How 'climate mainstreaming' can address climate change

The strategy refers to this approach as "climate mainstreaming". This approach emphasizes that with growing and more frequent climate impacts and rising costs, it is essential to include adaptation factors in decision-making processes in areas such as health, social services, environment, infrastructure and the economy to ensure that our collective efforts are effective. Similar views are presented in the 2023 press release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), where IPCC Chairman Hoesung Lee states that “the implementation of effective and equitable climate measures will not only reduce loss and damage to nature and people, but will also bring wider benefits. "

To limit global warming to 1.5°C, global greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced by 43 % between 2019 and 2030. At the COP28 climate conference in Dubai in 2023, the parties admitted that they had not met the targets of the Paris Agreement. Rapid and effective integration of climate aspects into all development programs and policies is essential to manage the urgent global climate crisis.

Why is climate mainstreaming important? Climate mainstreaming ensures that responses to climate change are systematically included in all policies and activities, not as an isolated issue. Such integration allows for more comprehensive and cost-effective solutions that address multiple issues simultaneously.

Lack of integration of climate considerations can hinder effective climate action and lead to maladaptation when development activities inadvertently exacerbate climate risks. Despite the importance of climate mainstreaming, progress remains slow and uneven, often due to institutional resistance to change. Climate action is often seen as the responsibility of just one sector, rather than a collective task. In addition, climate mainstreaming is often reduced to adding climate aspects to existing initiatives, which is known as the "add climate and mix" approach.

To overcome these obstacles, we explored how the challenges of climate mainstreaming resemble the long-term struggles to implement gender equality in politics. We ask ourselves: what can climate mainstreaming learn from gender mainstreaming?

The history of gender mainstreaming, including institutional investment since the 1990s, provides valuable lessons about political and institutional barriers. This knowledge can help overcome the challenges of climate mainstreaming. The UN system, which has clear goals for gender and climate mainstreaming, offers a suitable framework for analysis.

A study published in 2024 examined documents from UN agencies in the food and agriculture sector, which is strongly affected by climate change. They found different levels of gender and climate integration in these agencies. Key areas where the climate perspective lagged behind gender equality included strategic planning, leadership, organizational culture and accountability.

The overview suggests several steps to improve the integration of climate aspects:

1. Use different strategies: use best practices of gender mainstreaming to implement broad climate initiatives and specific interventions.

2. Build institutional accountability: create strong mechanisms to monitor climate progress. The UN Framework for Gender Mainstreaming can serve as a useful model.

3. Adopt a climate justice perspective: support the needs of those affected by climate change and prioritize collective rights over economic growth.

Responsible and integrated climate interventions are a prerequisite for a more sustainable and resilient future. However, funding remains a key factor.

Without adequate funding, mainstreaming is ineffective. The 2015 Paris Agreement calls for high-income countries to contribute $100 billion a year, which they have so far failed to meet. Existing funds are distributed unevenly. Historically disadvantaged countries are the least responsible for the climate crisis, but feel it the most. These countries are often forced to balance investment in development and climate action in an unfair international financial system.

In 2022, official development assistance reached USD 204 billion, but almost half of the humanitarian requirements remained unfulfilled. Rich countries have invested just 0.36 % of their total income in aid, up only slightly from 0.33 % in 2021, with the promised 0.7 % in 1970 still in sight.

With the necessary funding, climate mainstreaming can contribute to the achievement of global development goals and climate action. (Co2AI)