Champions, alongside the Marrakech Partnership, continue to support the engagement of non-Party stakeholders in the UNFCCC process. Their efforts include mitigation, climatefinance, and the global stock take. They ensure that all sectors contribute to limiting global warming.
The 2024 Yearbook, launching ahead of COP 29, provides a vital snapshot. It highlights the trends, challenges, and achievements in global climateaction. As the global community prepares for COP 29, the focus remains on scaling up these actions to guarantee long-term, meaningful climate progress.
