Support to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)

Climate change is one of the greatest threats to the development objectives as agreed in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Rapidly increasing emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) contravene internationally agreed targets on poverty reduction (SDG 1), food security (SDG 2), health (SDG 3), access to clean energy (SDG 7), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), and climate action (Paris Agreement, SDG 13). SLCPs are a tremendous climate and health hazard, particularly affecting vulnerable groups (women, children, elderly).

Therefore, fast action on SLCP reduction is required. The CCAC is a multilateral initiative promoting reduction of SLCP emissions on various levels and through various channels. By supporting the CCAC, the Global Programme Climate Change and Environment (GPCCE) of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) contributes to poverty reduction, curbing of global risks and preservation of natural resources for future generations, all being goals of SDC’s current dispatch. The contribution to the CCAC also allows Switzerland to share its project experience in the field of clean air and low-emission development, to contribute to the CCAC’s efficiency, and the Coalition’s sensitivity to vulnerable groups.Climate change is one of the greatest threats to the development objectives as agreed in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Rapidly increasing emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) contravene internationally agreed targets on poverty reduction (SDG 1), food security (SDG 2), health (SDG 3), access to clean energy (SDG 7), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), and climate action (Paris Agreement, SDG 13). SLCPs are a tremendous climate and health hazard, particularly affecting vulnerable groups (women, children, elderly).

Therefore, fast action on SLCP reduction is required. The CCAC is a multilateral initiative promoting reduction of SLCP emissions on various levels and through various channels. By supporting the CCAC, the Global Programme Climate Change and Environment (GPCCE) of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) contributes to poverty reduction, curbing of global risks and preservation of natural resources for future generations, all being goals of SDC’s current dispatch. The contribution to the CCAC also allows Switzerland to share its project experience in the field of clean air and low-emission development, to contribute to the CCAC’s efficiency, and the Coalition’s sensitivity to vulnerable groups.

The overall goal is to contribute to the reduction of SLCP and CO2 emissions with a view to mitigate climate change and control harm to human health and agricultural productivity.

This will be achieved by supporting the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, a multilateral initiative created to work on SLCP reductions on a policy level, through seed funding of transformative actions, and by enhancing science and knowledge. SDC will remain engaged within the CCAC as a Donor, Member of the Steering Committee, participant to the CCAC Working Group and Co-Lead of relevant CCAC initiatives through GPCCE. A backstopping mandate will be tendered to make sure that GPCCE disposes of the necessary resources to unlock the full potential of its support to the CCAC. As needed, specific additional thematic expertise will be provided to drive the progress and achievements within the various initiatives GPCCE is engaged in.

The ultimate beneficiaries are populations affected by and vulnerable to: climate change; indoor and outdoor air pollution; and agricultural losses, in particular the poor. The programme’s target audience are policy makers globally.

To deliver substantial SLCP reductions, the CCAC will work towards four outcomes that will guide the CCAC’s strategic actions during the planned phase: catalyse ambitious action, mobilize robust support, leverage finance at scale, and enhance science and knowledge on SLCPs.

In addition to the CCAC’s outcomes, active participation of GPCCE pursues the following objectives:

• Leverage Swiss knowhow and experience from other SDC projects to the CCAC and vice versa
• Target actions especially towards marginalized groups, which are particularly affected by SLCP emissions (women, children, elderly)
• Position the CCAC as the multilateral initiative driving progress towards SLCP reduction while keeping management lean and efficient, allowing potential exit of Switzerland on the long term

Principaux résultats attendus:  

• Enhanced capacity and built partnerships with public and private stakeholders
• Raised public awareness of SLCP policy decision makers
• Strengthened and streamlined financial flows through engagement of development banks and agencies, and through catalysing private sector investment
• Improved scientific understanding of SLCPs and metrics developed to quantify mitigation benefits

Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

Established in 2012, the CCAC has grown from 7 to 116 partners and is today the only voluntary partnership of governments, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders committed to achieve concrete and substantial action to accelerate efforts to reduce SLCPs. The key achievements with active GPCCE involvement are:

Eight CCAC Partner countries pledged to target SLCPs in their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs)

• Training, new guidelines and construction of improved brick kilns in Nepal supported after the earthquake 2015
• Numerous black carbon studies and workshops for the marine sector helped influence and inform the International Marine Organization’s decision to limit sulphur content of marine fuels
• Global Strategy to Introduce Low Sulphur Fuels and Cleaner Diesel Vehicles developed, endorsed and approved by the CCAC members. Implemented by 2050, the strategy could avoid 500,000 mortalities per year and a total of 7.1 million tons of black carbon emissions.

FOEN, SECO, FOAG, ASA (FDFA) and SDC (FDFA)

Phase 2 01.01.2018 - 31.12.2021   (Completed)