In this episode, we look at nature-based solutions and how we can overcome the barriers to scale and implement them in growing cities. The guests present several societal and biodiversity co-benefits resulting implementing nature-based solutions for climate adaptation and resilience in cities.  We delve into policies, regulations, and the need for enhanced capacity and peer-to-peer knowledge transfer between cities of the global south.

Guests:

• Julia Rocha Romero, Advisor – Nature-based Solutions, UNEP-CCC
• Gabriel Dias Mangolini Neves, Environmental Engineer, Municipality of Campinas, Brazil
• Monalisa Sen, Associate Director, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, South Asia

Links to reports and cases mentioned in the episode:

• Enabling Future-Ready Urbanization in Fast-Growing Cities with Nature-based Solutions
• Business Models for Financing Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Climate Action
• Linear parks in Campinas, Brazil
• Canal restoration in Kochi, India

In this episode, we look at investing in urban climate resilience with Nature-Based Solutions through innovative business models, and a new publication with examples on how to develop them: Business Models for Financing Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Climate Action.

We delve into real-world examples, how to speak the language of private sector stakeholders, underused financing sources, and the importance of data and analysis.

Guests:

• Dora Almassy, nature-based solutions assessment expertSolutions
• Najma Mohamed, Head of nature-based solutions, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre
• Vanesa Rodriguez Osuna, Net-Zero Sector Track Lead, UNEP Finance Initiative

In this episode, we talk about climate technology in cities, and about implementing green solutions in an urban context. We look at overall issues, challenges and opportunities, and look closer at what we can learn from Thailand on governance for the water sector specifically.

Guests:
-Pakamas Thinphanga, project director at Thailand Environment institute, specializing in urban climate resilience –engaging with local communities and governments
-Blanche Ting, Energy Advisor at UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre and editor of the Climate Technology Progress Report.

The episode references the Climate Technology Progress Report, which can be found here: https://unepccc.org/climate-technology-progress-reports/

And a recent webinar on governing urban systems transition, which can be found here: https://unepccc.org/events/governing-urban-systems-transition-how-to-meet-the-needs-for-climate-technology-transfer/

In this episode, we talk about the Adaptation Gap, more specifically the adaptation finance gap.

Joined by the authors of the finance chapter of UNEPs 2023 Adaptation Gap Report, we delve into the big numbers, go beyond them, and try to show what the adaptation finance gap actually means and what we can do about it.

The report shows an adaptation finance gap of 194 to 366 billion dollars - numbers that can seem almost surreal.

But, bridging the adaptation gap is not just about reaching the right amount of billions in finance, its also about how we spend the money, about equity, and about gender and social inclusion aspects.

As the report and the guests make clear, emissions reductions are urgently needed. Slow and insufficient climate adaptation is stretching the limits of our ability to cope with climate change, increasing loss and damage in the future.

Guests:

• Paul Watkiss, Director of the research consultancy Paul Watkiss Associates
• Dipesh Chapagain, Senior Research Associate at the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security.
• Georgia Savvidou, research associate at Stockholm Environment Institute and PhD researcher at Chalmers University of Technology.
• Blanche Butera, climate adaptation specialist at Paul Watkiss Associates. Based in Rwanda
• Pieter Pauw, senior researcher at the Eindhoven University of Technology

Download the 2023 UNEP Adaptation Gap Report here: https://www.unep.org/resources/adaptation-gap-report-2023

In this episode we talk about carbon markets, and emissions trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
We look at Pakistan and the country's experiences, potential and needs when it comes to using Article 6 to both implement NDCs and raise climate finance and ambitions.

The guests discuss why carbon markets can be crucial and why Pakistan in particular is interested in using Article 6.
We also talk about what the barriers for using Article 6 and how the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (or simply 'SPAR6C') programme can help Pakistan overcome them.

Guests:

• Dr Saima Shafique, Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination of Pakistan, UNFCCC focal point and focal point for the SPAR6C Programme
• Karen Olsen, UNEP carbon market coordinator
• Xianli Zhu, Article 6 lead for UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre in Pakistan.

What is a climate advisory institution, why are they important when it comes to climate policy and action, and what can we learn from Costa Rica when it comes to setting one up?

In this special transparency episode of the ClimateTech podcast we take a look at the how and why of climate advisory institutions, and look at how Costa Rica, has broadened the definition of data to improve climate action with the support of the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT).

Guests:
- Ana Lucía Moya Mora, CBIT coordinator, Costa Rica
- William Billy Holness, CBIT Regional Portfolio Manager for UNEP in the LAC region
- Per Wretlind, CBIT Coordinator at UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre

Read more about CBIT here:
https://www.cbitplatform.org/

When it comes to technology and climate action, it's no longer about the 'what', it is about the 'how'.
In this special COP episode we look at the progress of climate technology implementation and how COP27 addressed the needs and priorities from developing countries.
And then we look to COP28 and what is needed in the future to ramp up implementation and ambition.

If you want to know more about the progress and barriers and enablers for climate technology, check out the 2022 Climate Technology Progress Report:
https://unepccc.org/the-climate-technology-progress-report-2022/

In this episode, we talk about food waste, and what we can do to prevent that huge amounts of food each year is wasted.

Why do tons after tons of perfectly edible food end up in landfills, and what kind of technology is out there, that can help us?

We also take a look at what kind of policies are needed to push the implementation of the technology.

The episode uses facts and analysis from the new 'Reducing Food Consumer Food Waste' report, available here:
https://bit.ly/TechReducingFoodWaste

You can also read more about UNEP's work to stop food waste here: https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/green-economy/build-back-better

Guests:
- Pornphrom Vikitsreth: Head of a food waste project pilot in Bangkok, and worked with UNEP projects on Recycling systems in Southeast Asia, promoting low-carbon lifestyles. He is also a lecturer at Thammasat University, focusing on sustainable development and a consultant on how to promote circular thinking in hotels and restaurants.

- Matt Homewood: Head of sustainability at the food tech company Throw No More. Prior to joining the company, Matt worked as an independent food waste campaigner to end supermarket food waste in Denmark and beyond, highlighting the massive amounts of edible food that gets thrown away every day.

We talk about Indigenous Peoples' technology and the strength and barriers in a climate action context.

What are the strengths of IP knowledge and tech in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation?

How can we create synergies and win-win situations with modern climate technologies?

The general role of marginalised groups, such as Indigenous Peoples and women.

We also talk about the rights that Indigenous Peoples have, why respecting them is crucial and about the levels of acknowledgement and recognition within the UNFCCC system.

Guests:
- Tunga Bhadra Rai, national coordinator at the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities
- Pirawan Wongnithisathaporn, Environment Program Officer at the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact
- Sara Trærup, lead on the Technology Needs Assessment project, working with almost 100 countries on prioritising and implementing climate tech.

Special thanks to IWGIA - the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs - a global human rights organisation dedicated to promoting, protecting and defending Indigenous Peoples’ rights, for their support in the making of this episode.

This episode of the ClimateTech podcast, and the interviews, build on a UNEP DTU Partnership project called Technology, Markets and Investment for Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Development, or simply just TEMARIN.
We work with local partners to see how the market for renewable energy can be strengthened, bottlenecks removed and especially how local companies can increase their share of the market.
In this podcast we are going to highlight the road travelled by some of Kenya's well-established renewable energy companies, and look at which barriers and challenges they faced along the way.