The MPGCA, launched in 2016 at the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) in Marrakech (Morocco), supports the implementation of the Paris Agreement and 2030 Sustainable Development Goals; and aims to strengthen collaboration between governments and key stakeholders (spanning 164 countries) to lower emissions towards net-zero and increase climate resilience.

As promoted and enhanced during the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29) in Baku (Azerbaijan), the MPGCA is currently focusing on climate actions to support the success and overachievement of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). Its core objectives include: strengthening interaction between Parties and non-Party stakeholders, and promoting integration across all levels with a view to catalysing concrete actions on high-impact issues; broadening participation of non-Party stakeholders from all regions and sectors to bring more balanced representations, promote inclusiveness, and leverage networks and initiatives that can multiply and catalyse action; following up and ensuring continuity and action consistency between major milestones; tracking progress, impacts and results to identify best practices and lessons learned, provide evidence to help Parties in their transition, and accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement through tools such as the portal “Non-State Actor Zone for Climate Action”, and the Yearbook of Global Climate Action.

The MPGCA is undergoing significant redevelopment to enhance its role in transparency and accountability, particularly through implementing the Recognition and Accountability Framework and integration of the Net-Zero Data Public Utility (NZDPU). The MPGCA is also tracking over 39,000 partners and 175 cooperative climate initiatives worldwide. However, despite strong short-term target setting for initiatives, key challenges persist, particularly the access to finance and the maintenance of operational capacity. The MPGCA should therefore strengthen its role as a central repository for climate action data and accountability through its integration with the NZDPU and enhanced governance structures in order to engage broader private and public financial actors.

In this regard, scaling up MPGCA with broader adhesion of financial institutions undoubtedly appears as a strong catalyst for the energy transition, and offers unique opportunity to strengthen various pathways of climate actions, empowering stakeholders to enhance and accelerate emissions reduction strategy towards the net-zero future.

This article is contributed by Ir Dr Alex Gbaguidi with the coordination of the Environmental Division.