UNDER2 COALITION HIGHLIGHTS 2017 2 UNDER2 COALITION – HIGHLIGHTS 2017 UNDER2 COALITION – HIGHLIGHTS 2017 3 FOREWORD FROM THE SECRETARIAT DIRECTOR CONTENTS 1. Key highlights from 2017 3 2. Global leadership: driving implementation of the Paris Agreement 4 3. Transparency 5 4. High-impact policies 6 5. 2050 planning: net zero emissions 7 6. Global profile 8 7. Priorities and challenges for 2018 9 8. Who we are 11 Today the Under2 Coalition is a major force in international climate affairs. Through 2017 we have been at the forefront of ambitious climate action. The Coalition now encompasses 205 governments worldwide, united in our aim to support the delivery KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2017 of the Paris Agreement’s goal to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius. 1 States and regions committed to transparency In 2018, the Under2 Coalition is positioned to both contribute to direct emissions — Our third Annual Disclosure Report was published, with over 100 state and regional reductions and to support and inspire more ambitious climate goals from national governments disclosing their emissions data and climate goals. governments. It is a fundamental tenet of the Under2 Coalition that while national — States and Regions Climate Tracker and Sub-National Climate Analytics Navigator governments negotiated the Paris Agreement, state and regional leaders are central tools were launched with CDP, putting transparency at the center of real climate to delivering the goal of limiting global temperature increase to less than 2 degrees action. Celsius. We also know that if we are to close the ‘emissions gap’, the level of ambition must step up in the next year. Empowering emerging economies The Global Climate Action Summit to be held in San Francisco, California from 12-14 — Future Fund Progress Report was released, showcasing projects and partnerships September this year is a key catalyst for accelerating that ambition. The Summit will funded in its first year to empower sub-national governments in emerging bring together leaders from around the world to push for greater emissions reduction economies to accelerate the shift towards a prosperous ‘net-zero’ future. targets at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s 24th Strengthen the voice of state and regional governments Conference of the Parties (COP24) in December 2018. We hope you can join us for — The Under2 Coalition General Meeting and States and Regions Alliance Steering this critical moment in global climate action. Group Meeting were hosted by The Climate Group. From 24-30 September 2018 The Climate Group will host the 10th annual Climate — New governance and leadership structure was agreed for a stronger voice and Week NYC in New York City. Climate Week NYC is the leading global climate platform greater impact, bringing together the pioneering States and Regions Alliance and bringing together thousands of government representatives, corporate leaders and the diverse membership of the Under2 Coalition. financiers to showcase real climate actions from around the world. As we celebrate the event’s 10th anniversary, Climate Week NYC 2018 will also be a key milestone on the Globally recognized leaders of climate action road to 2020 and the deadlines of the Paris Agreement. Join the many governments — Under2 members were highly visible throughout COP23, earning significant and businesses attending this year to highlight their climate actions and encourage international media coverage. local, regional and national governments to step-up their commitments to tackling — Christiana Figueres was appointed as a Global Ambassador for Under2 Coalition. climate change. — COP23 President Fiji appointed Under2 Coalition Co-chair Governor Brown of In this highlights report, we reflect on some of our collective achievements from last California the first ever Special Advisor for States and Regions. year – and we look forward to working with you in 2018 to continue building a world Under2 Coalition surpasses 200 members in two years of under 2°C of global warming and greater prosperity for all, without delay. — In just two years, the Under2 Coalition has grown to 205 members, representing more than 1.3 billion people and US$30 trillion, which is nearly 40% of the global economy. Tim Ash Vie Director, Under2 Coalition Secretariat The Climate Group 4 UNDER2 COALITION – HIGHLIGHTS 2017 UNDER2 COALITION – HIGHLIGHTS 2017 5 GLOBAL LEADERSHIP: DRIVING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE Future Fund: empowering developing regions PARIS AGREEMENT The Future Fund was created with founding contributions from the governments of 2 Alberta, Ontario, Québec, Scotland, South Australia and Wales to support enhanced participation and new initiatives in developing and emerging economy