🤝 The fight against climate change and efforts to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from Agenda 2030 are two major global commitments. These goals, although separate, are significantly interconnected Climate action taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate can bring significant "co-benefits", which also help meet the SDGs. However, there are also potential trade-offs that need to be addressed.

Current policies and non-binding nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions still leave a significant gap to achieving the Paris Agreement’s goals of limiting global warming to well below 2.0°C or 1.5°C. In 2030, emissions are expected to be 58 GtCO2e under current policies, leaving 25 GtCO2e short of the 1.5°C target. This underlines the need for more ambitious action.

It is important to remember that climate action and the SDGs are indivisible, but at the same time diverse. An assessment of potential synergies and trade-offs between climate change mitigation and adaptation and the SDGs shows that in the near future, actions focused on mitigation and adaptation have more synergies than compromises with the SDGs. However, in the long term, the potential trade-offs become more significant. These interactions are context-sensitive and scope-dependent.

Examples of successful synergies:

• Improving health and well-being (SDG 3): Air pollution control measures, such as modernizing public transport and cleaner stoves in cities like Cairo, Lagos, Johannesburg and Accra, can prevent tens of thousands of premature deaths while reducing GHG emissions. Investments in home insulation, such as the “Boilers on Prescription” project in the United Kingdom, have led to significant improvements in the health of older people, reduced doctor visits and emergency room visits, and saved energy. Energy-efficient buildings in Germany and Hungary have led to increased productive days at work and healthy life years.
• Clean energy and affordability (SDG 7): Improving the energy efficiency of household appliances can reduce the cost of achieving universal access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa. Projects providing access to clean cooking solutions in West Africa not only reduce CO2e emissions but also bring significant economic benefits (e.g. saving time in collecting firewood).
• Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9): Investments in energy efficiency in the EU can stimulate economic growth (up to 1% of GDP), create jobs (up to 2.3 million job years) and reduce energy prices. The Green Industrial Revolution in northern Sweden, focused on the production of green hydrogen and batteries, has brought massive economic growth and job creation to a region that was suffering from decline.
• Reducing inequalities (SDG 10): The development of the Green Industrial Revolution in northern Sweden contributes to reducing inequalities between regions in the country.
• Gender equality (SDG 5): Projects aimed at empowering women in Africa, such as Tanzania and Ethiopia, linked to climate change adaptation, have led to increased access to food for women, strengthened their decision-making skills, and provided training in renewable energy and entrepreneurship. Interestingly, no quantifiable climate actions directly linked to SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), and SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions) were identified in the assessed NDCs.

Despite the abundance of available data and tools on potential synergies between climate and the SDGs, often lack of a holistic approach accessible to policymakers. Existing information is often hidden in academic literature or government departments and is not directly relevant to policy-making. To strengthen synergy, it is necessary framework for action, which includes system changes and takes into account context and justice.

Quantifying and monetizing co-benefits is important, although most studies are model-based. Different models and methods are used, such as cost-benefit analysis. For comparison, it is useful to express the value of co-benefits in equivalent units, such as tCO2e.

Integrating climate action and SDGs through synergies and co-benefits represents a crucial opportunity to achieve global goals more effectively and equitably. However, this requires better availability and use of evidence, targeted policies and consideration of potential trade-offs to ensure that no one will be left behind. Spring