GLOBAL
CLIMATE ACTION
PLAYBOOK 2018
PATHWAYS TO LOW-CARBON AND RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT

1PATHWAYS TO LOW-CARBON AND RESILIENT
DEVELOPMENT ACTION PLATFORM
PARTICIPANTS

ACTION PLATFORM PATRONSGOVERNMENT PARTNER

Iberdrola (Spain), SUEZ (France)

Government of Denmark

ACTION PLATFORM PARTICIPANTS

GLOBAL COMPACTLOCAL NETWORKS

Danone (France)

Rockwool (Denmark)Enel (Italy)

State Grid Corporationof China (China)

Lydec (Morocco)
Maersk (Denmark)Sumitomo Chemical(Japan)Novo Nordisk(Denmark)

Unilever (UK)Novozymes (Denmark)Volvo Cars (Sweden)

BrazilChina
Germany
India
TurkeySpain

ROLE OF RESPONSIBLE BUSINESSA COMMON FRAMEWORK FORRESPONSIBLE BUSINESSThe Ten Principles of the United Nations
Global Compact provide a common
ethical and practical framework forcorporate responsibility — understoodand interpreted by businesses aroundthe world, regardless of size, complexity
or location. Smart companies understand that principle-based business isabout far more than minimum standards
or compliance. Principles provide thecommon ground for partners, a moral
code for employees, an accountability
measure, and ultimately are the foundation for building trust across the board.
By incorporating these Ten Principles
into strategies, policies and procedures,and establishing a culture of integrity,
companies are not only upholding theirbasic responsibilities to people andplanet, but also setting the stage forlong-term success.

Pirelli (Italy)

CONTACT
UN Global Compact: Jayoung Park (park10@un.org); Heidi Huusko (huusko@un.org)
WRI: Eliot Metzger (EMetzger@wri.org); Deborah Drew (DDrew@wri.org)
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Climate Action Platform participants above. The inclusion of company examples in this publication is intended strictly for learning purposes anddoes not constitute an endorsement of the individual companies by the United Nations and authors of this report.
The material in this publication may be quoted and used provided there is proper attribution.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTGOALS
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide
opportunities through a powerful agenda
for achieving peace and prosperity on ahealthy planet. The 17 SDGs and theirrelated 169 targets, commonly referred
to as “Global Goals,” balance the three
dimensions of sustainable development:
the economic, social and environmental.

CLIMATE ACTION PLATFORM PARTNERS:This distillation of challenges makes
them actionable for business leaders,and companies who join the UN Global
Compact initiative are stepping up andrecognizing the imperative for businessaction.
THE PARIS AGREEMENTAt the same time, the Paris Agreement
on climate change charts a new course
for climate action, strengthening the
global response to the threat of climatechange. Countries have outlined theirtargets, policies, and programs innationally determined contributions(NDCs) linked to the Paris Agreement.
Together, the 2030 Agenda and theParis Agreement — twin plans fortransformative progress — bring
together world leaders, the business
community, civil society, academia
and citizens around shared challenges
to make change happen on a massive
scale.
THE BUSINESS ROLE
There is an essential role spelled out for
the international business community inthe pursuit of each of these objectives.
From core business activities — rooted in principles — to strategic social
investment, business organizations areadvancing true global sustainable development in ways that drive long-termbusiness success and sustainability.

Today, I call on all leaders of Government,
business and civil society to back the mostambitious action on climate change for the
benefit of this generation and generations
to come. Commitments so far could still see
temperatures rise by 3ºC or more. So wemust do our utmost to increase ambition
and action until we can bend the emissions
curve and slow down global warming…
All of us – Governments, businesses, andconsumers – will have to make changes.
More than that, we will have to ‘be’ thechange.”—António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
Climate Action: Mobilizing our World, New York, 2017
3

