My Comments onthe IPCC Synthesis Report:
Focus on Governance Aspects
Kanako Morita
Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute
United Nations University Institute for the Advanced
Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)
22 May, 2023, IPCC Symposium, Tokyo1

Key Messages from the IPCC Synthesis Report(Related to Governance Aspects)• Benefits of Near-Term Action: “Deep, rapid and sustained mitigation andaccelerated implementation of adaptation actions in this decade would reduce
projected losses and damages for humans and ecosystems (IPCC SYR SPM C.2)”.

• System Transitions: “Rapid and far-reaching transitions across all sectors andsystems are necessary to achieve deep and sustained emissions reductions andsecure a liveable and sustainable future for all (C.3)”.

• Multiple Opportunities for Scaling Up Climate Action: “Feasible,effective, and low-cost options for mitigation and adaptation are alreadyavailable, with differences across systems and regions (C.3)”.

• Synergies with Sustainable Development Goals: “Mitigation andadaptation actions have more synergies than trade-offs with Sustainable
Development Goals (C.4)”.

• Enabling Conditions: Strengthening enabling conditions, including

governance, policy, and finance, can contribute to accelerating climate actions(C.6). Equity and inclusion, including just transitions, also need to beconsidered (C.5).
2

Explore Effective Interactions between
Institutions and Actors (1)• Rapid and far-reaching system transitions and transformation areneeded to achieve climate and sustainable development goals.
• Systems include various factors, including institutions and actors.
Sustainable/Optimized System
Achieving climate andsustainable
development goals

Unsustainable
SystemSet of ‘transformation pathways’
delivering the partnership’s‘theory of transformation’3Source: Created based on The Partnering Initiative and UNDESA (2020) The SDG Partnership Guidebook

Explore Effective Interactions
between Institutions and Actors (2)Need to explore effective interactions between actors and institutions based on
the following elements:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Improving Science-Policy Interface (important in addressing the following challenges).
Enhancing synergies between climate change and sustainable development goals(SDGs) with different governance structures.
Addressing cross-cutting issues, such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
Considering Just Transition (important for all countries).

41. Improving Science-Policy Interface to Address
Climate Change and Sustainable Development

Source: Created based on UNEP. 2017. Strengthening the Science-Policy Interface: A Gap Analysis

52. Enhancing Synergies between Climate Change and SDGs:
Different Governance Structures and Science-Policy Interface

Climate Change Governance2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC)
Paris Agreement
Kyoto Protocol

Goal-oriented governance that guides different actors
to achieve sustainable development

Source: Logos are from the websites of UNFCCC and UN.

6

2. Enhancing Synergies between Climate Change and SDGs:
Complex Climate GovernanceSource: Created based on Coen et al. 2020. Global Climate Governance72. Enhancing Synergies between Climate Change and SDGs:
Multi-stakeholder Partnerships to Achieve SDGs

The UN Global Sustainable Development Report aims
to strengthen the science-policy interface at HLPF.

Source: Figure is created based on The Partnering Initiative and UNDESA (2020) The SDG Partnership Guidebook,
GSDR https://sdgs.un.org/gsdr, HLPF https://hlpf.un.org/8

3. Addressing Cross-Cutting Issues, such as
Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss
Climate ChangeParis
Agreement

Nature/Biodiversity Loss
Kunming-Montreal Global
Biodiversity Framework

Source: Created based on World Economic Forum https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/05/nature-positive-net-zero-global-financialsystem/. Logos are from the websites of UNFCCC, CBD, TCFD, TNFD, Science-based Targets, Science-based Targets for Nature, Climate 9Action 100+, and Nature Action 100.

3. Addressing Cross-Cutting Issues, such as
Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss: Fragmentation ofInstitutions and Actors in Implementing Nature-based Solutions

Source：Morita, K. and K. Matsumoto. 2021. Governance challenges for implementing nature-based solutions in the Asian region.
Politics and Governance. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/940206

103. Addressing Cross-Cutting Issues, such as Climate Change
and Biodiversity Loss: Broader Cross-Cutting Challenges
Three Key Societal Challenges

Major System Transitions

Transition toNet-zeroCircular Economy

Nature-positive
economySource: Figure of major system transitions is created based on drift for transition
https://drift.eur.nl/publications/sustainability-transitions-research/114. Considering Just Transition:
Important Role of Finance

12Source: IPCC SYR Figure SPM.6, and logos are from the websites of GCF and GEF.