jurisdictions. The Coalition’s strong growth is a testament to the leadership of our members, who Partnerships between developed and developing country jurisdictions are crucial to THE UNDER2 COALITION NOW continue to reaffirm that sub-national climate action plays a vital role in delivery of the developing the Coalition as they drive ambition, build trust and foster innovation. HAS 205 JURISDICTIONS THAT Paris Agreement. All signatories are at the heart of our success. In 2017, we released the first Future Fund progress report, showcasing the impact COLLECTIVELY ACCOUNT FOR Stronger together: a more efficient governance structure 1.3 BILLION PEOPLE AND of the funded initiatives. Through Future Fund contributions, the Government of West A new governance and leadership structure was agreed in 2017, to enables a stronger ALMOST 40% OF GLOBAL GDP. Bengal, India, revised its climate change strategy and Yucatán, Mexico produced a voice for states and regions in the global climate agenda, better recognition for sub- new State Carbon Management Plan MRV System. A peer-learning secondment of FUTURE FUND - national climate leadership, greater impact across different levels of government staff from Gujarat, India (to South Australia) was completed during this quarter and PROGRESS REPORT and increased support and resources to member governments. Incumbent Steering Empowering sub-national governments from Western Cape, South Africa (to California) is scheduled. And finally, thanks to in developing regions to accelerate Group members and Co-chairs of the States & Regions Alliance will steer the work of the fund, five representatives from developing and emerging economy regions from climate action the Under2 Coalition for the coming year until new elections in 2018. Cross River State (Nigeria), West Bengal (India), São Paulo (Brazil), Yucatán (Mexico) and Chhattisgarh (India) participated in our activities at COP23. Co-chairs: Winfried Kretschmann, Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg If you would like to contribute or know more about the Future Fund, contact Edmund G. Brown Jr., Governor of California Subaskar Sitsabeshan, Head of Global Government Relations, The Climate Group [email protected]. Aristóteles Sandoval, Governor of Jalisco Willies Mchunu, Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Philippe Couillard, Premier of Québec Jay Weatherill, Premier of South Australia TRANSPARENCY Steering Group members for 2018: 3 The Under2 Coalition’s Transparency workstream supports signatories to strengthen Australian Capital Territory, Baden-Württemberg, Basque Country, Brittany, California, their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting capacity, increase transparent TRANSPARENCY COUPLED WITH Catalonia1, Jalisco, KwaZulu-Natal, Lombardy, North Rhine-Westphalia, Ontario, disclosure of their climate change mitigation progress, and solve the most challenging COMMUNICATION ACCELERATES Québec, São Paulo, South Australia, Vermont and Wales. sectoral accounting challenges. Knowing what others have done reinforces the case CLIMATE ACTION. The new structure enables clear messaging and branding to profile our global initiatives for action, with visible progress being made against headline commitments and and collaborative work for sub-national governments. We also announced Christiana targets. Figueres, Former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC and Convenor of Mission 2020 As this year’s Annual Disclosure Report shows, the number of state and regional as a Global Ambassador for the Under2 Coalition. governments committed to transparency continues to grow year-on-year, with 110 governments disclosing their climate data and actions in 2017 – a 60% increase Further details on the Terms of Reference of the Governance structure can be GLOBAL STATES AND REGIONS accessed at TheClimateGroup.org/Under2terms. since 2016. Together these governments represent US$13.4 trillion in GDP, which is equivalent to 18% of the global economy and 658 million citizens. ANNUAL DISCLOSURE 2017 UPDATE Christiana Figueres at the The 2017 report also shows that disclosing states and regions are in general more States and Regions Steering How over 100 states and regions ambitious than their national counterparts, and their short-term ambition is also are acting on climate change Group Meeting, COP23. compatible with an under 2 degree world. KEY FINDINGS: As part of our work on transparency, together with the support of Climate-KIC Low 8.5% 80% 290 Carbon City Lab and CDP, The Climate Group developed two of the world’s first EMISSIONS REDUCTION MORE CLIMATE ACTIONS TARGETS average compared to taken across 10 sectors, for emissions reductions, analytics tools dedicated to the work of states and regions. governments’ base incl. buildings, energy, renewable energy and years transport