TURNING
THE PARIS
AGREEMENTON CLIMATECHANGEINTO
ACTIONThe Paris Agreement on Climate Change represents a watershed moment thatsolidifies international cooperation for climate action and sends a powerful market
signal to business. The Paris Agreement recognizes for the first time the role ofnon-state actors to deliver ambitious climate action and to make progress over time.
Today, there are more than 12,500 public commitments from business, investors,
civil society, and cities and regions to take climate action.
The challenge now is to bring all sectors of society and economies intoalignment with the Paris Agreement’s ambition to limit global averagetemperature to well below 2°C, aiming for 1.5°C, and ensure in parallel, theachievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has put forward an action
plan to mobilize the world for climate action and to rise to the challenge ofincreasing ambition to implement the Paris Agreement and achieve the 2030
Agenda on Sustainable Development.
In 2019, the UN Secretary-General will host a Climate Summit inviting all
leaders to assess ambition and to recalibrate before the implementation of theParis Agreement in 2020. The 2019 UN Climate Summit aims to forge evencloser alliances between Governments, business and non-state actors for
implementing the Paris Agreement. Alongside the Marrakech Partnership for
Global Climate Action, six high-impact themes have been identified as action
areas in the lead up to 2019:
1. Investment in clean technology
2. Maturing carbon pricing
3. Enabling the energy transition
4. Risk mitigation and building
resilience

5. Augmenting the contributionof sub-national actors andbusiness
6. Mobilizing climate financeAll stakeholders are invited to lead by example to attain and raise the ambitionof the Paris Agreement.

4

RISINGTO THECHALLENGE
The Global Climate Action Playbook 2018
outlines opportunities and priorities for
the Pathways to Low-Carbon and Resilient
Development Action Platform. It challenges
businesses and Governments to translate
the ambitions of the Paris Agreement into
concrete actions.

CHALLENGE TO BUSINESSCHALLENGE TO GOVERNMENTS* Translate your company’s global* Find and use support from the pri-climate goals so they have national

vate sector to enhance your NDCs *relevance *Meet with companies that have madeCreate one-page summaries that help

public climate commitments and do

explain how and where specific coun-business in your country and invite

tries’ NDCs can send stronger signals

their support of enhancements to

to attract investment in climate

your NDC.

change solutions.

Look closer at the countries where
you source, produce, and sell. Understand the political and social context
in those countries. Draw links between
climate change and broader sustainable development priorities andchallenges. Engage with Ministers andpolicymakers and lead your industry
in a dialogue about how to implement
and enhance NDCs. Countries need
confidence that your company andindustry commitments support theirplans and policies efforts to keep
temperatures well below 2°C.

Look closer at the signals you are
sending the private sector in your
NDCs and SDG plans. Identify
opportunities to create more clarity.
Companies need confidence and clarity from your Government’s plans andpolicies as they evaluate investments
in climate solutions for their supply
chains, operations, customers andcommunities.

5

1
CLIMATE ACTION ITEM

Identify at least two
events in 2018, leading
up to COP24, where
your company canpresent its climate
goals in the context
of opportunities toenhance specific NDCs.

6

TIME TO STEP UP:
FURTHER, FASTER, TOGETHERFOR CLIMATE ACTION
Momentum and enthusiasm are promising, but simply
meeting the initial climate commitments articulated
in countries’ NDCs will not be enough. The 2017 UN
Environment Gap Emissions Report indicates that current
national commitments would only limit the global
temperature increase to about 3°C by the end of thiscentury. NDCs will need to be enhanced to meet the 1.5°C
ambition.
Meanwhile, countries and companies are increasingly
looking inward and confronting individual challenges
related to competitiveness, employment, and economic
growth. These objectives and climate action can be mutually reinforcing, if pursued smartly. The next two years
will be a time for business and Government and others toalign, reinforce, and enhance one another’s climate andeconomic priorities.

Strong encouragement and reinforcement from leaders in
the private sector can feed into stronger NDCs. Companies
and investors have committed to mitigation, adaptation,technology and finance goals and targets — including
efforts under the Marrakech Partnership for Global
Climate Action.
In 2018, countries and companies can step up together andpublicly commit to enhancing their climate ambitions by
2020. There are several critical meetings and milestones
coming up that need to be on business and Government
leaders’ calendars.

