International cooperation agreements will only be effective in meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement if Global South countries are involved, according to a new report published by the Deep Decarbonization Pathways (DDP) Initiative.
The DDP Initiative is a global network of in-country experts that aim to assist governments with identifying realistic pathways to achieve decarbonisation.
It has argued that representation from global south countries needs to be ensured from the start – as well as at all stages during the design – of cooperative solutions to accelerate the transitions to net zero.
Ambitious climate actions
“We can only achieve the Paris Agreement goal if all countries can do more,” said Henri Waisman, director of the DDP Initiative.
“For Global South countries, taking more ambitious climate actions while pursuing development depends whether innovations in international cooperation allow to prioritise countries’ needs.”
Three focus areas
It has called for more innovative cooperation agreements in three core sectors.
Firstly, the transformation of the steel sector can play a role in global decarbonisation, support local employment and industrialisation in developing countries, and maintain competitiveness for existing producers.
Achieving this transformation requires a reevaluation of current incentive distribution, international value chains, and trade practices in primary steel production, DDP Initiative said.
In the freight transport sector, fostering more sustainable production of goods closer to consumers, enhancing railway and multi-modal infrastructures, and increasing the competitiveness of rail services over road services are essential steps toward development and decarbonisation, according to DDP Initiative.
Finally, the agriculture and land use sector must adopt a comprehensive approach that considers mitigation, adaptation, resilience, biodiversity, food security, and rural livelihoods, it added.
Enhancing the governance of the land use system, facilitating the sharing of lessons on policies and implementation, and implementing new financial mechanisms and trade arrangements will be crucial in promoting the restoration of degraded forests or pastures, encouraging the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, and fostering diversified land uses such as agroforestry.
“We need innovative international cooperation to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement,” added Sebastien Treyer, Executive Director of IDDRI. “COP28 must send a clear political signal and catalyse technical and organisational changes, in all sectors and all countries. It is a question of trust and confidence between North and South, and a matter of efficiency for the fight against climate disaster.“
