19 September 2019: In support of the UN Secretary-General’s 2019 Climate Action Summit on 23 September, UNDP is scaling up its support to developing countries through “UNDP’s Climate Promise: Ambition, Acceleration and Mobilization."

The UNDP Administrator, Achim Steiner, presented this scaled-up commitment of support yesterday at the UNDP Climate Summit Flagship Event: Global NDC Outlook Launch & Climate Promise Event in New York. The Administrator announced a commitment of 25 million USD to start making it a reality.

The UNDP 'Climate Promise' is aimed at helping 100 countries enhance their national pledges (what are known as NDCs or Nationally Determined Contributions) under the Paris Agreement by 2020 – this is the heart of UNDP’s ‘Climate Promise.’

In his statement at the event, the Administator said UNDP is proud to launch its “Climate Promise”.   

"The aim is to ensure that as many countries as possible revise and submit enhanced pledges (NDCs) by 2020, with demonstrated increase in ambition, and in line with the Secretary-General’s call on countries to come to the UN in September with “concrete, realistic plans”.

"We promise to walk by countries’ side as they take their climate responsibilities seriously," the Administrator added.

"This promise will be implemented in close coordination with key partners, including the NDC Partnership as part of the Climate Action Enhancement Package, the Government of Germany, and the European Union. As part of our role in advancing an integrated approach to development, we will focus on helping countries to align climate plans with the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda."

Additionally, UNDP will expand its portfolio to play its part in scaling up global action on climate. By 2030, UNDP will help 100 million people gain access to clean energy, restore 100 million hectares of degraded lands and conserve another 500 million hectares. By 2030, UNDP will mobilize an additional US$3 billion for climate action in 100 countries.

The Heat is On: Taking Stock of Global Climate Ambition

The event, which was attended by UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, also saw the launch of  a unique outlook report on global ambition and 2020 intentions.

This new report, The Heat Is On: Taking Stock of Global Climate Ambition, developed in partnership by UNDP and UN Climate Change, offers the most detailed review to date of how ambitious countries are on climate action.

The report is informed by the perspectives of more than 130 governments. It says nearly half of the world - 75 nations representing 37 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)- are deeply committed to doing the right thing right now. That means they are planning to take more climate action than they have already promised. This includes those countries most vulnerable to and least responsible for rising temperatures.

Misson 1.5

We must have all voices at the table if the world is to make transformational change to address the climate crisis. UNDP is  developing an interactive digital platform – called Mission 1.5 –an interactive digital media experience to help citizens to have a voice in the next generation of climate action – the mobilization effort.

The platform will function as a video game that gives players the opportunity to learn about the policy tradeoffs and then choose their priorities in how to limit climate change.

People often ask, “what can I do about climate change?” Through the game, people can engage with climate policy – and the world’s collective future – in an entirely new way.

Piloting in the UK and Thailand in September, Mission 1.5 will be launched globally before COP25. A preview of ‘Mission 1.5’ was shown at the UNDP Climate Summit Flgaship Event.