2018
Q1
• WEF Annual Meeting
23-26 January, Davos• Investor Summit on Climate Risk,
31 January, UN, New YorkGLOBAL CLIMATE ACTIONOUTLOOK:2018 AND BEYOND

Q2

Initial NDCs
and SDGs• World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings,
20-22 April, Washington D.C.
• Making Global Goals Local Business,
May, UN Global Compact, Buenos Aires

GlobalStocktake• May COP Session – continuationof the Talanoa Dialogue• UN High-Level Political Forum& SDG Business Forum
9-20 July, New York• Global Climate Action Summit
12-14 September, San Francisco

Process
to Catalyze
ClimateAction• PRI in Person
12-14 September, San Francisco• UN General Assembly Week,
Week of 18 September, New York• UN Private Sector Forum & UN Global
Compact Leaders Summit
Week of 18 September, New YorkQ4
• COP24/CMP14,
3-14 December, Katowice, Poland• Facilitative Dialogue 20182025

UN SecretaryGeneral’s
ClimateSummitQ3

2018

Adoptationof the Paris
Rulebook

2030

2050

Net-Zero
Emissions& Climate
Resilience

2023

2020
Enhanced NDCs
and Non-State
Action2019
Enhanced NDCs
and Non-State
ActionARC OF AMBITION
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2
CLIMATE ACTION ITEM

Use or reference
information from acountry’s NDCs whenyour company meetswith Government
representatives (e.g.
economic or environment
ministries). Initiate
conversations andhighlight areas wherecountries’ NDCs are —or could be — providing
strong signals andsupport for companies’
and investors’ goals.

8

ENHANCING NDCSHOW COMPANIES’ AND
COUNTRIES’ GOALS CANREINFORCE ONE ANOTHER
In 2015, countries outlined intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs). These were initial plans to reduceand respond to climate change as part of a global agreement at COP21 in Paris. These plans varied in format andcontent, but provided a helpful initial signal for companies and investors.
As countries implement their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement, they can findimportant partners among private sector leaders.

To better understand the opportunities for engagement in 2018, UN Global Compact, World Resources Institute(WRI) and Caring for Climate partners selected 31 countries for an initial landscape analysis in 2017.
This sample represents diverse geographies and economies, as well as countries with high GHG emissions andcountries most vulnerable to climate impacts. Additionally, UN Global Compact and WRI sought to include countries that are actively involved in climate action, via platforms such as the NDC Partnership and Global Compact
Local Networks.

Australia

Denmark

Ghana

Netherlands

SwedenBangladesh

Democratic Republicof Congo

India

NorwayTanzania

Indonesia

Pakistan

United Kingdom

Italy

PolandUnited States

Japan

South Africa

VietnamMexicoRepublic of South
Korea

BrazilCanadaChile
China
Colombia

Ethiopia
Fiji
FranceGermany

MoroccoENHANCE ENGAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION: Transparency, enabling environments, accountability, and partnerships to achieve goals
COUNTRIES’ COMMITMENTS
Only 7 of 31 countries in
the landscape analysis have
NDCs that explicitly intend to
involve the private sector in
implementation.1

TOPIC FOR MEETINGS IN 2018:

Colombia, Indonesia, Japan,
and Tanzania engaged multiple
stakeholders and sectors indevelopment of their NDCs.

information sharing
What public climate
commitments has yourcompany made?
What does your Government’s
NDC look like?

OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE PRIVATE SECTOR
There are currently:● Nearly 130 companies are committed to responsible engagement inclimate policy2● N early 80 companies are committed to carbon pricing leadership3● More than 160 companies arecommitted to report climate change
information in financial disclosures4

H&M, Iberdrola, Natura, Nestlé, Royal
Philips, Suez, and Unilever are among
those companies that have committed
to Science Based Targets for GHG
emissions, as well as complementarycommitments related to policy engagement, carbon pricing and climate
disclosure.

ENHANCE MITIGATION: Stronger targets, policies, and measures to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Few countries in the landscape analysis have NDCs and
GHG reduction targets that fullyalign with pathways to limit
global temperature increases to
2°C or 1.5°C.5

Where and how do yourclimate goals (NDCs, SBTs)
help me achieve mine?

