Background Towards climate neutrality: challenges and opportunities

    Most developing countries and emerging economies face major challenges: they are fighting poverty and hunger, expanding their health and education systems and developing their economies so as to ensure a decent standard of living for the entire population. They are now also struggling with the steadily worsening and sometimes dramatic impacts of global warming.

    There are numerous developing countries whose greenhouse gas emissions were very low in the past, which means they hardly contributed to human-induced climate change. This has changed now. Developing and emerging economies account for about two thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions – and their emissions are rising.

    This means that the countries of the Global South today have to take comprehensive measures to adapt to the impacts of climate change and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening and developing their economies.

    The transition to climate-neutral, resilient and socially just economic and social systems requires broad-scale reforms and investment. It is beset with risks, including job losses, price increases and growing resource demand. International support can help to cushion these risks in developing countries and open up avenues for these countries to also benefit from the opportunities afforded by structural change, such as a sustainable, resilient and needs-based energy supply for all, increased participation in global value chains, new economic sectors and business segments that offer future-oriented employment opportunities, and fresh impetus for the conservation of a healthy environment with clean air and clean water.


    As at: 22/10/2024