Morocco’s NDC includes GHG
reduction targets that align witha 1.5°C trajectory.6

More than 300 companies havecommitted to set Science Based Targets (SBTs) that aim to reduce GHG
emissions targets for 2°C or lower.7

BT, Carlsberg, an Tesco have validated SBTs and have additionally claimed
to aim for well below 2°C.

ENHANCE ADAPTATION: Clearer information, plans, goals, and visions for building resilience to climate impacts
20 of 31 countries in thelandscape analysis have
NDCs that refer to adaptation
priorities, plans and/or
financing.8

Where are our communities
and value chains mostvulnerable to climate impacts?

Bangladesh, for example,
outlines extensive adaptive
measures in its NDC, including
estimates for implementation
costs.

A few dozen companies havecommitted to evaluate and ensure
water availability in a changing
climate.9 But more private sector
understanding and engagement on
adaptation is needed.

CDP, CEO Water Mandate, The Nature
Conservancy, WRI and WWF havecalled for companies to set context-based water targets that address
local needs.10

For example, companies should be asking Governments to:
Aim for well below 2°C
Strengthen GHG targets and timelines so that
their trajectory aligns with global ambition
for 1.5°C.

Provide clear policy signals
Specify the types of policies, and implementation plans that will shape private sector
mitigation and adaptation.

Explain sector expectations
Identify the specific sectors and the contributions they are expected to make toward thecountry’s NDC.

Spur markets & innovation
Outline any plans to use market mechanisms
and incentives to support innovation anddemand.

Morocco and Ethiopia have strong examplesof GHG targets in their NDCs.

Colombia, Ghana, Mexico, and Vietnam havestrong examples of policy signals in their
NDCs (e.g., specific plans and institutions
responsible for implementation).

Bangladesh, Chile, Japan, and Tanzania havestrong examples of sectoral expectations intheir NDCs.

China, Ghana, and South Africa have strong
examples of roles for market signals in their
NDCs.

Based on World Bank INDC database. See indc.worldbank.org
See: www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/commitment/
responsible-engagement-in-climate-policy/3
See: www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/commitment/put-a-price-on-carbon/
12 ee: www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/commitment/commit-to-implement-theS-recommendations-of-the-tcfd
5
For example, according to Climate Action Tracker’s assessment, there are only two
countries (Morocco and The Gambia) with targets compatible with a 1.5°C pathway.
See: climateactiontracker.org/countries.html
4

See: climateactiontracker.org/countries/morocco.html
See: www.sciencebasedtargets.org
8
Based on World Bank INDC database. See indc.worldbank.org
9See: bafwac.org
10
See: pacinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/context-based-targets.pdf
6
7

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3
CLIMATE ACTION ITEM

Review the Blueprint for
Business Leadership on
the SDGs (pages 124-131)
for guidance on how yourcompany can lead yourindustry and identify
actions that link climate
action with SDG priorities.

ACHIEVE SDGS
Solving climate change will mean taking action in the context of countries’
development opportunities and vulnerabilities. Companies and investors can findways of advancing countries’ NDCs and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

EXAMPLE: SDG OPPORTUNITIES IN NDCS
According to IFC, there is already more than $1 trillion per year invested insolutions to climate change that advance other sustainable development
priorities, including: renewable energy ($297 billion); energy storage ($2.5
billion); green buildings ($388 billion); climate-smart urban transport ($288
billion); water recycling ($23 billion); and municipal waste management($160 billion).
Importantly, many countries are sending signals of support for increased
investment by highlighting these sectors in their NDCs. For example, IFC
notes that:■

114 NDCs include renewable energy■

31 NDCs include energy storage■

86 NDCs include energy-efficient buildings■

82 NDCs include transportation■

33 NDCs include water conservation and reuse■

84 NDCs include waste management

Another 184 NDCs mention agriculture, including 61 that emphasize climatesmart agriculture.

See: International Finance Corporation, 2017 “Creating Markets for Climate Business: An IFC Climate Investment Opportunities report”

10COUNTRY CONTEXT FOR SDGS & NDCS
Companies and investors must reinforce NDCs and SDGs in the context of each country’s economic development pathways. For example, in looking for
information in a countries’ NDCs, SDG plans, and economic goals, it is possible to identify and connect your company’s climate goals to specific national priorities.
Consider the following illustrative examples (figures from World Bank, 2013 data; GDP in constant 2010 US$):ETHIOPIA

INDIA

CHINA

GHGs per capita = 0.1 MTCO2e

GHGs per capita = 1.6 MTCO2e

GHGs per capita = 7.6 MTCO2e

GDP per capita = $421

GDP per capita = $1,550

GDP per capita = $5,722

Middle income consumption expected to growby more than 1000 percent by 2030

Middle income consumption expected
to grow by 475 percent by 2030

Middle income consumption expected to growby more than 200 percent by 2030

Context:

Context:

Context:• Ethiopia aims to reach middle income
status by 2025.

• India aims to ensure all citizens have access toelectricity by the end of 2018.

• Industrial production growth rate of 9 percent (7th fastest in the world) and ambition
to be Africa’s leader in light manufacturing.

• India aims to create affordable housing for all by 2022.

• China, in the next five years, aims to lift all
55.75 million rural residents living below thecurrent poverty line out of poverty, and to
double GDP and people’s per capita incomeof 2010.

• Ethiopia’s NDC priorities include development priorities such as increased incomes,
job creation, and sustainable economic
development, as well as four pillars:

India’s NDC outlines plans to train 400 million workers
in various sectors with skills for sustainable development, along with ambitious clean energy goals for 2022,
including:• 10 GW of biofuels

1. Improve crop and livestock production
practices for food security and incomeswhile reducing emissions.

• 60 GW of wind power

2. Protect and reestablish forests for theireconomic and ecosystem services.

Achieving clean energy goals could help achieve additional development priorities, including:

3. Expand electric power from renewableenergy.

• Good Health and Well-Being

4. Leapfrog modern and energy efficienttechnologies in transport, industry andbuilding sectors.

• 100 GW of solar power• Gender Equality• Clean Water and Sanitation• Decent Work and Economic Growth• Industrial growth rate of 6 percent, (26thfastest in the world).
• China’s NDC notes the country’s ambition to:“embark on a new path of industrialization,
developing a circular economy.”
It also highlights sector ambitions, including:• 200 GW of wind power• 100 GW of solar power• Overall 20 percent non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption by 2030
• Tax incentives to develop and provide access to solar, wind and hydro power• 30 percent public transport in cities by 2020

11

COUNTRY CONTEXT FOR SDGS & NDCS continued
COLOMBIAJAPAN

SWEDEN

GHGs per capita = 1.9 MTCO2e

GHGs per capita = 9.8 MTCOte

GHGs per capita = 4.6 MTCO2e

GDP per capita = $7,051

GDP per capita = $46,249

GDP per capita = $52,723

Middle income consumption
expected to grow by 47 percent by 2030

Middle income consumption expected
to grow by 2 percent by 2030

Middle income consumption
expected to grow by nearly
20 percent by 2030

Context:

Context:• Colombia has plans to address inequality,
poverty, and unemployment, while closing
technological and infrastructure gaps.

• Japan has prioritized multiple areas for development, inspired by the 17 SDGs.

• Colombia has also been focused on ending
the longest internal conflict in the Western
hemisphere.
Colombia has been reference as a “front-runner”
in terms of linking its NDC and SDG priorities.
Colombia’s NDC, for example, highlights the role
for adaptation and resilience building in national security. It also makes note of potential for
mitigation and adaptation to enable peace andequity, with the potential to reduce conflict andviolence in the country.
Colombia’s NDC overall demonstrates links to
40 of the 169 SDG targets, including several of
those aiming to address:• Poverty• Hunger• Education• Decent Work and Economic Growth• Peace and Justice12• Japan aims to achieve SDGs through Private
Action for Partnership in cooperation withstakeholders, as well as via conversations
with private sector at SDGs Promotion
Roundtable Meetings.
Japan’s NDC emphasizes “human resource
development and promotion of development anddiffusion of technologies relating to emission
reductions in developing countries.”
It also prioritizes energy-related CO2, which account for approximately 90 percent of total GHG
emissions in Japan. It aims to:• Improve efficiency of electricity consuming
facilities• Introduce energy efficiency and conservation
process technology in petrochemicals• Improve consumer products, such as air
conditioners

Context:• Sweden is working to address development
challenges around production and consumption; gender equity and income gaps;
employment (especially for migrants, youth,elderly and those with disabilities).
• Sweden is also focused internationally toincrease cooperation and new partnerships
between countries, business, and civil society to address poverty and inequalities.
Sweden’s climate ambitions are part of thebroader European Union’s NDC, but the country
has been pricing carbon since 1991. Its CO2 tax
has increased over time from 29€ in 1991 to
125€ in 2014 for households and services.
The market signal has helped shift investmentsfrom fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. As
a result, GHG emissions have decreased (down23 percent from 1990-2013) while GDP has
increased (up 58 percent from 1990-2013).

THREE CLIMATE ACTION ITEMSFOR 2018
Join the Climate Action Platform of the UN Global Compact toconnect your climate commitments with actions and decisionmakers from key countries. Work with UN Global Compact andits Caring for Climate partners, including World Resources
Institute and Principles for Responsible Investment on the 2018global climate action items below:
1. I dentify at least two events in 2018 leading up to COP24,
where your company can present its climate commitments inthe context of a Government’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
2. Use or reference information on a country’s NDCs whenyour company meets with Government representatives (e.g.,
economic or environmental ministries). Initiate conversations andhighlight areas where countries’ NDCs are or could be providing
strong signals and support for companies’ and investors’ goals.
3. Review the Blueprint for Business Leadership on the
SDGs for guidance on how your company can lead your industry and identify actions that link climate action with SDG
priorities.
In support of these action items, UN Global Compact, WRI and
Caring for Climate partners will offer new tools, analysis andengagement opportunities throughout 2018.
Contact: Caring4Climate@unglobalcompact.org

KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR GLOBAL CLIMATE ACTION• Next couple of years are critical moments for global climate implementation: 2018 is a crucial moment with engagements — suchas the California Global Climate Action Summit and COP24 — wherecountries and companies can reinforce one another to ramp up ambition.
• Reinforcing private sector engagement is critical to enhancing
NDCs: Countries goals (Nationally Determined Contributions) do not
yet speak directly to companies’ interests and companies’ goals (e.g.,
Science Based Targets) do not yet speak directly to countries’ interests.
• “Making Global Goals Local Business” is an essential strategy
for climate and development implementation: National context— particularly countries’ interests in the SDGs — will be essential to
implementing and enhancing the NDCs.
• Companies must look across their value chains to find opportunities to advance climate action and development. Companies
based in just a handful of countries make up the wide majority of public
commitments to climate change, so they will need to engage their supply chain partners to ensure all countries are delivering on their statedclimate goals.
• Collective momentum is needed to expand resilience andfinance commitments: There may be a critical mass of companies
with mitigation goals, but there are far fewer ambitious commitments tofinance and adaptation.

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UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACTTEN PRINCIPLESHUMAN RIGHTSLABOURENVIRONMENTANTI-CORRUPTION

1.
Businesses should supportand respect the protection ofinternationally proclaimed
human rights; and3.
Businesses should uphold thefreedom of association and theeffective recognition of the right tocollective bargaining;

7.
Businesses should support
a precautionary approach toenvironmental challenges;

10.
Businesses should work against
corruption in all its forms, including
extortion and bribery.

2.
make sure that they are not complicit
in human rights abuses.

4.
the elimination of all forms of forced
and compulsory labour;

8.
undertake initiatives to promote
greater environmental responsibility;and5.
the effective abolition of child labour;and6.
the elimination of discriminationin respect of employment andoccupation.

9.
encourage the development anddiffusion of environmentally friendly
technologies.

The Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact are derived from: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International
Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,
and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

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